Sell PfRPG to someone who's never heard of 3.x

[joela]

You're at your FLGS or bookstore, browsing and drooling over the Pathfinder RPG. A stranger approaches you and asks you about the massive tome. S/he knows about tabletop rpgs but not Pathfinder. How'd you persuade him to consider the game if:

1) The last system s/he played was Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition or earlier.

2) S/he has only played Dungeons and Dragons 4th edition.

3) S/he has never played any version of Dungeons and Dragons.

NOTE: S/he is not interested in OOP books or illegal pdfs.

 

[ruemere]

You're at your FLGS or bookstore, browsing and drooling over the Pathfinder RPG. A stranger approaches you and asks you about the massive tome. S/he knows about tabletop rpgs but not Pathfinder. How'd you persuade him to consider the game if:

1) The last system s/he played was Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition or earlier.

2) S/he has only played Dungeons and Dragons 4th edition.

3) S/he has never played any version of Dungeons and Dragons.

NOTE: S/he is not interested in OOP books or illegal pdfs.

Direct her to Pathfinder: Council of Thieves Player's Guide (PFRPG) PDF, a free download for PFRPG and latest adventure path.

Let the quality speak for itself.

Regards,
Ruemere

 

[kitsune9]

1) The last system s/he played was Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition or earlier.

2) S/he has only played Dungeons and Dragons 4th edition.

3) S/he has never played any version of Dungeons and Dragons.

Using your points, I would say:

1. Pathfinder has many of the familiar elements of 2e but turned up to 11 on the dial. A lot of the rules are more evenly created to be resolved by a d20 instead of various different dice for different actions. Things like THAC0, negative AC's, and so on are eliminated. There are no ability score caps and a lot of the different actions you'd do with an ability check has been simplified. Pathfinder has a lot more options, abilities, and various mechanics than 2e provides.

2. Pathfinder shares many similarities to 4e. There are feats, skills, though there are three extra classes in the core rulebook instead of just 8. The base mechanic of using a d20 to resolve tasks is there.

3. Pathfinder is similar to any fantasy role playing game. There are elves, gnomes, halflings. Each character is based on a class such as a fighter, cleric, or monk that defines their abilities and role. Pathfinder's central mechanic is using a d20 plus modifiers against a target number to succeed. The game is interesting, because there are many, many options available in just the core rulebook alone.