To start with, our hearts go out to all of our customers affected by this disaster. We encourage everyone in the Paizo community to make donations to the Red Cross or other reputable organizations, if you have not already done so, to help relieve the suffering of our friends and neighbors affected by the storm.
If you were affected by the hurricane, we want to give you some information on how we are handling subscriptions in the devastated areas.
Based on the best information we have from the United States Postal Service, sending periodicals to addresses with zip codes that start with 395, 396, 700, 701 and 704 is not currently possible. These zip codes represent the hardest hit areas in Louisiana and Mississippi.
For these customers, we will be holding your issues for you and sending them out after the postal suspension has been lifted.
If you will not be returning to your previous address, please let us know where we can send your issues by changing the shipping address on your subscription at:
https://secure.paizo.com/paizo/account/subscriptions
Sincerely,
Rob
As a note, there were 28 Dungeon subscribers in the affected area.
As a note, there were 28 Dungeon subscribers in the affected area.
How about setting up a Paizo gift account that we could donate into (like a few dollars each), to give those affected a nice present that they could use to buy anything at the Paizo store after they are fully restored?
Hopefully by then their humanitarian needs will be taken care of and a nice influx of gaming supplies might help their morale? You'd probably assume that some of them lost all their core books and gaming materials.
If this seems petty in the face of such a huge human needs crisis, I apologize, but such a small gesture might mean a lot to someone who has lost everything and who valued gaming as a means of recreation.
Just an idea...I'd be willing to donate into such a gift account, to be split evenly among the 28 subscribers, perhaps as a credit in their Paizo store account?
How about setting up a Paizo gift account that we could donate into (like a few dollars each), to give those affected a nice present that they could use to buy anything at the Paizo store after they are fully restored?
I will discuss this with upper management this afternoon. Personally, I'd love to do this.
As a note, there were 28 Dungeon subscribers in the affected area.~
Just an idea...I'd be willing to donate into such a gift account, to be split evenly among the 28 subscribers, perhaps as a credit in their Paizo store account?
I'll second this - it's a beautiful idea, F2K!
It's a fair assumtion that these gamers' books and supplies are a total loss; what a statement it would make, to arrange for these members of the gaming community to replace their gaming supplies through Paizo and WoTC, with the support of the gaming public...
M
Just because more voices might make a difference:
I am all for this idea as well.
Chief Technical Officer
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As a note, there were 28 Dungeon subscribers in the affected area.
Parenthetically, we only calculated the number of Dungeon subscribers because we just had to do the mailing report for the next issue. We haven't calculated the number of Dragon subscribers affected yet - we're hoping that the post office will be able to lift restrictions to additional areas by the time we need to do the next Dragon mailing report.
-Vic.
.
I just sent an email to the subscribers (with known email addresses) that are currently known to have no periodical mail service.
If you did not receive the email, but would like to have your issues held for you due to concerns with delivery, please feel free to call, email, or reply here.
-r
For what it's worth, there are 57 active subscribers in the most profoundly affected area, of which he have 32 known email addresses.
Just because more voices might make a difference:
I am all for this idea as well.
Add me to that list - I think this is an awesometastic idea!
Everyone here at Paizo is in favor of creating a fund for those subscribers devastated by the storm.
Here's what we're thinking:
- allow our customers to donate any whole dollar amount through our store here.
- on some specific day (December 1? November 1 perhaps?), divide up the total amount collected evenly among our subscribers affected by the storm (currently about 57 known).
- the amount will be given to each affected subscriber in the form of Paizo store credit so that they can get whatever gaming material they want.
- Paizo itself will be contributing some amount, probably matching dollar for dollar.
Here's what we need from you...
Please tell us what you think.
Help us refine all the details before we go live with this, so that everyone knows exactly what they are contributing to.
We plan to launch early this coming week, possibly as soon as Monday.
As a note, there were 28 Dungeon subscribers in the affected area.How about setting up a Paizo gift account that we could donate into (like a few dollars each), to give those affected a nice present that they could use to buy anything at the Paizo store after they are fully restored?
Hopefully by then their humanitarian needs will be taken care of and a nice influx of gaming supplies might help their morale? You'd probably assume that some of them lost all their core books and gaming materials.
If this seems petty in the face of such a huge human needs crisis, I apologize, but such a small gesture might mean a lot to someone who has lost everything and who valued gaming as a means of recreation.
Just an idea...I'd be willing to donate into such a gift account, to be split evenly among the 28 subscribers, perhaps as a credit in their Paizo store account?
Yes. Great!
WaterdhavianFlapjack
Everyone here at Paizo is in favor of creating a fund for those subscribers devastated by the storm.
Here's what we're thinking:
- allow our customers to donate any whole dollar amount through our store here.
- on some specific day (December 1? November 1 perhaps?), divide up the total amount collected evenly among our subscribers affected by the storm (currently about 57 known).
- the amount will be given to each affected subscriber in the form of Paizo store credit so that they can get whatever gaming material they want.
- Paizo itself will be contributing some amount, probably matching dollar for dollar.Here's what we need from you...
Please tell us what you think.
Help us refine all the details before we go live with this, so that everyone knows exactly what they are contributing to.We plan to launch early this coming week, possibly as soon as Monday.
I think it's fantastic! You should just have the "donation" be another item in your store. Please post here when it's up. Thanks.
WaterdhavianFlapjack
Also, if we get Wishlists up and running in a reasonable time, we will make it possible for you identify those wishlists set up by Katrina victims, so that you can buy stuff directly for them.
You like?
Also, if we get Wishlists up and running in a reasonable time, we will make it possible for you identify those wishlists set up by Katrina victims, so that you can buy stuff directly for them.
You like?
Great idea as well, although I would prefer a even spread of the donations among all the subscribers as a gift credit in their account at Paizo. It's less likely to generate disappointment if a wish list is not fulfilled, or someone's is and another's is not.
I like the donation idea - I think it's really awesome. I'm not sure what details you need, Robert. The idea of just making it a store item is about as good as it's going to get - and should make tracking the total donation amount fairly simple.
I'd look at letting the donation bucket fill until December 1st - for some victims, it's going to take at least that long to begin to even think about gaming again. That also gets you squarely into the holiday shopping season, when somebody might want to look into buying themselves a gift.
And that comes to the Wish List thing. I love my wish list at Amazon.com - my family regularly uses it for birthdays and Christmas for both me and my wife. A similar thing here would be good - and if we could opt to send something to somebody ravaged by the hurricane, I'm all for that too.
Both of these ideas kick much ass, and it's very cool of Paizo to set things up.
I'm in. Not sure what details you need, but I'll contribute.
-Amber S.
I don't know if this is feasible for Paizo cost-wise, but there are probably lots of subscribers who would be interested in donating but don't use the message boards or the on-line Paizo store. Would it be possible for a note to be included with the next shipments of Dungeon and Dragon both so that all subscribers can learn about the donation fund? (eventually, it would mean that those affected would learn about it also this way, as they're likely not surfing the web right now.)
If that's not cost effective, maybe a fax announcement for posting at your gaming distribution stores? The local gaming stores may help in collecting funds.
Mass e-mail announcement? I wouldn't include it in one of your standard e-mails. Please don't be offended, but I delete the spam as soon as I see it. I would make it a separate announcement with "Katrina relief" as the subject line.
And to the person who suggested this and was worried it may sound petty, it absolutely doesn't and it was a great idea. When I heard what was happening, after being grateful for my family, home, job, pets, etc... I looked around at all our gaming supplies and imagined what I would take if evacuating. Thousands of dollars worth of materials, many of it first and second edition or discontinued lines and some VERY difficult to find now. Not to mention all the hours upon hours of work in original materials. Is it necessary for survival? No. But I think you were dead on in it helping be a morale booster.
I look forward to learning about how to contribute.
I hope i'm not about to jinx this, :)
But speaking as one of the ones affected by this, (I lived in the middle of New Orleans), I think you guys (AND GALS!) are great for even considering this idea! Congrats & Kudos to all of you!
Conflicting reports say my street had up to 10 feet of water on it, so I pretty much consider everything a "wash" (pun intended). And I still consider myself lucky because my family is high & dry in Oklahoma.
If I had known how bad it was going to be, would I have packed differently? Maybe. But as the previous poster said, the games et al are not required for survival. And as I have watched the news reports get more and more depressing, and I considered the loss of my "precious" games & comics, I realized that the important thing about having collected all of the various games, books, etc. over the years was not the OWNING of them, but the MEMORIES that my friends and I created with them.
I may not be able to salvage a single character sheet from my house, but my friends have already informed me that they are ready & willing to contribute to the fun memories!
Sorry so long-winded, but I probably know 6 or so people from your "affected list", and I can promise you that right now, even a set of new (CLEAN!) dice would seem like a golden apple to us!
Thanks for your caring & Gaming Support!
Long Live the Gamers!
Ken "Ragadolf"- "Meddle not in the affairs of wizards, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"
great idea
Ken,
Hopefully after this effort is done, you and the others affected be able to get at least some of your stuff back.
Glad that you and your family are safe.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Mass e-mail announcement? I wouldn't include it in one of your standard e-mails. Please don't be offended, but I delete the spam as soon as I see it.
Tiger Lily,
There's a handy "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the weekly e-mail. Click that, and we'll stop sending it to you - honest!
-Vic.
.
I have created a new thread describing what Paizo is doing for these subscribers.
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/general/customerService/katrinaCarePac kages
The donation product is at:
http://paizo.com/store/paizo/byProductType/charitableDonations
I just want to say once again that this is something really awesome Paizo is doing. And kudos to everybody who donates!
On that note... any chance you'd tell us which companies have donated materials? Quite honestly, I think they deserve the publicity. It's an awesome thing being done all around.
On that note... any chance you'd tell us which companies have donated materials? Quite honestly, I think they deserve the publicity. It's an awesome thing being done all around.
We are only in the beginning stages of collecting contributed materials from other companies. By all means, we will give credit where credit is due when that process is complete.
Cheers!
Rob
Excellent.
Is Paizo interested in taking donated product for redistribution from subscribers as well or is it easier on your end just to deal with cash donations and putting together packages from that?
...just so you know, I'm specifically thinking about complete dice sets in their boxes in addition to cash donation. Ken's post got me thinking about it.
Offering product donations is an excellent suggestion. However, we'll have to handle these on a case-by-case basis.
Tiger Lily, your particular offer sounds great. I'll email you on Monday to make arrangements.
Anyone else interested in making donations of new product, please contact me first at robert.head@paizo.com
Best regards,
Rob
great idea
Glad to hear you and your family are all HI & Dry as well. As I have told my family since we left home 2 days before the storm hit "things can be replaced, people can't". So I hope everyone you know are safe and sound. My family and i are from Picayune,MS about 50 miles north of New Orleans. While we didn't have the massive water to worry about the wind and tornadoes were quite enough. We are currently in Kansas City, MO and will probably be here about a year before my wifes company rebuilds in the slidell area. Sorry so winded I also wanted to say what a great bunch of people piazo and all their subscribers are. Everyone here has also extended a helping hand to all that were affected. The amount of support being offered all over the nation is heart warming... Keep up the great work.....
Adam
I lost none of my game material, although I live in an affected area (Jefferson Parish, LA). I would like to "opt out" as a relief recipient in favor of those who DID lose things. I really don't want to take advantage of this when I lost nothing, nor do I want any of this generosity to go unused.
If there's no way to opt out, perhaps some of those who were wiped out could let me know what they need and I could use my share to help them out?
Others on the Coast who were lucky, how do you feel about opting out?
Hello. I am also one of those affected by Katrina. My house in New Orleans took 4ft of floodwater which didn't recede for 2 weeks. While I lost a lot, most can be replaced - furniture, lamps, clothes, whatever. No loss of life and I still have a job.
But what can't be replaced are the old items I had from 1st edition from my old high school gaming years. Memories washed away. Gone are 20 years of old characters, out of print modules, dog-eared reference books with yellowed pages... That chapter is now closed. On with the next. My curent (3rd ed)gaming stuff survived intact on the second floor and I was able to salvage a box of old painted miniatures from downstairs.
I'm not in dire need of anything (save electricity) so I graciously decline everyone's generous offers. Thanks to all. I want to let Paizo know that I just updated my e-mail since the storm and hadn't gotten any of the messages. Please hold my subscriptions until we get mail service returned here.
It's a bit late, but I wish someone could get a local N.O. area groups up for the D&D gameday this weekend. This could give a lift up to us local gamers. Seems that all the local gaming stores have shut down or packed up and left. Any takers?
Walter
P.S. I chose this avatar before the hurricane, and little did I know what was to come. It is the avatar of ill-omen!