|
| 40 people marked this as a favorite. |
Hello everybody! Pathfinder Society and its community have helped me so much that I wanted to express my gratitude for my PFS region San Diego, as well as all the PFS regions and Pathfinders involved in my favorite game. All the people I have met and all the adventures I have embarked upon have been such a positive influence on my life.
Ever since I was very young, I have had trouble socializing with people. It was extremely difficult making friends in school, and I was bullied often. Eventually my school psychologist diagnosed me with Asperger's Syndrome, which was confirmed when my parents brought me to a clinical psychologist. I struggle with social interaction and talking to others. It took me years to be able to look people in the eye. I was miserable when it came to interacting with anyone outside my family. Until I worked up my courage and went to my first PFS Game Day at At Ease Games.
My intro game was a great experience. Although it was my first RPG ever, I was able to somewhat grasp the rules from my mechanical knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons videogames. I still struggled with social interaction, but I just pretended I was brave like my pregen (Amiri!). I went back the next day. And to the next event, followed by the one after. I believe I have gone to the vast majority of events in the region ever since that day.
It is the community that keeps me coming back. All my amazing friends. The Organizers, GMs, and Players. My wonderful Venture Officers in San Diego are Venture Captain Eric Brittain, Venture Lieutenant Joanna Gore, and Venture Lieutenant Sean Ennis.
They have all done so much to make me feel welcome and safe when I play. No one treats me any differently based on my condition, and everyone is kind and understanding. I have gained real friends, but more importantly confidence. I used to be afraid to leave the house, but not long after I joined PFS I used what I learned to get my very first job in my whole life. I can talk to people without being scared, and I have made friends outside the PFS community. I look forward to meeting the forum community as well.
I was scared, but not anymore. Thank you all so much.
Developer
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
I'm glad to hear that you've had such a good experience and learned so much over the course of you games. I have not yet traveled to San Diego, but I have had the pleasure of gaming with Eric Brittain both as a player and as a GM. He is among the most welcoming, understanding, and pleasant people I've met in the organized play program.
Whether one participates in Pathfinder Society to overcome a personal challenge, develop leadership skills, or just get into character, we all share one goal: having fun together. We're glad to have you as part of this community.
|
|
Thank you Kevin, thank you John. It is very nice to meet you both. I have played other RPGs since Pathfinder, but it is always first for me. Edit: (Oh, Eric is so funny! One of my favorite games was him running Sewer Dragons of Absalom for me!)
I am glad to take my first step into the larger community here online, as well. I really appreciate it!
Venture-Captain, Washington—Spokane
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Simon,
Welcome to Pathfinder Society and I wanted to express that I am glad you had a wonderful experience with PFS play and I thank you for sharing this with the community.
When I came back to the table in 2012 (the last time I had played was in 1991), I wanted to get my creative spark back after looking at nothing but text and computer books for some time. As a player I did get my creative spark back, it took a bit though. Later I did get the confidence to run my own weekly event and GM games in my local area. Stepped up another notch and added conventions to the mix. I stepped into a junior leadership role in 2013 as a Venture-Lieutenant and am looking forward to the next step.
I hope you enjoy yourself for a long time with us and, who knows, maybe I'll meet you at Paizocon.
|
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Simon, I am glad to hear that you had such a welcoming experience with PFS.
It is important that people feel welcome at gaming tables so that they can have fun. So, welcome and I hope that you will like it here.
Thank you William! I like it here a lot, though I am a bit nervous. I will just fight through the anxiety!
Simon,
Welcome to Pathfinder Society and I wanted to express that I am glad you had a wonderful experience with PFS play and I thank you for sharing this with the community.
When I came back to the table in 2012 (the last time I had played was in 1991), I wanted to get my creative spark back after looking at nothing but text and computer books for some time. As a player I did get my creative spark back, it took a bit though. Later I did get the confidence to run my own weekly event and GM games in my local area. Stepped up another notch and added conventions to the mix. I stepped into a junior leadership role in 2013 as a Venture-Lieutenant and am looking forward to the next step.
I hope you enjoy yourself for a long time with us and, who knows, maybe I'll meet you at Paizocon.
Thank you Preston! I'm so happy to hear your story. Congratulations on becoming Venture Lieutenant! I feel that I will most likely be a player forever, but I always appreciate how awesome our GMs and Officers are, and all the hard work they do.
I have been to all the local San Diego Cons, and I am taking my first step to a Temecula Con this very weekend! Paizo Con is like my ultimate, ultimate goal... but it is intimidating going out of state. Hope to see you there some day!
Thank you for this post Simon, it takes a special player to mention difficulties they have had to endure and then overcome.
This also shows how positive role playing games can be and I'm sure this will encourage others to try their local PFS groups.
Good gaming and thank you again.
Thank you Mike! I completely agree. I'm not sure how likely it is, but if someone somehow reads about my experience and is inspired to try their first game, I would be so happy!
I know I am not the only person with social challenges or anxiety, nor the only one who desperately needs friends. I would like someone else who is hurting or lonely to make the first step and play an RPG and make friends, whether it's Pathfinder or D&D, or anything else.
Simon my friend, as always, you rock!
Thanks so much for sharing and for being such a wonderful part of our community.
If you get the chance to play at a table with Simon take it. His is an absolute joy to game with.
Inclusion, acceptance, community, and safety are key parts of the organized play experience that don't normally get the same 'screen time' as other parts. By sharing your experience you have helped make the game better (if only a little bit) for everyone.
Little by little, choice by choice, together we all increase the awesome.
Hi Eric! Thank you Buddy, I really appreciate it. I felt that I had reached a point where I just had to share. I have so many heartwarming stories of how I or others have been treated with kindness by our community. You, Joanna, and Sean are doing such a great job as our Venture Officers!
The specific story that inspired me to post this happened this Monday. I fell ill recently which rendered me virtually unable to speak. It is non-contagious, which my doctor assured me. So I could play without worrying about passing it to anyone else. But I still had difficulty. I brought my phone in with a text-to-speech program to Monday's game day. Unfortunately it was drowned out in all the ambient noise of the game store.
Without me even asking, Steve loaned me a white board to write on. Hannah and Scott read everything I wrote aloud to our DM Sean, so I didn't have to strain myself. Everyone at the table was so patient and accommodating. Despite being unable to speak, I had a perfectly fun game. It showed me once again that our community is like a family.
Organized Play Coordinator
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Simon,
Thank you for sharing!!!! It is great to hear of all the awesome going on in your area :) I agree, you have a top notch group of people down there.
Just remember, without players like you, the awesome doesn't exist, so thank you for coming in, sitting down, and having fun with us!!
Wishing you a fantastic convention this weekend!
-T
|
Thank you for sharing your story Simon. I have been lucky enough to sit at tables with several members of the San Diego community, and all of them were awesome people to game with. Unfortunately I won't be at Temecula this weekend, but I hope you make the trip to LA for Strategicon. You'll get to meet many of the regulars in Temecula and I am confident you'll have a great time.
|
|
They have all done so much to make me feel welcome and safe when I play. No one treats me any differently based on my condition, and everyone is kind and understanding. I have gained real friends, but more importantly confidence. I used to be afraid to leave the house, but not long after I joined PFS I used what I learned to get my very first job in my whole life. I can talk to people without being scared, and I have made friends outside the PFS community. I look forward to meeting the forum community as well.I was scared, but not anymore. Thank you all so much.
This is the part I found so very cool Simon. It is inspiring that this group made you comfortable not only gaming but in other parts of life as well. Thank your for sharing your experience and congratulations.
Eric, Joanna, Sean. Thank you for being these people.
|
|
That's awesome! Thank you for saying such sweet things. You're a vital part of San Diego yourself and we all work together to increase the awesome.
Have fun at Temecula this weekend! It's a great time!
Hi Joanna! Thank you very much. I did have a great time at Temecula! I met Justin (Samuels?) and Brian (Darnell?) and they are so cool!
Simon,
Thank you for sharing!!!! It is great to hear of all the awesome going on in your area :) I agree, you have a top notch group of people down there.
Just remember, without players like you, the awesome doesn't exist, so thank you for coming in, sitting down, and having fun with us!!
Wishing you a fantastic convention this weekend!
-T
Thank you Tonya! I was able to play with another region in Temecula and it was a lot of fun! There were even some familiar faces from San Diego.
Thank you for sharing your story Simon. I have been lucky enough to sit at tables with several members of the San Diego community, and all of them were awesome people to game with. Unfortunately I won't be at Temecula this weekend, but I hope you make the trip to LA for Strategicon. You'll get to meet many of the regulars in Temecula and I am confident you'll have a great time.
Thank you Zach! It was a super convention. I played Saturday afternoon and night. There were two games I wanted to play on Sunday, but seeing as how Saturday ended at 1AM and Sunday started at 8AM, it was not possible for me. I will look into Strategicon.
I have shared tables with players on the spectrum (including my son), and found it to be a great experience for everyone involved.
Simon, we will probably never meet face-to=face - I live about as far from San Diego as one can get and still be in the continental US - my loss.Welcome aboard!
Thank you Theconiel, that is wonderful! It makes me very happy to hear you and your son play together. Even if we do not meet face to face, I hope we can still be friends. It is not a loss, more like an opportunity!
This is the part I found so very cool Simon. It is inspiring that this group made you comfortable not only gaming but in other parts of life as well. Thank your for sharing your experience and congratulations.
Eric, Joanna, Sean. Thank you for being these people.
Thank you Curaigh. It has really helped me a lot. There are still difficulties. Sometimes I still can't read signals from people, or I get sad, or upset. But I have come to believe learning to deal with those things and move forward is just as important as understanding people enough to prevent them. I will do my best to stay positive!
GETTING A LITTLE DUSTY UP IN HERE.
No problem at all, my friend! I have Prestidigitation.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Simon. These kind of social interactions are what PFS should be all about!
Hugs,
Hmm
Thank you Hmm! Simon Dragonar is a Bard so he doesn't mind when things are loud. It is so nice to meet everyone here.
Oh, and I'm not sure if this was clear but my character's name is Simon Dragonar. However my real life name is Simon too, because I name all my characters Simon after myself. It is a little confusing, but I'm happy everyone calls me Simon. Because it is my name. And my characters' names.
I'm also not sure if it's weird I reply to everything but I really appreciate everybody, and I don't want anyone to feel left out or sad. I am learning forum etiquette. Thank you!
|
|
Hey Simon, didn't see this thread earlier, but glad I caught it so I can reply now.
As always, it's been a pleasure having you at our games in San Diego, and your multitude of Simons have managed to claim a vital piece of the community.
Thanks especially for sharing your story with the online community, since now it might inspire others to take that crucial first step.
|
|
Hey Simon, didn't see this thread earlier, but glad I caught it so I can reply now.
As always, it's been a pleasure having you at our games in San Diego, and your multitude of Simons have managed to claim a vital piece of the community.
Thanks especially for sharing your story with the online community, since now it might inspire others to take that crucial first step.
Thank you Sean! That makes me happy. My newest Simon is going to be Simon Charming, a Mesmer/Paladin! I hope I can find enough 1-5 or 1-7 games to play on him. I am steadily running out of credit for those!
I hope that I can help someone else take their first step in playing the game! It would be an honor. Many of the people who are my good friends now started after I did. Here's to Pathfinder, may we have many more new faces and cool people!
|
Hey there Simon, I just saw the thread, and I want to thank you for the enjoyable tables I've had with you! What Steve and your table did that night was one of the reasons as to why I like gaming in the area. Everyone tries to help each other out, either before or after a game, or help guide even the newer players into thinking outside the box.
As for the scenario credits, GMing can help you level your newer character, but don't feel obligated to do so! The hardest part, is to fly by the seat of your pants when someone does something completely unexpected, and the social interaction (at least for me).
I'm looking forward to seeing you this weekend at Game Empire!
|
|
Hey there Simon, I just saw the thread, and I want to thank you for the enjoyable tables I've had with you! What Steve and your table did that night was one of the reasons as to why I like gaming in the area. Everyone tries to help each other out, either before or after a game, or help guide even the newer players into thinking outside the box.
As for the scenario credits, GMing can help you level your newer character, but don't feel obligated to do so! The hardest part, is to fly by the seat of your pants when someone does something completely unexpected, and the social interaction (at least for me).
I'm looking forward to seeing you this weekend at Game Empire!
Mike! Hi Buddy! I remember that table. Yes, Steve M placed his squishy under tier Bard in grave danger to stabilize Steve P. The comic book supervillain turned around and one shot crit him to death, but we regained enough momentum to win the day!
As I recall, you were the first to speak up about contributing to Steve M's Rez. That was incredibly generous, and everyone chipped in. It was inspiring.
I am so afraid and nervous of GMing that it makes me sad. Some part of me wants to try it, but I'm scared of screwing up, or being boring, or any number of things that can happen.
On a happier note, I will indeed see you at Game Empire this weekend!