It was only just May the 4th, and any nerd worth her salt knows what's up.  It seemed a no-brainer for me to run a very special kind of game, and in preparing it, and running it last night, I've made a few key observations on how it's changed over the years, how my style has changed, and how I prefer to run my games in this system.

There's no AC in this game.  Instead, enemies will be targeting one of three static defenses: Fortitude - your constitution and strength to resist poison and getting thrown around, Reflex - your dexterity and ability to dodge, feint, or parry, Will - your mental clarity and focus.  Now, in Pathfinder, these numbers would be bonuses to opposed checks against a Difficulty Class etc...  But Saga takes a page from 4th Edition and keeps these numbers as static defenses.  These are the numbers your enemies and you roll against to hit them and cause damage and debilitating effects, which is much faster and cleaner.
  Perception and Initiative can be treated as static as well (rolling in a clear "passive Perception"), but my players prefer rolling for Initiative for familiarity and that possibility of striking first.  Rolling with crazy bonuses IS fun, don't take them all away!

The Force operates in two big ways in Saga: in the form of Force Points (a D6 added to a roll) and Force Powers.  Jedi and other Force users collect powers in their Force Power Suite to wield within the world, slowly expanding the suite as they take Force Training (a Feat taken multiple times, based on your Wisdom).
  Now, as per Raw, the Powers you have count as one use of said power, and this is where I split from RAW and flow toward my own preferences.

+ The Powers in your suite are treated like spells known and prepared.  It tracks that a Force user that uses a Force Push would be able to push multiple times; they wouldn't forget how just because they already did it once.
+ Some Powers require the use of Force Points to work, while others can be augmented by the Force (using points), but most don't require burning them.  Your pool only increases and replenishes every LEVEL, so no.
+ Most Powers take a Swift action in combat.  I've seen Obi-Wan swing a lightsaber and shove a stack of droids in the same turn, so you guys can do it too.  Force Lightning, on the other hand, may take a little more oomph in the action economy (unless you're a certain skill level in the Sith traditions).

Destiny Points function much like inspiration, but I add a nice big D12 instead.  It's not *just* a re-roll, it's a possible value (you pick how you want to use it).

AND - Because my setting is in the Old Republic, when the Force is prevalent and surging, I added a mechanic to wonderful effect last night.  
  Your Force dice and Destiny die can Ace.  Acing is a mechanic utilized in games like Mekton, Deadlands, and the entirety of Savage Worlds (probably a ton of others, but those are the ones I know).  Anywho, if you roll the max number on a die, you roll again and add the two values together (Ace again?  Keep going and keep adding).  And because you can add a Force die to anything, a punch to the face might send someone through a wall...and isn't that awesome?

So, in short, Saga Edition functions like a streamlined D&D in space with laser swords and wizards.  
It was so good, and it reminded me why I liked this system so much and why I miss it so terribly.
Get ready for a resurrection - we've got more stories to tell.

See you at the table.
-Adamus

For all the math involved in Pathfinder, they certainly had their creative character concepts down.  
  When Vigilante dropped, where the player has a literal alter-ego to manage, I was getting excited.  When alternative classes were introduced, like the Antipaladin or the Samurai, I knew we were on to something special.  The third in the latter's introduction is the Ninja.  

The Ninja introduced an interesting concept (at more for me than the others).  Though it was an alternate class for the Rogue (makes sense), its progressive powers were an uneven split between Rogue and Monk through the introduction of Ki, with added Ninja flair in the form of Tricks.  This seemed to open the door for Pathfinder to introduce Hybrid Classes - classes inspired by and borrowing from two main core classes as "parent classes."
  One such that springs to mind for 5E conversion today is that of the Skald.

In Pathfinder, a Skald is a hybrid between the rage-filled Barbarian and the charismatic musical Bard.  A Skald wields music and rage together to bolster her allies with courage and mettle, and crush her enemies with doubt and fear.
  Now, when I present this idea in conversation in 5th Edition, I am too often met with the image of a half-orc barbarian picking up instruments he doesn't know how to play, playing them badly, then smashing them against foes (with the Brawler feat, to boot).  The image ends up being more like:

​Which I must admit, is pretty cool from what it looks like...  But the whole thing's often played for comedy only, unfortunately.  The awesome artistic rendition above serves well in a Battle of the Bards scenario, which is intended to be silly and over the top.

But this concept should be fueled by the power of both classes; not a bard who's bad at barding, or a barbarian who just happens to be (hilariously) a poet.  Take for example this image instead:

Now THAT'S a Skald.  A warrior who fuels their talent with rage and power, spreading that sonic force to its allies.  It fills them inspiration and power, not comedy at its absurdity (which still has its place in certain games, don't worry).  So how do we build this guy?

Something John and I discuss often when we try to build multi-class concepts is the problem of too broad a spectrum of necessary attributes in order to be effective, and this concept does not convert well out of the gate.  We've got three of six (arguably four if we're going strength) that will be essential to our build, and that's Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma (duh).  Normally, I'd say Strength too, but we'll be spreading thin - we're going Dex Barbarian already.
Race: Tiefling (Charisma bump is nice, and I'm sick of the Half-Orc Barbarian trope)
  Standard Array: 15-14-13-12-10-8  
Welp.  You don't need to be smart to sing.
STR: 13
*DEX: 14
*CON: 15
INT: 9 (+1 Racial)
WIS: 10
CHA: 14 (+2 Racial)

This tweaks my nerves a little bit, as I often want one stat at its highest possible run as early as possible (my gut reaction is to put the base 15 in CHA, then +2, for a total of 17...but then we're left with slim pickings for our DEX and CON scores, and we need all three decent to make this work).  Not to mention we won't qualify for Barbarian multi-classing without at least a STR of 13.

This might feel tricky, but our taking a look at what we get up front makes this decision for us.
Barbarian First: Light and medium armor, shields, Simple and Martial weapons
Barbarian Second: Shields, Simple and Martial weapons
Bard First: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords; THREE skills; THREE instruments
Bard Second: Light armor, ONE skill of your choice, ONE musical instrument

Now, take into account that by going into Barbarian later I STILL get unarmored defense, so as long as I have a Shield (which I will), I'm still fine.  Barbarians get all weapons regardless, so Bard makes sense up front for skill versatility and a plethora of instruments with which I can sing my wrath.

The most glaring issue up front here is the fact that you cannot cast spells or concentrate on spells while raging, but my solution is pretty simple: ready?  You can cast spells while raging, and you add your Rage damage to your spells (where applicable, like a spell that deals damage).  In order to do this, you must have at least 1 level in both Barbarian and Bard.

Instead of a brand new archetype, or building a new feat structure, sometimes a little flavor swap and rules switch is all you need.  This way, we still support the benefits of both classes.
  
Now, this build REQUIRES a home-brew allowance, which makes it contingent upon your DM's allowance, but since you're not delving into Unearthed Arcana territory, this feels very smooth.  And I don't feel that it is exploitive in any way.
Giant thanks to John Tanaka for helping me streamline my thought process on this one.  

More insanity on the way.
I'll see you at the table.
-Adamus

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This past weekend marked the beginning of something, and I would be lying if I wasn't the best mix of terrified and exhilarated.
  I was invited/demanded/reserved-my-spot-immediately-following-the-last-one to attend a cool little shindig at Questers' Way called Quest Fest.  At the close of every official semester, we hold a weekend event on Saturday and Sunday where we invite local artists and small businesses to take up space in the center and sell their wares, along with big deals, free classes, and our fantastic D&D Dinner Theater for charity on Saturday night.  It's always a blast, but this time...something was different.  

For one, I wasn't working.  Well, I mean, not for the center.  I was one of those local artists.  And after having a YouTube channel (to middling success) for years now, becoming a professional dungeon master, and beginning to step into the very complicated and rewarding lens of painting miniatures just over the last year, it is a singular experience to be fully transitioning into legitimately selling my wares like some sort of underground fantasy resource.
  I don't really have a business, mind you.  I'm just a dude with a Patreon trying to make his way in the universe by providing good stuff for my fellow gamers that isn't going to break their wallet, and I'm happy to meet you where I can if it means you get more playing at your table.  And it was that level of wheeling and dealing (and being on my feet, actively engaging with nautical tons of kids and adults) that I wasn't expecting.  
  I.  CRAVED.  IT.  
It was beautiful.  I had parents bringing back memories of when THEY played, kids lighting up as they imagined unlimited worlds unfolding before them, held insightful discussions with old and new players alike, and sold out of dice almost immediately!  It was magical.  I love talking with peeps about games, podcasts, stories, and painting styles.  Got a lot of tips from some vets in the business, and got a few compliments too.
  And D&D Dinner Theater finally starting to hit its niche.  We've got a few more kinks to work out (don't worry, we've FINALLY got a sound guy secured for next time), maybe a little more plot to follow, but it's clear that its heart has settled into place.  The rest will be easy.  ;)

But the next day brought about a unique, surreal, and humbling observation.  
  My dice sold in under 90 minutes.  10 deals of miniature lots sold in the 30 minutes before D&D went live.  No one knew what minis they were getting, but they bought them anyway.  Barely anyone physically visited the shop on Sunday, yet I made back my investment through private messages and updates on available stock.  The response rendered me speechless for a time.
 
Our world is overrun by access.  Technology, internet, sharing, tweeting, instagram...  Sometimes we catch things, sometimes not.  But for those that subscribe value actively to something, they will commit it to their personal world.  They will share it to the stars and hope that another sees its rays and finds the same value in it that they did, and share it again.  This core of a perpetually rippling collective memory and experience is what drives a tribe nowadays.  A tribe; a group of people who have rallied behind an idea, a concept, a mission, a neighborhood, a person.  Something, or someone, they trust.  They'll give them the benefit of the doubt, back them when they need help, and shout their praise when their voice isn't loud enough.
  My success that weekend was in no small part because of the small tribe of people that frequent Game On, that like my Instagram, that listen to my podcast, that read this blog.  Your love, your joy, your stories, your value...it warms my soul.  And I hope I can do better for you, always.
Thank you for playing with me.  It is an honor, My Tribe.

See you at the table.
-Adamus

  Recently I had the honor to play in a new event type we're offering at the center: Modular Madness.  
Now, witty title aside, the event structure is certainly no One-Shot scenario (though we did have a character death in the first combat - curse those Nat 20's), and not as grand long-form as a Knight Owls or Gray Owls.  What it is is a set of 4-6 sessions planned over roughly 4-6 months.  We meet and play for approximately six hours each sitting with 2-3 breaks between the action.  We do this to experience and play through an actual module inside the given game system.  
  This time around?  We're playing Dragon Heist.
Run by John, with a strict party of 6 adventurers at maximum, and no clue of each other's complete intentions, we muddled our way through chapter 1 of the adventure at our first session about a week ago.  IT WAS A BLAST AND A HALF, and I've done some thinking on the experience.

I play a Yuan-Ti Wizard named Soren Finranda.  He's a little creepy, keeps to himself, but is generous and cunning when he needs to be.  Now, I've played wizards before, but I wanted to take a specific approach when it came to Soren.  
  This Yuan-Ti is not strong, nor is he dextrous in any way.  My Constitution gives me +1 HP per level, and with 6+1 HP at first level...yeah, I have 7 hit points walking into this.  With no armor and barely a dagger to my name, I have no business being a damage dealer.  And, dare I say, until higher levels, nor does ANY WIZARD, and here's why.
Soren's spells are not built for dealing damage.  Sure, the Yuan-Ti race feature gives him Poison Spray, and he grabbed Toll The Dead like a boss, but the rest is rounded out with Mold Earth and Minor Illusion.  Yes, I skipped Prestidigitation this time.  All of his level 1 spells?  Grease, Shield, Sleep, Silent Image, Unseen Servant, Magic Missile.
  Soren's whole schtick is to wait and plan, and in a system where I often play Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, Monk, Sorlock...this was old school D&D.  There's a rite of passage that follows the low-level wizard; the knowledge that all it takes is one errant arrow and a failed saving throw versus halitosis and BAM you're dead.  You have to be careful, smart, and save your VERY limited spell slots for the most opportune moment.
  And Arcane Recovery...  Well, Arcane Recovery at level 1 allows you to "recover" one level 1 spell slot (1/2 of the two you have at the get-go) during a Short Rest.  Over the course of chapter 1, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, so no long rests, meaning all I've got is one Arcane Recovery to recover ONE SPELL SLOT.  Make 'em count, gents.
So I did.
  Grease the troll so my melee buddy has advantage, and keep my distance.  Arcane Recovery.  Sleep the ambushing archers because they're close together and I rolled high on the 5d8 Hit Point pool (I'll at least drop one of them).  One slot down.  Summon Silent Image to confuse the heck out of a major foe and SKIP that combat altogether.  By now, I'm tapped out.  Just cantrips to go on.  Use Minor Illusion to cover the mishaps of my allies and divert attention - fail a stealth check and nearly die from one arrow to the chest - then Poison Spray for max damage because why not?
  I had to be quiet, careful, and cunning.  Especially with average damage working out the way it does, and with a module setting with a high emphasis on laws, stealth, and cloak and dagger, my job is better served as a controller, not a blaster.  

The wizard spell list is extensive.  The biggest one in the game.  And though there are some spells that we'll never get (lookin' at you, Eldritch Blast), what we do get can alter time and space.  It's hard to argue with a well-placed Fireball, but I beg you to consider the less obvious options.  Options like Charm Person - which can end a combat if you're on point, later following the Dominate Person and Dominate Monster train; Detect Magic and Identify keep you knowledgable of the arcana that surrounds you (not to mention spell traps around your allies); Disguise Self; Feather Fall has saved many lives in MANY campaigns; Flaming Sphere coupled with Pyrotechnics (flaming marble madness in a smoke cloud of chaos); Suggestion, to really drive a point home.  
  And most of those I just listed are lower leveled spells, so you'll have more opportunities to use them.  An expanded spell list offers you options, and each spell has a reason to exist; I urge you to collect as many spells as you can into your spell book and entertain the option of each - play through the mental landscape of its use, usefulness, and level of control on the social, exploration, or combat fields.  The rest is up to how patient you are with your tactics and how creative you can be with its use (but always have a backup plan ready in case it goes sideways).
  You have the resources to be smart, and a wizard is a great class to practice playing smart.

The first time I played in 5th Edition I chose a wizard, and picked as many damage-oriented evocations as possible.  Through playing, however, I began to understand more of the game's mechanics; not only my own, but how other players and enemies navigated all the pillars of play...and how magic can infiltrate, manipulate, augment, and dilute these mechanics.
  And after 2 and a half years of teaching the game, talking the game, designing the game, plus over 10 years in other systems...  I get it.  My knowledge of how the game works, action economy, and how each spell functions makes me finally work like a wizard.  Knowledge is power.
  I understand how powerful prone is, so Grease is obvious.  Silent Image is confusing and powerful to less inquisitive creatures, so of course I have it.  As AC continues to rise, and I don't want to be seen as a combatant, then spells like Toll The Dead and Poison Spray, that require saves, are very advantageous early on...and will continue to be as I try to be secretive.  On top of this, as my options continue to increase (the most expansive list in the game), I can continually adjust my focus each long rest, making me extremely flexible day to day.

Returning to the wizard allows me superstar moments.  Time to wait, watch, and listen...then throw out a clutch spell that's going to change the landscape of the encounter.  I have the power to alter time and space; you can bet your butt I'm going to wield that power with Intelligence to maximize its effectiveness, no matter what.

Knowledge is power.
See you at the table.
-Adamus

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Every Game Master has their fair share of custom content and home-brew incorporation.  We add a mundane item here, a magic item there, pull from previous editions, or adapt from other mediums.  Hell, maybe we'll change the setting altogether; flip the script and play in the whimsical alternate dimension of: Milwaukee.

Whatever the case, each Game Master has their own house rules and a whole bevy of alternative items, mechanics, and elements ready to be created, discovered, and reinforced by their players...  
So I thought I'd talk about mine.

My setting of Io enjoys seven distinct settings, or Ages, in its interwoven timeline.  I did this originally to be able to offer an abundant mix of games inside the same system but with a progressive timeline.  What this created was a beast of internal consistency, where the actions of a party of adventurers on Tuesday could potentially affect the world experienced on Wednesdays, and the actions of the Knight Owls could have echoes in the Gray Owls campaign.  I was careful to allow a large enough passage of time to avoid any weirdness, but the extra-meta knowledge of players in multiple campaigns has been pretty cool.  
  What it's also done is allowed me to create a literal progression of industry from age to age, unlocking special race, class, and item options setting to setting - all of which have lore and reasoning implications.  ...Like how the heck Illithids (literal Mind Flayers) became a playable race in the 6th age of Io-Firma (the Gray Owls setting).  So here's a quick overview of how each Age functions and what type of setting it offers.

The NEXUS: where all creation began - the world and its gods came into being in the Nexus, where the raw energy found in its core flowed through the planet and forged the elemental forces.  Many believe it still exists to this day, somewhere far beyond the planar circle yet intimately close - like a door waiting to be opened.  The details of its location have been lost to antiquity, a single remnant referred to only as The Song Of The Ancients.
Io-Temm: The Worldshaping - The first age of Io, where the Seven Wings birthed the now known pantheon and their inevitable war that shaped the main continent of Erena, the disparate islands of Abaddon, and the kingdoms beyond the Aether.  
Io-Sooth: Mortal's Edge - Classic D&D fantasy setting; the second age entertains the birth of the mortal races, created by the first known pantheon.  Tiamat and Bahamut - Dragonborn; Pelor - Humans; Morahdin - Dwarves; Corellon - Elves; you get the idea... 
Io-Ren: Balance and Ruin - The flames of industry have begun to burn and the mortal races try to harness the power of the gods, ushering in an age of demigods, exploration, and tempting fate.  Campaigns: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Knight Owls Season 1
Io-Shar: The Broken Seas - After a cataclysmic event involving an ancient being ripping a hole in the plane of Water, the world has flooded and expanded into an age of naval piracy, massive sea creatures, and temporal storms.  Campaigns: Wednesdays, Knight Owls Season 2, Knight Owls Season 3.
Io-Empyr: Cloudsinger - After a sky pirate and his merry band pierced the Veil Of Heaven, cities rose into the sky, forming Clusters of new nations and expanding the world further.  Steampunk airships, sky pirates, and tears in the threads of the Feywild and Shadowfell summon a whole new caste of creatures and entities that threaten to take the sky for their own.  Campaigns: Cloudsinger (YouTube)
Io-Firma: The Reclamation - Magic is broken.  A Prime God is dead.  The world is dark and deadly and cold.  Shattered psions, enlightened gnolls, ancient detectives, hired guns, and mature themes, this is not an age of heroes.  No, this world is just a tad...gray.  Campaigns: Gray Owls (21+)
Io-Nixx: The Sundering - Not much is known of this age, as only one adventuring party has caught a glimpse of it.  It is a battle; constant and enormous, where literal gods clash in the skies.  It may even mark the end of the world as we know it.

So, depending on the age, we can assume that certain gear is available as industry increases.  Sooth and Ren are pretty similar, but Ren's adventurers begin to discover the powerful Legacy Weapons from Temm (the first age), tapping into the power of the gods before the turn of the age.  Cataclysm changes things in Shar, and the world adapts; ships, naval warfare, cannons, spell cannons, automated ships, subs - Outlaw Star style ship combat.  Empire allows more steampunk gunslinging, taking the naval concepts to the air at the peak of an industrial revolution.  Then Firma comes along and everything breaks, and it breaks hard; whole classes are gone, or changed dramatically; races disappear, others resurface with new abilities, and no one truly knows how the world works anymore - with magic mostly illegal for the lower class, now we've got to find other ways to get it (drugs, I'm talking about magic drugs).
  So without going into too much detail with the various Ages, the following are *mostly* available in all of my games.

  I like to employ all that the Player's Handbook has to offer for 5E, but sometimes I draw some extra inspiration from my Pathfinder days (extensive weapon lists), and add on a little extra blades for good measure.  None of these are Masterwork (so no +1's, or cutting through resistances), but there might be some other cool perks.  I've always been a fan of incorporating more martial arts weaponry (given my own background), and like utilizing die steps to help illustrate a power increase.  Also-also, not everything is available at every shop.  These custom mundane items, along with other items, might fluctuate depending on supply, demand, harvest, and other such factors age to age.  Again, lore and reasoning for the world.  The mass production of Duskweave in the third age led to a near extinction of the Displacer Beast packs, and no one's heard of a Pack Lord in eons.  Whoops.

  WEAPONS
Claymore - adapted greatsword; 2d8 Slashing - Two-Handed, Heavy
Katana - adapted longsword; 1d8/1d10 Slashing - Versatile, Finesse, Monk
Wakizashi - reskinned Scimiar; 1d6 Slashing - Finesse, Monk, Light
Chain Maul - 2d6 bludgeoning - reach, thrown, grapple from 10 feet
Chakram - 1d6 slashing - thrown (10/30)
Gauntlet Blade, Retractable -  1d8 slashing - 4 lbs. - concealed, retractable (Shar+)
Monolith - 1d12/2d6 slashing - Versatile 
Naginata - 1d8 slashing - reach, heavy, two-handed, brace
Tonfa - 1d6 bludgeoning - AC +1, Light, Monk
Sai - 1d4 bludgeoning - Light, Monk, Disarm on critical 
​Nunchaku - 1d6 bludgeoning - Light, Monk, x3 on critical

  ARMOR
Plated Robes (not armor) - AC = 11 + Dex Modifier
Duskweave Leather - AC = 13 + Dex Modifier, Light Armor
Ironwood Scale Mail - AC = 14 + Dex Modifier (max 2) - Disadvantage Stealth - 35 lbs.
Elderwood Scale Mail - AC = 15 + Dex Modifier (max 2), Medium Armor
Ballistic Duskweave Doublet - AC = 14 + Dex Modifier, Medium Armor
Dragon Plate (specific materials required - AC = 18 w/resistance to the element associated with the dragon scales used

  SHIELDS (I treat shields as weapons.  Direct reference to my Pathfinder sword and boarding, so there you go)
Buckler - 5 gp - AC +1 - 3 lbs.
Constructivist Shield - 65 gp - AC +1 - 4 lbs. - Can be used as a reaction to raise your AC.  Does not occupy a hand.
Round Shield, Light - 15 gp - AC +2 - 6 lbs. - Bash 1d4
Round Shield, Heavy - 30 gp - AC +2 - 10 lbs. - Bash 1d6
Tower Shield - 100 gp - AC +3 - STR 17 required - Disadvantage Stealth - 20 lbs. - Bash 1d8

  Duskweave = made from Displacer Beast pelts, and thus has a smoky dispersal that shifts and moves as the armor moves.

  Now, many of these additions are lifted from my Knight Owls Armory, but if you don't normally venture over there, you'd never see them.  So here they are anyway for your consideration.

Alchemy and Herbalism, especially as it pertains to potion making as a pursuit, has really come to fruition in Io-Shar, where my industry-heavy players reside.  They crave that personal control of their universe, and I LOVE IT.

So, potion-making in Io borrows from Skyrim, The Witcher, and my own head, as well as a blend of other home-brew resources dotting the landscape of Reddit, DM's Guild, and the Open-Gaming License.  All that being said, let's run it down a bit.

In Io, there are a large number of known ingredients that create specific effects in the brewing process, while others might augment or dilute others.  Bloodgrass, for example, can be used to add an additional 1d4 to the healing amount for a healing potion you are brewing, but Rubygrass (grown in the Feywild), will actually REMOVE a d4 from the healing (the taste is sharp and difficult to swallow).  So we use Herbalism to "enhance" the potion.  We call them Enhancements.  Some can cancel each other out, while others augment the effects.
  Then, there are ingredients that we actually derive the Enchantment from.  We treat them as our Core.  The intended potion effect.  Like using Void Root to brew a Potion of Flying.  
  Finally, we need a Base.  The liquid that we'll be using.  Some potions can be brewed in water, while others require Holy Water as their Base, or Salt Water, or Liquor.  Specific liquids may also imbue the potion with specific properties.  
So, if I want to brew a Healing Potion, I need at least a Base and a Core.  
Base: Water.  Core: Cherrymoss Extract.  Then 3 hours.  
If we want, we can mix in some Ground Ephedrana to increase the die step of the healing potion from 2d4 to 2d6.  Finish the brew and you've got a "boosted" healing potion that heals 2d6+2 hit points.

And that's one potion.  Booyah.
....Experimenting with all of this is going to be A LOT of FUN.

So there's a lot going on, and I haven't even talked about the Prestige Classes or the Legacy Weapons (they're coming, don't worry), but this post has gone on long enough, and hopefully it clears up any confusion from looking at the lists from the Knight Owls armory moving forward.  :)

See you at the table.
-Adamus

  I was recently invited to sit in and play at a friend's long-running Pathfinder game.  Everyone just made it to 14th level, without milestones, so they've been playing for awhile.  
  A well-established group who have spent enough time through some amazing adventures to achieve a high-level sense of play and a complete lack of resistance for the DM in charge.  It's clear the group and their DM have a lot of love for the game, their story, and the individual players and characters.  
  They ran like a well-oiled machine, with clearly defined roles for the players to help each other out as well as a strong idea of their functionality in combat, AS WELL as a justified means to protect each other and trust each other's abilities and agency when stuff gets real.  Remember what I said about that lack of resistance...we'll be swinging back to that.
  So I'm coming into this after a long stint of running Pathfinder, then falling headfirst into becoming a professional GM for a company who has helped foster the creative, and soul-driving endeavor of offering unique opportunities for players and game masters to become their best selves through tabletop gaming experiences.  I write this blog, publish fiction, make custom content, and record show after show of an online campaign and a kick-ass podcast.  NONE OF THIS is to pat myself on the back, but to illustrate that, more often than not, I'm not the player at the table - I'm the one behind the screen managing this chaos.
  Which means on those rare occasions where I'm offered an opportunity NOT to do that, I tend to take distinct care to create something functional, fitting, and, for the love of Sauron, to KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.  I have a certain calm to my preparation nowadays, and in Pathfinder you've got to know (or at least have the reference ready) what your stuff does to keep things moving and ask the right questions to clarify.  I had the honor of working with the DM beforehand, hashing out a backstory that fits inside the awesome steampunk 1840's Yukon Gold Rush with subtle magic elements and a weird freaking train, then set to work chaining feats and working the numbers to stay competitive with this established crew.  Not everyone knew I'd be coming, so I didn't want to bog anything down, nor arrive with no concept of my character (NEVER ARRIVE without your character already done.  I mean it.  If you are familiar with the system, there is no excuse.  Do your damn homework).

So, life runs a little later than intended and I roll in a bit late with food and drinks as penance, say my hellos and mark my place.  I like to be compact; character sheet and all accompanying abilities/spells/etc on a clipboard, selected dice in my rolling box, pencils at the ready, and spare paper in the clipboard.  I even came with a coaster for my caffeine, just in case!  The session begins shortly, and the team as is has some planning to do, so while they converse in character directly next to me, I turn toward our DM and we work through some short interactions to set up my individual plan and then...  I wait.

And I loved it.  True, every now and then there might have been a quick interaction where I could investigate something, look around, listen (I was being smuggled in a coffin surrounded by a den of vampires, by the way), but until actual combat began - I needed to literally wait.  It was splendid.
  I got to watch these people work.  The few I knew in the party came over to check on me, apologizing that it was "taking so long," but if it was, I didn't notice.  It was an honor just to watch, adding to the scene with my silence, with subtle actions here and there.  No one knew what I was; I didn't announce any of my character or my mechanics when I arrived - they weren't sure if I'd be friend, foe, or something more, only that I was playing...at some point.  And no one asked; not out of ignorance, or dismissal, but out of respect.  I'd like to believe that they, too, understood what I was reveling in.  
  I was enjoying the subtle power of Silence.

Actively listening to the players, the party, and the game master.
​  This is a skill, and often I feel we forget it.  We replace it with a need to be heard constantly, eager to be listened to rather than to allow others a similar space.  By literally shutting our mouths and opening our ears, we begin to engage with the world around us in new and dynamic ways.  I was ENTHRALLED by the antics of this party, and though I think that was in no small part due to their own nature, I'd like to entertain that my own active listening helped just a tad in holding my attention.  I was consistently fully engaged in everything that WASN'T my turn, and I was remarkably happy to, well, WAIT.
  Space where I wasn't flapping my jaws also allowed my active brain to shut up for a second, and just exist for a time.  Errant thoughts - like looking up a feat, making sure that random mechanic worked the way I thought it did, checking my numbers quickly - can still occur, and I can quietly take care of them without interrupting flow (what a concept), but for most of that preamble, I am 100% engaged with everyone's story that IS NOT MY OWN.  I am excited and energized by their cool powers, interesting ideas, and role-playing.  It gave me a moment to read the room, and to appreciate the beautiful world that the DM had made with these players - take note of the great care with which they've crafted this experience, and sit in awe of seeing it all work, like controlled chaos.

Wait for your mechanics to shine before they are revealed.
  This one I have to be careful with, because rules are important.  The GM needs to know that you are not taking advantage of something/cheating/fudging your numbers/etc; trust is important, so the GM needs to know what you are and what you can do, and you MUST make sure that everything you can do is well within the rules you are operating with.
  IF you are fulfilling this already, here's a suggestion: try NOT telling everyone about what your character can do right away.  Create nuance and mystery by NOT showing them your character sheet right away, so when you get an opportunity to show what you CAN do, the beat hits harder.  Case in point:
  Combat begins shortly after I hop out of a coffin and dust a vampire, catching the sniper rifle it was holding and loading it as a Free Action (hint, hint).  We roll Initiative.  The highest player is at 24...except me.  I rolled a 33.  19+14.  ...I will revel the look of awe at that table, just in a small way.  Mechanically, it's all kosher.  Dexterity is a 22 (+6).  Inquisitor gives me my Wisdom modifier on top of Dex (another +5) for Initiative, Gunslinger Initiative +2 (HINT), and a trait at character creation that grants a +1 (6+5+2+1 = +14).  
  That's one small element, and a neat little moment.  My turn rolls around, and I use Deadly Aim to take a full round of 4 shots (reloading for free), with a prayer of Judgment (attacks are now magical) with +16 damage on every hit, and +22 to hit most shots - to strike down a vampire that just got slammed by the barbarian in a surprise round for nearly 160 damage...which was heavily reduced by resistances...then he got my blessed bullets and took full damage.
  Yeah.  I'm a holy Gunslinger Inquisitor with a southern drawl and fantasy-themed bible verses.  Take into account that I still work all of my mechanics in my own voice, that's a fun reveal in the first round of combat, and it helped establish my own schtick early on.  Plus, EVERYONE at the table is now experiencing this character at the same time as their own characters - I didn't talk up his personality or his voice or his abilities beforehand.  Add on that I spent some Grit (special skill points that create cool trick shots and targeting) to alter the battlefield and provide utility to the group, and it's pretty cool.
  The best part?  They haven't seen everything I can do yet.  And they won't, unless the opportunity presents itself.  There's no reason for me to brag about the cool things I can do.  It's so much more fun to use them when the time is right.
  There's a big difference between telling everyone all the cool spells you can do, and SHOWING everyone the awesome spells you can do at the best time.  The impact of the latter is so much greater, and it creates something beautiful and refined from a cooperative story experience.  Try it out, I dare you.

  While I was in Bermuda, my friend Jesse and I went wandering.  We witnessed a curious thing: they have a specific sign on the roads.  A familiar white, upside-down triangle with a red border and black lettering.  What we would immediately recognize as a Yield sign, instead read the words: "Give Way."  Together, we were pleased to see this.  Jesse was pleased because it changed the language to allow people to think of someone other than themselves while driving, but bringing the fact home, my podcast partner in crime, John, swung it a bit further.  When you Give Way to someone, you're not actually giving up anything.  Instead, you are "Gifting" space for another.  
  When we practice silence, we gift space to another to fill, or we can choose to not fill such space.  Quiet moments do not HAVE to be filled with noise, or speech, or music.  I like to think sometimes that in gifting my silence to another, I might have given them a sense of peace and quiet in a world inundated by distraction and stimulus; so loud and uncaring that we feel we must speak constantly lest we be drowned out by the void.  But you don't have to.  I give you space.  Try filling it with BREATH instead of words; you'll be surprised what you discover.

You ever feel like you're the only one speaking?  Try stopping for a moment and assessing the room.  Spotlight is important, sure, but high-level play comes from everyone's willingness to share that spotlight.  Being aware of our personal time, our character's spotlight, how much time that uses, how our role-play may miscommunicate because we're bored, and thousands of other miscommunications because we don't feel like becoming engaged in the stories of others.  A party that hasn't already experienced a lot of adventuring together (like, years of it) can feel pretty delicate.
  Our silence, coupled with active listening, can help communicate an absolute respect for a person's story, but this is a two-way road.  Kind and patient people can use up that empathy on a person that fails to notice their own spotlight hogging over and over again.  Try this little thought experiment: on a group chat, if the majority of the last 10 minutes of posts is you...STOP.  Give someone else some space to speak.  At a table, if the last 45 minutes have been your character's scene, try to find a way to wrap it up.  Once in a while is fine - but all the time is obnoxious.  That's tabletop 101, gents.

This group flows.
  Not one moment came up where the DM had to hush the players, or argue a point, or fight to get something across.  Everyone at the table was absolutely engaged with the stories of each other, mine included (thanks, guys and gals).  We got up, wandered the room, had in-character conversations throughout the house, all within the world, and the DM was aware of all of it.  It is abundantly clear the level of play that this group enjoys; they adore the world that has been constructed for them, and it is a joy to play within it.  They respect each other's time with immaculate care and fun, and we were happy to play until the wee hours of the morning (I barely noticed).
  Now, part of this is a product of the extensive amount of work that each of them has put into their character's mechanics, and for the fact that they've got a literal human encyclopedia at the ready in the form of the host (thanks, buddy), but those are the roles they've established over years of play, and they are clearly dedicated to this cooperative campfire story.  Even if I didn't have years of experience in Pathfinder, as long as I didn't behave like an obnoxious jerk, I'm certain I still would have had a blast with these people.
  If I ever get invited back, it would still be my honor to wait quietly for my turn.  ;)

See you at the table.
​-Adamus

  Those of you within our closer circles have already seen, or heard of, the exploits of my Pathfinder character, Bigby.  His story has been driven into the hearts and minds of all he graces with his crotchety presence, and many have been saved (or horribly killed) by his hand.  And though playing Bigby was A LOT of fun, there were pitfalls in my approach to him, at least mechanically speaking...  So let's take a look.

  I wanted to make an old, grizzled, crotchety fighter well into his 60's...that can still swing an axe and battle monsters that would make his ancestors shake in their armor.  He's a little forgetful, but he means well, and he gets frustrated when things get too complicated.  Not one for political moves or cloak and dagger, Bigby deals with his problems directly and decisively, and holds little stomach for cowards.  His backstory is pretty tragic in connection to his many sons and estranged wife, his entire destiny tasked to wreak vengeance upon the warlords, gangs, and circumstances that took each of his sons from him.  And this doesn't do much to help his own mental state, as sometimes he sees the ghosts of his sons following him through life, but also guiding.  He doesn't feel guilt for their deaths, almost at peace with the idea that they cannot rest until he fulfills vengeance for each, and they grant him the fortitude to soldier on.
  That's some heavy and sad stuff...  So I tried to make him the buffest of buff old men.

  I've gone in depth a bit HERE, when I gush about my love of Pathfinder and its numbers, and give a little heads up as to the plan of Bigby's build.  BUT, it's worth noting that ANYONE can build this character.  There's no homebrew here; everything he has is within published, canonical materials inside the Pathfinder D20 system.

So, CORE CONCEPT - Grizzled FIGHTER, adept at close combat, hard to hit, hard to kill; literal tank of the party.
Gotcha.  So, in order to fully benefit from all the things the system has to offer when it comes to combat, I have to be a Fighter.  The Fighter class has persisted in D&D and all of its variants as an industry standard.  Often viewed as a "simple" or straight-forward class, the Fighter is considered a master of martial combat, proficient in just about everything (except Exotic Weapons, in this case), and wearing any armor they can get under the sun.  This can make them unbound when it comes to equipment, but also equipment dependent in order to keep up with casters and other variants.
  The main benefit of the Fighter in PATHFINDER however is their ability to Feat Chain.  
I once did a video on this exact concept, but looking at it from a negative managerial point of view when comparing how Pathfinder handles Feats as opposed to 5th Edition D&D.  Upon revisiting Pathfinder in the last year and a half, I've come to appreciate the huge amount of thought and mechanical considerations of the extensive Feat list in the game.  It really makes it so incredible things are possible mechanically.
  Fighters can "feat chain" because of a blend of two main mechanics.  As Feats are essential to making a functional character, EVERY character (regardless of class or multiclassing) gains a Feat every odd total level (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th...you get the idea).  A FIGHTER gains a Bonus Feat at level 1 in the class, then every EVEN level in the class (so 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th...you got it).  Therefore, if you're following here, as long as you stay straight Fighter and do not multiclass, you are effectively gaining one Feat EVERY LEVEL, and TWO Feats at level 1 (when most others get one).  Add in the fact that a Human gains an ADDITIONAL bonus feat at level 1...and we've got it made early and often.
Let's RECAP.  Bigby, at level 1, is a Human Fighter, so he starts the game with 3 Feats of his choice (it should be noted that the bonus feats from the Fighter must be classified as Combat Feats [there are different categories], but there's no reason for us NOT to take a Combat Feat when considering our plan here).

Concept Path - Human Fighter, 3 Feats to start, good golly
  How do I want to fight?  Well, armor is awesome, and I want to get the best bang for my buck with any gear I'm using, and hit hard and often.  Great offense with great defense?  Of course.  Sword and Board.
  This choice immediately puts me at a combat disadvantage without Feats.  If I want to slice and bash, I am now engaging in Two-Weapon Fighting, and in so doing suffer HUGE penalties to my attack rolls (a whopping -6 on your primary attack and -10 on your off-hand attack).  These penalties drop a little if the off-hand is a light weapon, but I don't want that (it's my shield.  Not gonna' happen).  Penalties like this make sense, though.  Any schmuck can pick up two weapons and swing them around, but they're not TRAINED in it, so they won't be as consistently effective.  This is how Pathfinder uses numbers to represent this lack of training.
  Which means, I need to lower that initial penalty.  Feat #1 is easily Two-Weapon Fighting, which drops my initial fighting penalty to an even -4 for my primary and -4 for my off-hand.  With a great starting Strength score of 20 and modifier of +5 to add to my attack rolls, I'm doing okay so far (+5 modifier to both attacks, after math = +1/+1). 
  Now we add in the fact that every class benefits from a mechanic called the Base Attack Bonus (or BAB) - a general numerical bonus to each of your attack rolls (not unlike the general Proficiency Bonus from 5th edition).  In a martial class, your BAB often matches your class level, but for more varied classes, it progresses a little slower.  Bigby is a Fighter, so his BAB equals his Fighter level easy, adding another +1 to each attack in his two-weapon fighting (+2/+2).
  So, Feat #2?  Improved Shield Bash.  Normally, if one were to bash with their shield, they would lose the bonus to AC (Armor Class) that the shield provides in the round following the turn that they bashed; justification being that you're too busy crushing a dude's nose with the shield to use it to defend against oncoming attacks.  Improved Shield Bash allows me to bash...and keep my AC bonus.  Also, less thinking for me.
  Feat #3 - Double Slice.  This feat allows me to add my Strength modifier to the damage roll with my off-hand (where normally I would not be allowed to...so yeah, less floating numbers for me.  Nice and streamlined.)
RECAP: Attack twice each round with a +2 to each attack, keep my AC bonus when I do so, and add my strength modifier (+5!) to both attacks.  With a d10 for his Hit Points, and high Con score (17, so +3 HP), Bigby's pretty beefy so far.

Bigby's seen some things, and taken only a few hits along the way.  Most of the damage dealt to the party has been dealt to others, because at this point, between Armor Training, a rare set of Warplate, and a Ring of Protection, his AC is 27.  That means that most thugs have to pray to hit him with a Natural 20.  To top it all off, his hit points are easily triple the other party members (a gaggle of casters, a druid, and a rogue).  He's grabbed a good many Feats along the way, each adding to either his attack/damage with a shield, or his AC with a shield.  Quick breakdown:
Level 2 - Fighter Bonus Feat: Shield Focus = +1 AC while wielding a shield
Level 3: Two-Weapon Defense = +1 AC while wielding two weapons (shields included in Close Weapons category)
Level 4 - Fighter BF: Missile Shield = longbow or crossbow bolt hits me?  Nah, I block it with my shield once per round.
Level 5: Weapon Focus - Shield = +1 Attack roll with Shield
Level 6 - Fighter BF: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting (second off-hand attack, so two shield bashes)**
**It should also be noted that when Fighters (and many other classes) reach Level 6, they can attack twice with their primary hand during a round whenever they take a Full-Attack Action (forfeit all but 5 feet of your movement to attack a lot).  The way Bigby functions at this point allows him to wade into the fight, stand mostly still, and wail on enemies (attacking 4 times every round), confident in the idea that they will rarely hit him with their attacks...and if they do, he can take it.

  With all of this front-loaded force, battles began to feel pre-ordained.  Bigby was an unstoppable truck, even with his weakened Will saves; if he were upended by a spell, his party would back him up, and he'd only grow more angry at the idea that someone attacked his mind.  His vengeance would be devastating and decisive.
  I started to fall into a trap.  I had picked everything I had based all within the realm of the rules in the game.  But other than a few mind-affecting spells, Bigby was unkillable at this moment, and I felt myself becoming BORED.  I had made a super-adventurer, and we were just over halfway to double digits in character level.  What sort of insanity would Bigby be capable of when he reaches level 10, or 13, when I literally run out of applicable feats for the build (Shield Master happens, and by then I'm attacking three times with my shield, and suffering no penalties for it).  
  My mentality began to pull toward ripping through enemies, and tearing down conflicts with violence, not diplomacy, because that's what I knew to be MOST EFFECTIVE.  Maybe it didn't help that the rest of the party had low agency themselves, so the violent old man was driving the story.  It got a little frustrating, but we used it as an opportunity to BE FRUSTRATED in character.
  But I cannot deny the rush of power in each fight...I just wish things didn't die so easily.  Saitama-syndrome aside, a powerful player represents a unique challenge to a DM.  He can scale the difficulty to accommodate for a beefy PC, but often at the expense of the more squishy player-characters.  One dangerous martial combatant puts the rest of the party at greater risk.  It makes sense, but from a group play scenario, it can get a little complicated.
  The DM has to make sure that the main threats target the optimized player so as not to paint the picture of punishing the party for a player who just followed the rules, but then that player could feel, well, TARGETED for just playing the game.  What really has to occur is a delicate scaling of encounters that affect the party in more dynamic ways.  Instead of a big bruiser just becoming a BIGGER BRUISER, use intricate spells and traps to offset a heavy martial character, and provide a counter-balance to the rest of the party.  A well-prepared wizard is a dangerous foe, even against the mack truck that is Bigby's build.

  Pathfinder especially supports insane play through its mechanical system.  Crazy-high numbers at low levels is not unheard of, and the entire system expects optimization and multi-classing as a rule.  Playing the game can be exhilarating, satisfying, and massively entertaining...but it IS a LOT to manage, from both a player perspective (in ANY class) and the DM's perspective.  
  With so much going on, you might think you'd never be bored, but when you're nearly unkillable...  You might feel a greater pull toward the more insane levels of shenanigans and odd-ball problem-solving that puts the group at greater risk.  They're great stories, win, lose, or draw - but the ensuing madness can become the norm.

So what do we do?  
  Well, building a trust-empathy relationship with the party and your DM is paramount to having a positive experience regardless, and we (here at Questers' Way) err on the side of rising to the occasion as opposed to diminishing a player's power level (there's an exception to this, when players abuse rules, but this isn't it).  If you have a powerful party, well, then you have to grow as a Game Master, and find new tactics, strategy, spells, and other tools to offer greater challenges.  It's a push and pull, and you never want to appear cheap (like a monster "suddenly" gaining extra resistances, abilities, etc.), so having a discussion with the group of players is totally welcome and encouraged to help the GM level the playing field.

In the end, we're just creating more epic stories, and one must remember that this is a collaborative experience, not a GM vs. players mentality.  An optimized player is not an insult to the game, they're an opportunity to grow.

See you at the table.
​-Adamus

  For the longest time, I would vacillate between two distinct character builds: full martial powerhouse or full controller caster.  The times that I would move between the two were great learning experiences, but I would rarely find my stride.  Only recently have I had the opportunities to flex my character building muscles and engage in some great role-playing outside of that comfort zone (in no small part due to my team of GMs being in charge of their own groups that I can take part in).  
  But in the beginning, back in the beginnings of Pathfinder and before the debacle that was 4th Edition (still a decent system, just poorly received - more on that later), I would cut my teeth on playing Grignor, my half-orc barbarian.

Grignor was a product of some great physical rolls at character creation, so, as a balance, the DM and I agreed that he would be a little...off.  Speaking in a third-person-faux-russian accent most of the time, Grignor's average intelligence was undermined constantly by his impulsive nature and low wisdom, often getting the party into some zany antics...then, by sheer force of character and overwhelming power, pulling the party back through.
  It was the latter instances that taught me the most about the power the barbarian could possess.  The main mechanic of such a class, in many systems, is their Rage Feature.  Flying into a Rage grants the barbarian particular bonuses that give them the fighting edge in combat and often increase their survivability.  In a party of mostly casters and a custom rogue sub-type, the party would buff the heck out of Grignor and he would charge whatever the enemy was with the utmost confidence.  Dragons, land sharks, mind flayers, beholders, and a 100-foot tall flesh tornado...we would stand victorious through teamwork, and quite a lot of insane force of will and confidence.

  I was a frustrated kid.  Though my standard disposition is pretty pleasant, and I was by no means one to wail against the system, but I was definitely weird.  I was prone to overthinking things, then responding in often angry or violent ways.  These were acts of frustration directed at my own inability to express myself; they weren't sudden - they built up over time, and they were always a product of directing that anger inward, toward self-improvement.  But when you're a weird kid anyway, and kids can be cruel, sometimes you lash out.
  These outbursts didn't help in making or keeping friends, so I worked out something.  
My anger could be a tool.  That powerful energy surging through me could be focused on a task - yard work, writing, exercising, composing - something that took my whole focus, and I could perform furiously without incurring penalty.  Later, through meditation and the martial arts, I would continue to control and send this energy into work or words or mental clarity (after a little "primal scream therapy," that is).
  My anger was not "wrong," it just needed to be funneled into something useful.  As a barbarian, your Rage is only used effectively in combat, and is done beautifully.  The rest of the time, you can be an otherwise intelligent, if not dopey (in my case) adventurer in high-flying shenanigans.  
  But WHEN you get angry - and let's face it, there's a lot to be angry at - take a deep breath and focus that surge of energy on something useful.  Any berserker knows that if you don't pick your targets, you're a danger to yourself, your party, and your enemies all at once - and nobody wants that.  Wield it like the great axe it is, and change something that needs it, instead of destroying what's closest.

  I was never an athlete, but my physicality has always been very important to me.  I never like feeling physically weak, and once I learned how to do a proper push-up, no one was going to stop me, but momentum was difficult.  I would often shift between months of intense work outs, and months of inactivity and excuses.
  During the former, I was often alert, focused, and confident - even on the days that I wasn't prepared for things.  Keeping a consistent workout schedule, even with hang-ups, shortening workouts, and a lack of results (more on that when we talk about the Monk) - kept my confidence flowing.  I knew how much I could lift, how many miles I could run, and my overall fitness level at all times.  I knew I could make my way through most of what was being thrown at me because I knew my limits, and where I could push.
  In play, the barbarian can back up their tough talk because they're built to be tanks.  They can, like Grignor, power themselves and their party through tough situations if by nothing but a primal force of will and the confidence that they won't go down without one hell of a fight.

  In lives of tact and social preparedness, moments of raw emotion are often avoided.  
Unfortunately, I feel, such moments - no matter how intense - reveal our humanity in one of its greatest forms.  We are emotional beings.  We feel, we change, we influence, we inspire, and we create - through the expression of those raw emotions.  Some of my best work was produced from deep sadness, introspection, or unbridled anger.  When we feel these extremes and let them flow as energy, we become capable of great things and great change.
  Barbarians wield their high emotions as fuel for their Rage, often citing distinct background traits or triggers, and all are tied to their inner-most feelings.  It is this level of feeling that can put people off, or set them aflame, but it is an important aspect that further illustrates the depth to which the barbarian cares.  
  We are complex beings, not one-trick ponies, and our loves and hates run much deeper than we think.  Do not fear them - let them flow, then reflect on what they might mean.

Swing low, sweet greatsword.
I'll see you at the table.
​-Adamus

    With the new semester just around the corner, we've got more players interested than ever before, and a few spots here and there available for folks to come play with us.  
  However, many of the parties with openings have been adventuring with each other some time, a few nearly two years.  They've built strong bonds with one another, some fighting literal gods together...  So how does one join into that kind of dynamic?  Well, in short, slowly.  But here's some more detail!

  I put this one first because it is the most important life skill I have ever picked up in my years of teaching, performing, and just plain existing among other people.  
  Each of us possesses an ability to "read the room;" to gauge how others react to our presence early on in an interaction, the things we say and how we say them, and feed ourselves information on how to react in a way that isn't obtrusive to the other.  It arrives in the form of that feeling at the base of your neck when you realize "I said something wrong" or "That joke didn't hit the way I wanted it to."  This amazing superpower is frustrating, because it relies on immediate hindsight, but one can also address it immediately in public and help assure the others that nothing ill was intended.  "That sounded better in my own head, sorry" or "That joke didn't land well, did it?"  The trick is listening and learning to how the room reacts to your speech, mannerisms, and characterization and make slight adjustments as you go to keep everybody in a good place.
  Unfortunately, there are many role-players so obsessed up front with the idea of their character and how they feel they want to express themselves that they end up ignoring the remaining people in the room, and their level of comfort, which can quickly lead to even the best people feeling frustrated with the "new guy."  
  So, when joining an established adventuring party (or work group, study group, livestream, podcast, social brunch, or any new social group), try this: imagine your character (you) at their highest level of expression...then scale it back to half power.  I don't say this to CRUSH YOUR CREATIVITY and single you out; I say this to allow space for the others to allow YOU to grow a part of THEIR party.  Because let's face it, you're the "new guy."  A strong adventuring group is a delicate thing; too many are broken by internal strife, misunderstanding, destruction of boundaries, and feelings of isolation - so allow yourself and the others in the room time to get to know you, instead of explaining your entire backstory the moment they meet you.  ;)

  Established parties have established skill sets for each member.  When things get nasty (combat or not), everybody knows what their job is and how to support each other.  You've got to find where you can fit.  Often, with a group that's been together a while, there isn't necessarily a gaping hole for you to fill - they've gotten this far without you, you know.  So you need to find how you can augment their current establishment; do things that others struggle with, bringing something new to the table.

  They won't trust you right away.  To let you in, I mean really let you in, is a huge rarity first thing.  You're going to have to earn your place, and respect their distance.  This means not being offended if they're unsure how to work with you in the beginning.  A new person is ALWAYS jarring.  
  If they cross a line with you, let them know, so you can establish boundaries, BUT if you do this, you MUST respect theirs in turn.  If it's not okay for someone to reach out and pat your head, maybe you shouldn't poke the Rogue with a mage hand the first time you meet him...  
    Again, this is interaction with an already established group.  They've wrecked bandits together, bonded over the corpse of a spider lich, done tavern crawls, and survived many a bar fight.  They're friends, in some cases, even considered family.  Being new is difficult.  Be patient.  Respecting boundaries goes a long way toward building trust early (in fantasy and out).
  And often, establishing that level of mutual player respect, will speed up that whole trust thing exponentially.

  It's easy to get excited, you're playing an awesome game with awesome people...  But take a deep breath.  Feed them your personal story in small snippets; if they ask for more, reveal only what is comfortable.  You don't have to fish through your bag for your handwritten backstory and then slam poem it to all of us - you can keep it vague.  
  This also allows you to edit your character as you go.  You don't have to feel pressured about all of the intricate details in your backstory making perfect sense right away; it's YOUR character, you can make changes to the things no one knows yet, and that is extremely powerful to your own agency.  You choose what to reveal and when; mystery can go a long way in building a bond based on what you can DO first, rather than focusing on where you came from.
  Much like #2, you can find stronger connections to the party by finding (and editing) how your story intertwines with their values, desires, and skeletons. 

  Maybe you've never played before, and this is your first experience with a  tabletop RPG; maybe you played a long time ago and want to see how the new edition of the game functions; maybe you've come from eons of playing the best games in the universe and you want to see how we lowly mortals function; maybe you're coming from a bad experience and are just trying to find your place.

Breathe.  Just take a deep breath.  Then take another one, and remember that no entity in the universe begins perfect.

GMs have a difficult job.  They need to balance conflict with success, and provide contextual hooks for the players to help drive a narrative without railroading them.  In other words, give the players agency of choice while also telling a story.

If you take damage, heal.  If you get cursed, find a cure.  Random demon possession?  Something to overcome - maybe even an awesome side quest toward redemption where you discover the mystery of your bloodline.  Not sure what to do?  Improvise!  Still not sure what to do?  Engage your AGENCY.

Make a goal, and pursue it.  And share this goal with the GM so they can find better ways to support your personal development as a player and a character.  And, as the group gets to know you, they'll understand your goal(s) as well; able to back you up, as you have backed them up I'm sure.  

Conflicts that arise in the game's world are opportunities for you, and your character, to persevere and grow - not personal attacks for you to complain about.  Challenges to overcome, and stepping stones toward that goal.  Reflect on what these steps mean to your character, and to you, the player.  Doing this puts everything else into perspective and helps remind us that not everything can go our way every time.  Sometimes settings are not kind places, and we must rise to the challenge, rather than complain of our hand dealt.

  In closing, you can learn a lot by scaling back at the onset.  It keeps you from looking as if you're trying to derail or "steal" their thunder, while allowing you time to read the room, find your niche, take your space, and align a goal on your own.
  A good party is a delicate thing, and people can be very protective of it.  Please remember and respect that perspective if you're jumping into a group that's been together for awhile.  If you grant them that respect at the beginning, you WILL grow into the group easily and quickly.

BUT...if you don't grant them that space, there can be hurdles to overcome later; boundaries that have already been crossed, messages already sent.  Not impossible to overcome, of course, especially with good people, but it will take longer to find one's place.

​Hopefully that didn't meander too much.  Here at QW we always try to foster positive gaming experiences with a high measure of patience, understanding, and teaching; none of us are ever perfect, so benefit of the doubt is great.  But at other social game scenarios, new players may not be given that breadth of allowance.

Looking forward to the new faces already at the door.
I'll see you at the table.
​-Adamus

Maybe it's because I've always enjoyed math, and I've always been good at quick calculation, but Pathfinder requires more than that.  It requires organization, and rewards character planning.  

There are many numbers in play in Dungeons and Dragons, and there are many more in Pathfinder.  If you crave deeper mechanical customization, I highly recommend trying it out, as there are rules and builds for just about anything you can imagine...and they all use numbers to back them up.

Numbers aren't scary.  They make games function, and there is safety in the mechanics that utilize clear values.  Where Pathfinder becomes overwhelming for folks is when they start to consider ALL of their options.  With over 1000 Feats to choose from now, and stacks upon stacks of books, home-brew, race builders, alternate class options, and a massively supported multi class system, it can feel like a little much.

But I love it.  And I love it because it forces me to stay organized.  I can cause shenanigans, insanity, and other hilarious hijinks, just like any other tabletop rpg, but I'm also supported by a system of numbers that I am continually trying to maneuver in my favor.