... Gobloween is Coming! Thursday, October 25, 2012 Goblins trick and goblins treat, ... Time to smell some goblin feet! ... Ghosts and ghouls, nice and spooky, ... Goblins like to dress up kooky! ... Give us sweets, don't be a jerk, ... If not have candy, pickles work! ... Bar the windows, lock doors tight, ... 'Cause Gobloween is hallowed night!It's drawing near to Halloween and that means it's pumpkin carving time! If you're looking for some inspiration, check out this pumpkin carved by...
Gobloween is Coming!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Goblins trick and goblins treat,
Time to smell some goblin feet!
Ghosts and ghouls, nice and spooky,
Goblins like to dress up kooky!
Give us sweets, don't be a jerk,
If not have candy, pickles work!
Bar the windows, lock doors tight,
'Cause Gobloween is hallowed night!
It's drawing near to Halloween and that means it's pumpkin carving time! If you're looking for some inspiration, check out this pumpkin carved by Becky "Corvidimus" Barnes last year:
Didn't max out your ranks in pumpkin carving? That's okay! Here are some simpler designs to inspire you:
These pumpkins were carved using images from the community use packages (Runes and Faction Symbols).
Have your own Pathfinder Pumpkin? Or maybe a Golarion-inspired costume? Email pictures of pumpkins or costumes to cosplay@paizo.com. Include with your picture how you wish to be credited (username or real name) and description of your costume or pumpkin. We'll post pictures up on the Paizo Facebook page and do a follow up blog to show off the best ones.
... Costume Contest Winner! Thursday, August 30, 2012 Admittedly casting a vote in this year's Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest made for a tough call, but I don't think any of us expected a tie! That's right, after tallying up the votes, we're pleased to announce that Rita as the Master Spy Prestige Class and Zach as Ezren can both be declared winners, and each will be awarded $50 in paizo.com store credit. Congrats, guys, and a big thank you to everyone who participated and voted! The...
Costume Contest Winner!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Admittedly casting a vote in this year's Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest made for a tough call, but I don't think any of us expected a tie! That's right, after tallying up the votes, we're pleased to announce that Rita as the Master Spy Prestige Class and Zach as Ezren can both be declared winners, and each will be awarded $50 in paizo.com store credit. Congrats, guys, and a big thank you to everyone who participated and voted! The costumes were all awesome this year, and we hope to see you in next year's contest!
... Gen Con Costume Contest Voting! Thursday, August 23, 2012 Gen Con has come and gone, and with it the chance to enter the annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest! There were a number of fine entrants this year, so take a look at the photos below and then vote for who YOU think should win $50 in paizo.com store credit! ... The clock's ticking, and voting will officially close as of 11pm next Tuesday. Cast your vote now! ... Rita as the Master Spy Prestige Class. ... Zach as Ezren. ......
Gen Con Costume Contest Voting!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Gen Con has come and gone, and with it the chance to enter the annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest! There were a number of fine entrants this year, so take a look at the photos below and then vote for who YOU think should win $50 in paizo.com store credit!
The clock's ticking, and voting will officially close as of 11pm next Tuesday. Cast your vote now!
Rita as the Master Spy Prestige Class.
Zach as Ezren.
Audrey and Emery as alchemist and rogue gnome sisters from their Jade Regent game. Check out the awesome starknife!
The three adventurers: Amy as a half-orc bard/Pathfinder Chronicler, Nicole as a human alchemist, and Natalie as a human paladin.
... PaizoCon Recap Thursday July 12, 2012The doors have closed on PaizoCon 2012, cementing its place as far and away the best PaizoCon on record. But even if you didn’t make it out to Redmond to hang out with the Paizo staff, all of our incredible guests, and a host of the greatest gamers in the world, all is not lost. Between constantly rolling cameras, thousands of snapshots, and dozens of blog posts, the show was phenomonally well documented. Check out the highlights compiled here for your...
PaizoCon Recap
Thursday July 12, 2012
The doors have closed on PaizoCon 2012, cementing its place as far and away the best PaizoCon on record. But even if you didn’t make it out to Redmond to hang out with the Paizo staff, all of our incredible guests, and a host of the greatest gamers in the world, all is not lost. Between constantly rolling cameras, thousands of snapshots, and dozens of blog posts, the show was phenomonally well documented. Check out the highlights compiled here for your viewing and reviewing pleasure.
Gamerati Seminar Videos & Interviews
Ed Healy from over at Gamerati.com managed to document PaizoCon 2012 from nearly every angle. Check out the 10 Voices from PaizoCon video below, with more (like the Secrets of TSR seminar and a bit from Ryan Dancey’s Pathfinder Online seminar) at Gamerati’s PaizoCon 2012 YouTube channel.
PaizoCon in Pictures
Dozens of Paizo staffers and gamers were snapping pictures all weekend long. Check out just a few of the highlights.
One of the hotel monitors made a fantastic high-tech greeter!
Will Chase at setup, pumped and ready to go!
One of the calmer slots’ adventures taking place in the Pathfinder Society hall.
Venture Captains Nani and Kyle Pratt giving Larry Wilhelm good marks during the hilarious GMing 101 seminar.
Mike Brock and Cosmo learning how to GM during the seminar.
Team Adventure Path getting ready to announce the new Reign of Winter Adventure Path.
James Jacobs gives away the secrets of great map design during the cartography seminar.
Sara Marie, and the littlest golem and attendee of PaizoCon, Mikey Teter.
This year's Pathfinder Society Special Event, the Grand Convocation, brought together players, NPCs, and Faction Heads for a night of costumes and some serious gaming and roleplaying. Here we have Amenopheus, the Osirion faction head!
One of the stars of the Grand Convocation: Michellia Blakros.
Paizo's very own Crystal Frasier and Liz Courts, who ran events during the Convocation.
All of the costumed NPCs, Faction Leaders, and players who participated in this year's Grand Convocation.
Editor Judy Bauer is all ready for the Reign of Winter Adventure Path with her cozy Dancing Hut mittens!
Developer Patrick Renie in his ADORWABLE goblin hat made by Jodi Lane Reynolds! (Don’t laugh, he got plenty of compliments from “The Ladies™.”)
Painters hard at work at the Reaper Miniatures table.
Lisa Stevens gets in on some of the action for Adam Daigle's Green Blood on a Black Rock game.
Each round pitted monster against monster to determine the ultimate winner!
There were bets on each monster, so things got a bit tense when the Shambling Mound and Blue Dragon were near the end of their round.
A sneak peek at Project Swallowtail, the new Pathfinder card game revealed at PaizoCon.
One of the two tables that were playing through Project Swallowtail on Saturday.
Artist Wayne Reynolds poses with phenomenal Valeros cosplayer (and Paizo Customer Service Specialist) Erik Keith.
Valeros will not be out-drunk! A lesson Jason Bulmahn learned the hard way.
A powerhouse of Adventure Path writers: Richard Pett, Nicolas Logue, Brandon Hodge, and Greg Vaughan.
This year during the Banquet, Lisa announced a new award to be given at each PaizoCon: Volunteer of the Year! Here are the winners for the first three years: Tim Nightengale, Liz Courts, and Mark Moreland. Congratulations and thank you!
Photographs by Chris Carey, Chris Lambertz, F. Wesley Schneider, and Sarah Robinson
Announcements
If you haven’t heard already, we announced quite a bit a PaizoCon. Click the links below for more details on some of the biggest news.
With that, PaizoCon 2012 is pretty much a wrap. Thanks from everyone here at Paizo to the hundreds of gamers and guests who came, played, GMed, ran seminars, talked, laughed, and shared for making this PaizoCon so much fun. For those who didn’t get to make it, we’re already excited to do this all over again, so hopefully we’ll get to see you next year! And in the meantime, scroll down for an important announcment about Gen Con...
... The Gen Con Costume Contest is Coming! ... Check out these awesome costumes from last year!Heads up, everyone! It's time to dust off those sewing machines and fabric paints and start getting ready for the Fifth Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest! ... It's hard to believe that it's been five whole years since a priestess of Desna first showed us just how crafty our community could be (pun intended). In the years since, we've seen Pactmasters and witches, alchemists and Gray Maidens....
The Gen Con Costume Contest is Coming!
Check out these awesome costumes from last year!
Heads up, everyone! It's time to dust off those sewing machines and fabric paints and start getting ready for the Fifth Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest!
It's hard to believe that it's been five whole years since a priestess of Desna first showed us just how crafty our community could be (pun intended). In the years since, we've seen Pactmasters and witches, alchemists and Gray Maidens. But we know that there are more of you cosplayers out there, and we want to see you!
Here's the deal: At some point during Gen Con Indy this August, you show up to the Paizo booth dressed in your best Pathfinder costume—any monster, character, faction member, deity, or other figure from our world. In order to be eligible, your costume needs to be identifiably Pathfinder-related, not just generic fantasy—a knight isn't enough, but an Eagle Knight of Andoran is.
In addition to drawing a crowd of happy gawkers, you'll have your picture taken by a member of the Paizo staff. The best costumes—as decided by us—will end up on the Paizo blog once we return from Gen Con, at which point we'll allow the paizo.com messageboard community to pick their favorite. What criteria that mad and merry crew will use is anybody's guess, but whoever they select as the best Pathfinder cosplayer will walk away with 50 dollars in store credit! Even more importantly, the winner will go home knowing that he or she (or they—I'm still waiting for a life-sized Sandpoint Devil puppet) have entered the exclusive cadre of the Paizo Cosplay Winner's Circle.
... And the Winner is...! Friday, August 19th, 2011 ... Jessica as a Gray Maiden: winner of our Gen Con Pathfinder costume contest!Over the last week, you’ve all had a chance to vote here on the forums for which Gen Con Pathfinder cosplay cosume is the best. Almost 200 of you cast your lots, and while every contestant got some votes, with many judges agonizing over their decisions, it quickly became a race for first between Jessica as the Gray Maiden and Bonnie as Feiya, our iconic witch. As...
And the Winner is...!
Friday, August 19th, 2011
Jessica as a Gray Maiden: winner of our Gen Con Pathfinder costume contest!
Over the last week, you’ve all had a chance to vote here on the forums for which Gen Con Pathfinder cosplay cosume is the best. Almost 200 of you cast your lots, and while every contestant got some votes, with many judges agonizing over their decisions, it quickly became a race for first between Jessica as the Gray Maiden and Bonnie as Feiya, our iconic witch. As the thread rolled on, however, a clear victor emerged. And the winner is... Jessica as the Gray Maiden!
For her sheer costuming awesomeness, Jessica will receive our eternal adoration and $50 in paizo.com store credit. The rest of the contestants will have to settle for just the adoration part.
Good work, everyone, and we hope to see you all dressed up again next year!
... Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest Voting! Friday, August 12th, 2011It’s that time again! Though I failed in my sacred duty to announce the Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest well ahead of time, we still had a number of unbelievably strong contenders this year, and it would be a shame not to crown one of them as the winner—a title which, in addition to bragging rights, confers $50 in paizo.com store credit. So let’s get voting! ... Here’s how it works: Presented below are the...
Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest Voting!
Friday, August 12th, 2011
It’s that time again! Though I failed in my sacred duty to announce the Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest well ahead of time, we still had a number of unbelievably strong contenders this year, and it would be a shame not to crown one of them as the winner—a title which, in addition to bragging rights, confers $50 in paizo.com store credit. So let’s get voting!
Here’s how it works: Presented below are the photographs (and names, where possible) of this year’s contestants. In the comments thread for this blog, you can pick the ONE winner who you think has the most awesome Pathfinder-related costume and shout out your vote. You have until next Thursday at noon to get in your choices, after which we’ll announce the winner.
Your options are:
Jessica as a Gray Maiden
Leslie as Seoni
Jean-Marc as a paladin of Sarenrae and Luc as a paladin of Iomedae
Eric as our Iconic Alchemist
Bonnie as our Iconic Witch (and Corey as kilted barbarian)
Nani as a Harrower
Natalie (with the metal plates), Nicole the alchemist, Amy the ranger, Megan the pregnant sorcerer, Mike the cleric.
... Alchemist costume Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 09:41 AM PacificI'm not sure if those flask contain reagents, or booze. ... Sean K Reynolds ... Developer ...
Alchemist costume
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 09:41 AM Pacific
I'm not sure if those flask contain reagents, or booze.
... Paladins! Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 10:46 AM PacificPaizo is under the watchful eye of two able and hearty paladins! ... James Jacobs ... Creative Director ...
Paladins!
Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 10:46 AM Pacific
Paizo is under the watchful eye of two able and hearty paladins!
... Costume Contest Results Thursday, August 19, 2010 Let me start this off by saying that our fans and friends are freakin' amazing. Seriously, folks—when Tiffany started this whole costume contest thing two years ago by showing up at the Gen Con booth dressed as a cleric of Desna, we were flat-out flabbergasted. The fact that Pathfinder cosplay has grown by leaps and bounds since then—enough to justify a full-fledged costume contest—is one of the greatest compliments our...
Costume Contest Results
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Let me start this off by saying that our fans and friends are freakin' amazing. Seriously, folks—when Tiffany started this whole costume contest thing two years ago by showing up at the Gen Con booth dressed as a cleric of Desna, we were flat-out flabbergasted. The fact that Pathfinder cosplay has grown by leaps and bounds since then—enough to justify a full-fledged costume contest—is one of the greatest compliments our game could receive. If you've never seen what goes on in our hotel rooms after a long day of working the Gen Con booth (and I sincerely hope you haven't, as we were told those door locks were secure), there's a whole lot of summer-camp-style giggling that goes on late into the night as we marvel at all the folks we've met that day. The costume contest only compounds that.
This year we had a number of strong contenders. In fourth place, Kelly's amazing Harsk outfit (complete with badger and authentic handmade crossbow!) tied with Blake's fabulous depiction of Nethys, the two-faced god of magic. In third, Tiffany's Harrower costume was a spot-on recreation of the art from the campaign setting hardcover, while Jason's potion-covered homage to the iconic alchemist exploded into second place.
Yet there can be only one winner of the Third Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest, and this year the landslide victory went to Lora as the iconic witch. The level of detail on this costume was simply stunning. As art director Sarah Robinson pointed out, given the number of illustrators who complain about having to draw all the little pouches, fetishes, and other bits and pieces Wayne Reynolds likes to load up the iconics with, seeing someone actually make them to this level of detail is amazing. For her dedication, Lora receives the grand prize of $50 in Paizo store credit, as well as bragging rights until next year, when she'll have to defend her title.
When the time comes, will you be the one to take it from her?
Vote on the Costume Contest! Thursday, August 12, 2010We’re back from Gen Con, and in addition to the usual scramble to meet deadlines and recovery from horrifying illnesses contracted by shaking hands with approximately ten bajillion people, that means it’s time for everyone to vote on the contestants in the Third Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest! ... We had an extraordinary number of contestants this year, and all of them did bang-up jobs! Yet only one can be the official winner of...
Vote on the Costume Contest!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
We’re back from Gen Con, and in addition to the usual scramble to meet deadlines and recovery from horrifying illnesses contracted by shaking hands with approximately ten bajillion people, that means it’s time for everyone to vote on the contestants in the Third Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest!
We had an extraordinary number of contestants this year, and all of them did bang-up jobs! Yet only one can be the official winner of the grand prize (both a pile of Paizo store credit and bragging rights), which is where you come in. At the bottom of this blog, you’ll see a link for comments. Sound off and place your vote for the best costume in that thread. You have until the end of the weekend to make your selection. On Monday morning, we’ll tally all the votes, and announce the official winner in a blog post next week.
Ready? Here are this year’s fine contestants, in no particular order:
Lora as Feiya, the iconic witch.
Jason as Damiel, the iconic alchemist.
2009 contest champion Kelly as Harsk, the iconic ranger. (Maybe he’s a little tall for a dwarf, but how can you say no to a hand-made crossbow and his adorable animal companion, Biter?)
Blake as Nethys.
David as a paladin of Iomedae.
Corienne as a Tien monk.
2008 contest champion Tiffany as the Harrower from the campaign setting hardcover. (You can’t see her wayfinder here, but it came with its own ioun stone!)
Noel as Trifaccia from Pathfinder Adventure Path #12. Look out, he's got a whip!
Honorable Mention: Jodi as Amiri, the iconic barbarian, who despite her amazing costume has removed herself from the running, on account of already being Sean Reynolds' girlfriend (and isn't that prize enough?).
... Famous author and two icons Sat, Aug 7, 2010 at 03:30 PM PacificDave Gross of Prince of Wolves fame with Amiri and Feiya. ... Pierce Watters ... Sales Director ...
Famous author and two icons
Sat, Aug 7, 2010 at 03:30 PM Pacific
Dave Gross of Prince of Wolves fame with Amiri and Feiya.
... Snake Spotting Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 07:11 AM PacificIt was my understanding Snake was supposed to hide UNDER the box. ... Joshua J. Frost ... Events Manager ...
Snake Spotting
Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 07:11 AM Pacific
It was my understanding Snake was supposed to hide UNDER the box.
Gen Con Costume Contest Reminder! Tuesday, July 27, 2010Just a quick reminder that this is your last chance to start getting things ready for the Third Annual Paizo Gen Con Costume Contest! For more details, you can always refer back to the official announcement, but the short version is that if you come by the booth during Gen Con wearing quality Pathfinder cosplay, you've got the chance to win both cash and cred from the Paizo staff. So bust out those sewing machines and start working! ......
Gen Con Costume Contest Reminder!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Just a quick reminder that this is your last chance to start getting things ready for the Third Annual Paizo Gen Con Costume Contest! For more details, you can always refer back to the official announcement, but the short version is that if you come by the booth during Gen Con wearing quality Pathfinder cosplay, you've got the chance to win both cash and cred from the Paizo staff. So bust out those sewing machines and start working!
Now, since no blog would be complete without art, here's Jenny Poussin as Seoni, her costume courtesy of Paizo messageboard regular Laithoron. It's unclear whether their powerhouse partnership will actually be competing this year, but at the very least they should give you some inspiration.
James L. Sutter
Fiction Editor
(And yes, you've seen this picture before—the question is, have you seen it enough?)
... Mammoth Mitts Wednesday, July 21, 2010When an early draft of the Pathfinder Player Companion: Inner Sea Primer crossed my desk, I remembered that it's time for another Golarion-themed knitting pattern! ... What’s that you say? It's too hot to knit with wool at this time of year? Nonsense! Summer lasted only 2 days this year, and it was only 50 degrees Fahrenheit when I biked in this morning—practically mitten weather already! And if you don't live in frigid Seattle, remember that...
What’s that you say? It's too hot to knit with wool at this time of year? Nonsense! Summer lasted only 2 days this year, and it was only 50 degrees Fahrenheit when I biked in this morning—practically mitten weather already! And if you don't live in frigid Seattle, remember that it's never too early to start making Crystalhue gifts... such as Mammoth Mitts!
These mittens feature a mammoth motif1, spiraled ribbing and decreases, and colors that echo the Realm of the Mammoth Lords art from the Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting. (Players who knit their mittens from qiviut earn 1 PA. Players who gather their own qiviut gain a bonus PA, but must make a DC 25 Reflex save to avoid being trampled.)
Mammoth Mitts
Materials: worsted weight yarn: 1 skein MC (moorit/red-brown), 1 skein CC1 (cream), 1 skein CC2 (purple); 1 yard of thinner black yarn
1 set US 4/3.5mm double-point needles, embroidery needle
Gauge: 24 sts/29 rows = 4 inches/10 cm
Directions for larger size are in brackets.
Directions:
Using MC, cast on 36 [44] sts.
Right cuff (ribbing spirals to the left):
Rows 1–2: (k2, p2)*
Rows 3–4: (p1, k2, p1)*
Rows 5–6: (p2, k2)*
Rows 7–8: (k1, p2, k1)*
Repeat these rows until cuff is desired length.
Left cuff (ribbing spirals to the right):
Rows 1–2: (k2, p2)*
Rows 3–4: (k1, p2, k1)* (p1, k2, p1)*
Rows 5–6: (p2, k2)*
Rows 7–8: (p1, k2, p1)*
Repeat these rows until the left cuff is the same length as the right cuff.
Mitten body2:
Rows 1–4: Knit (36 stitches).
Row 5: Place marker, make 1, knit 1, make 1, place marker, knit to end (38 [46] stitches).
Even rows 6–18: Knit.
Odd rows 7–19: Slip marker, make 1, knit to marker, make 1, slip marker.
Continue until mitten has 52 [64] stitches.
Rows 20–26: Knit. (Knitting should reach just above the join of your thumb and index finger when you put your hand inside.)
Slip the 16 [20] thumb stitches onto a piece of waste yarn.
M2 stitches, join the live stitches (38 [46] stitches).
Rows 27–29: Knit 3 rows.
Work Chart A [B] (2 repeats per row).
Rows 40–53: Resume MC; knit. (When you put your hand inside, knitting should just cover your pinkie, about 5.5 [6] inches from base of palm.)
Thumb:
Pick up the 16 [20] stitches, plus 2 more from around top of thumb.
Rows 1–16: Knit. (Until just past the end of your thumb, about 2 [2.5] inches.)
Row 17: K2tog*.
Bind off.
Finishing:
Weave in all ends.
Using thin black yarn, embroider the eye and tusk details (feel free to go crazy making your mammoth look shaggy!).
Chart A (19 stitches × 11 rows):
Chart B (13 stitches × 11 rows):
1. The motif used in this pattern is based on a motif used in Kathleen Tayor's "Elephant Hats".
2. Row numbers will be a bit higher on the mitten body for the larger size, since it has more increase rows. I've included notes about fit, so you can gauge more precisely how to adjust the pattern to your own (or your recipient's) hands.
... Reporting for Duty Sun, Jun 20, 2010 at 07:58 AM PacificKelly Gragg reports for his Pathfinder Society GM duties. ... Joshua J. Frost ... Events Manager ...
Reporting for Duty
Sun, Jun 20, 2010 at 07:58 AM Pacific
Kelly Gragg reports for his Pathfinder Society GM duties.
... Two brewers Sun, Jun 20, 2010 at 12:11 AM PacificAn Alchemist and a Priest of Cayden Cailean recline at the banquet. ... Ross Byers ... Assistant Software Developer ...
Two brewers
Sun, Jun 20, 2010 at 12:11 AM Pacific
An Alchemist and a Priest of Cayden Cailean recline at the banquet.
... And the backs Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 07:14 PM PacificThe reverse of the costumes, with holy symbol and sidhedron rune. ... Ross Byers ... Assistant Software Developer ...
And the backs
Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 07:14 PM Pacific
The reverse of the costumes, with holy symbol and sidhedron rune.
... Da 0gre and Fiona Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 07:12 PM PacificDennis da 0gre and his wife at the preview banquet, in Desnan and Thassillonian garb. ... Ross Byers ... Assistant Software Developer ...
Da 0gre and Fiona
Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 07:12 PM Pacific
Dennis da 0gre and his wife at the preview banquet, in Desnan and Thassillonian garb.
... More Pathfinder Cosplay Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 06:37 PM PacificA Cleric of Asmodeus, Paladin of Iomedae, and a Barbarian warrior wait for the APG Preview banquet. ... Ross Byers ... Assistant Software Developer ...
More Pathfinder Cosplay
Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 06:37 PM Pacific
A Cleric of Asmodeus, Paladin of Iomedae, and a Barbarian warrior wait for the APG Preview banquet.
... Nethys, God of Knowledge Sat, Jun 19, 2010 at 06:28 PM PacificForum regular Karui_Kage as Nethys. ... Ross Byers ... Assistant Software Developer ...
The Gen Con Costume Contest is Coming! Tuesday, June 15, 2010With PaizoCon just a few days away, some of you reading this blog may be thinking, Man, I can't believe I can't make it to Gen Con and PaizoCon this year. The world is so unfair! ... While that is undoubtedly true, never fear, gentle GenConian! Because this is your official reminder that the Third Annual Pathfinder Gen Con Cosplay Contest is less than 2 months away at this point! (Shock! Gasp!) ... Here's the deal: At some point...
The Gen Con Costume Contest is Coming!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
With PaizoCon just a few days away, some of you reading this blog may be thinking, "Man, I can't believe I can't make it to Gen Con and PaizoCon this year. The world is so unfair!"
While that is undoubtedly true, never fear, gentle GenConian! Because this is your official reminder that the Third Annual Pathfinder Gen Con Cosplay Contest is less than 2 months away at this point! (Shock! Gasp!)
Here's the deal: At some point during Gen Con, you show up to the Paizo booth dressed in your best Pathfinder costume. (That means monsters and characters with obvious ties to Golarion itself, not generic cosplay—that wizard hat could be from anywhere.) In addition to drawing a crowd of happy gawkers, the contestants will have their pictures taken by whatever staff members are handy. Those folks with the best costumes, as decided by us, will end up on the Paizo blog once we return from Gen Con, at which point we'll allow the posters on the messageboards to pick their favorite. What criteria that mad and merry crew will use is anybody's guess—creativity? recognizability? skin-to-clothing ratio?—but whoever they select as the best Pathfinder cosplayer will walk away with 50 dollars in store credit! But more importantly, the winner will go home knowing that he or she (or they, if folks want to team up to make a life-sized linnorm) have entered the exclusive cadre of the Paizo Cosplay Winner's Circle.
And now ('cause you knew it was coming), a note for PaizoCon attendees: While there's no official costume contest at PaizoCon this year, folks attending both cons are encouraged to bust out their costumes early and show the colors this weekend, to give the competition a taste of what they're up against. (And, of course, to get as much fun as possible out of that Hellknight armor you spent all winter forging.)
So what are you waiting for? Fire up that old sewing machine and see if you have what it takes to compete with folks like the already announced model-and-designer team of Jenny Poussin and Laithoron from the Paizo messageboards, whose amazing realization of Seoni (pictured above) is bound to set the bar high this year. But forewarned is also forearmed, and there's still time to get in on the game...
James L. Sutter
Fiction Editor and General Rabble-Rouser
... Linnorm Helm Tuesday, May 25, 2010Some people paint minis; others sketch their characters or scenes from their adventures. Me, I knit—tentacled beasties, piratical or tentacled hats, fingerless gloves with guild names embroidered across the knuckles. ... Being between projects at the moment, I was browsing knitting patterns online and was disappointed to note that although there are some amazing fantasy knitting patterns, I couldn't find any Pathfinder-related patterns! That must be...
Linnorm Helm
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Some people paint minis; others sketch their characters or scenes from their adventures. Me, I knit—tentacled beasties, piratical or tentacled hats, fingerless gloves with guild names embroidered across the knuckles.
Being between projects at the moment, I was browsing knitting patterns online and was disappointed to note that although there are some amazing fantasy knitting patterns, I couldn't find any Pathfinder-related patterns! That must be remedied!
As this realization coincided with the first set of pages from the World Guide: The Inner Sea hitting my desk, I thought it only fitting to create a pattern that represents one of the Inner Sea peoples. Thus, I present to you the Linnorm Helm1, 2!
Linnorm Helm
Materials: worsted weight yarn: 1 skein MC (dark red; use 2 skeins for Large version), 1 skein CC1 (dark green), 1 skein CC2 (yellow-green)
1 set US 4/ 3.5 mm double-point needles
Gauge: 24 sts/29 rows = 4 inches/10 cm
Directions for larger version are in parentheses.
Directions:
Using MC, cast on 112 (128) stitches.
From bottom to top, work 2 repeats of the chart A (B).
Using MC, knit for 2 (3) more inches or 5 (7.5) cm.
To decrease for the top:
Row 1: (k6, k2tog)* [98 (112) stitches]
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: (k5, k2tog)* [84 (96) stitches]
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: (k4, k2tog)* [70 (80) stitches]
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: (k3, k2tog)* [56 (64) stitches]
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: (k2, k2tog)* [42 (48)stitches]
Row 10: Knit.
Row 11: (k1, k2tog)* [28 (32) stitches]
Continue working k1, k2tog until 8–10 stitches remain, then bind off. Weave in all yarn tails.
Chart A
Chart B
Errata: If you find that the bottom of the hat tends to roll up on you, start with a 1" ribbed brim, and then begin the chart. Just be sure to take this added length into account in determining when to start decreasing! For the medium size, knit around for 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the end of the chart, then decrease; for the large size, knit around for 2 inches (5 cm) above the end of the chart, then decrease.
1 The charted motifs are based on a motif from Nancy Spies' wonderful book Here Be Wyverns.
2 If you're wearing an actual helm, this hat works well as a liner. It's no fun to have your helm freeze to your ears in winter, believe me!
... Tiffany as Cleric of DesnaKelly as Pactmaster of Katapesh ... And the winner is...! Wednesday, August 26, 2009The votes for the First Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest are in, and after a hard battle, the winner is... both of them! ... Yes, it seems that our messageboard horde saw too much merit in Tiffany's fantastic starknife and Kelly's unnerving Pactmaster mask to let either of them go unrewarded. (And in a way, Tiffany started this whole idea with her costume last year, so...
Tiffany as Cleric of Desna
Kelly as Pactmaster of Katapesh
And the winner is...!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The votes for the First Annual Gen Con Pathfinder Cosplay Contest are in, and after a hard battle, the winner is... both of them!
Yes, it seems that our messageboard horde saw too much merit in Tiffany's fantastic starknife and Kelly's unnerving Pactmaster mask to let either of them go unrewarded. (And in a way, Tiffany started this whole idea with her costume last year, so perhaps we should consider this the 2008 and 2009 awards.) Regardless of how you parse it, the result is that both Kelly and Tiffany will be receiving $50 in Paizo store credit. Congratulations to them both, and special thanks to messageboard poster Taig who offered to foot the bill for the second prize—we may not have taken him up on it, but we always love seeing the generosity of our community.
As for all of you who didn't have time to compete this year: there's always time to start preparing for next year's contest! Time to start collecting those giant crab legs for your Rovagug suit, hitting the gym in preparation for the Merisiel outfit, or shaving the family dog and training it to carry your goblins—I mean "beautiful children"—on its back. The possibilities are endless!
(P.S: I'm ashamed to admit that Tiffany's contact information was lost in the shuffle of Gen Con. Tiffany, if you're reading this, please email me at james.sutter@paizo.com to claim your prize!)
... Cosplay Contest Part Deux: Choose Your Champion! Monday, August 24, 2009Another Gen Con has come and gone, and as all the editors crawl out from where we've been hiding in fetal positions beneath our desks, recovering from the exhaustion and excitement, we're forced to conclude that this was the best convention yet. The release of the Core Rulebook was a rousing success, the ENnies were kind, the community was more welcoming than ever, and our favorite industry professionals were just as...
Cosplay Contest Part Deux: Choose Your Champion!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Another Gen Con has come and gone, and as all the editors crawl out from where we've been hiding in fetal positions beneath our desks, recovering from the exhaustion and excitement, we're forced to conclude that this was the best convention yet. The release of the Core Rulebook was a rousing success, the ENnies were kind, the community was more welcoming than ever, and our favorite industry professionals were just as zany and fun as last year. Yet all that in no way lessened the excitement of...
PATHFINDER COSPLAY!
Despite the relatively late warning (next year's contestants: consider this your starting gun), we doubled our Pathfinder cosplay turnout this year. That's right: two intrepid individuals spent portions of their con wandering around in full Pathfinder regalia, forever winning our hearts (and potentially $50 dollars in store credit). This year's contestants were Tiffany as a cleric of Desna (whose same costume last year inspired the contest, and hence is allowed to compete this year as well—unfortunately, only last year's photo is available) and new challenger Kelly, who wowed us all with his incredible rendition of a Pactmaster of Katapesh.
Tiffany as Cleric of Desna
Kelly as Pactmaster of Katapesh
Which costume is the best, and most deserving of reward? It's a tough question, but it's up to you to decide. If you want to weigh in on the matter, or just congratulate them both on their amazing costumes, head over to the Pathfinder Cosplay Contest thread on our messageboards and make your voice heard. Votes will be collected for roughly 48 hours, at which point we'll announce the winner here on the blog. So what are you waiting for? Let the voting begin!
Pathfinder Costume Contest at Gen Con! Friday, August 7, 2009 Here at Paizo, we have many different levels of experience with cosplay, from Art Director Sarah Robinson's complete disdain for anything other than the latest trendy fashions (seriously, the woman has every purse in the western hemisphere) to Jason Bulmahn's days playing a lumbering oaf at midwestern renaissance fairs (how little things change!), to Wes Schneider who may, in fact, be a Pokémon. But the one thing we all have...
Pathfinder Costume Contest at Gen Con!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Here at Paizo, we have many different levels of experience with cosplay, from Art Director Sarah Robinson's complete disdain for anything other than the latest trendy fashions (seriously, the woman has every purse in the western hemisphere) to Jason Bulmahn's days playing a lumbering oaf at midwestern renaissance fairs (how little things change!), to Wes Schneider who may, in fact, be a Pokémon. But the one thing we all have in common is that we love the idea of people dressing up as Pathfinder characters.
We never thought such things were possible until we met Tiffany, a real-life cleric of Desna, at last year's Gen Con, and thanks to her we're now convinced that anything is possible. Which is why I'm filled with glee to announce the First Annual Pathfinder Gen Con Cosplay Contest!
Here's the deal: At some point during Gen Con, you show up to the Paizo booth dressed in your best Pathfinder costume (faction shirts and other official Paizo merch don't count). We should stress that we're looking for monsters and characters with obvious ties to our world itself, not generic cosplayers (that wizard hat could be from anywhere), or people dressed up like actual Pathfinder books (very clever) or members of the Pathfinder staff (the world already has one James Jacobs, and one is enough for everybody). In addition to drawing a crowd of happy Paizoites, the contestants will have their pictures taken. Those folks with the best costumes, as decided by us, will end up on the Paizo blog once we return from Gen Con, at which point we'll allow the posters on our messageboards to pick their favorite. What criteria that mad and merry crew will use is anybody's guess—creativity? recognizability? skin-to-clothing ratio?—but whoever they select as the best Pathfinder cosplayer will walk away with fifty dollars in store credit!
So what are you waiting for? Get out that sewing machine and hot glue gun, send your party members on a run for foam rubber and acrylics, and show us what you're made of!
