Iamacup
2015-09-20, 10:37 PM
Hi all,
As you have guessed from the title, I am a new DM, I have played 2nd Ed for quite a few years, had a break for a few years and now a (pathfinder) group is starting up in my friendship circle. I have volunteered to DM the first encounter as I have the most playing experience. After this we will round robin the DMing so everyone can have a turn.
I have built up an encounter in my mind, for our initial party meeting, however I am having my doubts about running it, as I don't have much DMing experience, and no one has played pathfinder before. Do I go with my own encounter and risk a poor introduction, or should I use a pre made AP, if so which one is a good hook to get a party synced together early?
I have also put some questions specific to the encounter in the spoiler.
The initial encounter will include the party all stopping in a small border town between Cheliax and Andoran, near the coast on the Andoran side, although they are all travelling individually in the same direction they will not know each other, some may have randomly met on the road. I will dice roll arrival times into the tavern. They will file into the pub as it's the only place to lodge for the evening (at their dice rolled time), each character has developed their own reasons for travelling.
Give them enough time to get drinks/food and arrange themselves in the tavern. Some may also want to go to the rooms provided to them.
During the evening a group of Cheliax soldiers will file in, with soldiers covering the other exits to the tavern. I am thinking maybe ten-fifteen soldiers in total. The local law will be away dealing with bandits/mission of mercy type affair. So this is an opportunity for a squad to up their own wages. The Cheliax soldiers, led by a surly corporal will attempt to collect taxes from the local Andorans.
The party will have to also pay the taxes levee or be "arrested"
So three choices for the development here, Fight in the tavern, diplomacy their way out, or be arrested.
What I am struggling with is the hook to make them all work together. A fight means they will have to work together to beat the soldiers. Diplomacy means they could talk their way out of it and have no real tie together. Being arrested means they would be forced together.
Do I remove the diplomacy option, or make it too hard to achieve?
Where would you guys take it from here:
fight to destroy a corrupt gang?
Defend the town against an onslaught until the garrison returns?
Does this sound like a good first encounter?
So many questions..
I don't really know what this party is going to enjoy in an RPG, so I wanted to try and include a bit of everything, also bearing in mind we are going to take a long time to do anything. So I want our first session to have a sense of achievement around it.
Sorry if this seems disjointed, writing quickly on my lunch break. Hopefully it makes sense and there is some thorough feedback.
As you have guessed from the title, I am a new DM, I have played 2nd Ed for quite a few years, had a break for a few years and now a (pathfinder) group is starting up in my friendship circle. I have volunteered to DM the first encounter as I have the most playing experience. After this we will round robin the DMing so everyone can have a turn.
I have built up an encounter in my mind, for our initial party meeting, however I am having my doubts about running it, as I don't have much DMing experience, and no one has played pathfinder before. Do I go with my own encounter and risk a poor introduction, or should I use a pre made AP, if so which one is a good hook to get a party synced together early?
I have also put some questions specific to the encounter in the spoiler.
The initial encounter will include the party all stopping in a small border town between Cheliax and Andoran, near the coast on the Andoran side, although they are all travelling individually in the same direction they will not know each other, some may have randomly met on the road. I will dice roll arrival times into the tavern. They will file into the pub as it's the only place to lodge for the evening (at their dice rolled time), each character has developed their own reasons for travelling.
Give them enough time to get drinks/food and arrange themselves in the tavern. Some may also want to go to the rooms provided to them.
During the evening a group of Cheliax soldiers will file in, with soldiers covering the other exits to the tavern. I am thinking maybe ten-fifteen soldiers in total. The local law will be away dealing with bandits/mission of mercy type affair. So this is an opportunity for a squad to up their own wages. The Cheliax soldiers, led by a surly corporal will attempt to collect taxes from the local Andorans.
The party will have to also pay the taxes levee or be "arrested"
So three choices for the development here, Fight in the tavern, diplomacy their way out, or be arrested.
What I am struggling with is the hook to make them all work together. A fight means they will have to work together to beat the soldiers. Diplomacy means they could talk their way out of it and have no real tie together. Being arrested means they would be forced together.
Do I remove the diplomacy option, or make it too hard to achieve?
Where would you guys take it from here:
fight to destroy a corrupt gang?
Defend the town against an onslaught until the garrison returns?
Does this sound like a good first encounter?
So many questions..
I don't really know what this party is going to enjoy in an RPG, so I wanted to try and include a bit of everything, also bearing in mind we are going to take a long time to do anything. So I want our first session to have a sense of achievement around it.
Sorry if this seems disjointed, writing quickly on my lunch break. Hopefully it makes sense and there is some thorough feedback.