Hello, Pathfinders and Starfinders! 2024 is going to be an incredibly exciting year for Paizo. This year, we’re releasing major Pathfinder rulebooks, including Howl of the Wild, the Lost Omens Tian Xia World Guide, and Player Core 2, as well as launching the playtest for Starfinder’s new edition!
We’d like to invite you to be part of the excitement by volunteering as an Organized Play GM! Our volunteer GMs are the best of the best, the cream of the crop, and the most helpful skittermanders in the galaxy. Last year, our volunteers ran over 1,000 games online and in person, and we’re looking to exceed that in 2024!
If you love our games so much that you want to introduce new players to them, and if you’re ready to GM on the biggest stages we can offer, then we want you to join the team! Even if you’ve never run Pathfinder or Starfinder Society before, our support team will make sure that you have everything you need to run your best games ever.
New this year, all GMs who run games at Premier or Premier Plus events will receive a $15 paizo.com voucher per block, which can also be spent in the Paizo booth at Gen Con in Indianapolis. Those who volunteer for more blocks may receive badges to the show, PDF or print products, or hotel rooms based on their commitment.
At this time, we’re accepting GMs for PaizoCon Online and Gen Con Indianapolis; information about Gen Con Online will come once Gen Con provides more information about the event. We’ve also included information from our friends at Origins; while Paizo won’t have an official presence there, we’re recognizing them as a Premier event, which means additional rewards for GMs and players. Who knows, maybe you’ll even see some Paizo staff at the event!
PaizoCon Online 2024
PaizoCon Online 2024 will take place online from May 24-27, 2024. It will have a physical component in the form of our PaizoCon@ program; see last week’s blog for more details. New content at this show includes the launch of Starfinder Society Year 7 (the final year for Starfinder first edition), the new Starfinder Society interactive special, and new Pathfinder Society scenarios.
Please note that this year we will be scheduling all PaizoCon Online events on Tabletop.Events. As such, GMs will need to create a free account prior to completing the volunteer form.
We are currently seeking volunteers for the following roles:
- Game Master: Run tables of Organized Play Scenarios, Bounties, and Quests.
- Headquarters (HQ): Answer player and GM questions, seat players, handle conflicts and disputes, and report games after completion.
Please read this important information before applying:
- Volunteer applications will be reviewed and accepted or rejected by the PaizoCon Organizing Committee. Filling this form out does not guarantee acceptance; you will receive an email with further information from the PaizoCon committee.
- PaizoCon Online schedules will be assigned by the committee. You will be asked for your preference of system and level, but you will not necessarily be able to choose the specific scenario(s) you run. There is a free-form field at the end of the form to enter specific requests, though there’s no guarantee they will be honored.
- Reward information is listed in the table below. GMs who do not qualify for a badge will still need to purchase one if they wish to play games.
- Applications will be processed on a rolling basis, beginning no later than March 1. The earlier you get your application in, the more likely it is you’ll get the scenarios you want. Please be patient while we put the final details of the convention together internally before we send out GM emails!
- Adventure authors interested in running tables of scenarios they have written should fill out this form and then follow up by emailing paizoorgplayhq@gmail.com. Anybody interested in running games outside of the Organized Play offerings (such as Infinite content, homebrew content, or games from other publishers) will be able to propose events once tickets go on sale. Stay tuned for future information!
- Any questions about the GM signup process should be sent to the committee at paizoorgplayhq@gmail.com.
Rewards Table
Blocks
PDF Product
Player Badge
Early Sign-Up Access
In-Game Reward
Voucher
6+ blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
5 blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
4 blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
3 blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
2 blocks
✓
✓
✓
1 block
✓
✓
*Definitions for rewards:
- PDF Product: A PDF of any Paizo product valued at $29.99 or less.
- Player Badge: A badge for the duration of the event. GMs must have a badge before registering to play games.
- Early Sign-Up Access: One week before signups open, GMs may sign up for one game per block they are running.
- In-game reward: A reward for characters based on the current Organized Play program GM reward programs. Pathfinder Society (First Edition) is paper boons, and Pathfinder Society (Second Edition)/Starfinder Society (First Edition) is Achievement Point rewards at the Premier Plus (2.0x) level.
- Voucher: Earn one voucher for $15 that is spendable on paizo.com for every block run.
Important Dates
Please note that these dates are tentative and subject to change.
- April 10 (Wed): Early player signups begin for GMs.
- April 17 (Wed): Player signups begin for all badge holders.
- May 24-27: PaizoCon Online!
PaizoCon Online 2024 Volunteer Application
Gen Con Indy 2024
Gen Con Indianapolis will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana from August 1-4, 2024. While we intend to participate in Gen Con Online, this application is only for the in-person show. New content at this show includes the launch of Pathfinder Society Year 6, the new Pathfinder Society Special, and the second run of the Starfinder Society interactive special. It will also feature the launch of the Starfinder Second Edition Playtest!
We are currently seeking volunteers for the following roles:
- Game Master: Run tables of Organized Play Scenarios, Bounties, and Quests.
- Headquarters (HQ): Answer player and GM questions, seat players, handle conflicts and disputes, and report games after completion.
- Demo GM: Run quick demos for new players, giving them a short Pathfinder/Starfinder experience before quickly turning the table over for the next group. Our Demo GMs may receive an Exhibitor badge in compensation for the fast and furious nature of the position, subject to availability.
- Board Game Demo GM: Run demo tables for Goblin Firework Fight and Elemental Stones. Applicants should have strong board game knowledge (both our games and general board games) and preferably have related demo experience.
- Academy GM: Run games for young children (under 18) and their families, and provide a safe, welcoming environment for our youngest gamers. This position requires proof of a completed background check (employment in education, public service, or something similar may be accepted as verification that you have completed a background check).
Please read this important information before applying:
- Volunteer applications will be reviewed and accepted or rejected by the Gen Con Organizing Committee. Filling this form out does not guarantee acceptance; you will receive an email with further information from the Gen Con committee.
- Gen Con Indy schedules will be assigned by the committee. You will be asked for your preference of system and level, but you will not necessarily be able to choose the specific scenario(s) you run. The committee’s intention is to assign people to run the same scenario multiple times during the weekend, to minimize the amount of preparation required. There is a free-form field at the end of the form to enter specific requests, though there’s no guarantee they will be honored.
- Reward information is listed in the table below. GMs who don’t qualify for a badge will still need to purchase one.
- Volunteers will be accepted on a rolling basis, and schedules should be assigned within two weeks of your application. Once your schedule is assigned and you confirm, you are considered committed to attending the event.
- Adventure authors interested in running tables of scenarios they have written should fill out the volunteer form and then follow up by emailing genconleads@gmail.com. Please note that we have a limited number of tables and that the schedule is fairly locked-in at this stage, but we’ll do our best to get you slotted into your scenario if it’s on the schedule.
- Any questions about the GM signup process should be sent to the committee at genconleads@gmail.com.
Rewards Table
Blocks
Housing
Product
Dice Bag*
Player Badge
Volunteer Attire
In-Game Reward
Voucher
7+ blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
6 blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
5 blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
4 blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
3 blocks
✓
✓
✓
✓
2 blocks
✓
✓
✓
1 block
✓
✓
✓
*Definitions for rewards:
- Housing: GMs will be housed at two volunteers per room. More volunteers (up to four) may be added to one room if all volunteers agree. More information is available on the application form.
- Product: A physical copy of a Paizo product, chosen from a list of recent releases prior to the convention.
- Dice Bag: A custom handmade dice bag with Pathfinder or Starfinder logo. Available to volunteers for 4 or more blocks who also commit to remaining masked while volunteering.
- Player Badge: A badge for the duration of the event. GMs must have a Player badge before registering to play games. Demo GMs may receive an Exhibitor badge if our allotment allows for it.
- Volunteer Attire: One shirt per day of volunteering (unless you received shirts in the previous year).
- In-game reward: A reward for characters based on the current Organized Play program GM reward programs. Pathfinder Society (First Edition)/Pathfinder Adventure Card Society is paper boons, and Pathfinder Society (Second Edition)/Starfinder Society (First Edition) is Achievement Point rewards at the Premier Plus (2.0x) level.
- Voucher: Earn one voucher for $15 that is spendable on paizo.com or at the Paizo booth for every block run.
Important Dates
Note that these dates are from Gen Con directly; other dates specifically relevant to us may be added.
- February 11: Indy badge registration begins.
- TBA: Indy housing portal opens.
- TBA (May): Indy event catalog goes live.
- May 19: Indy event registration begins.
- August 1-4: Gen Con Indy!
Gen Con Indy 2024 Volunteer Application
Origins 2024
Ohio Org Play will again be sponsoring Pathfinder and Starfinder Society at Origins Game Fair from June 19-23, 2024, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
For those who have not been to Origins in the past, the convention runs from mid-day Wednesday to mid-day Sunday, for a total of 12 event slots. We set our scenario-length slots up as 5 hours of gaming, with 1 hour meal breaks between sessions to give our GMs plenty of time to eat and re-energize. More about Origins can be found here: https://www.originsgamefair.com/
We are currently seeking volunteers for the following roles:
- Game Master: Run tables of Organized Play Scenarios, Bounties, and Quests.
- Headquarters (HQ): Answer player and GM questions, seat players, handle conflicts and disputes, and report games after completion.
Volunteer applications will be reviewed by the organizing committee. Filling the volunteer form out does not guarantee acceptance. As this is a large con with many moving parts, GM schedules will be assigned by the committee and sent out in order of volunteering. Volunteer early to lock in your preferences! Once your schedule is assigned and you confirm, you are considered committed to attending the event.
We value each of our volunteers who help to make this event happen. As a reward, we have Ohio Org Play shirts, water bottles, badges, accommodations for you or your vehicle, and bonus Achievement Points to send your way. But wait! This year, there’s more! Paizo has generously stepped in to provide voucher rewards to our GM volunteers this year, as well as free product for those who volunteer for more slots. Here’s a grid to keep track of everything:
Origins Rewards Table
Blocks
Ohio Org Play Water Bottle
¼ Hotel or Parking Pass
Paizo Product
Origins Badge
Ohio Org Play T-Shirt
Paizo Vouchers
In-Game Reward
10
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
9
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
8
X
X
X
X
X
X
7
X
X
X
X
X
X
6
X
X
X
X
X
5
X
X
X
X
4
X
X
X
X
3
X
X
X
2
X
X
X
1
X
X
Reward Details:
- Origins Badge: A weekend badge for the event. All attendees and GMs must have a badge. Those volunteering for 4 or more slots will receive a free badge. All others must purchase a badge on their own. Most Origins events are included in the base badge price.
- In-game reward: A reward for characters based on the current Organized Play program GM reward programs. Pathfinder Society (First Edition)/Pathfinder Adventure Card Society is paper boons, and Pathfinder Society (Second Edition)/Starfinder Society (First Edition) is Achievement Point rewards with a 1.75 multiplier.
- Vouchers: Earn one voucher for $15 that is spendable on paizo.com for each GM slot completed.
- T-Shirt: All volunteers for 2 or more slots will receive 1 Ohio Org Play 2024 t-shirt to wear on Saturday.
- PDF Product: A PDF of any Paizo product valued at $29.99 or less.
- Hotel/Parking: Volunteers for 7 or more slots will have the option of shared hotel space or a free parking pass. Hotel space is Wednesday night to Sunday Morning. We will work with volunteers who select this option to arrange rooming assignments.
- Water Bottle: Volunteers for 9 or more slots will also receive a Custom Ohio Org Play reusable water bottle to keep you hydrated all weekend long.
Important Dates
- Volunteer ASAP to lock in your scenario/slot preferences!
- April 13: Event registration opens.
- June 19-23: Origins Game Fair!
Please contact OhioOrgPlay@gmail.com with any questions.
Origins 2024 Volunteer Application
Premier Conventions Planning Server
Anybody interested in volunteering at PaizoCon Online or Gen Con should join the Premier Conventions planning server by clicking the image below. Follow the instructions in #welcome to get access to the relevant channels. All important information will be conveyed on this server as well as via email, so please join the server!
Thank you all so much for volunteering! These events can’t happen without our volunteer GMs and organizers, and we’re so lucky to have you all. We’re looking forward to another fantastic year of conventions!
Alex Speidel
Organized Play CoordinatorDavid Peever, Adrian FireclawDrake, and Jocelyn Hamilton
PaizoCon Online CommitteeHeather Vigil, Kevin Baumann, Rebecca Fehn, and Joe Mathos
Gen Con Indy CommitteeJanice Piette
Venture Captain–Ohio
Join Paizo Organized Play at Conventions in 2024!
Thursday, January 18, 2024
