My first grow, time to start over already?

Hello all. I am attempting my first legal grow for personal use. This is my first post and I have been lurking for quite a while. I am very excited to start, but I fear I may have already killed my seeds. Any help would be great.

So Im attempting to germinate 12 Maxi seeds by Grass o Matic. I started the process with the paper towel method. I placed the seeds on the damp paper towel and covered with damp paper towel. I placed the plate on a heating pad overnight.

When I woke up tragedy struck overnight. My paper towels were dry as a bone. I re wetted the paper towel again right away. And covered with another plate. The next day, more problems. When I arrived home from work, the heating pad was off and the seeds very cold. High 60's. I turned it back on, and waited.

Slowly but surely over the next few days they popped one by one, but it took about 4 days total. In the 4 days, small brown spots started to appear on my paper towel. And, there was a strange smell whenever I took the plate off to check.

I planted the seeds in my rockwool about 3 days ago, and I can see a very small start of one plant poking out. One out of 12. They are covered with a humidity dome and the smell is there when I take it off. Do I need to buy new seeds?

Probably so, but I wouldn't scrap those beans yet. It won't hurt to give them a few more days.

If ya don't mind, I'd suggest using a different method and get rid of the heating pad. Do you have some place in your home that is warm and humid? Heres what I do, and I'm close to 100% and it's really easy.

I have an entertainment center where my cable box and PS3 go, along with any other accessories for my tv that I need out of the reach of 3 year old twin boys. It's got 2 sets of double glass doors that close and keep the cabinet nice and warm. Take a paper towel, fold it in half and wet with spray bottle. I get it good and wet, but not soaking. Place that flat and put your beans near the middle, and then fold in half again to cover the seeds (I've put as many as 4 or 5 at a time in one paper towel, but wouldn't go over this amount). I usually mist the top of the paper towel again and the carefully place inside a ziplock bag. I close the bag most of the way then blow a breath of air into the bag to puff it out a little, then toss on top of my cable box and I forget about it for about 36 hours. I check once, remoisten if needed, and put back if needed for another 24 hours.

I've never had to put the seeds back into the bag after checking the second time.

Id say yea there prob dead if your just sartin off just try 1 seed and i aways use the hotwater heater an always works if your paper stays damp ,your lucky to get one out seens the paper dried out ,im no pro like some of these guys but all the reading will help ,but want beat trial and error ,everyone does things a little different an set in there ways they know that works best for them ,just my 2 cent ,

put them in soil, keep moist for a few days, I've been surprised in the past at germs that I thought were gonners popping out up to a week after I tried them in soil anyway. The germ rate is bad though, so you might get nothing.

On the drying out, you either have it too hot (try towels between the heating pad and seed tray), or you don't have a good seal on the plate you cover them with. I also agree with others, a boiler room, tops of electronics that stay on, tops of fridges, towels on baseboard heaters. Often these places stay mildly warm, just perfect for seeds. I haven't used heating trays for plants, but have for other purposes, and one of the common issues is they either get too hot, or heat unevenly.

Great, thanks for the help guys. I ordered 9 more Maxi and 5 Jock Horror. I am pretty sure these ones have died. Still only one sprout. I am going to follow this method of germination once I receive the new seeds: http://www.mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide