Fair Winds and Following Seas

Monday, June 29, 2015




Illustration by Eva Widermann

Last October the Venture-Officers became aware of some family health issues that caused a change in my employment status at Paizo and I was allowed to telecommute. This change led my family and I to make the move from Seattle to the New Orleans area. This has worked fairly well for almost a year as I traveled to Paizo from New Orleans regularly but, as with most situations, things continue to evolve and my work status is changing yet again.

It is with a sad heart I announce today that my tenure with Paizo will end on August 7. This should allow me to say personal goodbyes at both PaizoCon UK and Gen Con. The day after I leave my position, I will be closing my public Campaign Coordinator Facebook page as well.

It has been a pleasure working with, and for, all of you. I was always taught to leave a situation better than I entered it. I hope I have done that. Some changes I take pride in being heavily involved with are:

  • Updating the Guide with a more professional appearance and outline
  • Implementing GM 101, GM 201 and Kid's Track (with the help of some awesome VOs)
  • Expanding our volunteer base from 13 VOs to more than 470
  • Growing the playerbase from around 12,000 to more than 60,000
  • Expanding Pathfinder Society's presence from 5 countries with an active PFS presence to 29 (including regions that had little or no prior Organized Play)
  • I have also taken a great deal of pride in watching PFS expand from one small room of 30 tables at Gen Con, to taking over the entire Sagamore Ballroom (with 180 tables of PFS gaming this year!), as well as numerous other activities planned for the space
  • Additionally, I've been working with our Tech Team over the past few months on an array of improvements to the Pathfinder Society section of paizo.com, and think you will approve of the changes that are coming

There are many other changes that I have initiated and been a part of, and I think have improved the overall quality of Pathfinder Society, but are too numerous to list here.

I wish you all well. Again, thanks for the opportunity of letting me be the Global Organized Play Coordinator for almost 4 full years.

Mike Brock
Global Organized Play Coordinator

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Tags: Eva Widermann Paizo Pathfinder Society
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Sovereign Court 4/5 5/5 ***

5 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

It will be sad to see you go, but thank you for everything you've done!

Community Manager

7 people marked this as a favorite.

Happy trails, Mike—your years of hard work are very much appreciated!

5/5 *

Godspeed Mike. It was always a pleasure and I thank you for all the years you put into this. Good luck in the future!

The Exchange 5/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I am sad to see you leaving a position that you have excelled at over the years. I know that whatever comes your way in the future that you will attack that opportunity with the zeal in which you came to PFS.

Thank you for everything that you have done for our gaming community

Liberty's Edge 5/5

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Thank you Mike, for everything you've done to make PFS so awesome. Without you, my wife and I wouldn't have played PFS in Croatia during our honeymoon.

Shadow Lodge 3/5

I'm sorry to see you go, hope everything works out for you and to hopefully see you at a table at a convention. Thanks for all the hard work you put in the past 4 years.

Grand Lodge 5/5

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Oh Captain, my captain!

I'll save a seat at the table for you.

The Exchange 5/5

Thank you for your service Mike. Your replacement will have some mighty big shoes to fill. Best wishes for you and your family.

Dark Archive 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Thanks for everything you've done for PFS. Take care and good luck!

Paizo Employee 4/5 Developer

29 people marked this as a favorite.

Thank you, Mike. Your leadership helped to make Pathfinder Society great, allowed me get my foot in the door as an author, and ultimately led to my working alongside you at Paizo. You have done some incredible things for this campaign, and I am sure that you will make a profound difference in whatever life sends your way next.

Dark Archive 5/5 5/55/5 *

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Mike - its been a pleasure working with you.

The next guy sure has some big shoes to fill.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

It has been my great honor and pleasure serving under your guidance Mike. I am so thankful for all you have done in growing PFS and supporting us Venture-Officers. I take a lot of pride in my position and if it wasn't for your hard work and dedication I wouldn't have taken the step to be a VO. Most players don't know how much time and sweat you've poured into making PFS the great organization that it is but I'm sure with the foundation you've built it will continue to thrive.

4/5 Venture-Lieutenant, Massachusetts—Boston

Thank you for all your insanely hard work. The next person is going to have a good base to start from and huge boots to try to fill.

Dark Archive

So who is taking over as the Global Organized Play Coordinator after Mike leaves?

Paizo Employee Customer Service Representative

Thank you so much for all your hard work, Mike! I certainly hope we'll still see you around at conventions!

Dark Archive

Mike, I am so glad I got to meet you at Origins this year and that I get to work with you again at GenCon. I was completely star struck because *omg that's Mike freaking Brock!* Thank you for everything you've done!

-Your humble 1 star GM <3


Thanks for everything Mike, I'm really sorry to see you go and hope everything goes well for you and your family.

5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Thank you for your service.

Grand Lodge 5/5 5/5 **** Regional Venture-Coordinator, Isles

All the very best Mike in all your future endeavours. Thanks for all the good works over the years. Best wishes

5/5 5/55/55/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Best retirement arc ever. Good luck!

4/5 Venture-Lieutenant, Massachusetts—Boston

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Queue epic send off at GenCon?

Dark Archive 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber

It's been a pleasure working with you on things, sir.

I look forward to opportunities to share tales with you in the future.

Sovereign Court 5/5 5/5 * Venture-Captain, Florida—Orlando

2 people marked this as a favorite.

It's been a pleasure working for you. You will be missed.

Shadow Lodge *

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

MIke, thank you for all that you have done, and good luck with everything in the future.

Sovereign Court 5/5 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32

I'll never forget the first thing Mike said to me, at GenCon. "Don't call me Mister Brock. Mister Brock is my father." Good times...

Mike, I'm sure you'll find a great job that allows you to send many many emails at 3 am. Good luck and fair winds!

Dark Archive 3/5 **

You will be sorely missed. PFS is what it is today because of your hard work and dedication. Thank you.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, California—Los Angeles (South Bay)

Mike, thanks for the hard work. I was not aware of the family health issues, but I hope that improves.

You have done a great job with Pathfinder Society, and I thank you for all your hard work. My hope is that all will be well, and I wish you and those dear to you, health, happiness and good luck.

1/5 **

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Mike Brock wrote:
I was always taught to leave a situation better than I entered it.

Mission accomplished.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 * Venture-Lieutenant, Washington—Seattle

1 person marked this as a favorite.

You've done amazing work over these four years, Mike! I think you'll be a tough act for your replacement to follow. Best of luck in the future, and if you're ever in St. Louis, you always have a seat at my table.

Dark Archive 3/5 *** Venture-Agent, United Kingdom—England—Sheffield

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I'll drink the longest-serving campaign coordinator in Pathfinder Society's history!

4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ***** Venture-Captain, United Kingdom—England—Coventry

Thanks for everything, Mr B :-) Buy you a beer at Paizocon UK.
Best of luck for the future.

2/5

You've done outstanding work and advanced PFS far beyond what I imagined anyone could do. May your travels be safe, your health ever strong, and your life enjoyable. If you're ever in CA, I'll buy you a drink.

4/5 Designer

18 people marked this as a favorite.

Thanks so much for everything you've done, Mike. Before you, the position was like Paizo's "Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher," but you not only filled but also embodied the role, so much so that it's going to be incredibly tough for the next campaign coordinator to fill those shoes. Your leadership and efforts with PFS led to Linda's and my involvement as coordinators and then VLs which played no small part, I think, in building the skills it took for me to be hired here as a Designer. We'll miss you, Mike. I don't have to wish you good luck on your future endeavors because you don't wait for luck; you make things happen!

The Exchange 5/5

Thank you for your service Mike. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Don Kidd

Dataphiles 4/5 5/55/5 Venture-Agent, Online—PbP

Thanks for everything, Mike!

Grand Lodge 3/5

Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Family and life come first for all of us. You've done an incredible amount of good for PFS and Pathfinder as whole during your tenure. It has brought both my personal home games and public games hours of enjoyment, great memories and new friends. I thank you for that and wish you all the best. Be well sir and thank you for all that you have done for this game and hobby.

Scarab Sages 5/5

You will be missed. Your predecessor will have huge shoes to fill. Thank you for all your time and effort that you have put in these past 4 years to make PFS what it is today.

Paizo Employee 5/5 Contributor—Canadian Maplecakes

10 people marked this as a favorite.

I met Mike at my first PaizoCon in 2012, which was also the debut of the Grand Convocation event I'd coordinated for that year. From our first meeting, I knew Mike was a person who cared deeply for PFS and had a great breadth of knowledge on building a community and running events. During my time as a freelancer with Paizo, I've done a lot of work for PFS and Mike was instrumental in helping me put things in perspective, often egging me on to do things I hadn't tried, or pull me back and help me simplify things I'd overcomplicated (*COUGH* *COUGH* Special *COUGH*)

Beyond all of his assistance in my professional career, Mike has been, and remains, a good friend. When I took a trip to Seattle in December, it was Mike who offered to put me up for a few days and take me around the city. During that trip, we went out to share drinks and enjoy some a theatrical presentation of "A Christmas Story", where we both ended up taking pictures in a bunny costume standee (seriously, there's pictures). At the Paizo XMas party, it was Mike who convinced me to stay late... ok, maybe I shouldn't thank him for that! :)

What I'm getting at, is that Mike was both an amazing professional and personal force at Paizo. As others have already pointed out, there are some damn big shoes to fill and I wish Mike all the best in his future endeavors.

Thanks again Mike, for everything.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Mike, it's been a real pleasure working with, and for you over these past few years. PFS will not be the same without you - you will indeed be sorely missed!

Scarab Sages 4/5

thanks for your hard work Mike and here's hoping life treats you well going forward.

4/5 5/55/5 *

Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

We have gone through the good and the bad. But we are left all the better for it. Good luck and I am sure we will still see you ayt the boards if not iin person

Dark Archive 4/5

Thanks for all you have done!

4/5

Tanks you for all

Sovereign Court 2/5

I never had the chance to meet you Mike, but your presence was definitely felt. Thanks for all your hard work and God bless!

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Mike, so sad to hear you're leaving. You've done so much to improve PFS. Very glad I've been able to meet you twice in the last few years. Please don't hesitate to visit us in FL from time to time.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Maps Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Cheers, Mike! Well played, well done, be well.

~Adam

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

Thank you for all you have done.

2/5

Many thanks, and best of luck. Your successor has some very big Boots of Striding and Springing to fill.

Shadow Lodge 4/5

Mike you will be missed.

Large are shoes you stepped into when you took on this role and you certainly made them even larger for those who follow you.

You leave us better off than we were before.

Horizon Hunters 4/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Indianapolis

7 people marked this as a favorite.

There's an old expression that goes something like, "if you aren't making people mad, you aren't doing it right." I've watched changes to the campign, comments posted here, interactions, etc. and have seen people frustrated, upset, elated, happy, the whole gamut, etc. Clearly, Mike, you did lots of things right. The numbers and the success of the campaign don't lie. You stuck to the path PFS needed, and PFS (and it's players and GMs) are the better for it.

If ever someone took the mantra, "leave it better than you found it" to heart, it was certainly you.

Thanks for your work, time, and even sacrifices for the PFS campaign, Mike. They are greatly appreciated.

Best wishes to you and your family, and here's hoping you all get past the challenges before you!

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