2019 Convention Offerings!

Looking Good! Only 84 more days to Gen Con and PF2!

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Do you have to join, or already have joined, the Pathfinder Society in order to play "Origin of the Open Road" at Gen Con?

Do you have to join, or already have joined, the Pathfinder Society in order to play "Origin of the Open Road" at Gen Con?

Don't know if it's required but it would definitely help. Time is always at a premium at convention

newbies guide here

official guide here

Disappointed in the 8pm-1am schedule for evening Gen Con events again. They disrupt the whole con by going so late, are harder on the GMs, and make it impossible to socialize in the evening with anyone not playing Paizo events. Leaning towards skipping one or more this year for that reason alone. The 7pm-midnight slots in the past seemed to be easier on players and GMs. :(

I've only been to the last three GenCons but its been the same each of those years, I thought it was the norm.
I have GM'd all the specials because, GENCON and SPECIALS! But that's just me. At this point I wouldn't know what to do with an evening slot off! LOL

I've only been to the last three GenCons but its been the same each of those years, I thought it was the norm.

I have GM'd all the specials because, GENCON and SPECIALS! But that's just me. At this point I wouldn't know what to do with an evening slot off! LOL

The evening slots used to be 7pm until Midnight. It's more about being able to get a minimal amount of sleep and still GM or play as many slots possible. For someone like myself who doesn't stay downtown, loosing the extra hour was a deal breaker for being able to make morning slots after running an evening slot. I lost time I would normally attend and play in the mornings because I was GMing the specials in the evening slots. That was my "con disruption".

Don't get me wrong, it was done to give GMs a gap between the afternoon and evening slots. As someone who had missed dinner on more than one occasion, I do understand the reasoning.

Ah ha, I see. Well I coped by doing the Thursday morning slot, sleeping in and doing the Dealer's Hall Friday morning then doing Sunday morning. I'm in my 50s and we stay about 25 minutes from downtown with a friend so I understand the loosing time thing.

Yeah, I don't think I'm doing 1am slots three nights in a row again. I might just skip them altogether. Those slot times make it almost impossible to hang out with friends afterwards. People doing other games are often wrapping up 1-3 hours earlier, and it's rough asking them to sit around idle for that long just to hang out for a bit (on a weekend where everyone is perpetually short on sleep, no less). Also, the restaurants have stopped serving food long before then...even getting a beer can be tricky that late. In the early days the Ram and others would serve 24hrs but most of that is long gone.

I miss the days when slots were 4.5 hours. There's no reason adventures can't run a little shorter. Lots of other RPGs only have 4 hour slots and still tell great stories, and 8am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-6pm 7pm-11:30pm is a pretty relaxed schedule.

I'd even settle for just skipping lunch. It's not that hard to eat breakfast, plan to bring a snack, and then grab dinner. 8-1, 1-6, 7-12 is still a huge improvement over this.

It's been a few days since you submitted your schedule, but I'm not seeing any Paizo-run RPG sessions in the Gen Con event database. Is there any update on when I should expect to see the events?

Singularity wrote:

Do you have to join, or already have joined, the Pathfinder Society in order to play "Origin of the Open Road" at Gen Con?

Don't know if it's required but it would definitely help. Time is always at a premium at convention

newbies guide here

official guide here

Thank you BigNorseWolf. I'll create a character, and read the guides.

It's been a few days since you submitted your schedule, but I'm not seeing any Paizo-run RPG sessions in the Gen Con event database. Is there any update on when I should expect to see the events?

Not gonna lie, I have the same question...

Shido wrote:

It's been a few days since you submitted your schedule, but I'm not seeing any Paizo-run RPG sessions in the Gen Con event database. Is there any update on when I should expect to see the events?

Not gonna lie, I have the same question...

Ask GenCon. The publishing of events in the database is fully in the control of GenCon. Whatever GenCon may say about deadlines, they're still the only ones with power over the publication of events.

But they're not going to give you an answer better than, "When it's done."

CheeseStalker wrote:

Shido wrote:

It's been a few days since you submitted your schedule, but I'm not seeing any Paizo-run RPG sessions in the Gen Con event database. Is there any update on when I should expect to see the events?

Not gonna lie, I have the same question...

Ask GenCon. The publishing of events in the database is fully in the control of GenCon. Whatever GenCon may say about deadlines, they're still the only ones with power over the publication of events.

But they're not going to give you an answer better than, "When it's done."

Last year it was on Paizo to submit not Gen Con to publish. just fyi quick answer guy.

Blake's Tiger wrote:

CheeseStalker wrote:

Shido wrote:

It's been a few days since you submitted your schedule, but I'm not seeing any Paizo-run RPG sessions in the Gen Con event database. Is there any update on when I should expect to see the events?

Not gonna lie, I have the same question...

Ask GenCon. The publishing of events in the database is fully in the control of GenCon. Whatever GenCon may say about deadlines, they're still the only ones with power over the publication of events.

But they're not going to give you an answer better than, "When it's done."

Last year it was on Paizo to submit not Gen Con to publish. just fyi quick answer guy.

Everyone is anxious about building their wish lists, but I’m not sure I deserve your derision.

Unless for some baffling reason Tonya is lying to us in this very blog post, Paizo has submitted (past tense) their schedule.

Now, GenCon needs to make those events visible in GenCon’s event finder/website. Paizo can’t do that or speak for GenCon on when that will happen.

When you think about it, 9 slots, over 25 different events running 7 of those slots it creates alot of work on GenCons side to deal with at which is pretty much the last minute.

This assuming the stuff was sent and not setting in someones draft email folder by mistake...

I'm just glade to see I'm not the only one not seeing the stuff on Gencon's site, had issues before in past when searching for PFS stuff when using Keywords like Pathfinder or Paizo wouldn't actually show the scenarios listings.

I would just think that as a co-sponsor (highest partnership level) since 2013 and signed through 2021 (an expensive proposition) would get a bit better attention when it came to their event listings. Guess their "additional promotion and logistical support" that is afforded to co-sponsors doesn't extent to game catalog entries.

Have to agree. GenCon has been doing this for a few years now. They should have the process down now.

And just how "late" was Paizo?

Anyways, soon....

I feel like this happens every year, and everyone panics. Everybody chill, they'll post soon, and we'll all find something else to freak out about.

I feel like this happens every year, and everyone panics. Everybody chill, they'll post soon, and we'll all find something else to freak out about.

You are likely right. I would like to think that the process has been used for a few years now that it would go faster.

To confirm: Level 9 Characters looking to play 10-98 can play either 7-9 or 10-11?

As long as they get posted before Sunday morning so I have time to build my wish list I will be fine. They should be up before Sunday morning right? RIGHT?!

I've been checking the Origins Event Registration listings every few days since event reg went live. I still don't see any listing for the Siege of Gallowspire sessions, no matter what search terms I use ("Pathfinder", "Siege", "Gallowspire", "10-98"). I assumed that for some reason, the event wasn't listed yet.

Now you're saying that "There are still tickets" available for this finale event. How do I get one?

It works if you enter the event ID in the search bar:
Event ID Tier
15735 Level 5-6 Soldier
15736 Level 7-8 Soldier
15737 Level 10-11 Soldier
15738 Level 12-13 Soldier
15739 Level 15-16 Soldier
15744 Level 5-6 Champion
15742 Level 7-8 Champion
15741 Level 10-11 Champion
15743 Level 12-13 Champion
15740 Level 15-16 Champion

GenCon: Published in the past couple of hours, go make your wish lists.

PFS2 hasn't shown yet, but probably "soon."

To confirm: Level 9 Characters looking to play 10-98 can play either 7-9 or 10-11?

Technically speaking, a character can legally play up or down one subtier from their actual character level. However, given that 10-98 is advertised as slightly more challenging than a standard scenario in “soldier” mode and significantly harder in “champion” mode, we would strongly suggest that you select the subtier appropriate for you character’s level. There are still a few months until Gen Con so if you have a level 9, try to play it so you can be level 10 for the event. If you are absolutely going to play a level nine, maybe select the subtier you are closer to. If you’re just barely level nine, look to play down to 7-8. If you have a couple S.C. edits at nine and almost 10, maybe you could consider 10-11 in soldier mode. Just remember that unless you are pre-misting a groups of friends you have no idea who else will be at the table or what their characters can contribute. Having significant holes in basic skills, healing, etc can be very problematic in higher level games.

Events are now up on the Gen Con site. Download the whole event catalog: http://www.gencon.com/downloads/events.xlsx

1E, SFS and card game events are showing, but 2E and PSA appear to still be pending

No ACG side for the special this year? Phooey.

It works if you enter the event ID in the search bar:

Event ID Tier
15735 Level 5-6 Soldier
15736 Level 7-8 Soldier
15737 Level 10-11 Soldier
15738 Level 12-13 Soldier
15739 Level 15-16 Soldier
15744 Level 5-6 Champion
15742 Level 7-8 Champion
15741 Level 10-11 Champion
15743 Level 12-13 Champion
15740 Level 15-16 Champion

For Origins, it turns out that you have to leave the Date drop-down blank in order for a 7pm session to show up in your search! I had tried it with each day of the convention selected, but I didn't realize it would work to leave the Date selector unused. I hope this tip may help someone else.

Thank you for your assistance, Gary.

@ Bob, many thanks for the confirmation!

My -1 (technically -3) has made it to level 9, but play opportunities locally are few and far between (I'm the only PFS GM these days), and the prospect of making it to 10 before Origins is slim.

Thought it appropriate to bring him out for a final hurrah, but in light of the situation might end up playing another character in 7-8 instead.

Many thanks again for the swift reply!

GenCon: Published in the past couple of hours, go make your wish lists.

PFS2 hasn't shown yet, but probably "soon."

PFS2 events are now listed:

Both "PFS(2) #1-01: The Absalom Initiation (Levels 1-4)" and "PFS(2) #1-00: Origin of the Open Road (Level 5 pregens)" say "Materials Provided: No, materials are not provided for this game. You must bring your own."

What materials may those be? And must we have Gen Con pickup of PF2 rulebooks in order to play????

Also I just created my Pathfinder Society Badge. What else must I do before I show up to the game? The FAQ seem a bit opaque to me. (I've never played an organized play event before.)

There will be a Guide for Organized Play published for PFS(2) in the relatively near future. You should read that. If you have a number, you'll need to register a PFS(2) character (or two) before play, but that function on the website is not yet implemented (also coming soon-ish).

However, the materials it references as 'bring your own' are: pencils, paper, dice, and a physical representation of your character (mini, penny, or a stale marshmallow, doesn't matter). Some GMs can loan you dice and minis (and sometimes tablemates can/will), but you should not expect it.

PFS2 1-00 is a pregen only event. The characters will be available at the table.
PFS2 1-01 is a standard scenario in that pregens will be available if needed, but player-characters are welcome according to the Core Rulebook and Guide to Organized Play

PFS2 1-00 is a pregen only event. The characters will be available at the table.

PFS2 1-01 is a standard scenario in that pregens will be available if needed, but player-characters are welcome according to the Core Rulebook and Guide to Organized Play

Thank you, both Bob Jonquet, and Blake's Tiger. That was exactly what I wanted to know.

I still hope to pick up my PF2 pre-orders at Gen Con. I'm leaving space in my suitcase for them.