You can play solo, but you'll probably want to play more than one character so the various skills are covered (as well as some variety).
Buying it now I'd recommend getting the Core Set and Curse of the Crimson Throne. Those are the newer sets and will give you everything you need to play a adventure path (Curse) plus a shorter one in the Core Set.
PACG also has four "first edition" base sets (Rise of the Runelords, Skull & Shackles, Wrath of the Righteous, and Mummy's Mask). Each of these base set has five expansion decks needed to get the entire adventure path and one extra character deck for variety and for playing with 5 or 6 characters/players.
The rules changed somewhat between the original four sets and the Core Set, but the various cards are compatible with a few fixes.
The other decks you have seen include additional characters (typically 3 or 4) you can use with any of the sets. These cards use the older look and rules. They were also used to play in the card game's version of PFS organized play.
Hope this helps.
I second Parody's recommendation that the Core Set + Curse of the Crimson Throne is a great starting point. Those two sets together are the equivalent of one of the earlier base sets (like Mummy's Mask) with all 5 adventure decks (for levels 2-6; level 1 adventure deck is included in the base sets).
The Core Set has a 3-adventure AP, Dragons Demand, which is good for beginners. You could always try that first, then add the Curse cards to play the full Curse AP. Having Core + Curse also gives you what you need to play a full 6-adventure AP and another 3-adventure AP (and some stand-alone adventures) available to purchase from Paizo in PDF form*.
Each of the older base sets, their add-on decks, the Core Set, and the Curse AP come with some characters. However, any of the character decks can be played with any of the scenarios, old or new. Some older characters will have conversion rules (on Paizo's website) if their powers don't work quite right with the rule changes, but if there's a class you want to play, you totally can!
I also agree with Parody that solo play works better if you play more than one character. I prefer parties of 3-4 myself and have played solo through much of the available content.
Let us know if you have further questions!
*This is true for the earlier sets, too. Each has at least one additional AP available here
The order they were released is:
Rise of the Runelords
Skull & Shackles
Wrath of the Righteous
Mummy's Mask
None of those use the Core Set. They're all standalone games, but to get the entire Adventure Path and characters for each of them you need their Base Set and 6 additional decks. (5 Adventure decks and 1 Characters deck.)
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I have just finished Rise of the Runelords.
What order do the remiaing sets go in?
From the post above (from Parody) is it: Skull and Shackles, Wrath of the Righteous, and Mummy's Mask. Then after that the Core Set and Curse of the Crimson Throne? As I have the Runelords Base Set would I also need the Core Set?
Parody confirms the order you suggested as the release order. I feel it's worth noting that the adventure paths can be played in any order. You will start a new character for each new adventure path, so the order doesn't really matter unless you simply want to experience them in the order they were developed.
Remember that each set has at least one additional complete adventure path in PDF form available on Paizo's website, with a new story, all new scenarios, and images of some cards.
I'm playing Rise of the Runelords SOLO. I finished the first 2 Adventure Decks using only Seelah and Kyra. The first Scenario of The Hook Mountain Massacre was a challenge with those 2. I want to add a 3rd character. Who would best round out the team?
I'm playing Rise of the Runelords SOLO. I finished the first 2 Adventure Decks using only Seelah and Kyra. The first Scenario of The Hook Mountain Massacre was a challenge with those 2. I want to add a 3rd character. Who would best round out the team?
If we're talking about characters from the RotR set, I'd probably pick someone with good Dexterity. (Both Kyra and Seelah from RotR have a d4.) Merisiel is tempting. She'd be good against barriers, with her d12 DEX, +2 Disable, and optional +2 versus barriers with her Acrobat role.
Even so, Harsk's scouting ability ("At the end of your turn, you may examine the top card ([] or bottom card) of your location deck") is pretty nice, too. I'd take one of them.
Is it your plan to give your new party member the same number of feats your other characters have? Any deck upgrades?
I do plan on giving them all the same types of feats Seelah and Kyra earned. I don't have the time to play through Perils of the Lost Coast and the first 2 Adventure Decks. Most video game RPG's level up all your characters even if you don't use them actively. This gives you the option to swap them in and out. I see no reason not to do that with a card game. This isn't tournament play or for any record. I just want to enjoy the game. I'll let the new character use weapons and armor from B, C and 1st Adventure Deck.
I went with Harsk due to his Dexterity w/bonus, ability to recharge a card to add a d4 to a combat check at a different location and his Tracker specialization d8 bonus die vs Giants which I’ll be able to use in Fortress of the Stone Giants.
Solid! Let us know how it goes!