A Call to Vol—How to Volunteer for Organized Play at Gen Con 50!

Would you have contacted us if it looked like we filled out the availability incorrectly?

No, because there is little chance I would know if you did or not. If you voluntered for say tier 1 (8 slots), but your app blocks out too many slots for that to make sense, I assume you completed the app incorrectly and I reversed your information. Those situations are fairly obvious.

If your volunteer level compared to your available slots do not indicate a dicrepacy, then I just go with what you filled out on your app. I cannot email 300+ volunteers (assuming their app is wrong), process all the responses, and still hope to get all the schedules built and distributed before open registration. We did receive a number of emails from people who knew they completed the form incorrectly, but everyone did, nor did they send corrections. All I can do is the the information provided and make necessary corrections after the all the schedules are distributed. That could mean some volunteers will not have an accurate schedule until after event ticket sales go live.

We are still taking applications for volunteers at Gen Con 50, up to and including Tier 1. So, if you are interested, get your application submitted ASAP. We have a finite number of hotel room spaces and once they are all assigned, they are gone.

I also didn't receive the link for Starfinder interest. Email sent.

I've sent an email as well.

Likewise.

Looks like maybe a bunch of people got missed.

I've also contributed to the email flood for the GenCon leads. :)

A number of emails were bounced by the system. The pertinent text from the emails is as follows. NOTE, this only applies to volunteers who completed the online app prior to Starfinder being a program option around May 8th. If you completed the app after that, Starfinder is an available program option and you DO NOT need to complete the supplementary form if you wish to be considered for GMing those events.

We are running a full slate of Starfinder at Gen Con. To help us with scheduling, we request all RPG volunteers complete the google form RPG Supplemental Questionnaire and indicate whether you prefer to run Starfinder Society, Pathfinder Society, or both. This link will be live for one week, so please complete it quickly. Anyone not answering by the deadline will be considered for both PFS and SFS. The sooner you answer, the sooner we can generate your schedule.

We are making a small change to how we process volunteers for Paizo sponsored conventions. Every volunteer will need to sign a volunteer agreement before the convention begins. If your Tier level includes hotel accommodation, you will need to sign a release of liability as well. These documents should be available by the end of June for review and completion.

I never got a link to the app in the first place. I got a confirmation that I was a volunteer on Feb 9th (and sent an email confirming my acceptance) and have heard nothing since.

(I did just go to the link in the post above, however.)

Thanks for the link, Bob! Submitted.

I replied to my volunteer e-mail on February 9th with, "I accept." I have received nothing since.

Supplementary survey completed.

With all the delays, email bouncing, confusion about the original application (= me), etc. I am most concerned about not getting my GM badge before event registration opens on the 28th. In 2014 we received our badges two weeks before registration. In 2016 it was five days. Last year we received them two days before. I don't like the pattern, and also I believe most to all if those delays were credited to GenCon not Paizo. So if Paizo is running behind ....

Assuming you can afford to, you can purchase your badge ahead of registration, and then get it reimbursed later when the Paizo one comes through. That's essentially what you have to do if you were going to get your own room, since GenCon only let people reserve rooms if they had a badge.

It's worse than I thought. I can't find any PFS, Starfire or Pathfinder Card game events listed with GenCon (the list went live at noon today).

Ok I used the link that Bob provided to complete the questions.

My concern is that I could not select just PFS and SFS. To get SFS I had to select ANY which includes PSA (Academy). I personally really don't want to do PSA but I get assigned PSA I will give my best effort.

Anyways, I have now replied to the supplemental questionnaire. Still have not received an email.

With Gen Con event sign-ups scheduled to go live on May 28:

When should we expect to know what scenarios GM volunteers will be running and in which slots?

When will PFS events appear on the Gen Con events list?

Thanks.

With Gen Con event sign-ups scheduled to go live on May 28:

When should we expect to know what GM scenarios volunteers will be running and in which slots?

When will PFS events appear on the Gen Con events list?

Thanks.

I am working on the daunting task of assigning the volunteer schedules. I hope to have them emailed out by Monday the 21st, giving a week to review them before open registration begins on the 28th. Its a little later than I had hoped, but the technical problems experienced at Paizo put us behind our ideal schedule.

Thanks, Swiftbrook.

Any word on when the PFS events will appear on the Gen Con events list?

I think Paizo is putting finishing touches on what events to offer given the interest in GMs to run those same events. Relax and trust.

Thanks for the update Bob. I didn't receive the e-mail, so message sent with contact information in case something got typoed in the database.

FYI, as scheduling is progressing two things are becoming evident. First, matching schedules between paired volunteers (by request) is a challenge especially if the two are not volunteering in the same program area or do not have matching availability. If you are paired with a spouse, significant other, etc, in past years we almost guaranteed their schedules would match. The firmness of that guarantee is a bit "softer" this year.

Also, the number of different scenarios a GM has to prepare may be higher than in the past. Our target has always been no more than 1-2 different scenarios plus whatever has to be assigned in the special slots (PM). However, this year we have three new PFS scenarios, a new PFS special, three new SFS scenarios, a new SFS quest, a new SFS special, and a new season of ACG all debuting at Gen Con. Plus, even though 8-99 The Solstice Scar will release at PaizoCon, it will be new for the vast majority of our community. This means the challenge to keep the different scenario count down for each GM is an onerous one at best. Having a lot of new content is fantastic and assures you can play every slot if you so desire and never repeat anything. However, it makes coordinating schedules much more challenging.

As schedules begin to distribute later this week, we just do not want anyone to be surprised if they have four, five, or more different scenarios to prepare. We are doing our best, but some things just are what they are.

Explore! Report! Cooperate!

Thanks for the heads up.

Bob, thanks for the warning! So long as we have an adequate time to prepare, I think that should be fine. We're all in this for the goal of fun, after all!

Bob, I just sent an email saying that I will get to play 8-99 at PaizoCon, so you could increase my prep number by adding that one if it will help.

As volunteer schedule creation continues, one important point is that we cannot schedule you unless we have confirmation you received and accept the offer to volunteer. We have sent out multiple emails requesting this confirmation, but the following people still remain unconfirmed. It is possible the email/s we have on file are in error so this is the next best place for notification.

If you are on this list please check your spam folder for emails from the genconleads@gmail.com address and/or send us an email regarding your status. If you know any of the these names, please notify them we are looking for them. Thanks

Bryan Creehan
Idaho Boros
Jean-René Bouchard
Jesse Riggs
John Thompson
Jonathan Blake
Kal Davis
Kyle Marcum
Maria McGrey
Michael Costello
Stephen Glicker
Ulfen Death Squad

Oops. It seems like at some point during the confusion of moving I never sent my application and just assumed I had? Or maybe I filled it out and then didn't send it as I was checking the times for the only non-Paizo event that interests me this year...or I got too worked up and instead focused entirely on getting Hotels for me and my friends.

Point is, I hope my application isn't too late. I'd really regret missing my chance.

For those interested in volunteering their time at GenCon, we are still in need of GMs, especially those with open availability, particularly for Thursday/Friday/Saturday PM, and those willing to GM Starfinder events.

We still have Tier 1 rewards available. At this point, finding a hotel anywhere near downtown Indy is likely impossible or ridiculously expensive. Tier 1 rewards include a shared hotel space.

Get those applications submitted NOW!. Don't wait until the last minute and miss your chance to attend the Best Four Days in Gaming because there's no where to rest your head.

Explore! Report! Cooperate!

If you are a Gen Con participant, watch your email over the next few days. GM schedules will begin to distribute later today! With over 300 to send, all with custom information, it will take a little time even with the assistance of mail-merge :-)

Huzzah!

AHHHH!

The wait is killing me!!

Well, not really.. But I did fool you right??? Right??

Nah, you talk too much for a dead man.

Could someone please remind me how the whole buy-the-badge-now and have it credited by Paizo's purchase thing works? Do I just give my badge # to Paizo when confirming my schedule or something similar?

You'll have to have your purchased badge refunded once Paizo submits your comped badge to your account.

Thanks TOZzer. Will that effect event purchases under the original badge, do you know? No point in getting a badge without using to sign of for events, no use signing up for events if the tickets don't transfer over.

I believe you can transfer event signups to the new badge before refunding the first. I don't have a lot of experience with the system, however.

Any events you have will not be impacted. All that is required is to have a badge. The events are tied to your account.

I had no problems last year.

Other than a few odds-n-ends, all schedules have been emailed to the volunteer. Please be sure to thoroughly read the information and reply with confirmation ASAP. Failure to confirm you schedule will put your status at risk and we certainly do not want to inconvenience anyone.

Similar to previous years, all volunteers will be required to sign an event commitment document. What form that will take (physical vs digital) and when it will occur (on site or prior) is still pending. More to follow.

Who do talk I to about scheduling Error??? I put down every evening s Slot Tier 6. I was sent Thursday, Saturday and Sunday morning instead. Also I am up to running Starfinder Thursday night. I missed the post. I don't get to GENCON till Thursday morning at 8.

See the following post from earlier in the thread, Robert.

If you are a volunteer for Gen Con 50, you should have received an email from Tonya with a link to a supplemental google form to update your interest in Starfinder. Please complete that online form ASAP as volunteer scheduling is in full swing and we want you to receive the best possible schedule. If you did not receive that email, please send us an email to address genconleads@gmail.com

Also, there was some confusion with the original app in that we asked volunteers to let us know which slots they DID NOT want to work. Many people incorrectly completed that with the slots they did want to work. If you are one of those people and have not yet done so, please send us an email ASAP with your corrected availability. If your information is incorrect, there may not be enough time to correct your schedule before open registration begins which could make it more difficult to coordinate your free time with your volunteer schedule.

Any/all correspondence regarding Gen Con 50 should use the email listed above and below for maximum visibility by the leadership team.

genconleads@gmail.com

For those interested in volunteering their time at GenCon, we are still in need of GMs, especially those with open availability, particularly for Thursday/Friday/Saturday PM, and those willing to GM Starfinder events.

We still have Tier 1 rewards available. At this point, finding a hotel anywhere near downtown Indy is likely impossible or ridiculously expensive. Tier 1 rewards include a shared hotel space.

Get those applications submitted NOW!. Don't wait until the last minute and miss your chance to attend the Best Four Days in Gaming because there's no where to rest your head.

Explore! Report! Cooperate!

(Sigh) The siren song has become too great and I have volunteered as tribute. Hopefully the slots aren't all gone!

Also, I need to email about edditing my preferences, right? I accidentally only volunteered as tier 2...

If you are a volunteer for Gen Con 50, you should have received an email from Tonya with a link to a supplemental google form to update your interest in Starfinder. Please complete that online form ASAP as volunteer scheduling is in full swing and we want you to receive the best possible schedule. If you did not receive that email, please send us an email to address genconleads@gmail.com

Also, there was some confusion with the original app in that we asked volunteers to let us know which slots they DID NOT want to work. Many people incorrectly completed that with the slots they did want to work. If you are one of those people and have not yet done so, please send us an email ASAP with your corrected availability. If your information is incorrect, there may not be enough time to correct your schedule before open registration begins which could make it more difficult to coordinate your free time with your volunteer schedule.

Any/all correspondence regarding Gen Con 50 should use the email listed above and below for maximum visibility by the leadership team.

genconleads@gmail.com

I never received the above email and had no clue that it was ever sent as I do not usually read blogs such as this one. I only found this after receiving my schedule and discovering that I had been assigned 7 Starfinder Demo slots. I am hoping that this can be switched to PFS as I have neither the time nor interest to learn Starfinder. Nothing against Paizo, but I like the old style swords and sorcery gaming, so I doubt that I will ever move into Starfinder.

I already emailed the GenCon leads at the above email, before anyone recommends that I do that.

You'll have to have your purchased badge refunded once Paizo submits your comped badge to your account.

As PaizoCon is just a few days away, if my GenCon GM badge doesn't show up by Thursday I don't figure it will before next week. So my question is, if I purchase a badge then request a refund once my GM badge arrives, do I take the '$10 administrative fee' hit?

No. I know because I purchased a badge last year then upgraded my tier to getting a badge. I received a full refund of the badge

Is Paizo going to get it's seminars in the Gen Con system before ticket purchasing begins on Sunday? If not in the system, could someone at least post them on this website so people can plan?

Is Paizo going to get it's seminars in the Gen Con system before ticket purchasing begins on Sunday? If not in the system, could someone at least post them on this website so people can plan?

Tagging for the exact same reasons.

I never received the above email and had no clue that it was ever sent as I do not usually read blogs such as this one. I only found this after receiving my schedule and discovering that I had been assigned 7 Starfinder Demo slots. I am hoping that this can be switched to PFS as I have neither the time nor interest to learn Starfinder. Nothing against Paizo, but I like the old style swords and sorcery gaming, so I doubt that I will ever move into Starfinder.

I already emailed the GenCon leads at the above email, before anyone recommends that I do that.

Whereas I want to run it and was not selected to do so. Any slots you guys can swap me with Willis, I'm game :D

I already emailed the GenCon leads at the above email

Received and being processed

Any slots you guys can swap me

FYI, GMs are not empowered to trade game assignments. Any/all requests for schedule changes must be submitted to the genconleads@gmail.com address for consideration and processing

Not chastising, just wanted to avoid any misunderstandings

Oh, yeah, of course. That was what I meant by "you guys"-the GC leads. I can see where that might have been misunderstood.

Whew! At this time, all Gen Con schedules have been distributed. If you have not received a schedule, check your spam folder just in case. Otherwise, failure to receive a schedule means you are not on the volunteer roster and therefore need to complete the online questionnaire if you are interested.

We are in need of an HQ volunteer to work the midnight/overnight shift on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

We are also in need of two more Tier 1 volunteers interested in running Starfinder Demos (must have an open schedule). If you need a hotel space in order to join us at Gen Con, this is your opportunity as two of our three remaining hotel room rewards are being held for these two slots.

We have a few spots left with our Pathfinder Society Academy (PSA) team running some games for our younger players. Interested should have some background in child-related services and be able to pass a background check.

Finally, ACG and SFS are full at this time, but we still have plenty of RPG/PFS events looking for volunteers.

As we approach a full schedule of events, it becomes more and more important for new volunteers to have open availability so we can assign them appropriate schedules. If you restrict your availability, it might mean not being accepted as a volunteer.

If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to our genconleads@gmail.com email address.

Like last year, we intent to send out a weekly update email beginning June 4th to all our volunteers. This email will provide valuable information and updates so please take time to read it and respond with any questions.

Volunteer badges are still being processed so it might be a couple more days before they drop in your Gen Con account. Be on the lookout for them. At this time, we expect them to be in there in enough time for your to build your wish lists and be ready to submit when open registration launches on Sunday at noon.