OPC Wants You for PaizoCon 2017!

My understanding right now is Tonya is busy at GAMA in Vegas at the moment.

...and what happens at GAMA stays at GAMA.

...and what happens at GAMA stays at GAMA.

That is true but I might have had some insider knowledge of certain going ons *cough* starship *cough* Combat *cough* playtest *cough*

Neither have I; has anyone, yet?

Since the blog says that Tonya will start responding from the 6th I figured some GMs would have gotten word already.

I put in as a volunteer gm and I'm going nutty with the wait. I don't want to be stressing like a kid at Christmas for longer than I have to, so how will I know if I am NOT chosen? Will there be an announcement that all slots are filled?

I ran into some issues when trying to place PaizoCon volunteers and I apologize for the delay. Emails are sent to all applicants, so you will know one way or another as soon as I am able to resolve the issues and get applicants into the system. Thank you for your continued patience!

I'm coming just to play PACG. For the past few years at PaizoCon we've had tables of experienced players who don't need a GM for the PACG games, just the materials.

For the periods of time where the ballroom will not be available, will you still make the PACG materials available so that we can organize games on our own? Since I'm flying up I'd prefer not to have to bring a whole box of pacg on my own.

And, not to sound churlish, but 2 years ago we were able to play all day up until the Sat evening banquet. Last year, the ballroom closed early but we were able to (just barely) request use of the game and scenarios and were able to play Sat afternoon. This year it seems like the gaming area is closed for even longer. I definitely don't want to insist that Paizo staff or volunteers work through the banquet so that I can play. But it seems like the number of hours the PACG is available to play is getting whittled down more each year. For those of us who are taking days off of work and flying in the Con, getting fewer hours of gaming is not really a feature, its a bug.

Please let us know if there is going to be some sort of protocol for checking out or requesting PACG scenarios and game boxes during the times that the hours that there are no GMs. Otherwise I guess at some point there might not be enough play hours at PaizoCon to make it worth while. Which would be a shame, since PaizoCon is one of my favorite Cons all year.

We have not reduced the number of hours games may be played. We are reducing the availability of the ballroom during the middle slot, primarily so that myself and the HQ volunteers may have a break to attend (participate in) panels, meet staffers, breathe, eat, etc. Games in the middle slot are moving to the open gaming area this year.

There is always the option of adding a PACG game (or three or four) to the middle slot. This would be arranged through Sara Marie, who handles all the scheduling for PaizoCon outside of Org Play. I have not thought about the logistics of a lending library for the Base Sets. That is something I need to discuss with a few others in the office before decisions can be made. I will put it on my to do list.

Alduego wrote:

I put in as a volunteer gm and I'm going nutty with the wait. I don't want to be stressing like a kid at Christmas for longer than I have to, so how will I know if I am NOT chosen? Will there be an announcement that all slots are filled?

I ran into some issues when trying to place PaizoCon volunteers and I apologize for the delay. Emails are sent to all applicants, so you will know one way or another as soon as I am able to resolve the issues and get applicants into the system. Thank you for your continued patience!

You're the best Tonya

Jennifer Pesek wrote:

Please let us know if there is going to be some sort of protocol for checking out or requesting PACG scenarios and game boxes during the times that the hours that there are no GMs. Otherwise I guess at some point there might not be enough play hours at PaizoCon to make it worth while. Which would be a shame, since PaizoCon is one of my favorite Cons all year.

We have not reduced the number of hours games may be played. We are reducing the availability of the ballroom during the middle slot, primarily so that myself and the HQ volunteers may have a break to attend (participate in) panels, meet staffers, breathe, eat, etc. Games in the middle slot are moving to the open gaming area this year.

There is always the option of adding a PACG game (or three or four) to the middle slot. This would be arranged through Sara Marie, who handles all the scheduling for PaizoCon outside of Org Play. I have...

I'm in this boat too. Just going to play PACG; flying in. It'd be great to get some clarity on this. Availability of tables and the scenario materials are all that's really needed.

Thanks for investigating this, Tonya!

Jennifer Pesek wrote:

I'm coming just to play PACG. For the past few years at PaizoCon we've had tables of experienced players who don't need a GM for the PACG games, just the materials.

For the periods of time where the ballroom will not be available, will you still make the PACG materials available so that we can organize games on our own? Since I'm flying up I'd prefer not to have to bring a whole box of pacg on my own.

And, not to sound churlish, but 2 years ago we were able to play all day up until the Sat evening banquet. Last year, the ballroom closed early but we were able to (just barely) request use of the game and scenarios and were able to play Sat afternoon. This year it seems like the gaming area is closed for even longer. I definitely don't want to insist that Paizo staff or volunteers work through the banquet so that I can play. But it seems like the number of hours the PACG is available to play is getting whittled down more each year. For those of us who are taking days off of work and flying in the Con, getting fewer hours of gaming is not really a feature, its a bug.

Please let us know if there is going to be some sort of protocol for checking out or requesting PACG scenarios and game boxes during the times that the hours that there are no GMs. Otherwise I guess at some point there might not be enough play hours at PaizoCon to make it worth while. Which would be a shame, since PaizoCon is one of my favorite Cons all year.

We have not reduced the number of hours games may be played. We are reducing the availability of the ballroom during the middle slot, primarily so that myself and the HQ volunteers may have a break to attend (participate in) panels, meet staffers, breathe, eat, etc. Games in the middle slot are moving to the open gaming area this year.

There is always the option of adding a PACG game (or three or four) to the middle slot. This would be arranged through Sara Marie, who handles all the scheduling for PaizoCon outside of Org Play. I have...

I'm all for staffers getting a break. I just want to be able to spend my own time playing PACG with other players. Many of the experienced players play the entire con without the need for volunteers which is great because that leaves more volunteer time and attention for teaching and introducing new players to the game :) Thanks very much for seeing what can be done to allow PACG players to have "open gaming" time as well. Much appreciated and let us know what you come up with.

Tonya,

Any update on volunteers? Last email up was that there were some issues to resolve with the new method of organization, and that we'd know by end of March one way or the other.

I havent heard back about GMing yet, but I had another question.
I'm really close to my 5th star, and I would love to GM my qualifying table at PaizoCON. How would I go about arranging that?

I havent heard back about GMing yet, but I had another question.

I'm really close to my 5th star, and I would love to GM my qualifying table at PaizoCON. How would I go about arranging that?

Well, you have a couple of options:

1: Run table 150 as part of the normal PFS event schedule. If this is what happens, then you will need to have your "Observation Table" happen either before (preferable) or during the game itself (less so). If you go with this option, have yer VC talk to Todd Morgan or Walter Shepard as those two yahoos are running the show this year.

2: You can contact a few people you know will be there with whom you want to play a game. You can throw up a thread on the VO boards or just start asking random people. See above for recommendations on the observation table.

3: Grab a bunch of people you meet over the course of the weekend and run a game for them on Monday afternoon, post con activities.

I sat in on a GM's Table 150 last year. It is a fun and memorable way to achieve your fifth star. You won't have any trouble finding people to sit in on your 150 table.

Thank you.

As a venture agent I cant access the VO boards. That said, I am sure I can find six people crazy...eh... enthusiastically enough to play ;)

I think things will fall more easily in place once I know what my GMing schedule is. I dont think it will be my 150th table exactly, but I had understood that it didnt have to be (I do have my 10 specials). The chance of snagging a VC is much higher at PaizoCON then locally. Also, its way more epic to do it at PaizoCON.

I havent heard back about GMing yet, but I had another question.

I'm really close to my 5th star, and I would love to GM my qualifying table at PaizoCON. How would I go about arranging that?

Tineke, I hope that we can catch you as a GM! Your 5th star table will be epic indeed. I'm not a VC but would love the honor of sitting at one of your tables.

Hmm

Woran wrote:

I havent heard back about GMing yet, but I had another question.

I'm really close to my 5th star, and I would love to GM my qualifying table at PaizoCON. How would I go about arranging that?

Tineke, I hope that we can catch you as a GM! Your 5th star table will be epic indeed. I'm not a VC but would love the honor of sitting at one of your tables.

Hmm

Likewise, I would love to play a real life game with you as my GM Hilary!

Not sure if i'm too late, but I would love to run a few tables :)

Not sure if i'm too late, but I would love to run a few tables :)

Did you complete the volunteer questionnaire?

If so, you should hear something one way or another.

Brendan Fallin wrote:

Not sure if i'm too late, but I would love to run a few tables :)

Did you complete the volunteer questionnaire?

If so, you should hear something one way or another.

I did complete it, but I only did so on 4/20.

Belafon wrote:

Brendan Fallin wrote:

Not sure if i'm too late, but I would love to run a few tables :)

Did you complete the volunteer questionnaire?

If so, you should hear something one way or another.

I did complete it, but I only did so on 4/20.

Are you sure that wasn't yer munchie order?

So... any idea on when we might hear about PFS volunteering?

Yes.

I do apologize for the delay and causing people jitters.

We had a major issue that affected all of our volunteers, not just the conventions but the venture officers as well. That issue has been dealt with and I'm spending all this week getting notices out to PaizoCon & Gen Con vols about their info, then tackling the backlog of VO appointments. I've got a projected deadline of Friday, though it depends on how fast things pull together.

The issue that arose has been resolved so that it doesn't cause problems in 2018 and beyond.

Again, thank you for your patience!!

Ah, cool. I haven't been following the GenCon thread.

Thank you for cross posting

Any word on what the Special will be this PaizoCon. Interactive or just multitable? Will we get to play our own characters or pre-gens?

There is word, but I'm not sure what has been publicly announced, so I defer to our Glorious Campaign Overlords.

The special is a follow-up to last year's "The Cosmic Captive." The exciting part is that it isn't a PFS scenario, it's an escape room called "The Captive Cosmo!" If you succeed in freeing him the prize (prize?) is that Cosmo spends the rest of the weekend with you.

From what I hear, we get to all pay the role of the warehouse raptors.

And it's a LARP.

The special is a follow-up to last year's "The Cosmic Captive." The exciting part is that it isn't a PFS scenario, it's an escape room called "The Captive Cosmo!" If you succeed in freeing him the prize (prize?) is that Cosmo spends the rest of the weekend with you.

I'm going all in on this, hanging out with Cosmo is awesome.

Walter,

TriOmegaZero is correct. The information is not yet publically available. I just checked the boards and have not seen a "nod" from management that we can talk about this publically. I expect something will be released soon from Tonya and the powers that be.

Lacking any real information, time to make something up!

This year's special's internal name is "We Be Pirx."*

* Any similarity to the actual event is extremely unlikely. Still, I suggest you go read some of Stanislaw Lem's works because StarFinder is coming!

From what I hear, we get to all pay the role of the warehouse raptors.

And it's a LARP.

I have my costume ready. Where do I sign up?

Lacking any real information, time to make something up!

This year's special's internal name is "We Be Pirx."*

** spoiler omitted **

* Any similarity to the actual event is extremely unlikely. Still, I suggest you go read some of Stanislaw Lem's works because StarFinder is coming!

NDA's stink sometimes.

I havent heard back about GMing yet, but I had another question.

I'm really close to my 5th star, and I would love to GM my qualifying table at PaizoCON. How would I go about arranging that?

If you are looking for a VC for your qualification game, I will be more than willing to assist. I even arrive the Sunday night before Paizocon if it makes it easier to schedule.

I just got my notice of GM slots for PaizoCon. I expect everyone will be seeing them soon!

I just got my notice of GM slots for PaizoCon. I expect everyone will be seeing them soon!

Oh, sweet! Me too!

I HAVE MY SCHEDULE AND AM MUCH EXITE

I received my schedule as well -- 2 slots of PSA, one of Tome of Righteous Repose!

Hmm

So excited to have my schedule!

Any word on what the Special will be this PaizoCon. Interactive or just multitable? Will we get to play our own characters or pre-gens?

The special event at PaizoCon 2017 is Pathfinder Society Special #8–99: The Solstice Scar, Version 1.

Will it be on Saturday Night, John?

Hmm

Will it be on Saturday Night, John?

Hmm

The Paizo banquet is always on Saturday night. This is on Sunday night.

I'm excited. Are you excited?

I am excited! Especially looking forward to meeting online friends like you, Rob!

John, thanks for the schedule clarification. So, Saturday is Banquet and Sunday is special. Awesome. This gives me a better idea of all the timings involved.

Hmm

I may be an idiot (and there are many who would argue I am), but are the numbers after your assigned slots the scenario you've been assigned to run? I ask as I'm running the morning slots, which start at 8 AM, and the numbers after those slots all start with 8. I had originally thought those numbers were the times of that first slot (i.e., 8-13), but now I think they're probably the scenario number. As I said... me... idiot.

The time is in parentheses, followed by the Scenario Number.

Does this help, Earl?

You are not an idiot, Earl. The numbers post to me slot should correspond to the scenario number you were assigned.

Edit: or what Hilary said.

Does anyone know what "unavailable" on the volunteer schedule means, as in Friday (8 am-1 pm): Unavailable

Does anyone know what "unavailable" on the volunteer schedule means, as in Friday (8 am-1 pm): Unavailable

Given what I put in my request and the response I got, it is most likely the slots you requested they not fill based on your request.

This is based on a sample size of two, so let me know if that matchs for you as well.

Have all of the assignments gone out, then? 'Cuz, I haven't received anything.

Have all of the assignments gone out, then? 'Cuz, I haven't received anything.

I sent the first batch of schedules out and am filtering through the replies to see if there are any cancellations or negations. I intend on sending out the second batch of schedules/waitlist requests tonight. So if you haven't heard anything by Sat morning, ping me via email.

Cheers!