Pathfinder 1E Which is a better class for a brand new player?

[llZaknafeinll]

Have you thought about scout/ranger or in other words becoming a swift Hunter ( http://dictummortuum.blogspot.com/2011/09/swift-hunters-handbook.html?m=1 ) its not a hard way to.build your champ and gives him a lot of abilitys to explore you can also look up order of the bow for prestige classes

 

[Wycen]

I'd go with fighter because it is in my opinion the simplest character for anyone. I'd also recommend sword and board as it eventually leads to questions and choices like "is it better to fight with a big huge great sword, or with a smaller sword and shield" but crossbow is pretty simple as well. Perhaps more simple than a melee character since you don't have to add DEX to damage.

 

[gamerprinter]

Actually, my very first game of D&D 1e, I was given an 18th level wizard as my first PC, on the grounds of learning by the seat of your pants in the most challenging character class possible, one should gain a grasp of the overall game working with that challenge. I struggled through 3 gaming sessions, but it did indeed teach me the mechanics of spellcasting, combat, teamwork, etc. I don't even know if starting me out as a fighter or rogue would have been better. So not to suggest that that should be the tactic you take with your new player. I don't think it's better to spoon-feed your new player, I'm more of an advocate of sticking him in the fire with a challenging class and learning the game from there - it worked fine for me.

 

[Ahnehnois]

[MENTION=50895]gamerprinter[/MENTION]
That's an interesting perspective. Now that I think of it, I started D&D with a 2e psionicist IIRC (or maybe a cleric). I started 3e and built my first character for myself as a sorcerer. Maybe there's something to be said for challenging the dogma of fighters for beginners.

The OP's campaign still makes a lot of sense for a ranger though.

 

[koesherbacon]

Yeah, the fact that he gets to be a hobgoblin is exciting, largely because many DM's tend to frown on Humanoid races. Ranger and Rogue will pair well together.

Favored enemy should be some kind of Humanoid and have lots of 'em around.

The DM has recommended he take Giants as his FE since they'll likely play a significant role in the campaign. He also has Forrest as his FT.

Our party is actually far from the typical group of adventurers, which shows that our DM favors fun characters who we'll enjoy playing rather than the stereotypical group dynamic. We have:

• Samsaran Oracle of Battle (my wife). She wants to be a character like Lightning from FFXIII, and the Oracle of Battle really seemed to fit her idea.
• Goblin Rogue who loves to bite and stab things.
• Strix Wizard with the Void specialty school and Earth opposition school, who is focused on crafting items for the party (me). I really like that our DM is allowing these Elemental schools of magic, since Void really works with the character concept I have in mind.
• Human Cleric of Lorris, with the Agathion (Good) and Defense domains (another new player, and wife of the player in question), who wants to be the party's main healer, which is a good role for a new player IMHO. I know we could have picked the Healing domain for her, but she liked the sound of those two since we'll have at least one other secondary healer - my wife, the Oracle.
• And two others who have yet to fully decide what they want to play. Last I heard it was a Dwarf Fighter and Human Druid

I've opted to use the Skirmisher so he need not worry about casting spells and just focus on using his weapon and skills. We will have 1 arcane caster and 3 divine casters, so removing the ranger's spells won't leave the rest of the party wanting.

I'd like to thank you all for your input. After talking to the player, he's very excited to play as his Hobgoblin, and I'm sure he'll have a great time being or gatling gun

I'll keep you all posted on how our first game goes this Thursday

 

[Starfox]

How steep the learning curve is, is also decided by hw quick you löevel. All characters are simple to play at levels 1-2 - but also a bit dull. And the trend continues: slow advancement = easy to learn, but possibly dull. However, if the story is good enough, that makes up for slow advancement.

 

[brvheart]

I started out as a cleric, but at least it was level 1! I find most players today don't pick up the new rules as fast as we did in 1E. Too many options and rules as compared to 1E. But part of it I guess is my natural aversion to 'pointy-eared' classes to begin with. Sure a ranger may be good with a bow, but put a sword in their hands and they are rather useless compared to a fighter.

 

[Grand Moff Vixen]

In an upcoming game one of my friends is going to be DMing for us, another one of our friends has expressed interest in playing even though he's never played before in the past.

The DM's primarily focus is on character development rather than mechanically optimized characters which I really dig. The new player really wants to play as a crossbow specialist, so I'd like to know which is a better option for him to play as. He's asked me to make his character for him since I have HeroLab on my computer, and then explain the abilities when we meet next week. The game is starting at Level 3, and he's already decided he wants to play as a Hobgoblin since he digs stealthy characters who are good at ranged combat. We're playing in a homebrew game starting in Turtleback Ferry in Varisia, where some tribes of goblin/hobgoblin/orcs/etc have formed an alliance with the town so playing as a monstrous humanoid will not be a big deal and another player is going to be a Goblin Rogue.

The choices I've narrowed it down to are...

• A Fighter w/ the Crossbowman archetype
• A Ranger w/ Crossbow combat style w/ the Skirmisher archetype so he does not need to worry about spells

I want him to have the most fun while learning the system and don't want him to get frustrated in the process.

So, which would you recommend? I'm leaning more toward the Ranger who will pickup the Companions hunter's bond so he also does not need to keep track of an animal companion.

Is there any particular reason I should opt for the Fighter instead?

Any input you guys/gals can give me will be awesome! Thanks a bunch

You might consider the expanded spell-less ranger for him by Kobold Press. Nice feats and abilities with good progression for the flavor you are looking for. And as the name entails, no spells. I personally like it a lot.

 

[abellius]

You might consider the expanded spell-less ranger for him by Kobold Press. Nice feats and abilities with good progression for the flavor you are looking for. And as the name entails, no spells. I personally like it a lot.

If the GM allows it, I agree with this option too. Maybe instead of going with a regular crossbow, maybe go with a repeating one?