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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
advice for a newbie DM running a "pick-up" game for slightly newbie players?
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<blockquote data-quote="Tony Vargas" data-source="post: 5289729" data-attributes="member: 996"><p>Twelve years ago would have been 2e at the height of it's screwedupedness. Still, not as bad as trying to sell a 3.5 powergamer on 4e. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>If you're using Character Builder, I'd consider not printing out the power cards. I find that older (older school) players have issues with reading cards for some reason. Stick with the two-page character sheet. If you're just filling out sheets, that's fine, too, don't worry about it. Be prepared to spend a lot of time going over how bonuses are calculated. You will have to explain that, yes, you add you CON score, not your CON bonus to hps at first level, but /don't/ add you CON bonus to hps as you level. That'll really throw 'em. </p><p></p><p>You're probably thinking "but I'll have done all that math already." Doesn't matter, someone will probably feel compelled to go over it. Though, with only two players, you could get lucky.</p><p></p><p>Beastmaster Ranger and Bard strike me as poor choices for introduction to the game, but it's generally better to let the player have a character concept they actually like.</p><p></p><p>If one of the modules is very very short - just two or three encounters, you might go with that. You could go with Village of Hommlet, it's a classic, they'll at least have heard of it. I don't know how good or how different from the original the 4e version is, but I'm guessing it'd be nice just for the familiarity of the name, alone. (I ran an tongue-in-cheek intro game recently set in the 'Hammlet of Villoge').</p><p></p><p>Statting out a couple of encountes is also an option. It's very easy, and you can keep it simple as it's introductory.</p><p></p><p></p><p>You might even start with a very easy encounter, and just introduce attack and damage rolls, healing, movement and at wills. Then point out encounters, dailies and action points later.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tony Vargas, post: 5289729, member: 996"] Twelve years ago would have been 2e at the height of it's screwedupedness. Still, not as bad as trying to sell a 3.5 powergamer on 4e. ;) If you're using Character Builder, I'd consider not printing out the power cards. I find that older (older school) players have issues with reading cards for some reason. Stick with the two-page character sheet. If you're just filling out sheets, that's fine, too, don't worry about it. Be prepared to spend a lot of time going over how bonuses are calculated. You will have to explain that, yes, you add you CON score, not your CON bonus to hps at first level, but /don't/ add you CON bonus to hps as you level. That'll really throw 'em. You're probably thinking "but I'll have done all that math already." Doesn't matter, someone will probably feel compelled to go over it. Though, with only two players, you could get lucky. Beastmaster Ranger and Bard strike me as poor choices for introduction to the game, but it's generally better to let the player have a character concept they actually like. If one of the modules is very very short - just two or three encounters, you might go with that. You could go with Village of Hommlet, it's a classic, they'll at least have heard of it. I don't know how good or how different from the original the 4e version is, but I'm guessing it'd be nice just for the familiarity of the name, alone. (I ran an tongue-in-cheek intro game recently set in the 'Hammlet of Villoge'). Statting out a couple of encountes is also an option. It's very easy, and you can keep it simple as it's introductory. You might even start with a very easy encounter, and just introduce attack and damage rolls, healing, movement and at wills. Then point out encounters, dailies and action points later. [/QUOTE]
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advice for a newbie DM running a "pick-up" game for slightly newbie players?
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