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6
Crucial Tips for New Pathfinder Players
Being
new to the world of tabletop gaming can be intimidating; but every
gamer from the casual hobbyist to the 30 year Dungeons and Dragons
veteran had to start somewhere. If you're starting with Pathfinder
then bravo! You’re immersing yourself in a world of lore and
adventure, where the unthinkable can (and most likely will) happen.
Listed below are a few tips for new players; following these tips
will make for a rich and enjoyable experience. These tips apply to
more than only Pathfinder players, though. Any player new to role
playing can find some critical advice below.
- Don’t forget the back story!
This
is one a must for all role players; most role playing games are as
much a story as they are a game. A character that has a history
organic to the world you play within is always more developed and
rounded than one who is not. This is also critical to giving life to
the character you’ve created.
Example:
Raya Nesus is a level 1
Human Sorceress. That’s rather bland in itself, no? Where does her
flavor come from? Perhaps she was born an orphan, was a victim to the
slave trade, or her one true love abandoned her. A back story with
detail will help create your character’s attitude, quirks, and
motives in the campaign at hand.
- Make sure that your Game Master (or GM to-be) knows that you are new or inexperienced.
When
you alert the GM you're new you're not making yourself look dumb or
making yourself a target. What you are doing is making sure that
he/she is willing to move slowly for you, and help you along during
gaming sessions. The vast set of rules within the world of Pathfinder
can be intimidating, and it can be easy for new adventurers to become
overwhelmed quickly.
Example:
“Hey,
Joe! I’m new to Pathfinder, and I just wanted to double check that
it’s okay if I need a bit of help during the gaming session on
Saturday.”
- Start Small!
As
I’ve stated before, Pathfinder can be incredibly intimidating to
new players. In order to minimize the effect this has on your
experience, start small. That means that you’re better off starting
with core classes, and core races. These are the classes and races
presented within the Core Rulebook, all of which are simple and to
the point (though still customizable).
Example:
A Half-Dragon Wayang Wizard
2/Two Weapon Warrior 4/Celebrity 1/Scout 1?How about a Human Fighter
8?
- Accept the inevitability of character death
Characters,
like people, die. The inevitability of death in our world is real
enough, but in the dangerous world of Pathfinder it should be
expected. Many gamers get angry or frustrated when a character dies,
and that’s okay, but it shouldn’t negatively impact your gaming
experience. The duration of a character’s in-game life is nothing
compared to the quality of his adventures and personality. Sometimes
things have to fall apart to make way for better things.
Example:
”Maximus Awesomus is dead!
Agh, *insert angry slurs here*, he was my favorite character! Well,
at least I had a blast playing him, and he was super memorable. Now,
time to write up Maximus AwesomER…”
- Keep Yourself Involved in the Role Playing!
As
stated earlier Pathfinder is as much of a story as it is a game, and
your character is a protagonist of that story. How many protagonists
sit back and end up having absolutely no interaction with the world
around them? None, duh! It’s easy to get distracted during a long
session, but making sure you stay involved is important. Don’t
forget that YOU are helping to write the story, and you should have
fun doing it! Not to mention, it makes for a more memorable and
flavorful character.
Example:
As the party sits in a
tavern, you decide that your Orcish Bard is going to get himself a
wench. As he goes around the bar, he asks women if they’d like to
play his…flute. With disgusted faces, they all turn away or run.
Poor Gronkl begins to tear up, he doesn’t understand why everyone
dislikes him so.
- Last But Not Least, Have Some Fun!
Nobody plays a Role Playing game in
100% seriousness. Pathfinder is about having fun, and maybe escaping
reality for just a bit. It’s okay to be caught up in the gameplay
and mechanics, but when push comes to shove you should be having fun.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, and make sure that your actions make
the game enjoyable for everyone.
Example:
“I can’t believe we
actually did it! Best session ever!”
So
here you have it, 6 simple, but critical tips for anyone new to
Tabletop Gaming or Role Playing. With these tips in mind, your foray
into the world of Pathfinder should be painless and easy. Trust me,
you’ll find yourself enjoying the game in no time. Until next time,
happy gaming!
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