Andrew Torgerud's page

I met Jack at Con of the North 2012. Though it wasn't for a short while after that we really spent time together - and the next decade just wrote itself.

Whether it was the time I could have ended Lucius in Golemworks; When he cast Insatiable Lust on his ally Lady Brokahn; or when we finally found our true selves in Lucky and Thorval, son of Thorval, son of Thorval.............

An amazing GM. A fabulous and creative player. A true ambassador to Pathfinder and Starfinder. A Gencon special onto himself.

We may never see his like again.

*tips the cap and the beer*

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to SkalCon we go.

finally got logged in again... woo!.... stupid paizo IT...

back from the brink? the game is yet young. just give us time :D

is it safe to assume we are a cooperative group? not pathfinders but all working towards the same overall goal?

so far a cleric and an occultist? Anything else we know of?

Should I keep botting them and roll their saves so that we can finish the adventure one way or the other, or wait for one or two of the AFK players to return?

In general, rolling saves for the players isn't the same discussion as Botting. As a GM and a player, I always want the GM to roll mass-party saves in response to a bad guy's spell. Everything slows down far too much otherwise.

If the spell is serious enough to think a reroll may be wanted, then the GM can halt progress and ask if anyone wants to reroll the save. If the consequences aren't life threatening or dire, I just move on without offering the reroll.

The only downside about paying to make things more difficult for S.W.A.T. is that most people will be busy themselves in the special. Will there be special announcements about killing S.W.A.T. at strategic points in the special?

Ooh, for those of us NOT in the special... Can we pay extra for ringside seats to watch S.W.A.T. shenanigans? Who do you all have tormenting you as a GM?

You can totally buy a ring side seat!

And our GM will be none other than Tonya!

As a charity table, we (the 6 of us) went above and beyond to chip in $200 for her to run this game.

Is there a limit to 'how high' the difficulty can be jumped? Not saying that anyone has the kind of dosh to swing it, but if someone say, dumped 10K on it, would they be able to dictate that say, a Tarrasque or other Kaiju showed up?

It will not take 10,000. But that certainly could happen.... Tonya may or may not offer specific monster choices for enhanced donations

Yes absolutely!

An extra chair shouldn't be much trouble. and who knows? maybe they might want to try some ACG?

Is there any way to find out who is signed up on my tables?

No there is not. We do not share that information.

Ah, I've started dreaming about party composition for my SkålCon games... The most wonderful time of the year.

mmm party composition...

Smoked Salmon... Grilled Caesar Salad... Keg of Cider... mmmmm

All y'all crazy.

28 days of SkalCon! I mean uh... TO... Skalcon... yeaaaaa...

I am so.... excited doesn't do it justice... ecstatic?

So many authors, so many choices to play... and with Magic The Gathering tournaments too?

Counting down the days - it's better than Christmas!

Those are the hours of the timeslot... 1300 to 1800.

Glen Shackleton wrote:

What I wouldn’t give to make it to this crazy con one day...

You are always welcome, Glen!

It's not that long a drive! How about next year?

John Godek III wrote:

If we can find a spot and some people, I still have yet to play 1-28, 1-30, and 1-37 and would be very appreciative of being able to knock one of those out!

I'm able to run any of those. I would prefer to run 1-28 or 1-30.

SFS 1-28 added.

Shawn Goldman wrote:

Any chance of alternate programming to the PFS special on Saturday night? I can run a SFS scenario if there's room.

If we can find a spot and some people, I still have yet to play 1-28, 1-30, and 1-37 and would be very appreciative of being able to knock one of those out!

If Shawn wants to run it, and you guys don't mind a loud Interactive special around you... I suppose I can add one table.

The author tables only have 6 paid-in players each. So there isn't any flexibility in who can join the table.

If the question is more related to whether you may request the names of the players who are also signed up, the headquarters/committee staff won't provide that information.

You are free to post here that you are playing at a certain table and would be interested in receiving direct messages from others also registered that table.

I filled out the GM form last week, but haven't heard back. I haven't made travel plans yet. Wanted to hear if I'm useful/needed/accepted as a GM before doing so.

have you signed up on the Reg App, and the Event? I can't assign you slots until you do.

But I can definitely use more volunteers including you.

I've signed up at 5-6 Soldier for Siege.

Thank you very much for adding additional tables at that tier!

Just need more player signups to add more tables to each slot. Thanks for signing up and thanks as always to all our great volunteers!

Please make sure you are registered for the SkalCon 2019 event. Gary - I don't see you as registered yet so cant assign you to your slots. Found you gary and have assigned some slots

As for extra tables, all varieties have been posted. Any expansion would be more of the same type of tables (IE more 1-02 in certain slots).

Any chance of alternate programming to the PFS special on Saturday night? I can run a SFS scenario if there's room.

Unlikely. Our player base is still primarily PFS... and until we have multiple rooms it is hard to justify having non-special tables in the room to be interrupted.

Assume the slots you signed up for I will find work for you.

We tried a new expansion method this year so as players sign up, more tables open up and more gms get assigned. I plan to get another gm round out Saturday.

The GM form link is just above table selection.

There are several changes to the GMs responsibilities. Individually they vary from quite minor to fairly bad but the combination looks daunting.

1) .....

That seems like a lot, especially right now when we're learning the new system

4, 5, 6, 10 years of doing it one way in one game system.... is complaining the only thing many people can do with a new system?

#5 & 6: Secrets rolls? Thank god! Players across the board cannot help but metagame if they know the dice number was likely pass or fail.i WANT to not know if I rolled bad or well. Give me legitimate reaction to bad rolls! Deception is a great new element when many have called for more GM fiat/control over the game.

#4: about damn time! There was never a good excuse to not complete reporting day of, next day latest. Force incentive on gms/organizers to do their jobs.

#2: has anything really changed? 10% more work?

#7: tbd... too early for me to make a call on positive vs negative... but it is way easier to keep a tally than running gold count.

My 2 cents.

I am planning to try another round of GM assignments next weekend if the players claim their table slots.

GenCon saw many SkalCon ribbons traded for $1 donations - $132 and 10 pounds in the war chest for Tubman! A great start!

Good News!

We have our next two authors confirmed! And these two are bringing the Pathfinder 1e ruleset back with Lost Spheres Publishing's City of 7 Seraphs!

Christen Sowards, Author Extraordinaire – bringing City of 7 Seraphs to life with his scenario "Ghosts of Legacy Hall"

Jessica Redekop, Author Extraordinaire – also bringing City of 7 Seraphs to life with her scenario "Cipher Obscura"

all volunteer assignments to date have been assigned.

OK... I am blind and cannot find where to raise my hand to GM.

The link to the Volunteer Form is located just above the schedule. Here is the Link also

"**** Andrew Torgerud Venture-Lieutenant, Minnesota—Twin Cities Metro South " wrote:

SkålCon 2019 is moving locations! This year we’ll be at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West!

You may be familiar with this venue. It’s been the home of Con of the North for many years now, and we are excited to grow into this new space.

When: September 20-22, 2019

Where: The Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West!

Okay, you've got me.

I'll figure out how to finagle the time from work and such.

Finagle a friend or two to come with! you know they want you to.

I want to take a moment to highlight one of my favorite parts of Skål Con.. the Tubman Food Drive.

We had a simple thought.. why not include a collection of canned goods and offer a minor in game reward to the players?

It grew so much more than Food... It isn't even fair to call it a food drive anymore... Last year we collected and donated a Van-Full of desperately needed goods - Towels and Soap, Deodorant and Shampoo, Toothpaste and Diapers... and of course dry goods

I honestly cannot put an estimate how much the community has given the first four years - and we have no intention of stopping now!

So please check out the Tubmn wishlist - up 15 items per person will grant an increasing benefit for the weekend!

Year 5.

Phew. Who would have thought we would have made it this far? But I digress.. THE BIG NEWS!

SkålCon 2019 is moving locations! This year we’ll be at the Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West!

You may be familiar with this venue. It’s been the home of Con of the North for many years now, and we are excited to grow into this new space.

When: September 20-22, 2019

Where: The Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West!

How do i get in?! Register @SkalCon.org

As always we will donate proceeds to our favorite local charity: Tubman
(Tubman's donation wish list)

This year’s group of Special Guests contains many of our local favorites, and is growing by the week!

Tonya Woldridge, Organized Play Manager – running retired scenario “Blood at Dralkard Manor” as well as Pathfinder Second Edition kickoff scenario “Origin of the Open Road”

Thurston Hillman, Developer for Starfinder Society – running his very own exclusive scenario “Into the Perplexity: The Second Trial”

Jaye Sonia, Owner and Publisher of Storm Blood Studios, running his own Bloodlines and Black Magic scenario

Clinton Boomer, Author Extraordinaire – joining Jaye Sonia for Bloodlines and Black Magic, as well as another rendition of his retired Pathfinder scenario “Hands of the Muted God”

Jenny Jarzabski, Author Extraordinaire – running her newest scenario, Starfinder Season 2 kickoff scenario: “Pact World Warriors”

Scott Young, Author Extraordinaire – running his very own Pathfinder Society scenarios - but which will it be?

And these are just the confirmed special guests and events, with more to come!

Finally... Only Jon can truly wrap up an announcement like this:

I want to take a moment and thank everyone who has helped make our little con be such a success. I think how in the hell are we gonna do better than last con and Every Year y’all show me the spirit of giving is alive and well here. I’ve seen what our efforts do for Tubman and the people they help; knowing we make a difference in someone’s life makes all the work, all the late nights, all the cajoling (“Yer gonna come visit us this year, right?”), all the planning, and everything else involved with putting on a convention so worth it. I am humbled by everyone’s generosity. Truly, thank you so very much!

Watch this thread for updates about registration, as well as anyone else joining us.

Lastly, as always...
Lets do this people!

Hope is a stretch....

Do not Feel bad Kwinten - no one is ever prepared for their first taste of THUNDERLIPS!

There's always SkalCon...

Ah, so it will have to be PBP? So be it!

I'd be up for that... but I need Outpost II to be further along... and the four other games I am GMing to finish up. Of course, if you two wanted to play the same characters, we could do it after this game.

Why did I do this to myself ;)

Gluton.

That Waking Rune table was insane. The GM brought the pain, put us on the brink of tpk... One of my favorite games played to this day.

163 tables of action over 3 days!

23 simultaneous tables of the stunning Solstice Scar D conclusion!

32 inches of snow already plowed away! With no more snow on the horizon for Friday!

68 hours to go until the magic begins! See everyone there!

Siege....12-13... greatest sub-tier of any Special ever. Very Excited!

We didnt get them reported on site - which tends to extend the time to completion. They are over half reported. Almost done

Too much to do.... too little time.... 97 hours aaahhh

I don't track player kills, tpk's or perma-deaths. if i had to guess... 7 or 8 tpk's and 6 perma-death?

My most memorable TPKs came in back to back years at JimCon in Canada...

Running Siege of the Diamond City at 12-13... power word stun is no joke.

The next year running a 4 player team through Tomb of the Iron Medusa... phew that can be a tough module.

But in both cases... a PC killed the rest for me. So I can't take all the credit. Both times the players grinned at their hidden note instructions.

now that i think about it... having a player voluntarily retire for roleplay reasons was glorious.

i hear from a little Silbeg birdie you might need a 6th? my level 2 isn't in tier but his Kobold alter-ego is ;)

i'm a friend of Silbeg and I ran part A for Urktar

I wouldn't mind starting a CORE character, though I would worry about getting him levelled up.

Start your stable. Multiple characters is always a good idea

With the constant web interruptions we need to be very patient. The site is down repeatedly during my best post time

Mounted combat is its own special case.

2 companions on the field of battle - they should act one after the other... (whether same init or separate is up to gm - i roll separate) just like bad guys have to go one at a time... Readied actions are very important for being effective in that situation.

The modules are a good selection. Worth considering for them.

GM Phoenix Kyten wrote:

Starting this up, I'm not a part of game day but making more offerings available.

8-04 Wardens of Sulfur Gulch (7-11)

Still seats available for Wardens of Sulfur Gulch

spose i can fill it out.

What is the official action expected to be taken.

What does this declaration actually mean?

I've always ruled in specials that there are plenty of fellow agents to find spell casting services for clean up. Just pay the fellow pathfinder cleric of serenrae.

Road-trip gaming. Now I have new bucket list item.

The GenConVoy is always a fun ride from minneapolis to indianapolis. We tried toconference call two vehicles this year but it didn't work.

Though it was the greatest game on the drive home...

Gm never drives. Thats just silly

Running this last night, Jack Brown and I thought this was a pretty good scenario.

I would warn GMs - it does seem to expect a bit more improv with the interactions than normal - and there's some really important information not in the red text... such as the first paragraph of the conclusion...

Like i said - a solid experience overall from my point of view. The Tier 4-5 DCs not being in every check location was different. I am not one to normally take a highlighter to my scenarios before running but this one i would next time.