A Call to Vol—PaizoCon 2018!

Monday, December 18, 2017

In prior years, it seemed that we had a distinctive convention season with a slower period during the winter. This model doesn't work anymore, as PAX Unplugged extended the season into mid-November, and next year pushes it further back into early December, while Martin Luther King Junior's birthday weekend is the launch of the new convention season.

The new season brings with it several Paizo-sponsored conventions with a large organized play presence. PaizoCon, Gen Con, Origins, as well as travel to other shows such as UK Games Expo, PaizoCon UK, and PaizoCon OZ. Planning for these conventions started several months ago. Over the past few months, Paizo staff worked hard on updating the Attendance policy. With it completed and releasing to the public this month (along with updates the PaizoCon area of paizo.com), tickets sales are soon to follow. One of my goals includes offering volunteer slots for Paizo-sponsored conventions before the ticket sales open. This allows volunteers to make plans with their friends before purchasing tickets. Thus, we moved the call for volunteers from its usual February timeslot to today.

We have a few big changes from last year. We hope this streamline some of the processes or bring more options for attendees at the convention.

First, we changed the nomenclature from session or slot to block. Each block is 5 hours. This unifies the terminology from the event support form used by our event organizers and keeps things consistent across the board.

Second, we ditched using the Tier system to describe how many volunteers. It is a RPGA holdover that caused confusion, as the lower number the tier, the more slots a person volunteered. Also, we have tiers for our scenarios, so having tiers for volunteers caused some confusion in our data. This year, you register for the number of 5 hour blocks you wish to volunteer.

Third change is overnight madness! Following on the success of having overnight games at Gen Con 50, we are trying it out at PaizoCon. We will schedule some tables of Pathfinder Society or Starfinder Society, but there will be a limited number of tables available on a first-come, first-served basis for attendees wishing to play other games.

Fourth, afternoon tables may be submitted to the PaizoCon event system. When Sara Marie requests submissions from third parties, feel free to submit items for Pathfinder Society or Starfinder Society. Any tables not allocated through the system by the time submissions will be available on site with first-come, first-served priority.

Finally, we are setting a 7 block maximum for volunteering. We want people to take a break and see what the convention has to offer. PaizoCon is a celebration of Paizo, its staff, and community and we want you to experience different aspects of it. Oh, and eat. We really want you to have time for food, rest, and showers.

Last year, we utilized 78 GMs, Card Guild organizers, and HQ volunteers to ensure organized play activities at PaizoCon ran smoothly. I anticipate the same needs again this year, depending on how many blocks each volunteer requests. We have a few new choices for volunteers this year. As we are running overnight games, we will need a handful of GMs to run games through the wee hours of the morning. We are also looking for two HQ volunteers for the afternoon block to man the information desk and two for the overnight block, when they would be manning the info desk but mainly focused reporting prior blocks game information. Due to the limited number of places, space fills up quickly, so I recommend signing up as soon as you know you can commit to the event.

Volunteer slots are scheduled as follows:

BlockRPG/ACG GMsHQ
Friday Morning7:45 AM to 1:00 PM7:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Friday AfternoonN/A1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Friday Evening6:45 PM to Midnight6:30 PM to Midnight
Friday Overnight12:45 AM to 6:00 AM1:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Saturday Morning7:45 AM to 1:00 PM7:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturday AfternoonN/A1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Saturday Overnight12:45 AM to 6:00 AM1:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Sunday Morning7:45 AM to 1:00 PM7:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Sunday AfternoonN/A1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Sunday Evening6:45 PM to Midnight6:30 PM to Midnight
Sunday Overnight12:45 AM to 6:00 AM1:00 AM to 7:00 AM
Monday Morning7:45 AM to 1:00 PM7:30 AM to 1:00 PM

The breakdown of what benefits are available for each tier are:

# of BlocksPrint ProductBadgeT-ShirtsBoon/RewardStore Credit
7 BlocksChoice of 3
6 BlocksChoice of 2
5 BlocksChoice of 1
4 BlocksChoice of 1
3 BlocksChoice of 1
2 Blocks
1 Block

The details of each benefit are as follows:

  • Print Product—A FREE copy of one Paizo print product of your choice valued at $59.99 or less (excludes preorders or backorders).
  • Badge—A free 4-Day PaizoCon 2018 badge
  • T-Shirts—Limited release t-shirts given every other year.
  • Boon/Reward—An PaizoCon exclusive boon for Starfinder (RPG), Pathfinder (RPG), or (ACG)
  • Store Credit—Paizo.com store credit at $10 per slot

Those interested in volunteering, please complete the PaizoCon 2018 volunteer questionnaire. I will consider everyone who completes the form, but reserve the right to select volunteers who have worked at PaizoCon in prior years.

Huge thanks to everyone who gives of their time and resources to help make us the largest organized play program in the world. You rock!

See you Wednesday for an early holiday present. Until then—Explore, Report, Cooperate!

Tonya Woldridge

Organized Play Manager

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Adventure Card Guild Conventions Organized Play PaizoCon PaizoCon 2018 Pathfinder Society Starfinder Society
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Liberty's Edge

Gary Pepper wrote:
WBryan wrote:
I really need to know soon if all three GMs in my family have been accepted and assigned. This year will be great, I just know it! Even my 13 yo is coming to play!
Yay! Wendy Glad to hear you will be GMing again this year. I played at one of your tables last year. You are an awesome GM.

Thank you! I had a blast, too!

Dark Archive

anyone know if GM selections have been made yet?

Dark Archive

Ronald Yacketta wrote:
anyone know if GM selections have been made yet?

shakes Magic 8 Ball

All signs point to 'No'


Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscriber

:shakes Magic 8 Ball harder:

Reply Hazy Try Again Later

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Smashes the Magic Eight-Ball with his magic Earth Breaker, shattering the ball.

Nothing. I think it is broken!

Liberty's Edge

2 people marked this as a favorite.

THUNDERLIPS! looks around, nervous and sweaty. The itching grows. THUNDERLIPS!'S eyes dart around the room. He is looking for something yet his admittedly small understanding of the world can not process his feeling of existential dread.

"ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!"

The Primal Scream echoes.

THUNDERLIPS! drops to his knees, trembling. The pattern on the stone floor loses focus. A swirling pattern replaces the floor. Falling yet not falling, eyes wide with terror, THUNDERLIPS! gazes in to the Abyss. The Abyss gazes back.

Dark Archive

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Lucius hears the scream of his sometimes meat shield, and realizes something must be done quickly, else the Grand Lodge might be at risk. He ponders, quickly, if calm emotions would be enough. He does realize that no one would be able to tell the difference if he cast feeblemind on the Ulfen, but also wonders if teleport on himself might just be the correct response.

While he ponders this, Riddywhipple, the Pimp Dragon, flies up to THUNDERLIPS! and gives him a dose of euphoria gas.

The Rat nods, and realizes this is probably the proper response, and then realizes why the big oaf is so upset. He also still does not know his assignment for the upcoming event in the Emerald City.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Pakishi hears the primal screams of his brethren, his brothers and sisters, and weeps for their pain. He too anguishes at the unknown, perched high in the treetops, ready to spring when the summons is made. ready to delve deep into his archive of stories, knowing that there are countless others seeking adventure in the Emerald City.

Pakishi says a silent prayer to Paizo, giver of quests, bestows upon him the power to lead the brave (or the foolish) into dungeons deep and distant worlds.

Liberty's Edge

The room is cold. Dark. Needle pricks race up and down THUNDERLIPS!'S spine. His fingers are numb from the cold. The Abyss stares at him; its never shifting gaze absorbs all light.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" the Ulfen man-child screams.Slumping over, the barbarian reaches out a hand towards the gaping maw in the floor.

"JUST ONE SLOT.... ONE... SLOT..."

Liberty's Edge

"There There." "All will be well." the little halfling attempts to comfort the Tall Barbarian.

Liberty's Edge

"SO... COLD. SO... EMPTY..."

Liberty's Edge

THUNDERLIPS! lays on the floor, his face even more blank than normal. His eyes bore a hole in some unseen terror from beyond the stars. His breathing is rapid and shallow.

the horror... the horror...

Silver Crusade

"Cheer up, sir! This is good news, right? That you have one obligation and lots of *free* time to spend doing manly things, right?" offers a far, far too brightly colored tengu with all of the colors of the rainbow in her feathers.


So is this the beginnings of the roll out for GM assignments? Well they begin sending out more emails soon?

Liberty's Edge

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Eyes dart to and fro, before settling on the brightly feathered tengu.

GODS! HAS SHELYN HERSELF COME TO COMFORT THUNDERLIPS! IN THUNDERLIPS!'S TIME OF NEED? NOW I MUST FIGHT, MY DEAR GODDES OF LOVE, SO THAT THUNDERLIPS! MAY HAVE TIME TO LOVE THE LADIES.

Arms rise from the floor; hands, weak, grasp at the void clutching nothing; no schedule; no list of scenarios.. A low, throaty grumbling escapes the prone barbarian.

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.

...ohno....

"How can you inspire lying on the ground? Stand up, THUNDERLIPS! That hardly looks comfortable."

Said brightly plummag'd avianoid offers the Man of Muscular Not-Mystery a hand up.

"Strike a pose that even the Heavens may tremble, and perhaps answer your plea! Be thou Art!"

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

The Stout little, Aerodynamic, Drunken Halfing meanders over to his mail slot on the wall of the lodge. Closing his eyes mutter under his breath to Desna. He opens the wee little door an then his eyes. Seeing but a cobweb inside he exclaims "Drat!". He closes the door, walks about the lodge a moment goes back to the mail slot. Muttering the same prayer, opens the wee little door again and utters the same word "Drat!".

The halfling continues the process a few more times and then takes a seat next to THUNDERLIPS! offering the rather tall barbarian a drink. Placing a bowl down for his new Avian friend accompanying the Barbarian.

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.

"It'd be preferred in a mug, dear. Still no joy on the mail front, eh?" the brightly colored tengu inquires with a slightly jaded tone.

Grand Lodge

”Not having schedule make HARSK!!! mad! Or at least frustrated. So few weeks until the con in the Emerald City! HARSK!!!!!”

Liberty's Edge

Rose Thorne wrote:


"It'd be preferred in a mug, dear. Still no joy on the mail front, eh?" the brightly colored tengu inquires with a slightly jaded tone.

"Oh yes and one for you too. Nope. No news. I guess no noose is a good noose." the little halfling let's out an intense laugh.

the bowl was intended for THUNDERCOCK. the barbarians companion

Silver Crusade

"Yes, and thank you. Hanging around like that can be a pain in the neck, let me tell you." she adds with a mirthful tone. "Rose Thorne, recent recruit to the Society."

Liberty's Edge

Reading through one of the bills posted by the proprietors of the establishment the halfling bonus up and down as he yells "Look! Look! The great and powerful Janira Gavix said yesterday 'PaizoCon schedules are going out tomorrow.'

He points to the posted bill.

Liberty's Edge

Well met Rose. Happy to have you join the ranks." the excited halfling extends a hand to shake.


Sunnendel Needlefeet wrote:

Reading through one of the bills posted by the proprietors of the establishment the halfling bonus up and down as he yells "Look! Look! The great and powerful Janira Gavix said yesterday 'PaizoCon schedules are going out tomorrow.'

He points to the posted bill.

But Tomorrow is Yesterday!


"The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day."

Liberty's Edge

"Oh... you're right.... well it will get here when it gets here." the halting with his sunny disposition heads back tohis table to continue his daytime drinking.

Dark Archive

Sunnendel Needlefeet wrote:

Reading through one of the bills posted by the proprietors of the establishment the halfling bonus up and down as he yells "Look! Look! The great and powerful Janira Gavix said yesterday 'PaizoCon schedules are going out tomorrow.'

He points to the posted bill.

Nope. Still nothing.


Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

Anyone hear anything yet?

Grand Lodge

The Balor wrote:
Sunnendel Needlefeet wrote:

Reading through one of the bills posted by the proprietors of the establishment the halfling bonus up and down as he yells "Look! Look! The great and powerful Janira Gavix said yesterday 'PaizoCon schedules are going out tomorrow.'

He points to the posted bill.

But Tomorrow is Yesterday!

But tomorrow is yesterday's yesterday!

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

The torment! The waiting in anticipation as my wallet quivers with excitement at things it will need to buy to support my assigned games. Why have the gods not gifted us with sweet, sweet assignments?

Scarab Sages

Time to build terrain is rapidly dwindling... I hope I can at least get something built in time once they arrive.


Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I just got my volunteer assignments. Someone was up very late sending them out. :O

Dataphiles

BretI wrote:
I just got my volunteer assignments. Someone was up very late sending them out. :O

Ditto. Thanks Tonya, you made my day! Thanks to all the Paizo Staff working to make PaizoCon happen(probably all of them.) Now to start prepping!

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

YAY! Got my schedule too! Not sure why I'm sad that I only got 5 slots this year, it just means I can play in the special. I did offer to work the Special too if they still need volunteers but I'm not going to sweat it.

Dark Archive

I have not received my schedule, though I did volunteer late.

Liberty's Edge

The plucky little halfling jumps around the room holding a small sheaf of paper. "Yay! I have it! Let see i have OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix! Six blocks!... Sunnendel pauses a few moments as he reads through the list further. "Hmm... It looks like I must be getting a 'Space suit ready' for what I have been Scheduled. OHH and a Cold weather Outfit as I will head once again to the north!"

Silbeg I submitted mine late as well on Jan 6th in case that helps with figuring when you may get yours.

~GM Poblano

Grand Lodge

Got my assignments! Huzzah! Thanks, Tonya!

I'm running 9-21, In The Grandmaster's Name.

The product page says it won't even be released until 30 May, so how far in advance will we get this to be able to prep?

Any chance John could give some insight into what maps we'll need for any of these yet-to-be-available scenarios, as he's done in the past?

Dark Archive

*crosses fingers* Preys to Triune, please please deliver me good news via the infosphere today.


And so it was, that the hard-working GM Wageslave did verily and directly recieve direction from the leadership, and Quests were determined the Order of the Weekend, starting the Convention off and ending the Convention.

Yea, forsooth a Scarred Solstice of the tertiary was also forecast for the eve of the Sunday!

Liberty's Edge

THE BALLROOM WILL ROCK WHEN MIGHTY, POTENT, VIRILE, ULFEN HQ THE OVERNIGHT SLOTS


WHAT!?

Sovereign Court

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Wait. That m%#$&!++@~@% volunteered us for what?

Dark Archive

"And they will know THE POWER OF THE EFREETI when I lay my ANCIENT AND NOBLE MAGICS upon them!"


Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

*crossing fingers* still

Dark Archive

Sunnendel Needlefeet wrote:

The plucky little halfling jumps around the room holding a small sheaf of paper. "Yay! I have it! Let see i have OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix! Six blocks!... Sunnendel pauses a few moments as he reads through the list further. "Hmm... It looks like I must be getting a 'Space suit ready' for what I have been Scheduled. OHH and a Cold weather Outfit as I will head once again to the north!"

Silbeg I submitted mine late as well on Jan 6th in case that helps with figuring when you may get yours.

~GM Poblano

That was way earlier than me. I think I was mid February to be honest.

The 109th volunteer, actually.

So, I will wait for cancellations or just play play play!

Grand Lodge

I got mine:
HMM’S AMAZING PAIZO CON SCHEDULE!!!

Friday AM (7:45 am – 1 pm): PFS 9-16: Fallen Family, Broken Name

Friday Afternoon Gaming with 10,000 Lakes
Hmm GMs PFS 4-19: Night March of Kalkamedes

Friday PM (6:45 pm – 12 am): Off

Friday Overnight (12:45 am – 6 am): Unavailable

Saturday AM (7:45 am – 1 pm): Off

Saturday Afternoon: Flaxseed Play-by-Post Party Lunch

Saturday Overnight (12:45 am – 6 am): Unavailable

Sunday AM (7:45 am – 1 pm): PFS 9-16: Fallen Family, Broken Name

Sunday PM (6:45 pm – 12 am): PFS 8-99C: The Solstice Scar, Version C (10-11)

Sunday Overnight (12:45 am – 6 am): Unavailable

Monday AM (7:45 am – 1 pm): Off

Sovereign Court Organized Play Manager

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Janira enters the room, juggling a large stack of papers. She hands them out to some of the assembled personages with a large smile and sends them on their way with a chirpy, "good luck! Don't forget to explore, report, cooperate! as they depart. She then surveys the remaining folk, frowning slightly and looking at the few pages left in her hands.

It seems a few Pathfinders aren't able to accept their missions. I'll get these reassigned to you pronto. But unfortunately there are many more of you than there are sheets of paper. I'm so sorry to disappoint, but I think we may have to keep you here for a few more days until something else opens up.

I've sent out all the schedules and the majority have been accepted. I have a few to revise and will get those sent out today. I'm putting a few volunteers on a waitlist and releasing the rest, so that they may make plans when the PaizoCon schedule goes live. Thank you for your patience!

Dark Archive

Tonya Woldridge wrote:

Janira enters the room, juggling a large stack of papers. She hands them out to some of the assembled personages with a large smile and sends them on their way with a chirpy, "good luck! Don't forget to explore, report, cooperate! as they depart. She then surveys the remaining folk, frowning slightly and looking at the few pages left in her hands.

It seems a few Pathfinders aren't able to accept their missions. I'll get these reassigned to you pronto. But unfortunately there are many more of you than there are sheets of paper. I'm so sorry to disappoint, but I think we may have to keep you here for a few more days until something else opens up.

I've sent out all the schedules and the majority have been accepted. I have a few to revise and will get those sent out today. I'm putting a few volunteers on a waitlist and releasing the rest, so that they may make plans when the PaizoCon schedule goes live. Thank you for your patience!

Thanks for the update!!!!

Maybe next year will be my year :)


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber
Tonya Woldridge wrote:

Janira enters the room, juggling a large stack of papers. She hands them out to some of the assembled personages with a large smile and sends them on their way with a chirpy, "good luck! Don't forget to explore, report, cooperate! as they depart. She then surveys the remaining folk, frowning slightly and looking at the few pages left in her hands.

It seems a few Pathfinders aren't able to accept their missions. I'll get these reassigned to you pronto. But unfortunately there are many more of you than there are sheets of paper. I'm so sorry to disappoint, but I think we may have to keep you here for a few more days until something else opens up.

I've sent out all the schedules and the majority have been accepted. I have a few to revise and will get those sent out today. I'm putting a few volunteers on a waitlist and releasing the rest, so that they may make plans when the PaizoCon schedule goes live. Thank you for your patience!

Appreciate the update for those of us who didn't make the cut. The F5 key now can take a break... :)


Starfinder Superscriber

So if we didn't receive an email, are we on waitlist or "released"?

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