Seasoned adventurers and curious newcomers alike love the in-depth tactical extravaganza that is OG Pathfinder, but may not always know how to find the right group. The lasting legacy of Pathfinder’s first edition endures thanks to its intricate rule system, extensive character customization options, and mountains of interlinked content. But finding a group to play it with doesn’t have to be nearly as complex. Here are the best places to find your perfect Pathfinder 1e party ranked from absolute best to all the rest.
1. StartPlaying
When it comes to finding quality Pathfinder 1e games with vetted, experienced GMs, StartPlaying stands head and shoulders above the other options. It was specifically designed to connect players with expert game runners who are passionate about what they do. Each GM goes through a verification process, and the platform's review system helps find the right match for you. They handle all the booking and transactions for you. The interface shows how many seats are left, when the group meets and how often, and the cost. There are also a variety of filters like age range and experience level to further refine your search. For a premium experience that skips past the typical hassle and awkward stage, you can’t beat StartPlaying. Find your Pathfinder 1e group today.
2. Discord
Discord has become the de facto virtual gaming tavern, where players of all stripes come together to find groups and discuss the Way of the Shiny Math Rocks. The largest Pathfinder Discord has thousands of members, with both “looking-for-group” and “looking-for-players” channels. It has round-the-clock activity and an enthusiastic, positive atmosphere that shies away from gatekeeper mentality. There’s also the Pathfinder Wiki Discord which has a bit older heads but is also a great place to meet people. You’ll need to sift through the options and probably try a few times before you find the right group for you, but the Pathfinder community is vast, an these are a great way to start getting to know it.
3. Reddit
Reddit has two main Pathfinder subreddits, both of which have a lot of membership crossover with the aforementioned Discords. The main one is r/Pathfinder_RPG, and its companion subreddit r/Pathfinder_LFG (“LFG” in this context stands for “Looking For Group”) has a few thousand members comprised of both players and GMs. There’s also the much larger r/LFG which is for all players seeking games, which includes a format for finding a group playing Pathfinder 1e. Again, this will involve a lot of sifting and probably a few failed attempts before finding something you like, and you might have to post repeatedly so your request doesn’t get buried, but this is another good option if you’re used to how reddit works. This community tends to skew more toward the second edition, but that could generally be said for most other options on this list.
4. Forums
Paizo, the maker of Pathfinder, have active forums with a Gamer Connection and a Recruitment section, including for online games. Look for listings with Pathfinder 1e, PF 1e, PF1, etc. Because of the direct, slightly old school connection to the publisher's community, you’ll find many Pathfinder veterans who are deeply knowledgeable about the rules and lore. You can also find active LFG forums for Pathfinder through Virtual TableTop sites instead of through the publisher site. Examples of these can be found in places like Fantasy Grounds, Roll20, and the Foundry-oriented Forge forums, among others. You’ll find both free and paid games here as well, with Roll20 having a category specifically for paid games. These are more active than the Paizo forums, but aren’t specifically geared toward PF 1e, and come with all the caveats of navigating through a bunch of strangers’ posts in an online forum.
5. Facebook
Last but not least, there are several Facebook groups for anyone seeking a Pathfinder table. The largest specifically for connecting players is Pathfinder RPG Group Finding which includes both first and second editions, plus a dedicated community at Pathfinder 1st Edition Group where members regularly post looking for games. You’ll have the advantage here of connecting through through Facebook, which is a little less remote and, well, faceless than a forum or on reddit. It’s not a true vetting process in terms of their gaming prowess and reliability, but you’ll get more out of than an anonymous forum. Both groups also actively moderate its posts and membership to ensure a welcoming and productive environment for all. If you’re still on Facebook, it’s an easy option for finding a game with fellow enthusiasts.
The Perfect Table
From pure Adventure Path to total homebrew, Pathfinder 1e holds a special place in the hearts of many experienced gamers, and its allure to new players continues to prove its lasting influence on the RPG genre of gaming. StartPlaying is a platform dedicated to getting you as much information as possible before you take the plunge, with the most structured, reliable interface and vetting process. While other options will always involve some sort of trade-off, use the option you’re most comfortable with and remember that the challenge of playing Pathfinder is part of the fun, but finding the group doesn’t have to be part of that challenge.
Paul is an author and forever DM with a traditionally published sci-fi novel on the way. He’s a fan of all things narrative, especially when it involves dice and a lot of math. Find him on Instagram discussing the general state of the world.
