Pathfinder 2E Looking for advice as a GM new to PF2e

[kugelblitz_]

Hello! I am a GM trying to get into PF2e. I have both Player Cores and am learning the ropes of the system, but I'm not sure if I know everything I need to know. I have DM'd games in D&D 5e before, and the players I intend on teaching also know either 5e or another system. I'd love to hear any advice you have! Rules to keep in mind, good ways to teach my players the system, and things of the like are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Retreater]

I don't think it's possible to know "everything you need to know." I wouldn't even try. Go into your session to have fun, look up rules as they come up, and don't stress about being a system master.

The basics:

• 3 action economy
• Tiers of success and failure

After that, there are some rules that might impact the difficulty of the game
Remember the Multiple Attack Penalty
Remember that Incapacitation attacks modify the tiers of success and failure.
Split individual monsters into different initiative scores (having them all go in group initiative resulted in several TPKs for me)
Let them recover Focus points - it's essential for balance in the game.

 

[Koloth]

Consider buying the Beginners Box. Between the Player's Reference Card(PRC) and the last two pages of the Game Master's Guide, you have probably 80% of what you need to know to play PF2 after the players get their characters setup. Provide copies of the PRC to each player and yourself.

 

[Velderan]

Hello! I am a GM trying to get into PF2e. I have both Player Cores and am learning the ropes of the system, but I'm not sure if I know everything I need to know. I have DM'd games in D&D 5e before, and the players I intend on teaching also know either 5e or another system. I'd love to hear any advice you have! Rules to keep in mind, good ways to teach my players the system, and things of the like are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Aside from the suggestion of using the Beginner Box to learn the system, the biggest suggestion I can make is to make it a point of telling your players when something a previous player did gave a bonus that allowed the current player to hit or crit to reinforce good habits. Did the player before stride to end their turn in position to put the enemy off-guard and allow the next player to get a crit on their strike because of the -2 penalty to the enemy’s AC? Tell them so they actually see that all those minor bonuses and penalties actually do matter because of the way crits work in the game.

 

[GuardianLurker]

If your players are coming from 5e (or similar) backgrounds, you'll probably really want to emphasize that the three actions are "Move, Attack, Prep/Buff" and that they really won't get the benefits they want from Attacking 3 times.
Really - to really be effective with your character, even a basic fighter, you need to use that third action to help yourself or others. It's what makes PF2e combat tactics work and be interesting. You should be able to at least get them to see the benefit of Intimidating with the 3rd action.