Pathfinder 2nd Edition is an amazing game system to create interesting characters and play out your fantasy adventures with friends - especially if you want to focus on exciting combats and overcome obstacles as a team. Its deep and clear ruleset is touted as one of its biggest strengths. It allows Game Masters to plan out encounters and scenarios with a fair assumption of balance and for players to feel confident about what their abilities can do and not feel like they need to ask for Game Master permission. With so many options during character creation and when you level up, it's no wonder some people love fantasising about build strategies and cool character concepts. However, these strengths often look scary from those new and outside the playerbase. How does a beginner even start to learn Pathfinder 2e?
Thankfully, there are many options available! The developers, Paizo, have provided free access to all the official rules text through websites like the community-maintained Archives of Nethys, the more premium platform Demiplane, or the character creator community-favorite Pathbuilder. If you love absorbing information through audio and visual, there is a wealth of YouTube Pathfinder creators who are constantly trying to teach the game for beginners to the tabletop hobby and for those looking to take a break from a different rule system. However, the best way to utilise any of that knowledge is to put it into practice—to play! If researching and reading is not your preferred method of learning, why not learn to play?
But what if you don’t have a group of friends willing to do the same, accessibility to local game stores is difficult, or you are worried about the scary world of online games? Fret not! The many experienced professional Pathfinder 2e Game Masters on StartPlaying are extremely ready and very excited to teach those wanting to jump in! Many of them explicitly state that their games are ‘Learn to Play’ or ‘Beginner Friendly’. Where do you start though?
Start Small
Among the many Pathfinder 2e games offered there are a few standout choices for those starting out. If you wish to learn the basics within a single evening or two, the well-renowned Menace Under Otari will suit you perfectly! It’s a very simple adventure that slowly explores different mechanics as you explore a dungeon as Level 1 characters. Game Masters that run this are ready to give you a premade character so you can focus on play instead of learning how to build a character. If you love the character and want to explore the world above the dungeon and Levels 2 to 4, the Game Master may be ready to take you on the continuation journey of Troubles in Otari!
However, if you wish to learn character creation and play in a longer Level 1 to 4 beginner adventure, the mystery and danger of Rusthenge may be what you are looking for. This adventure has more opportunities of exploration, social encounters with NPCs, and combat in varied environments—a more cohesive representation of Pathfinder 2e.
If you want to explore Pathfinder but are restricted on time, there are many Game Masters that offer single session one-shots, varying in expected experience levels.
Going Bigger
If you’ve played one of those short adventures, congratulations! You know how to play Pathfinder 2e! Now… Do you want to dive into a larger story and truly explore your character? StartPlaying has many offerings to satisfy the need, but one of the best to choose for a recent beginner is the widely popular Season of Ghosts. Praised for its beginner-friendly fights, emphasis of downtime and interacting with NPCs, it is a great example of everything Pathfinder 2e has to offer between Levels 1 to 12.
If you prefer your dungeon crawls and fighting, you may love Abomination Vaults, a Level 1 to 11 megadungeon adventure that takes place in the same town of Menace Under Otari. Maybe you want to take the character you played to learn the game and further explore their story. Similarly, if you loved Rusthenge, you could jump straight into a different megadungeon that spans Level 4 to 11, Seven Dooms for Sandpoint.
Of course, there are so many more games run by enthusiastic StartPlaying Game Masters. You can refine your search filters to look for the exact time, group size, expected experience, and vibe that’ll help you learn—but more importantly—have fun!
What About High Level Play?
A common problem with games like Pathfinder 2e or Dungeons & Dragons is the collapse of gaming groups before reaching high level play. It's hard to learn to play with all those higher powered abilities if there are no games to provide that opportunity—the assumption is ‘I’ll never get that far anyway’.
The benefit of StartPlaying is finding games that shatter those concerns! Many Game Masters offer either combined low and high level adventures or start at higher level—some explicitly lean into overpowered characters akin to the anime isekai genre. With the wealth of adventures Paizo creates and the balance of the Pathfinder 2e rules, many experienced Game Masters have made high level games their niche!
Want to play from Level 1 as small time mercenaries and become Level 20 rulers who control armies? The massive and iconic adventure of Kingmaker awaits you! Have you always wanted to see how your character would fare in a high-octane anime tournament arc? There are so many more adventures awaiting you.
Ready To Help!
StartPlaying is an amazing platform for those that can’t find others to play with locally, would prefer vetted and experienced Game Masters, and want to find similarly invested players excited to learn and play together!
If you need clarification after reading any particular game’s description, don’t be afraid to message the Game Master. We are ready to help you find your perfect game and welcome you to the fun of Pathfinder 2e!
Somnus Grey - Tired tea drinking creator and liminal space enthusiast
