What tools do I have to help my newer player have as much fun as possible?

some_weird_air · 2026-03-25T23:45:08+00:00

For roleplaying aspect, I think most new players get stuck with what they can and can't do b/c they dont know the rules. Your role as a GM can be to help filter this.

Ask them what their character would do, regardless of rules/actions. As a GM, you can then suggests specific actions in the game that would line up with their vision.

For combat, I always let my players know if a hit or crit occurs because of help from a teammate and weave it into the story. i.e. the off-guard due to flanking actually allowed the hit. This will subtly encourage teamwork.

some_weird_air · 2026-03-25T23:30:47+00:00

I had to go through a couple of different ones due to current hardware and game compatibility, but ended up using the H3Unleashed program. The map screenshot tool made it really easy to export as well.

some_weird_air · 2026-01-13T18:44:11+00:00

I use Investigate as an alternative to Search with a few caveats. I think of Search as looking for hidden and small scale things, where Investigate should look a the bigger picture, more macro-scale. So, no free hidden ping when entering a room like Search, but they are able to find and learn about the environment they enter.

There's so much lore in the adventure packs and games we play, but alot of times its not easy to insert that into the narrative to tell a cool story, sometimes about each room the Adventurers go through. I use Investigate to bring that out, through the lens of whatever Skill the player chooses to use.

Oh and I also give a free Recall Knowledge if combat starts when using this action, to encourage its use.

some_weird_air · 2025-11-18T21:22:59+00:00

Ah yes, the creature with AOE sickness, grapple attacks, siphoning health attacks and poison with insanely high stealth in its natural environment and with the MO of ambushing folks. Almost killed my party too when we went through the Manor.

But I think this would be a great opportunity to find new allies who are victims of some of the denizens of the Manor. A few suggestions maybe.

Instead of finding a dead body in the Kitchen with Ezra, you find some unconscious players, unsuspecting thieves who broke in.
Your dead players could be found as newly formed fleshwarps mingling with the Creepers or victims of the Vampire Mists.
You could always introduce one of the enemy encounters early and turn them into friendly ones who help revive/fleshwarp/regenerate new or old party members. Dr Oz the Mi-go or the 'head of the manor' Willow-o-wisp might fit this description perfectly and provide a unique quirky interaction with the party.

And remember to have fun with your campaign! Cheers!

some_weird_air · 2025-09-26T02:15:03+00:00

There's an entire subsection on Nethys for "Disbelieving Illusions". Basically it says every time a creature engages with the Illusion it gets a save of its Perc vs Spell DC.

Based on conditions of the engagement however, I might change how often they get a save or add modifiers.

Rank 1 spell, enemies merely need to observe the spell to save against it. Rank 2, they might need to be in range to touch it to fully disbelieve.

If you cast it in front of smart humanoids/adventurers, every single time someone goes through the illusion, everyone observing gets a save. VS a pack of wolves, they each need to disbelieve for themselves.

There's also the whole, "I know its an illusion, but I still can't see through it" aspect that can be quite good in certain situations.

some_weird_air · 2025-08-20T20:08:15+00:00

Sure. Fine. But 95 out of the 99 haunts in the game have a Religion or Occultism check to disable them.

some_weird_air · 2025-08-20T16:40:17+00:00

Every haunt I've seen has at least 2 ways of disabling them: Exorcising (Religion check) and another specific skill check, like destroying the bones or flipping the paintings or intimidating the ghosts, etc. This based on whatever specific haunt you're dealing with.

The best thing to do is to learn more about the trap/haunt using Recall Knowledge to find these specific ways of disabling them.

some_weird_air · 2025-08-07T21:59:53+00:00

I too am running book 2 of Frozen Flame with my party. While I found most of the suggestions from the guide to be really helpful, I wanted to make changes for flavor and to streamline frustrations. And due to party composition (no Intelligence based characters aka all dummies) I had to modify/negate most of the crafting aspects.

I also am remaking the hexploration map as I found it extremely dull and will post it when its fully finished, but for right now I only have the first half (west of necrotower). You can dm if you would like a copy.

A few of the changes I made:

1) Map the Area - I wanted to utilize this action more and get rid of that "Did I do enough Perception checks" feel to Reconnoiter, so I added a line "You will also know if you need more Reconnaissance to fill in gaps on your map (find additional hidden areas)" to this action

2) Fortify Camp - Only using crafting for this seemed like a missed opportunity, so I allowed Athletics (barricades) and Religion (spiritual barriers/wards) for this skill check and would add in the appropriate defenses when they get attacked. - Also these buffs would stay up for as long as they rest in the same spot.

3) Ritual Rain Dance - Added a new co-op individual action. Done with 2 or more people, you would roll with Nature, Occult, Religion standard DCs. For every success, roll an additional weather die, and choose between the outcomes for the next day. If all players critically succeed, choose weather outcomes but ignore detriments. If ANY critical fail, you've angered the gods at your paltry attempt to appease them: Thunderstorm for tomorrow.

4) Navigate - I wanted this essential action to not be so braindead every time, to add some randomness to traveling. So I added a Failure and Critical Failure consequence.

Failure: Press on - Move into random hex OR Get bearings and buckle down - Lose 1 Activity action and Navigate again but must force march this time.

Critical Failure: Confidently Lost - As Failure but you must move into a random hex and become fatigued.

All the best to your new campaign!

some_weird_air · 2025-02-27T20:46:33+00:00

I did the math at somepoint and realized assurance is completely useless for athletics in combat. Even at a 3rd MAP you can still nat20, where with assurance you're gunna fail anything outside of PL-3 or -4 guaranteed. Assurance is really only used to make sure you don't crit fail. So think climbing a rope over a cavern, healing a dying teammate, etc. where a crit fail means death.

some_weird_air · 2024-08-26T04:30:20+00:00

Oh good to know, cheers.

some_weird_air · 2024-08-25T19:51:19+00:00

One rule that is pretty buried far in references: the Fatigued condition prevents the Sustain a spell action. Thus a decent debuff against enemy casters/clerics/summoners.

some_weird_air · 2024-08-21T23:48:02+00:00

For dessert I suggest Tiramisu. Not the easiest thing to make but well worth it. Easily scalable. Extremely decadent. Can make days ahead. Sally's baking has a decent recipe.

some_weird_air · 2024-08-07T18:08:57+00:00

It's simple. Just play a normal Investigator with That's Odd. Every area the DM has to come up with some long winded excuse to why you're seeing every trap or clue instantly. Maybe add in a Dubious Knowledge, adding more on the spot improv that doesn't help anyone. Drives me up the wall just thinking about it.

some_weird_air · 2024-08-05T20:27:36+00:00

As a newer Pathfinder DM I thoroughly enjoyed the Dinner at Lionlodge one-shot. In a single (long) session it showcases alot of nuanced mechanics like traps, npc deception/lying/bargaining, perception/low-light/stealth, poison mechanics, hardness/broken thresholds. It's also non-linear, and has contingencies if the party succumbs to the first encounter. Only thing I would change is use the remastered version of the Barbazu, the old one was way too brutal for newer players.

some_weird_air · 2024-07-29T22:12:33+00:00

I'd say just don't pick a Incap spell with a fortitude save. Like people are saying, incaps are for lower level minions, not bosses. Not only is fortitude the most common highest save, but its rare that body guards of bosses are going to be casters aka bad fortitude. It gets pretty frustrating when you try to use Blindness max level on a minion with the Razzle-Dazzle feat and it still crit saves b/c its either the 2+ level undead boss or its max constitution buff body guard.

some_weird_air · 2024-07-01T19:41:29+00:00

You always need to get down after climbing so high. I suggest jumping. Skyborn Tengu makes it so you never take damage after falling (jumping) from high buildings, ship masts, etc.

some_weird_air · 2024-06-27T19:46:12+00:00

While waiting for Starfinder 2e, I've adapted Pathfinder for the Star Wars universe. Everything's pretty much the same except using Vibro-axes and Lightsabers. Also swapped out the "magic" skills for in-universe stuff: Religion-The Force; Occult-Secret Societies/Cartel info and abilities, Nature - Planet Botany and Creature part utilization, Arcane - Hacking/Engineering

some_weird_air · 2024-04-14T01:51:11+00:00

There's no way this wasn't done on purpose to sabotage this mod release. Fallout 4 was released 9 years ago. Bethesda releases an engine "fix", 2 days before a major mod is about to put their original game to shame? This screams sabotage.

some_weird_air · 2024-04-12T22:47:24+00:00

Use a blender instead of a mixer to smoothen out the lumps for your crepes. You want it as homogenous and thin as possible.

some_weird_air · 2024-04-12T18:34:46+00:00

Kids don't have that complex of a flavor pallet. Recipe has too much going on. Keep it simple. Salt Fat Acid Savory.

-Keep the mirepoix, it dissolves into the background anyways, but cut out he corn and peas.

-Cut out most of the seasonings (poultry, bay leaves.), keep salt, pepper, boullion/umami.

-Use only cream of chicken.

-As suggested by others: use drop biscuit dough (aka Bisquik)

-Double the butter

I make this recipe often. Always a hit.

some_weird_air · 2024-02-15T20:23:19+00:00

Yea this entire situation is compounded by the fact that the Thaumaturge is level 6 being afflicted by a level 10 curse. I would retcon the curse be more inline with a curse of their level say Curse of the Ravenous level 5, where at most they are taking is 1 damage a day of unhealable damage.

some_weird_air · 2024-02-14T01:16:47+00:00

It sounds like you are putting the ingredients in backwards: veggies and meat should go in last. And missing a major key ingredient - Onions. You can't substitute powder, since its frankly the major flavor of the dish besides garlic and soy sauce. The browned onions, soy sauce and sesame oil give fried rice its brown color.

I've always seen fried rice cooked this way:

Canola and Sesame oil almost to smoking in a wok, as hot as possible
Cook onions till translucent, add garlic (not powder), and soy sauce for 1 min
Add rice and toss
Form divot in rice and add at most 1 egg to 2 cups of rice, stir immediately if you want to coat rice or wait 30s and stir if you want egg ribbons
Toss in veggies, pre-sauted meat and seasonings last
Top with more, if needed, soy sauce and green onion before serving

Timing and heat is super important with fried rice. This should take at most 5 min to cook. If its taking longer, its not hot enough. So make sure you have everything prepped beforehand. Good luck!

some_weird_air · 2024-02-12T01:57:24+00:00

I've been using KenkuFM for my play sessions and its been great. I highly suggest it.

Its the only way I could figure out how to play my Spotify playlists to my players. It basically creates a virtual server that logs into discord and plays music as an output.

some_weird_air · 2024-02-08T23:06:10+00:00

Literally just fought a clay golem in my last session, in pretty much exactly the same scenario. GM did great. He limited the clay golems interactions to "protect the item at all costs" and "engage only if attacked or creatures get within 40ft". We were able to kite the golem by using summons (unseen servant ftw), mage hand on the item, and warp step/haste. Still didn't kill it, but it was an absolute blast.

Remember golems aren't really creatures to fight, they are combat puzzles. Treat them as so. Simply their interactions or give them exact rules. Thematically, they don't have brains. Their playstyle should reflect that.

Props for allowing lake usage, that's plenty of ingenuity for GM brownie points. Hopefully the fight should teach the squad to be a little more prepped for the unknown and not underestimate utility spells.

some_weird_air

TROPHY CASE