Announcing the Regional Support Program!

Huzzah!

Excitement abounds!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

ThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouTha nkyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThanky outhankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyout hankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthan kyouthankyou

provided they have a venture-officer associated with the location.

We're out in the boonies but warhorn with the folks in albany. Does that count?

I look forward to seeing this in action.

Hmm

My local group gets a pretty reliable three tables per session but lacks a VA. Maybe I should apply...

Guess I better get organizing!

We're out in the boonies but warhorn with the folks in albany. Does that count?

The program must be administered by a VO, but how that works exactly will probably vary regionally. I recommend consulting your nearest VC or the RVC for answers since they are the ones responsible for oversight

BigNorseWolf wrote:

We're out in the boonies but warhorn with the folks in albany. Does that count?

The program must be administered by a VO, but how that works exactly will probably vary regionally. I recommend consulting your nearest VC or the RVC for answers since they are the ones responsible for oversight

commencing bribing VO with booze in other window...

Guessing the answer shall be no, but does this apply to online games since we have VC's / VLs? Secondly would it apply to online conventions at least, since we general organized that with the Online VC IronHelixx, Jesse.

*prepares venture harness in large wolf size*

Guessing the answer shall be no, but does this apply to online games since we have VC's / VLs? Secondly would it apply to online conventions at least, since we general organized that with the Online VC IronHelixx, Jesse.

I'm honestly not sure about online in general, but if would not qualify for an event covered by another support package like a convention package or charity event. Those already have a qualifying program for support.

True enough for the conventions. I'd just trying to see for the online community, most of us use discord organized by Jesse, could qualify for this with our regular games or not? For example i'm not able to get to a local store, most are about 30-45 minutes away, but i run 2-3 official games online a week, as do quite a few of our regular GMs. So just want to know if they qualify for this new incentive program or if online play will be disqualified.

True enough for the conventions. I'd just trying to see for the online community, most of us use discord organized by Jesse, could qualify for this with our regular games or not? For example i'm not able to get to a local store, most are about 30-45 minutes away, but i run 2-3 official games online a week, as do quite a few of our regular GMs. So just want to know if they qualify for this new incentive program or if online play will be disqualified.

Given the incredibly low cost of entry to conduct an online convention, I think the new program isn't tailored for the needs of the online community and that's probably OK...

YES!

Where does one get this wallet-sized tracking slip? I didn't see it on the policy page. Is that something I can expect to be handed to me by a VO at a qualifying event?

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

ThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyou thankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyou thankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyou ThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyou thankyouthankyouThankyouthankyouthankyouThankyouthankyou thankyouThankyouthankyouthankyou

And thanks to BNW for making this post really hard to read on iPhones.

(The Safari browser puts in a line break about every 55 characters on a 5s. When someone writes a string of characters longer than that with no spaces or returns it breaks far less frequently and you end up having to scroll side-to-side on each line.)

Score, I've been looking forward to getting a RSP for my event.

Thanks!

Now to go give the good word to my VA crew!

Wonderful news. A couple of questions
1) Is "a year" a calendar year or a "PFS year" (ie, a Season)?
2) Does a GM get all 3 boons (assuming tney meet all 3 criteria) or just 1? If just 1, when do they get it and what happens if they later want to exchange it for the (presumably) better later boons?

This is a great thing. I am very excited about the possibilities inherent in the GM boonage :)

Now to ask my VC....oh Shifty, my friend :)

Wonderful news. A couple of questions

1) Is "a year" a calendar year or a "PFS year" (ie, a Season)?
2) Does a GM get all 3 boons (assuming tney meet all 3 criteria) or just 1? If just 1, when do they get it and what happens if they later want to exchange it for the (presumably) better later boons?

1) I *think* it's going to be calendar year but I'll leave Tonya to answer that.

Regarding online events - Jesse and I will have a chat regarding integration of RSP for online play.

Per the full policy linked to in the blog -

Program Dates: Yearly, starting in February and ending January 31 of the following year (effective 2017 dates are February 13 to January 31, 2018).

GM boons come as soon as the reward is earned.

Will the new GM boons replace the current system or will it be added on top of that? I love those race boons.

EDIT: Nvm, i am dumb, i was thinking about the convention rewards, this is different.

Lets see how this will work out for us.

My location doesn't have a venture officer since I only have time to run one game a month and therefore don't qualify.

Maybe my players can access this at other venues.

However, I worry that this will actually discourage players and GMs from taking part in the events I organize.

My location doesn't have a venture officer since I only have time to run one game a month and therefore don't qualify.

Just because you don't have a VO immediately on site does not mean there isn't one overseeing your area. Consult the coordinators page for the closest one. Worst case is you have an RVC overseeing your region

This is a great thing. I am very excited about the possibilities inherent in the GM boonage :)

Now to ask my VC....oh Shifty, my friend :)

You rang? :p

I'm sure we'll need to work out the local details about our requests, but I had a question about how recurring events will be handled. If we have a recurring event with no end date, do we request support for a limited period, or the entire duration? If it is a limited period, how do we decide how long to request coverage?

Steve, while that might be a possibility, I'd say the opposite might also be true. I can see this program as providing an incentive that gets first-time or otherwise reluctant GMs to start running more, hopefully not just at supported events, but also at others.

provided they have a venture-officer associated with the location.

We're out in the boonies but warhorn with the folks in albany. Does that count?

POOF!

We can work this out.

My local group gets a pretty reliable three tables per session but lacks a VA. Maybe I should apply...

From what I have read from you over the years, that seems like a really great idea. You certainly have the motivation for it ^^

Joy...more tracking.

I'll put this right next to my stack of TPS...I mean ITS reports.

Woohoo.

Regarding online events - Jesse and I will have a chat regarding integration of RSP for online play.

Per the full policy linked to in the blog -

Program Dates: Yearly, starting in February and ending January 31 of the following year (effective 2017 dates are February 13 to January 31, 2018).

GM boons come as soon as the reward is earned.

Can I be part of that chat too, Tonya?

BigNorseWolf wrote:

provided they have a venture-officer associated with the location.

We're out in the boonies but warhorn with the folks in albany. Does that count?

POOF!

We can work this out.

That's great, June!

Any chance we can throw that VA harness on BNW? I really think it's time we tag and collar him.

Uh-oh. Did I say that aloud where he can hear? Good wolf. Nice wol --- Aaaaaaggghh!

does the wet dog shake and tranq darts fall out

That's great, June!

Any chance we can throw that VA harness on BNW? I really think it's time we tag and collar him.

Uh-oh. Did I say that aloud where he can hear? Good wolf. Nice wol --- Aaaaaaggghh!

I don't know.. a nice new platinum earring is very stylish.

I was just GMing at OwlCon... the PFS coordinators stepped up to feed the GMs and others as the food options were less than expected at the college. Sadly no time to play Skeleton Moon again... lol...

We have an RSP to plan for DFW... so good. I'll talk to Jon (our RVC) the week before GenCon so he'll agree to anything, HA!

So. is this a guaranteed thing for the locations or is this a "RVC Discretion" item that we'll have to jump through hoops and satisfy varying criteria from region to region?

My local group gets a pretty reliable three tables per session but lacks a VA. Maybe I should apply...

I think Eric is our VC...though we're so self-sufficient he doesn't have to be terribly hands on. Post something on our local group Facebook page to get the process started.

Not trying to dissuade you from being a VA if you want to be, though.

...

We have an RSP to plan for DFW... so good. I'll talk to Jon (our RVC) the week before GenCon so he'll agree to anything, HA!

yes - I'm being humorous... note that it's MONTHS before GenCon and I posted that...

PFS VOs WANT TO HELP you have a PFS Event that will be FANTASTIC. So start a conversation with your VA/VL/VC/RVC about what you want to do. It's best to start at least 2 months ahead as there is a lot of planning and advertising to do so your event can be a success. Players and GMs have work schedules to adjust and lodging to arrange...

Kalindlara wrote:

My local group gets a pretty reliable three tables per session but lacks a VA. Maybe I should apply...

I think Eric is our VC...though we're so self-sufficient he doesn't have to be terribly hands on. Post something on our local group Facebook page to get the process started.

Not trying to dissuade you from being a VA if you want to be, though.

I think my area is so self sufficient that we have 3 or 4 VLs, half a dozen VAs, and don't even have a VC any more. We've got so much going on around here that everyone just runs their own thing at different stores and occasional conventions, and there's no centralized leadership at all.

That sounds wonderful, even if it puts me out of a job. :)

does the wet dog shake and tranq darts fall out

I've got some free spots on my ship. We raid 5* island for rum and other goodies.

So. is this a guaranteed thing for the locations or is this a "RVC Discretion" item that we'll have to jump through hoops and satisfy varying criteria from region to region?

If you are coordinating a qualifying event, why not submit the request to your VO and see what happens. The worst they can say is no, right?

This is absolutely wonderful. Austin runs a very robust twice-a-week PFS night that will definitely benefit from this. Thank you!

First of all, very cool, excepting the RVC bit. Muuuuch better than the last incarnation. Thanks for putting the work & effort into this.

Liam wrote:

So. is this a guaranteed thing for the locations or is this a "RVC Discretion" item that we'll have to jump through hoops and satisfy varying criteria from region to region?

If you are coordinating a qualifying event, why not submit the request to your VO and see what happens. The worst they can say is no, right?

No, the worst that they can say is nothing as your inquiry is lost in email limbo or "I'll address this later" land and the venue's players begin to ask you over and over again what's going on with the request while you wait not knowing what to anticipate.

Knowing what to expect ahead of time helps greatly for folks that have been coordinating repeating events for some time so that they know how much info / time investiture may be needed to get something for their venue and so that they know if their experience in the attempt may be standard or an outlier. Knowing what's expected also helps for venues that may have multiple people organizing / reporting so that they know if this is something they should do separately (ie it's driven by the reporting # or reporting owner) or together (ie it's driven only by the venue and there are very few hoops to jump through).

Also, as apparently GMS are able to move from one qualifying event to another for the GM-side of things, is there a reason that the GM "card" isn't available for open download and has to go through the RVC to get their RSP tracker?

My location doesn't have a venture officer since I only have time to run one game a month and therefore don't qualify.

Maybe my players can access this at other venues.

However, I worry that this will actually discourage players and GMs from taking part in the events I organize.

Steve, you only have to run one game a month to be a VA. You have to organize two events a month, but only have to GM once. The big issue is getting other people to GM during your other event; but that's manageable if there are boons for them after GMing enough games.

Hey Tonya,

How do we report organized blocks for recurring store events on the form? Count up the expected tables over the course of the next year? Just give a monthly count? The Form is designed for convention support and doesn't really translate to local recurring store events.

And if we are running events at two locations for the same store (they own two storefronts), with different event numbers for each store (to make sure people checking the Paizo event lists go to the right store), is it possible to combine those into functionally the same event.

Edit: And should Core and RPG campaign tables be reported/tracked separately? Some boons don't work for Core tables.

First of all, very cool, excepting the RVC bit. Muuuuch better than the last incarnation. Thanks for putting the work & effort into this.

It is the method we are using to make sure we know what is running in the area. Plus it keeps all forms in one location.

And if it disappears into "no form land" and you don't hear from the RVC, please let me know. That is concerning in itself.

The program itself is always "on". The RVCs component is there so that they know what is happening in their region and so they can compile feedback so that the PFS team can tweak the program if necessary.