So, I'm completely new to PFS. I'll be going to Enchanted Grounds to get my character set up and stuff. Only problem is, I'm 14 years old and I was the only kid there when I sampled it.
So, really, the question is that I'm kind of intimidated by no kids there, and although people were really friendly, I was wondering if it is kind of a taboo.
I'm sorry, that made no sense. I'll try again when I have some food.
No idea about PFS, but perhaps you could try to invite more 14 year old kids you already know to play with you.
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I'll give you my experience as a 32 year old gamer.
It isn't age but maturity level that bothers me. Now, obviously these things are at least partially related. You can only expect so much maturity from, say, and 8 year old.
But at 14 there is no reason you couldn't play with a table full of adults. In fact, I have played with teens at conventions that were more pleasant to play with than people my own age.
Granted, this is a fantasy game, so there are many people who see it as their opportunity to indulge their wackier impulses. And there's nothing wrong with that. It just depends on how different peoples' personalities/play styles mesh at the table.
So, I would advise you to not feel intimidated, and find a group that reasonably matches your play style, whether it be other teens or adults. And at cons, sometimes you just grin and bear it. :)
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I have no idea what Enchanted Grounds is, I assume some physical venue close to the OP. I remember going to a gaming convention in Fall River when I was 13 and I was the youngest person there. People were good, but there was one adult game I wasn't allowed to play. I think you will be fine as long as you just want to have fun. I recommend a good character who is not a Paladin to start with. Good Luck.
O.O You were spot-on about Enchanted Grounds 0.0
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Yeah, I don't know anything about the Colorado PFS scene, to say nothing of Enchanted Grounds. I know in my area we've got a lot of younger players (10-13 primarily, with a teenagers in the mix as well) who are some great players. I started playing pen and paper games when I was about 10 and had a pretty mixed bag of experiences with older players poo-pooing our play style. So I get your concerns. I know in my area (and that might not apply everywhere, but I naively hope it does) that a player is a player and should be treated as such.
I would definitely try getting some friends into the hobby. Start with some home games, maybe using the Beginner Box as a stepping stone if you have it. You don't need to know all the rules or have an encyclopedic knowledge of the universe to have a good time. All you need is dice, a character sheet, and a willingness to participate.
Venture-Agent, Colorado—Denver
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Tsiron,
Welcome Aboard!
I am one of the regular GMs & players at Enchanted Grounds. Don't worry, about 10% of the players are teens. Like all the other posters said; just have fun. Our community here in Colorado is awesome and everyone is here to give a helping hand. Be sure to grab a spot at the 'Learn to Play PFS' table which is every third Thursday of each month.
I hope to see ya at one of my tables soon!
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32
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Local demographics vary from play-location to play-location. In the Seattle area we have a gaming location where several parents come and bring their 8-14 y/o to play with them. Another location is mostly college-aged students. And another attracts older veterans of Living Greyhawk. But overall, you will encounter many people of various ages and various backgrounds while engaging in Pathfinder Society in a public setting.
If gaming with people outside your age-group is intimidating or emotionally draining, try and see if you can't form a home-group out of the people you like to game with. You could play through an Adventure Path, PFS scenarios, or even make up your own game. In the end, play so that you are having fun ^_^
Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
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Poof! I have arrived to argue down the calls for replay!
Er, wait... Oh, hey, look! A new player! How exciting.
Tsiron, my friend, there are indeed younger players at Enchanted Grounds. Saturdays, in fact, there are often a half dozen accompanying their fathers/mothers/brothers/sisters at the tables. So don't be concerned you'll be alone.
On the flip-side, if this month happens to be one of those months when parents drag all their children out into the wide world because of sun (weird, I know, but it happens), you needn't be concerned that people will be looking down on you. After all, we are all kids at heart; that's why we're playing this game. I wouldn't at all be surprised if you displayed more maturity while playing at the age of 14 than myself, on occasion.
My name, by the way, is Jeff. You can spot me by looking for the shaved headed guy who never seems to stand still. Feel free to introduce yourself and I will make sure that everyone is introduced to you, in turn. I've found that simply knowing peoples' names has a tendency to alleviate any of the stress of getting to know them. The Colorado Venture Captain (Jacque Woods) can also often be found at the store, and you are more than welcome to chat with her about how to approach various pieces of this game.
Finally, as a last note, we've had a bunch of teenagers make their way through our ranks. One was one of the best GMs we've ever had, and the players all know it. So, with that kind of a precedent, I don't think you need to worry that everyone will simply see you as a "kid."
I look forward to meeting you. (-:
Edit: By the way, if you'd like me to set aside some time to help you set up a PC and give you a few pointers, I'd be more than happy to. Just say the word and we'll figure out a time that works for both of us.
PS - Have you signed up for a game, yet? If not, send me an email and I'll get you all set up with the local chapter of the PFS Lodge so you can follow all the announcements and signups. You can find my email under the spoiler.
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I got into pfs at 14, it is a great age to get involved. Join with me in continuing the community, we teenagers are the ones who will carry on the community when all of these old folks around us (XD) are gone! We are the future of gaming.
And Drogon, if you have such a thriving community I might have to stop by sometime when I head out west this summer. I should pass near your area on my way to Philmont, and I have been getting my crew into gaming.
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Drogon/role4initiative Did you two organise that? :)Nah. I just saw a moment and seized it.
I'm actually sad I didn't come into the thread two posts earlier with BNW's "call." That would have been spectacular.
Nah, BNW's call was for Dragnmoon, not Drogon.
Sort of odd that it came after Dragnmoon posted, but maybe he was running a divination wizard...
We have a much smaller group in my area, but we actually had a fairly large (for us) turnout today. A full table of 6 for 5-19, and a table of 3+iconic for First Steps. But our two younger players were among the missing. We figured that they were probably spending the day wotyh Mom, since it is Mother's Day...
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So, I'm going to chime in because I have a soft spot for this type of situation.
(But first let me say I am so glad to see how welcoming and supportive everyone is. And how glad I am your store is clearly all for involving youth in gaming.)
I started gaming at 14 with RPGA back in the heyday of 3.0 Living City and the rise of Living Greyhawk. I played almost entirely with adults. Thirteen years later I still run into people I played with then (and make them feel old). A few words of wisdom looking back:
-Listen to (constructive) criticism when it is given.
-Don't be afraid to decide there are adult players you don't want to play with. Like any other player, you get to decide if time with them takes away from your enjoyment of the game.
-Don't be afraid to ask for help or advice. Adults or no, everyone there was a beginner once. I cannot tell you how many of my early PCs died horrible deaths because I was too proud to ask for help with planning out my characters.
-Find ways to get involved! I used to help out with 'cons both as a GM and general support. This helps you be a part of such events while defraying costs such as registration (which can be hard to surmount as a teenager).
-Above all else, go to have fun!
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My "teen at an adult table" experience was in, er, 1980. Or thereabouts. A bit before Season 0 of PFS. My mom was a grad student at the time (she went back to grad school in her mid thirties). Some of the other grad students in her lab (who were in their 20s like "normal" grad students, although at the time as a 12- or 13-year old I couldn't really tell the difference between them and my mom) had a regular D&D campaign going. We're talking 1st edition AD&D here.
One of them was going to be away on a research trip (they were all entomologists) for several months. My mom, knowing I was a D&D player, talked the other grad students into allow me to sit in for the missing player. Really cool, lots of fun. At the time, I didn't appreciate just how much my mom was asking: telling a bunch of 20something grad students that they should bring her junior-high aged kid in to their game.
I had a blast, and I think it worked out well; I think I played along fairly well, and didn't get complaints. They even let me continue when the guy I was filling in for came back.
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RPGs were pretty new when I started too -- I started in 1978, which was only a few years after they really came into existence (not counting the informal versions that have been around as long as people have had imaginations). The thing is, people of all ages picked them up at once. The older group I played with probably hadn't been playing any longer than I had, they just started older.
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makes me feel old when people post the "when I was a Teen" stories... realizing that when I started playing there weren't "older" RPG gamers. RPGs were new... sigh.
Going back to my room in the "rest home" now. Leaving you young'uns to get on with the discussion...
Scenario 5-26 The True Last Azlanti
A pathfinder society scenario designed for level 12+. It appears Aroden was not the last Azlanti as was previously thought. Recent evidence indicates that another may have survived, although if he did he must be inestimably old. The decemvirate have a special assignment for new seekers, seek out the Azlanti know as "nosig" in (insert nosig's nursing home HERE) and bring him back, if you can, before he crumbles to dust (a definite possibility given his age).
Bonus points if you can do it without standing on his lawn (he starts at hostile if you stand on his lawn, and all diplomacy checks have their DC increased by 5 because he is so senile).
XD
Venture-Agent, Australia—QLD—Brisbane
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Echoing Samasboy's comments - for what it's worth, my (now) 11 year old son has been playing 4e D&D and Pathfinder for about the last 3 years. He ran his first PFS game about 3 weeks ago (he has previously run a number of 4e sessions). A couple of the regular adult players have remarked on how mature he is when dealing with them. I suspect some of that has to do with the fact that he has been dealing with gaming adults for the last 3 years.
Morale of the story - act mature, and the adult gamers won't have a problem with you, no matter your age.