At this stage I can't make any promises about guests. We are inviting contributors to Paizo but obviously they may not be able to attend.
I'm cautious about trying to do too much/take on too much for the first convention I've ever organised. So the focus will be Pathfinder Society Organised Play. Any thing else is purely icing on the cake if it happens.
Remember that this is a fan-organised event, not an official Paizo event.
(edited)
Wintergreen wrote: At this stage I can't make any promises about guests. We are inviting contributors to Paizo but obviously they may not be able to attend.
I'm cautious about trying to do too much/take on too much for the first convention I've ever organised. So the focus will be Pathfinder Society Organised Play. Any thing else is purely icing on the cake if it happens.
Remember that this is a fan-organised event, not an official Paizo event.
If we have PFS games running, surely it is some sort of official event? :)
Charles Evans 25 wrote: If we have PFS games running, surely it is some sort of official event? :)
I don't want to lay claim to any official status. There will be PFS games running and they will be reported but that is the same for other conventions.
Sorry, late night last night, checking messageboards, and my brain is not yet completely in gear.
The first sentence was unnecessary in my previous post and I have removed it.
Edit:
107(?) days to go to PaizoCon UK 2009!
Update on accommodation.
En-suite rooms at the Lakeside residence can be booked. Their rate is from £25 per night for room only or £35 per night with breakfast.
I haven't block booked any rooms so individuals can book what they want. Bookings can be made through the Conference Aston website
Charles Evans 25 and I are going to have a look round the venue on Friday 3rd April. We'll have a look at the main room, check out the facilities in the building and on campus and hopefully have a look at the accommodation too. If anybody has any questions about the venue they'd like answered or any special requirements they'd like taken into account then please post here or email me paizoconuk@hotmail.com.
I should have a decision for you by the end of Easter but in answer to your question, I'd probably run 3 slots and play or just chat for one.
Better make a friendly Qadiran adventurer.
Up Qadira, right up it!
I expect I'm in - need to clear it with the Mrs, but the dates look fine. I doubt I will DM as I haven't done so in organised play (or played either, come to that).
French Wolf wrote: I should have a decision for you by the end of Easter but in answer to your question, I'd probably run 3 slots and play or just chat for one.
Better make a friendly Qadiran adventurer.
Up Qadira, right up it!
PCs from all factions are welcome. In true Qadiran fashion, as long as you pay you get to play!
Update: Walking times in Birmingham from stations, & taxis from Snow Hill
I checked some times on foot today, around Birmingham.
Approximate walking times from Stations to Aston University:
Snow Hill, 10 minutes
Moor Street, 10 minutes
New Street, walking past Moor Street station, 15 Minutes
The evening rush hour was underway during the Moor Street/New Street walk and I had to wait at several crossings for the traffic to stop; at other times of day crossing some of the roads could be much faster. I have yet to check a route from New Street going via the road ‘Dale End’, which may be slightly shorter.
With regard to taxis at Snow Hill, I discovered that I had been misled by the West Midland Travel office, and that Livery Street along the side of Snow Hill station has some Pay & Display parking, but no taxis. There is a small bay in front of Snow Hill station, which had a couple of taxis sitting in it when I was there.
Wow. Thanks a lot for all the info and for taking the time to check by yourself. I am impressed m(--)m
And, for the sake of completeness:
Transport update… The Quirky: Canal Boat
In the event that anyone wants to attend by canal boat, there is what appears to a 48 Hour mooring nearby on the north bank of the Digbeth Branch Canal. Annoyingly, getting from the mooring to the University Campus involves having to double back around and through the middle of the ‘Quest Vitamins’ buildings to get to a bridge over the canal.
I am currently trying to confirm the status of this mooring (no waste/water facilities, sorry the nearest may well be in the city centre, 13 locks away) with the BCN offices in the city centre and to establish if a corresponding mooring on the south bank of the canal at Priestley Wharf (which would in theory offer more direct access to the campus) is available to the public or not.
Edit:
100(?) days to go to PaizoCon UK 2009!
Venue checked over today. Room on the first floor of Aston University Business School, air-conditioned, openable windows (important in case we get a freak British heatwave!) with option to expand into an adjacent room if enough people want to attend to fill at least one room.
As an aside, in one of those strange architectural twists, Aston University Business School is a building with a 3rd floor and a 5th floor, but no 4th floor....
99(?) days left to PaizoCon UK!
As Charles has said, a useful trip to the venue yesterday. It all looks good - easy to get to, facilities nearby and accessible, good-sized room and so on. We are setting up the website at present and I'm sorting out advertising, guests, games and other delights!
OK fellow Pathfinders, the doors are open at the Pathfinder Society Grand Lodge UK. Your Venture Captains await you ... and the mission? Well, it starts with a trip to Birmingham on 11 and 12 July for Paizocon UK.
The Paizocon UK website is http://www.paizocon.co.uk.
Lots of Pathfinder adventures and maybe a few surprise events. DON"T MISS IT or Asmodeus will getcha!
Rob Silk wrote: OK fellow Pathfinders, the doors are open at the Pathfinder Society Grand Lodge UK. Your Venture Captains await you ... and the mission? Well, it starts with a trip to Birmingham on 11 and 12 July for Paizocon UK.
The Paizocon UK website is http://www.paizocon.co.uk.
Lots of Pathfinder adventures and maybe a few surprise events. DON"T MISS IT or Asmodeus will getcha!
Looks good work so far, Rob. :)
Rob Silk wrote: OK fellow Pathfinders, the doors are open at the Pathfinder Society Grand Lodge UK. Your Venture Captains await you ... and the mission? Well, it starts with a trip to Birmingham on 11 and 12 July for Paizocon UK.
The Paizocon UK website is http://www.paizocon.co.uk.
Lots of Pathfinder adventures and maybe a few surprise events. DON"T MISS IT or Asmodeus will getcha!
As Rob has announced, the website is now up and we are open for bookings. We have some guests, Paizo contributors, willing to come along, possibly some special games and all the latest Pathfinder Society scenarios.
Any questions just ask me here or via the website http://www.paizocon.co.uk.
I hope to see you all there, Pathfinders.
Great website chaps.
Rich
Update: Walking Times in Birmingham from Birmingham New Street Station
I checked the walking times on a couple more routes today.
Approximate walking times from New Street to Aston University:
Via Pallasades shopping centre & Corporation Street, 12 minutes
Via Dale End, 12 minutes
The route via the Pallasades and Corporation Street involves climbing stairs (or riding an escalator) from New Street Station to the shopping centre, and then navigating a pedestrian bottleneck at the exit from the shopping centre and along the southern end of Corporation Street. This route may well be the most ‘direct’ as the pedestrian walks, but it can get very congested with pedestrians during shopping hours and I would not recommend it during those times to those with awkward shaped packages, pushchairs, or unwieldy luggage of any kind.
Birmingham New Street Station:
Birmingham New Street Station is a busy ‘through’ station with twelve platforms, each with an ‘a’ and ‘b’ end (and at least one with a ‘c’ bay too) and during peak hours or if anything goes wrong with the network trains can end up running late – sometimes with the result that other trains can’t get into the platforms which they were scheduled to get into and end up being switched to another platform. Whilst not so much of a problem for anyone arriving at New Street by train, this can make things awkward for those expecting to meet someone on the platform or for those seeking to catch a specific train out of the station. As a rule of thumb, if a train hasn’t yet reached the position of being the next one due to arrive/depart from a specific platform, it is still at risk of being ‘replatformed’ if one due before it at the platform is running late; listen out for the occasional station intercom announcements that might herald a mad rush from one platform to another.
Birmingham New Street has ticket collectors in operation through much of the day, although platform tickets may be available at the barriers for those needing to get to a platform for purposes such as assisting a fellow traveller with luggage.
Edit:
Three Months to got to PaizoCon UK 2009!
Richard Pett wrote: Great website chaps.
Rich
We still have more details (and hopefully pictures unless Wintergreen's camera has suffered a mysterious accident) to come!
Charles Evans 25 wrote: Richard Pett wrote: Great website chaps.
Rich
We still have more details (and hopefully pictures unless Wintergreen's camera has suffered a mysterious accident) to come!
Pictures of the venue are now up.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber
Cheque is in the post - really looking forward to this event and meeting UK Pathfinders.
Having just found this messageboard thread, many thanks to all who have worked to get this event off the ground.
Cheers
Jason
Fleanetha wrote: Cheque is in the post - really looking forward to this event and meeting UK Pathfinders.
Having just found this messageboard thread, many thanks to all who have worked to get this event off the ground.
Cheers
Jason
You're very welcome.
I'm looking forward to meeting everybody.
Not getting nervous about it all. Oh no! Not at all.
?
And some information regarding the guests is now up on the website, I see. :D
Looking good guys. You think Logue and Pett can co-exist in the same room without causing a matter/anti matter type reaction though?
Must book soon.
I'm 99% certain, just need to wait for pay day to send off the cheque....
Uzzy wrote: Looking good guys. You think Logue and Pett can co-exist in the same room without causing a matter/anti matter type reaction though?
Must book soon.
How do you know we're not the same person:)
We're mooting the idea of having a bare-knuckle fist fight to decide who's dungeon adventure was the best as we've never properly settled it.
Book soon, book soon...
I'll wager 400 quatloos on the newcomer.
Aubrey the Malformed wrote: I'll wager 400 quatloos on the newcomer. Which is the newcomer? That Logue fellow sounds too much like Jack Black for them to not be the same person (at least on the sinister adventures pod-cast), so my money (7 slivers of Gold-pressed Latinum) goes on the other guy....
Dotting the ‘i’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’ - Canal update:
BCN have confirmed to me the status of the 48 hour public mooring on the north side of the Digbeth branch canal, within a few minutes walk of the Aston University campus, but the corresponding mooring on the south bank at Priestley Wharf is privately owned.
The cheque is in the mail...which of course is one of the three great lies...along with "off course I'll respect you in the morning"(the third one is not suitable for a family audience)
Sorry, I've been away for a while (according to one source, scouting locations for a live Murder on the Silken Caravan event!) Thanks to Rob and Charles for holding the fort.
Anyway, we have already received some player bookings and volunteer GMs but still want more. I will be sending out confirmation emails to those who have actually sent cheques.
Looking forward to seeing everybody there!
Accommodation Options:
I have carried out some basic research into possible alternative ‘B&B’ options available for those interested in attending the Convention but unable to find rooms at the university.
There is a shortage of ‘Bed and Breakfast’ rooms available in the city centre or the immediate vicinity of Aston University. However there are a number of rooms available in nearby Digbeth, the closest being perhaps a quarter of an hour on foot from the Business School where the convention is due to take place. Yesterday (22nd April) I made inquiries at the Tourist Information office then proceeded through Digbeth to investigate the mentioned available options.
I would estimate that Birmingham Central Backpackers, The Big Bull’s Head, The Kerry Man, and The Dubliner are all within approximately 15 minutes walk from campus.
The Old Crown Inn is maybe 18-20 minutes on foot from campus, and a medieval building, the oldest inn in/around the city centre.
The Adam & Eve Hotel and Moseley Arms may be in the vicinity of 25 minutes on foot from campus, and I only included these two in my survey because The Moseley Arms was one of the places which Google threw up when I was trying to identify B&B places electronically the night before, and the Adam & Eve was one I noticed on the way there…
Most of B&B accommodation providers that I summarise below stated that as well as the prices quoted per night, they also required a ‘key deposit’ (varying between venues from £5 to £10).
The Prices Quoted were offered to me in face to face talks with members of staff; I cannot guarantee that venues will not change these prices before July, or offer different rates to people booking accommodation by telephone.
All these accommodation providers are small properties, with limited capacity. Whilst all had accommodation available for the 10th/11th/12th July, as of when I made inquiries yesterday, they advised that bookings should be made as soon as possible to avoid possible disappointment. Although many of them have websites, these seem (except for the Backpackers hostel) to be to maintain a ‘web-presence’ and booking is usually only in person or by telephone.
Bed & Breakfast services offered by hostels/inns/family hotels:
Birmingham Central Backpackers:
http://www.birminghamcentralbackpackers.com
Prices Quoted (light evening meal and light breakfast included):
Friday, £17, Saturday, £18, Sunday Night £16
Groups of 8+ £14 per person per night.
Booking:
In person, online via website, or by telephone: (0121) 643-0033
Car-parking:
On street
NB
This is a hostel, with basic bunk-bed accommodation, and shared dormitories –although there are a few individual/shared rooms available too.
Big Bull’s Head:
http://www.bigbullshead.co.uk
Prices Quoted (breakfast included):
£25 per night (single person)
£20 per night (per person in shared room)
Booking:
In person or by telephone: (0121) 643-7890
Car-parking:
Small car-park
The Kerry Man:
http://www.thekerryman.co.uk
Prices Quoted (breakfast included):
£29.50 (single room)
£39.50 (double room)
Booking:
In person or by telephone: (0121) 643-3578
Car-parking:
None
The Dubliner:
No website currently available
Prices Quoted (no meal included):
£20 a night
Booking:
In person or by telephone: (0121) 622-5789
Car-parking:
Small car-park
Old Crown Inn:
http://www.theoldcrown.com
Prices Quoted (breakfast included):
£35 per night (single person)
£25 per night (per person in shared room)
Booking:
Internet bookings might be possible, but advice at the inn was to book in person or by telephone: (0121) 248-1368
Car-Parking:
Car-park
Adam & Eve Hotel:
http://www.theadam.co.uk
Prices Quoted (evening meal included, no negotiation over this):
£17.50 per person per night
Booking:
In person or by telephone: (0121) 693-1500
Car-parking:
None
Moseley Arms:
http://www.the-moseley-arms.co.uk
Prices Quoted:
£25 per person per night
£30 per person per night with breakfast
Booking:
In person or by telephone: (0121) 766-8467
Car Parking:
‘Secure parking’ (car park)
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
In addition, here are the addresses for websites of hotel chains with branches in the Aston/city-centre area, whose prices I take to represent the lower end of the ‘hotel chain’ market – prices are determined on a day by day basis on the website, and may well be upwards of £50+ per person per night (except possibly for exceptionally last minute bookings, if there are still rooms to fill?).
Hotel Chains:
Holiday Inn:
There are a number in Birmingham City Centre
http://www.holidayinn.co.uk
Campanile Hotel:
Chester Street, Aston, is a short way from Aston University.
http://www.campanile.com
Premier Inns:
Birmingham Central East is a short way from Aston University.
http://www.premierinn.com
If there is a group of people going then it can be worth checking out the apartments that are available on laterooms.com.
Wintergreen wrote: If there is a group of people going then it can be worth checking out the apartments that are available on laterooms.com. Ideally, we need a thread either here or on the PaizoCon UK site, for people who want to group together to hire rooms or appartments.
Charles that is great work on your part. Looking forward to meeting such a helpful soul.
As for a new thread for accommodation that would have been my next step. I am sure it will happen but maybe it would be good if its in the Paizocon Forum. People can always be directed from here.
Wintergreen - I got the confirmation email from your administrator.
Thanks and cheers
I think the forum on the PaizoCon UK website is the perfect place for accommodation discussion. Feel free to start up such a thread here.
I did it but I think you may want to move the thread. Don't think its in the right place.
Cheers
French Wolf wrote: I did it but I think you may want to move the thread. Don't think its in the right place.
Cheers
I think you're right. It should be a separate topic. I'll see about moving it.
I'll be putting up more information on which scenarios will be run, guest games, etc very soon too. Everybody who has booked a place should have received a confirmation email by now so if you've sent a booking form and haven't received a confirmation then let us know at paizoconuk@hotmail.com.
Accommodation Forum added to the Paizocon UK website.
http://www.paizocon.co.uk
You can post all your queries, suggestions and requests there.
[Requests for fully stocked drinks cabinet, hot tubs, and personal services will be ignored. Sorry.]
Wellard wrote: 76 days till Paizocon UK And all's well!
Just in case anyone's missed it, Rob Silk has now posted advice for volunteer DMs on the PaizoCon UK website.
71 days to go to PaizoCon UK 2009
Right - stopped faffing sent the cheque this morning.
Aubrey the Malformed wrote: Right - stopped faffing sent the cheque this morning. Excellent.
We've had quite a few bookings recently and a good number of volunteer GMs. So everybody else who is still faffing, book now!
I will do whatever is in my power to attend, and I'll try to bring my group with me from Denmark, if you can all be tightlipped about the RotRL Campaign.
Am I the only one attending from outside UK?
Entropi wrote: I will do whatever is in my power to attend, and I'll try to bring my group with me from Denmark, if you can all be tightlipped about the RotRL Campaign.
Am I the only one attending from outside UK?
I'll swear everybody to secrecy about RotRL as I'm sure there are quite a few who haven't played it.
We've got a couple of people coming from Europe including one of our guests, Christine Schneider.
We may be PaizoCon UK but everybody is welcome.
Two months to go to PaizoCon UK 2009!
Scenarios to be run at PaizoCon UK
15: The Asmodeus Mirage by Christopher Self
17: Perils of the Pirate Pact by Matthieu Dayon
19: Skeleton Moon by Benjamin Wenham
24: The Decline of Glory by Tim Hitchcock
16: To Scale the Dragon by Tim Hitchcock
Plus a number of the earlier scenarios will be run including Mists of Mwangi run by Nic Logue.
Go to our website forum to suggest which of the earlier scenarios you would like to play.
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