Getting the Band Back Together

Monday, November 23, 2015

Just as many people consider one place home no matter where they live now (every so often, I still find myself saying “home” as shorthand for Georgia), I’ve met many gamers who have what they consider their "home group" even when life’s circumstances and opportunities take them to opposite ends of the state, country, or planet. Fortunately, the quality of low-cost virtual tabletop programs and communication software improves every year, and it’s easier than ever to run a game when friends are thousands of miles apart. Even so, there’s something really special about reuniting the band in person.

My home group first formed about 16 years ago—and I now realize has been together for more than half my life—and has involved perhaps a dozen different players over the years. We were always close, but we became especially close thanks to the Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign. Playing scenarios as a home group soon led to our volunteering at Dragon*Con, after which we began serving as store liaisons and traveling a much broader convention circuit as a team. When the final installment of the Eyes of the Ten story was about to come out, Mike Brock ran us through all four parts in one weekend, making us (as I still understand it) the first group to finish the entire series. Together, most of us hit 5-star status, and even those who haven’t yet GMed selflessly and ferociously at countless events over that 30-month golden age. As you may guess the story goes, I was the one who broke up the band by moving across the country to work for Paizo. Earlier in 2012, we had begun the “post-retirement” tradition by playing Pathfinder Module: "Academy of Secrets" with Joe Caubo as our GM. About a week before I flew out to Seattle, Georgia’s current venture-captain Dan Cornett oversaw Pathfinder Module: Tomb of the Iron Medusa as a last hurrah, and since then we had wistfully wondered when our –1 characters might tackle Pathfinder Module: "The Moonscar".

Congratulations to Colin and Jen Broyles! The wings of the dragon miniature Nani Pratt painted as their cake-topper are in the bottom left.

When two of the members Colin Webster and Jen Broyles first announced their wedding engagement, we celebrated the happy development. As the excitement subsided, it both shames and amuses me to say that we paused and then simultaneously suggested reuniting our gaming group to thrash some demons on the moon. Given they had first met at our Pathfinder Society game, it felt appropriate. You can see some earlier pictures of Colin and me in a blog that featured our Legacy of Fire game—more specifically Nani and Kyle Pratt’s amazing 3-D Battle Market.

We left the honor of recruiting a GM to Jen and Colin, and they picked a winner: the husband-wife co-GMs Sterling and Jessica Metz from the Georgia area. I had met both of them on separate occasions; Sterling was at a game day I stopped by last December, and I had the pleasure of GMing Jessica’s underfoot monk through part of Thornkeep at a convention this past January. This weekend they brought their A-game by presenting high-level threats. They were also exceedingly gracious when we routinely demolished whatever tried to hurt us. It was a great time, and we all walked away with some great stories.

From the left, Sterling Metz, Jessica Metz, Colin Webster, and Jen Webster

Including Sterling, whose two natural 20s in a row resulted in my alchemist’s first death ever. I understand he is currently building a small shrine to house the die that killed the developer’s main character. AC 55, Sterling! You’d think that would be enough!

Thank you to Sterling and Jessica for running a great game and being patient as our characters wasted countless hours catching up with one another, recounting past deeds, and reigniting old rivalries. Cheers to our old team, whose characters have adventured together for five years now. Congratulations most of all to my dear friends Colin and Jen Webster.

Now just to figure out when we’re playing through "The Witchwar Legacy"...

Has Pathfinder helped you reunite your dream team and spend time with cherished comrades? Perhaps you’re participating in a play-by-post with old pals, or you met at Gen Con and have always shared a table for the interactive specials. We often think of how Pathfinder Society facilitates pick-up games, but I’d love to hear about how special events have brought far-flung friends back together.

John Compton
Developer