Michael Brock's page

The 3d Bonekeep model was built by newly minted five star GM and Indiana VL, Michael Costello.

Please join me in congratulating New York VC Art Lobdell on receiving the fifth PFS Campaign Service Award.

Art has been with PFS since the beginning running some of the first tables in PFS history at Gen Con 2008. He was one of the first five star GMs in the campaign and was one of the first 13 VCs selected. He was also a survivor of the infamous "Pope in a Gelatinous Cube" incident at the first VC Dinner.

He travels tirelessly across the country to help coordinate and organize PFS, making sure players outside of his region of New York receive the best PFS experience possible. He always GMs multiple tables at every con he attends, showing by example what a five star GM should be.

Along with being awarded his coin, Art has chosen to change his PFS number to 705. Congratulations and job well done sir!

Awesome and congratulations. Thanks for supporting PFS, Kristen.

Mike,

The Emerald Elixir boon is sort of a teamwork boon.

How well is it being received?

I've received no feedback yet.

No, these were not random. Every player that participated at a con was supposed to receive one so that all six players at a table could utilize them. It was probably miscommunication between the con organizer and myself so I will take the blame for that. Think of it kind of like a door prize for showing up at a con.

Also, we made sure there were 3-4 different teamwork so casters and melee and ranged could all benefit.

I don't have the boons in front of me because I'm at Origins but I know they should have been made readily available and that most, if not all, players at a con could have benefited from them.

Actually, I'd love to see teamwork boons. You get two copies at a con; one MUST be given away. When two characters at a table have the same boon, they get to use the teamwork feat (or something similar).

We've already done teamwork boons and they received nothing but negative feedback. I don't remember even one positive post or email about them. A, teamwork boons will most likely not be made available on a boon.

I've had the pleasure of playing at Michael's table at ConNooga two years ago. We played Citadel of Flame and he abused my LL Samurai. Later the same weekend, he tortured my dwarf in the Forbidden Furnace of the Forgotten Koor. He always pours heart and soul into GMing, brInging NPCs to life, creating fabulous 3d terrain, and always have the players leave the table laughing and with good memories. He is truly the representative of what a five star GM should be.

It will be included in Guide 5.0 but may be used now.

Welcome to the team!

Please join me in welcoming our two newest five star GMs! Not only are they some of it most dedicated GMs, they are also two of our most dedicated OP volunteers, serving as VCs of their respective regions.

Michael Azzolino was selected in the second wave of VC selections and was one of the first 18 VCs in Pathfinder Society. He oversees one of the largest regions in the world in San Francisco, as well as several large conventions. The last convention he coordinated, Kubla Con, ran more than 200 tables of PFS.

Dan Simons has the distinction of being one of only two VCs to coordinate PFS in two different regions, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. He also travels a good bit, sometimes across country thousands of miles, to help support various larger conventions. He is well respected in both regions he has served as a VC.

Both of these GMs have my respect and I would be honored to play at either of their tables at anytime.

Well done! Five star GM is a title well earned by both of you!

But most gamers like the randomness of rolling a d20 in my experience. I just don't think there would be as much excitement over choosing a boon instead of rolling for one. Maybe I'm wrong so I will keep watching this thread.

@David thanks for the reply and another point of view. What bothers me is someone you know quit because she didn't win what was essentially a door prize. I just don't understand that. I assume she received the full enjoyment from playing the scenarios she participated in, she advanced her character and attached Chronicle sheets, and she was able to spend five hours or more with friends making good gaming memories. She then gets put off of PFS because she didn't win the door prize above and beyond what she was guaranteed (a seat at a game for each event ticket she had).

I liken this to the various swag people can receive in the dealer hall. If you get there too late, you don't get a giveaway. I guess what I really don't understand is why she felt so bad that the entire OP was off putting to her. I assume she is the type of person who doesn't buy scratch lottery tickets or play bingo either. Both of those are akin to the con giveaways, except you pay extra for those. The giveaways for PFS were above and beyond what was already paid for with the event ticket.

So, what is Paizo to do? Not give away any books or other products or boons because they aren't guaranteed? And even when we do guarantee them (like last year at Gen Con), people are still put off. I am having a hard time understanding that. Hopefully you can come back and further expand on your above post so I can hopefully gain a better understanding.

Please join me in congratulating Myles Crocker on his promotion from VL to VC. He has done an outstanding job supporting Don Walker and the Boston Lodge, as well as Dan Donnelly in the Albany Lodge. It is time he oversees and runs his own lodge in Vermont.

Job well done, Myles!

That is correct. You can only receive credit one time.

Welcome to the team!

With the addition of all the new VLs today, we now have 250 VCs and VLs. Awesome job to everyone involved in PFS for helping with an awesome growth over the last 20 months that I have been on the job.

If interested, you can find the full listing HERE.

Betrayal in Absalom wasn't a sanctioned PFS event so it really wouldn't fall under 01-00.

Welcome to the team!

Welcome to the team!

Part 3 will not debut at Winter Fantasy. I'm working on something...special....for the release of part 3. Part 4 is scheduled for release at Gen Con 2014.

And parts 3-4 are scheduled to be tier 5-9.

None of the Bonekeep levels have a code.

The Specials are 2-00, 3-00, 4-00, and soon to be 5-00.

Thank you for the well thought out post. The many points presented give me much to think on and process and consider.

Welcome to the team!

Welcome to the team!

Welcomed to the team!

We currently don't have anyone coordinating and organizing PFS in Kosovo. I would certainly be interested in placing a VC there if we can find the right person. Anyone interested can email me about the position at mike.brock@paizo.com.

I'm sure they will seat generics in the Bonekeep special, if it doesn't sell out.

We will.

I like the idea of boons, races, etc.. being opened at GM Star levels. However, we currently don't have that code written to send out Chronicles automatically.

Michael Brock wrote:

I've removed additional posts with back and forth bashing. You've already been put on notice by several other employees. If it happens again,I'm locking this thread.

More like one employee, several times, but I take your point. I really should just stop reading it. It seems others have.

Jessica Price and Chris Lambertz would equal two. I am three. And now the thread is locked and you have received a PM.

I've removed additional posts with back and forth bashing. You've already been put on notice by several other employees. If it happens again,I'm locking this thread.

And hence we have more proof why Kyle earned the first Pathfinder Society Campaign Service Award. He continually goes above and beyond. Awesome job, Kyle.

After reviewing the feedback, I consider it for a bit, make a list of pros and cons, and whichever list outweighs the other is what I go with. That is how I resolve most issues that are divisive in regard to OP.

And looky there. I just checked the Gen Con system and there is one ticket available for purchase!

Thoughts are definitely with all of you in this turbulent time. Stay safe.

Mike Bramnik wrote:

Hero Lab is a third party product, and not an approved Additional Resource for PFS play.

Which is to say that it is a wonderful tool but possessing a license for a Hero Lab data package is NOT a substitute for having the Additional Resource in print or signed pdf form. Even if you have the "Player Companion #8" package for Hero Lab you must still have a copy of the "Blood of Angels" Paizo book in order to use material from it.

You are still welcome to use Hero Lab to help in creating your character as long as you can derive all your information (AC, saves, skils, hit modifiers, etc.) without it as well - Hero Lab does make some errors. Remember your chronicles are your official records.

Thanks Belafon. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Well Mike i have a few thoughts if you'll bear with me. I hope you even make it to comment #114 heh....

I read every comment. :-)

Please join me in welcoming John Grisby as the new Venture-Captain of Mississippi! Welcome to the team, John!

I didn't come here and start pointing fingers or blaming anyone. Not sure why some of you feel the need to jump down my throat.

I came to make 2 clear points, one of which is that I'm looking for tickets.

I don't follow the PFS website closely, and I don't go to Gencon typically for the event games. I've been going for 15 years now, and didn't start doing the PFS events there until just last year (Gencon and Living campaigns weren't as wild back when I played). I'd heard they sell out quickly, but getting into the special was one of my primary goals for this years GenCon. Sorry if the thought of sending out your own email was completely unreasonable on my account. Clearly the fact is the tickets sold out, so what's it matter really who you reach out too.

Another top notch PR response from you Mike. Perhaps it's just the internet that makes you sound short in your responses.

Apologies if you took anything I said the wrong way. I guess, if advising you that we had a blog here and Gen Con sent out emails is considered a short response, then I am not certain what else you wanted as a response. *sigh* It was all said in a matter of fact tone. Please don't read things into it that aren't there. Heck, I even replied to your email and your thread on my vacation day because I know Gen Con is very important to you.

If you have attended Gen Con any previous year, and opted into their emailings, you would have received at least three emails advising when registration was. If you didn't see Gen Con emails advising when tickets would go on sale, I'm not sure how you think an email from us advising when Gen Con tickets are going on sale would fix anything.

I'm sorry you are upset you didn't get a ticket for an event you wanted but there is no need to take it out on me. Tickets for the special were available for 13 days. If it was one of your primary goals, why didnt you check anytime in those 13 days? In the past two years, they sold out the first day. As others have said, keep checking back and perhaps some will be returned.

Everything has to be completed by Aug. 14. After that, the "switch will be flipped" and LL or SL can not be reported.

Michael Brock wrote:

The Special wasn't sold out until 2 days ago FYI.

To be honest, I've never been one to rush out and book my events for GenCon. I play a few PFS mods (previously living greyhawk), and otherwise I'm just there for the convention itself. Last year was the first time I'd play a PFS special, perhaps next year toss a "GenCon tickets go on sale" notice into the Paizo Newsletter you email out to society members?

I believe we had a blog or two here and I know Gen Con sent out 2-3 emails regarding upcoming ticket sales.

Dabrickashaw wrote:

It just sucks that 2 weeks after event registration opens I'm way too late to order tickets, and I'm sure they were all gone within that first day or two if it was anything like last year's registration.

I would not be surprised if they were sold out within the first couple of hours, frankly.

The Special wasn't sold out until 2 days ago FYI.

Anything from Ultimate Campaign will become legal at the start of Season 5.

I played in a 4 player game of this yesterday, I am more of concern with the chronicle sheet.

3 of the other players spent the prestige points to switch to Lantern Lodge for this scenario for essentially the +1 ability point. After successfully completing the scenario (3-4) , the former Loyal Lantern Lodge members picked the Shadow Lodge as their next port of call ( in anticipation of the retirement scenario for the Shadow Lodge).

My question is: THere is nothing stopping this is there?

There is something. It's coming. Lets wait until next month. I don't want to spoil the surprise.

I doubt it could function as a trap. If these factionless agents do not have the prestige remaining to change factions, what happens to them? Do they revert to Grand Lodge? Do their side-swapping antics get them kicked from the Society? If they do remain factionless (as they cannot afford to choose a new faction) are they forced to play through scenarios with no faction missions where the best-case scenario is that they earn one prestige per scenario?

That's a good question. I'm inclined to say, if you don't have enough PP to switch to a new faction due to trying to game the system, you lose your character as it is removed from play. Let me think on it.

If someone GMs the scenario, they may apply the a chronicle to any character they have to receive the boom, even if out of tier, for this scenario and Rivalry's End. This is in effect until August 14, 2013.

Please join me in welcoming the new Venture-Captain of Miami, FL, Rafael Taramona. Welcome to the team! I expect to see good things and tremendous growth out of South Florida.

Welcome to the team!

And one of the reason why I'm stepping down is because of the way some of the VO's on this forum called me unreasonable just because I said that a automated system that sends thank you's to GM's would be a good idea. And that I should be doing what I do because I love the game.

I actually have something similar to this on my list handed over to IT. When a GM earns a new star, they receive a thank you email and a special boon. It isn't ready yet but it is on the list. And, if you ever felt a VC mistreated you, all you need to do is email me. I have been on the road 8.5 of the last 10 weeks and not able to read every thread.

I don't love having to pay to market a game and support organized play out of my own pocket. It sucks to sit on a bus for an hour to get to a gameday where you have to run two slots back to back and not have enough money to pay for food because your extra income went to buying the scenarios for the other GM's to run, because if you didn't they wouldn't run. It sucks, especially when I'm called unreasonable because I think it be nice for the company that I'm marketing for to send out an automated thank you.

Again, it simply takes an email or phone call to me explaining the situation from either a VO or you, and I would make sure you had the scenarios you needed to coordinate game days without having you miss a meal. I have worked with numerous FLGS coordinators who have no VO close by and I make sure their game days receive what they need to have to be successful, including scenarios, free posters, and prize support when I can swing it.

And when I stop running Paizo probably won't even notice the difference and the only people who will care are the people who lose out on the gameday.

Don't be so sure. I generate reports all the time to see what GMs are active, how many games they run, etc... As a lot of people here can attest, I am a very hands on person. I do take notice. I do send out surprises at random to active volunteers, whether it is a race boon they have been desperately looking for, or a Paizo book they mentioned they have wanted but can't afford.

You will be missed but you have to do what you think will bring you the most enjoyment. I wish you well in whatever your future decision is.

Please join me in congratulating Shane Murphy on his promotion fro VL to VC of Orlando,FL! Well done and thanks for all of your efforts, Shane!

Awesome job, Mike! Thanks for supporting PFS as both a VO and a awesome GM.

Mark Langereis wrote:

I...myself...me...and Auke will be attending! Yaaay! Last year was terrible for me, but I promise I'll make it up and liven up your PaizoCon UK this year with my ever insane personality!

Guard your alcohol!

Which reminds me, I wonder if the local pub will be running their rather splendid mini beer festival again?

I hope so!