First timer questions


PaizoCon General Discussion

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Shadow Lodge

So I finally think I can make the 16+ hour flight and afford accomodation etc.

A few questions for the more experienced.

When does the con accomodation block open?

Is the con accomodation block cheaper than the hotels normal rates? If so, approximately how much? I am looking at spending 10-11 days in Seattle so it can make a difference.

How close are the other hotels in the area, Google earth shows quite a few nearby, but I am unsure as to the actual distance and if walking back late at night would be considered safe?

Assuming I can make it work, what sights would people suggest I see.

Scarab Sages

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One thing to keep in mind about the block is that it includes a substantial discount on the crazy hotel parking rate.

Shadow Lodge

Would be helpful Part from flying in from Australia. Can anyone say what the con block cost last year so I can have a ballpark price to work with?

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, PF Special Edition, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I think it was $116, and taxes add another $15 or so. Parking was around $8. I was just under $650 for the entire stay, Thursday through Monday.

Shadow Lodge

Cool. Thanks for the info.


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If it's easy enough to manage, I'd definitely recommend staying at the venue. We stayed in Downtown this year (my first Paizocon) and it was a significant hassle travelling back and forth, although it made tourism stuff for my non-gaming wife easier. Even if you were looking locally, the hotels in the area are pretty spread out - even some of the more distant wings in the convention hotel feel like a bit of a trek!

I felt perfectly safe walking around and taking the train between downtown and the venue (although I taxi-ed after dark, so I couldn't offer an opinion on night-time commuting).

The things we did that I'd recommend:

1. Pike Place Market
2. The Seattle Center has a bunch of cool things:

  • Space Needle - for the view, apparently the meals aren't that flash
  • Pacific Science Center
  • Chihuly Garden
  • Some kind of music/art musem whose name escapes me, but which is impossible to miss if you're there

We also visited the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation which is kind of next to the Seattle Center. A couple of middleaged, slightly lefty nerds enjoyed that - but I'd hesitate to offer it as a universal recommendation. :)

If you've got time and ability to get out of Seattle, I enjoyed our visit to Mt Rainier - as an Adelaidean, the sheer size of it (plus that weird frozen water lying around everywhere) was pretty incredible. We did a couple of walks that were well signposted and of varying, clearly identified levels of difficulty.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Don't make the mistake I did last year and not leave the hotel/local restaurant area the entire convention.

Budget some time to explore/get non-hotel/restaurant food and drink, see the area.

Not that the hospitality was bad at either the hotel or any of the local eateries (except for the mistake that was Taco Hel), just... there's more to life than that?

If the weather holds the same, bring a light jacket and a sweatshirt, though you might not need either one.

Also take time to relax and unwind, whether in pool or just in room.
It's not a sprint like a small local convention, nor a marathon like a longer one, it's a casual stroll with gaming friends/family.

ie, don't rush in a panic if you can help it, if you're registered for events you'll get in for them.


Oh that mistake is ok. I have 11 days. Catch up with someone the day after the con, sightsee for a free days before, catch up on sleep before heading home etc.


Is the hotel within walking distance of the Lite Rail airport station? My plan is to stay at The Camlin (Worldmark with points, no cost!!!), use the Lite Rail from Westlake Center to the Airport, and then walk (or Taxi) from there to the convention. Looking at Google maps, it looks about 8 blocks (1/2 mile????).

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32

There are shuttles at the airport that will take you to the Hotel, and Shuttles from the Hotel to the airport. It is only a 2 minute walk from the shuttle area to the light rail area.
I was never asked to show proof of residence at the hotel to ride the shuttle, they run about every 15 minutes.
otherwise, it is a 10-15 minute walk from light rail to hotel.


What does a typical day at PaizoCon look like and how long do the workshops/gaming sessions last?

Liberty's Edge

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Starfinder Superscriber

Typical day varies by person, given your nature. By the schedule, the first gaming slot runs from 8AM to 1PM, the second from 1PM to 6PM, and the third from 7PM to Midnight. Or, more or less; I may not have the times right, but it is three five-hour slots without a lot of time in between. Many games will eat up most of the slots (including PFS), but some will only run four hours, giving you a little bit of extra time. Workshops vary; I think the minis painting one is more drop-in. There are also multiple panel type things that only last 1 hour.

Many people after the last gaming session then engage in the unofficial drinking and hang-out session, thereby only getting 3 or 4 hours of sleep before the next day of gaming. Depending on your age and nature, this may not be sustainable for many days in a row. Myself, it's not sustainable for even one day. I generally go to bed more or less right after the evening gaming session ends. Even then, I'm feeling seriously sleep-deprived by the last day. In the last two PaizoCons, I've taken to not scheduling stuff (or perhaps just one 1-hour seminar) during most afternoons (as I was usually GMing PFS most of the rest of the time), so that I would have time to unwind, nap, etc. (I sometimes did have things on one or two afternoons, but definitely not every day.)

It's definitely rational to decide to take 2/3 or all of one day and not be at the Con -- do what Wei Ji says,and see other parts of Seattle. Myself, I've been through Seattle a number of times in life, and I figure I've paid a lot of money to go to a gaming convention, so I try to fully embed myself in gaming and get lots of it in during those four days.

Up to you!

(I also do not know if I will be going to PaizoCon this year. There's the financial issue that's a problem every year, and there's also the suggestion that I might go somewhere else that weekend.)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Painting... typically there's the Reaper Paint and Take in the Store which IS drop in. There have historically been one or two "learn to paint" workshops that you sign up for early during the lottery.

Leave some space in your schedule somewhere for - The Delve (20 minute RPG sessions in a deadly scenario with Paizo personalities - First come first served), perusing the store where there are 3rd party publishers, artists, etc, stopping by the Syrinscape booth (there again from Australia) and maybe get recorded for use in their sound-sets, Reaper Paint And Take in the store, MAYBE play some Pathfinder On-Line if that will be there.

Luckily I lived there in Seattle for a few years, and am close now, so I don't have to feel bad about not doing the sites!

For more detail, here are blog posts from the last couple years from two of us at GeekDad. I usually focus on Pathfinder Society RPG play, and throwing in a couple of non-Pathfinder games. The other writer usually focuses on the Adventure Card Game.


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This will be my fourth year..here's what I've learned to have the best time.

1. Pay attention for the month prior to the con to the forums and to the event lottery. When the lottery opens, make sure to sign up for lottery events. You'll get a chance to rate how much you want to play an event on a scale from 1 to 5. Be stingy with your fives, since the algorithm is set up to try to give you 5s, then 4s, etc. If you rate a bunch of events as 5s, you may end up with events that aren't your first choice. I've never gotten more than 3 of the events that I signed up for in the lottery.

2. The day after the lottery is run (or perhaps the day of), check and see what lottery events didn't fill. Then sign up for pathfinder society events you are interested in, since you can't sign up for those until after the lottery runs anyway.

3. Like others have said, leave at least one slot free on most of the 4 days, so you have time to go to classes (which you can sign up for but you don't usually need to), delves, mini painting, or just sit and hang out. The bar in the hotel is pretty awesome, as is the little coffee shop. (both a little pricey, however)

4. If you can at all afford it, buy a banquet ticket. And do it soon. They knock 10 dollars off your 4 day pass if you do the banquet. The food is great and it's cool to be part of the crowd "ooing" and "awing" at all the new release announcements.

5. If you drink coffee, the little deli has a "buy a cup in the morning and use it all day" policy. However, I would supplement that with the complementary water you can get outside all of the rooms.

6. There are rooms that are hard to find where there are unofficial games that are being run all the time that you can join. Last year they were in the "evergreen" rooms.

7. Last year they had a "quiet" room set up if you don't have a hotel room and just need a few minutes to rest while the headache medicine is kicking in. That was nice.

8. If you have a chance to sign up for an event that is not a role-playing game, or you can join a non-rpg in one of the evergreen rooms, it's a really great change of pace. I really enjoyed doing some board gaming for one session last year.

Hope you have a great first year!

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I recommend the banquet too. Each table has at least one Paizo or Industry staffer, designers, tech support, editors, customer service, CEO, most everyone is there somewhere.

Liberty's Edge

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Starfinder Superscriber

And if you hang around for the trivia contest after the banquet, try to be at Simon's (son of Khelreddin) table....!

Grand Lodge

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When do we need to start looking for, I dunno, tickets?, schedules?, lottery-um-explanations?, um, event maps? That kind of stuff.

Thanks.

My first Con ever. My first real vacation in several years. I really want to maximize my time.


You picked a good one. :)


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Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Having been to a few conventions in the past couple of decades, I'd rate PaizoCon as a 'casual-heavy' convention.

There is industry representation and the capacity to meet many different key individuals in various fields related to Paizo, as well as third-party products.

In fact, there was even a boon last year built around doing 'all the things'.

On the plus side, aside from the mustering for the AM slots and the banquet, things are pretty 'mellow' for the most part, while not being a complete 'slack-con'.

Contrasted with a giant of a convention such as say, GenCon, it was a relaxing, tranquil experience with far more gaming crammed in over four days than one might attain reasonably at a larger venue, but with time to relax also 'baked in' to the schedule.

So relax, enjoy yourself, and realize it's a marathon, NOT a SPRINT.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

When do we need to start looking for, I dunno, tickets

Tickets are for sale now On the PaizoCon main page. You'll pick up your actual ticket at the door. Have your ID to prove who you are.

Rooms are also available through a link on that page. Banquet will usually sell out, and the room block rates (if not all rooms) will also sell out. It's handy to be in this hotel instead of elsewhere because morning sessions start early, and some sessions run until midnight. And there is often limited time between sessions if you schedule your day full.

schedules?, lottery-um-explanations?, um, event maps?

You won't see most of that stuff for quite awhile probably. I'd guess February - April time frame. The schedule will be posted and then you'll have a week or so to prior having to finalize selection of events you want. Here are a few types of events

1. Lotteried events, prized spots at the table with various Paizo personalities. You prioritize which events you want most and then using fairy magic and what seems to be rather fair process you get assigned events. Don't expect to get many of these, though my favorite things have been the more random, unexpected games.
2. Seminars and workshops- For the most part there are enough seats to get into most of these.
3. PFS and Adventure Card game. Most slots have plenty PFS and ACG games available, so, unless you need that "one last module" to round out the season, you should be able to fill up your schedule with these.
4. Friday and/or Sunday evening are usually a 7-Midnight PFS Event (playing the Aspis, or the whole room working together on a quest), Saturday evening is a banquet with Paizo News.

You'll want to pay attention for when the lottery happens (just watch these forums, it'll likely also be posted on the main blog, probably an email to signed up people), more information will be available when it comes out. The main thing is to ACTUALLY prioritize. Mark your number 1, then a couple of number 2's, etc. When they assign you an event, if you have 10 things marked #1, you'll get a random one. In any case, there's a great deal of good info here. here's more info on the lottery and other things.


Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

We were at DragonCon last year and binge-played PFS. So we decided to do the same at Paizo. We're extremely local but will stay in the hotel to avoid stupid traffic.

We is our family of four, including 13 and 10-year-olds.

How do we make certain we're doing stuff together, regarding lotteries, banquet, etc?

Thanks!

Scarab Sages

Puck35 wrote:

We were at DragonCon last year and binge-played PFS. So we decided to do the same at Paizo. We're extremely local but will stay in the hotel to avoid stupid traffic.

We is our family of four, including 13 and 10-year-olds.

How do we make certain we're doing stuff together, regarding lotteries, banquet, etc?

Thanks!

If you want to all be together at the banquet, just buy four banquet tickets. (I think you can do that all at once from one account, but I'm not sure. I've never actually been to the banquet. :)

There is no way (unless it's changed very recently) to guarantee a group of four people at the same lottery event. There is a "buddy" system, but it only works with two people at a time. If you want to make sure there is always a parent with a child, you could sign up as two pairs of buddies. Then, when you get two tickets to an event, trade amongst each other at will.

For PFS, that'll be first come first served, after the lottery. As long as you all sign up for the same game, you can get into it. You have to sign up from separate accounts for that, though. Either log out and back in as the other user a lot, or use four devices. :)

Good luck, and have fun!

Grand Lodge

For the record,

THANKS! for all the help answering our questions, now and in the months to come. It's appreciated.


Starfinder Charter Superscriber

I just bought my ticket today, and I'm excited. I'm an American living in Australia, so the flight won't be cheap, but I know it'll be worth it. I've been gaming for twenty years and have never been to a con, so I figure it's time to rectify that mistake!


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
DM Swan wrote:
Is the hotel within walking distance of the Lite Rail airport station? My plan is to stay at The Camlin (Worldmark with points, no cost!!!), use the Lite Rail from Westlake Center to the Airport, and then walk (or Taxi) from there to the convention. Looking at Google maps, it looks about 8 blocks (1/2 mile????).

Yes and also walking distance from the airport too - its literally 5 minutes walk and one pedestrian crossing away.


I have walked front the hotel to transit, and it's likely no problem:


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Hotel to Airport/Light-Rail: Close, and a couple buses go there as well (free transfers if you buy an Orca card at the airport machine - I have some extras to loan as well). Very simple.

General Info: Here is Last Year's Blog about PaizoCon which was a fantastic aid (also the comments). Some details change year to year, but very few typically.

Timing: Rknop had the times right, though no PFS is scheduled in the afternoon slots (at least for the last two years) - though lots of lottery games are scheduled then. Special PFS events are typically Friday and/or Sunday nights.

Banquet and Trivia Contest on Saturday night are the best of the best things about PaizoCon. The Best.

Buddying: It's not *too* hard to get four signed up for PFS slots together, if you're quick after Open Signups begin (after the lottery is run).

Welcome to all the newbies to the 10th PaizoCon!


Jhaeman wrote:
I just bought my ticket today, and I'm excited. I'm an American living in Australia, so the flight won't be cheap, but I know it'll be worth it. I've been gaming for twenty years and have never been to a con, so I figure it's time to rectify that mistake!

Which part of Australia. I am coming in from Canberra, via Sydney and SFO.

Contributor

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So let's say that a freelancer known for lots of planar material intended to run a planar one-shot game at PaizoCon but had never been to PaizoCon before. Is there any sort of event registration for games you intend to run similar to the process for GenCon?


Hey Todd, there has been (and I imagine will be) a form you fill out to add your game to the lottery. It's a pretty straightforward process, and every game in the lottery generally fills up. You get to pick what slot you want to run in, how many players, all that stuff. I know personally, I've tended to run my games during the PFS special, since I have no interest in that and I figure most people willing play my stuff (often with a healthy dose of 3PP) aren't the ones in the special anyways.

Liberty's Edge

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Starfinder Superscriber

Todd -- an important part of the process, really a crucial part, is that when you list the number of players in submitting the event, you list *one fewer* than the number of players that you really want at the table. Then you set aside the additional "reserved" player spot for anybody with the forum name "rknop".

Lantern Lodge Customer Service Manager

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Our tech team is putting the finishing touches on a form that will allow people to submit events via the website instead of how we have previously done it the last couple years (via PDF form). Once submitted, I'll review & approve events and schedule the time and room.


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Todd Stewart wrote:
So let's say that a freelancer known for lots of planar material intended to run a planar one-shot game at PaizoCon but had never been to PaizoCon before. Is there any sort of event registration for games you intend to run similar to the process for GenCon?

Yes, keep an eye on the forums for the call for event submissions. Then submit and wait to see if you make the schedules - oh and prepare, lots or prepare, just in case you do!

Even if you don't get selected for the official schedules, there are plenty of places you can run impromptu too.

Liberty's Edge

First-Time Con Advice?

ATTEND!!!

You will have a BLAST! Yes, I am putting that in caps for a reason in all my threads about PaizoCon 2016. It's true.

Only put in 5 stars to the one or two you REALLY want to attend in the Lottery. I had one 5 star, two 4 star, and a few 3 star requests. I got all of them. One was a very special game that my husband wanted to have very, very badly. I got it and he didn't. I gave it to him. Know that you can trade events with other people at the Con or on the forums, and they have a board at Con that you can check where other gamers have posted "unused" and/or "unwanted" slots. I needed quiet time, so I put two of my slots up for grab.

I'm trying to talk my husband into staying at the hotel this year, but we stayed in a small hotel (much cheaper) just a few blocks away and it wasn't bad. We just slept there.

Bring a rain jacket and stay safe...

And, have fun.


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Starfinder Charter Superscriber
powell01 wrote:
Jhaeman wrote:
I just bought my ticket today, and I'm excited. I'm an American living in Australia, so the flight won't be cheap, but I know it'll be worth it. I've been gaming for twenty years and have never been to a con, so I figure it's time to rectify that mistake!
Which part of Australia. I am coming in from Canberra, via Sydney and SFO.

I'll be flying out of Brisbane and probably through LAX.


I'm going! It'll be my first Paizocon and my first gaming con at all in over 20 years!

I'm not a PFS player, although I imagine that I'll register and start playing a PFS character at the con.

How does one register to run an event? I'm thinking of running a Dungeon World demo...

Dark Archive

Haladir wrote:

I'm going! It'll be my first Paizocon and my first gaming con at all in over 20 years!

I'm not a PFS player, although I imagine that I'll register and start playing a PFS character at the con.

How does one register to run an event? I'm thinking of running a Dungeon World demo...

Haladir, see Sara Marie's post above.

Scarab Sages

This thread has given me a lot of info! Thanks! I am seriously considering coming this year.

Can anyone comment on the hotel check in times? The con is four days, and the convention block is six. But the block ends on the same day of the con. Are check out times reasonable? We are not sure if we are staying longer.

Dark Archive

Woran wrote:

This thread has given me a lot of info! Thanks! I am seriously considering coming this year.

Can anyone comment on the hotel check in times? The con is four days, and the convention block is six. But the block ends on the same day of the con. Are check out times reasonable? We are not sure if we are staying longer.

I usually checkin around noon - 1pm and have never had a problem with my room not being ready.

I believe check out is either 11am or noon. There are most often people sitting around the hotel lobby waiting to go to the airport most hours on Tuesday.

Scarab Sages RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16

The last 2 years (at this hotel) I have checked in around 9:30 am and not had any problems. I also have not had any problem getting the convention rate on Monday night and checking out Tuesday.

Scarab Sages

Thank you both. Its good to know.


Rusty Ironpants wrote:
I also have not had any problem getting the convention rate on Monday night and checking out Tuesday.

I can confirm that. I'm checking out on Tuesday this year and I was able to get the convention rate for Monday night.


Starfinder Charter Superscriber

What's the shopping like? I know Paizo can't bring the warehouse, but since I'm coming from overseas I plan to bring an empty suitcase with me and fill it up with about 50 pounds of books for the trip back :)

Dark Archive

Jhaeman wrote:
What's the shopping like? I know Paizo can't bring the warehouse, but since I'm coming from overseas I plan to bring an empty suitcase with me and fill it up with about 50 pounds of books for the trip back :)

You should not have a problem. Expect the small form CRB and Bestiary. There should also be HC, both Paizo and stuff from "Friends of Paizo". Also, the map stand will have a decent selection. For the card game, you should not want for product.

Then the little odd ball things will be available as well: plushies, faction pins, comics, minis, etc...


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Jhaeman wrote:
What's the shopping like? I know Paizo can't bring the warehouse, but since I'm coming from overseas I plan to bring an empty suitcase with me and fill it up with about 50 pounds of books for the trip back :)

I don't think there was anything you couldn't get bookwise and card game wise, and if you asked nicely enough, they would bring an item the next day if they didn't have it on the shelf or it had sold out. (the warehouse is about an hour away by car)

There were a couple of other publishers there too - legendary games had a wealth of goodies available for one. So filling an empty case is easy BUT beware, some airlines limit a single case to around 30 lbs to prevent damage to their baggage belts and chutes.

Liberty's Edge

Anthony Adam wrote:
Jhaeman wrote:
What's the shopping like? I know Paizo can't bring the warehouse, but since I'm coming from overseas I plan to bring an empty suitcase with me and fill it up with about 50 pounds of books for the trip back :)

I don't think there was anything you couldn't get bookwise and card game wise, and if you asked nicely enough, they would bring an item the next day if they didn't have it on the shelf or it had sold out. (the warehouse is about an hour away by car)

There were a couple of other publishers there too - legendary games had a wealth of goodies available for one. So filling an empty case is easy BUT beware, some airlines limit a single case to around 30 lbs to prevent damage to their baggage belts and chutes.

There was also quite a bit of artwork available for purchase by local and professional (sometimes the same!) artists. Definitely check baggage allowances for weight and if you have to, mail it!


There's also going to be a small distributor of Hirst Arts terrain, who is more than happy to take custom orders, mail purchases if weight is an issue, and so on.

Dark Secret:
It's actually me! Come to this thread if you have any input on what sort of stuff you would like to see on my table!

Self promotion aside, I agree with the others who have suggested pacing. You won't be able to go to everything, unless you can cast simulacrum. So make sure you go to what you want to, and that you are able to enjoy it.

Definitely take care of yourself! Bring some vitamins, drink orange juice, get decent sleep, do a little teapot dance, whatever it takes to stay healthy! This applies double for the days leading up to the con. Like it or not, this sort of event is infectious vector paradise, and nothing sucks worse than the common cold sucking all the fun out of an awesome weekend. Protect yourself, and your fellow con-goers! Stay healthy!


Something to keep in mind for new con-goers: the 5-2-1 rule

5 hours sleep, 2 meals, 1 shower in each 24 hours

I've gone to 20+ conventions in about 7 years and boy howdy is it easy to flub.

Liberty's Edge

Starfinder Superscriber

Yikes. 5 hours... after a couple of days, I'd be very grouchy.

I aim for 8 hours. At PaizoCon, I don't tend to get it, but each night is at least 6, ideally more. And, sometimes I'll take a nap in the afternoon if I'm really wiped out.

Liberty's Edge

Yeah, the 5-2-1 rule is an excellent minimum (ESPECIALLY that 1 shower EVERY day part!) but honestly I'd shoot for at least 6-7 hours of sleep each night if at all possible

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