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Until we get the database programmed with tracking four star GMs, I will be watching all of them closely. If you are a four star GM, you should be receiving an email from me next week.
After reviewing the first 14 four star GMs on my list, I found one who has met the qualifications to be promoted to a 5 star GM per the new guidelines in Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play 4.1.
A congratulations and job well done to Melbourne, Australia Venture-Captain Stephen White for reaching the pinnacle of the GM Star System. Your coordination, efforts, work, and enthusiasm for Pathfinder Society (and being our first Australian Venture-Captain) are most heartily commended! You have received your fifth star and join a very elite group of GMs.
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Thanks for the acknowlegement and kind words, Mike.
It's been a long journey to 5 Stars, but every journey begins with but a single step.
For me, that first step was taken 23rd June 2007, offering to GM Hollow's Last Hope at my local game store for Free RPG Day. Players arrived, it was a fun adventure, and we had a great day.
I had been enjoying Living Greyhawk and Living Arcanis at Melbourne conventions for the previous five years, but those campaigns were winding down with the announcement of 4th Edition, so it looked as though Melbourne's convention community, at least for the next season, would be without D&D.
This was around the time Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path hit the streets, and I started GMing Chapter 1: Burnt Offerings, and soon after, Crimson Throne Chapter 1: Edge of Anarcy, for some of my friends.
I knew Pathfinder was a winning formula in need of players, so inspired by all the GMs who had run convention games for me in the past (truly thanks guys!), I decided to give back to the community by GMing Pathfinder Society events at Unicon, Arcanacon and Conquest, in fact last weekend was the fourth year we've run Pathfinder at Arcanacon, and our next Conquest is just around the corner (Easter long weekend).
I have since run PFS at GenConOz and PaizoConOz in Brisbane, and met players from all over Australia, many of whom have become good friends over time.
Last year when I was appointed Venture-Captain, Melbourne Australia, I figured I needed to step up my game, so I started GMing PFS not only at four conventions per year, but also at Good Games Blackburn every Sunday, and this year, I aim to start up a new group among game stores in the city.
Slot-zeroing scenarios with other GMs in preparation for upcoming conventions on Saturdays, while running public gamedays on Sundays, soon clocks up your GM Star rating.
It's also encouraging to see PFS groups starting to spring up all over Australia, including Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Rockhampton, Sydney.
Many people consider GMing a chore, and I must admit, I was more than a little daunted at first, but the more you GM, the better you get at remembering the rules, and can start to focus on telling a good story. Everyone starts somewhere, so don't be afraid to give it a try, even 5-Star GMs need an occasional break or a hand organising extra tables. You don't have to GM every week, if you rotate with other GMs - you help grow your local community, while still getting opportunities to play.
I've GMed four games for every one I've played. I probably enjoy GMing now more than playing. It's like setting a stage and watching the actors play their parts - no two games are alike, and the players will entertain you every time!
I'm a firm believer that long after you've left a table, the things you remember about a game aren't who critted the goblin in Act Two, or who has the higher damage output - your lasting memories will be the people you gamed with and the stories you tell. That's why I game, and I hope that comes across in the scenarios I run.
I'd like to thank every player who has ever gamed at a table with me, because I achieved these Stars with your help.
If you'd like to congratulate or help celebrate with me in person, I'll be rolling dice at Good Games Blackburn from 11am tomorrow (Sunday 5th February, 2012) - Frostfur and Sewer Dragons - should be lots of fun! I hope to see a few of you there :-)
Cheers,
--
Stephen (DarkWhite)
Pathfinder Society 5-Star GM
Venture-Captain, Melbourne Australia
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Stephen earned his 5th star a long time ago. I am proud that Mike has chosen to recognize his accomplishments now, rather than make him come to the US and do the 5-star song & dance here. This is sorta like the war hero who gets his medals awarded after the war has been over for 25 years...
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Stephen earned his 5th star a long time ago. I am proud that Mike has chosen to recognize his accomplishments now, rather than make him come to the US and do the 5-star song & dance here. This is sorta like the war hero who gets his medals awarded after the war has been over for 25 years...
This sums it up!
Stephen is essentially a 15th level cleric of Pathfinder. High Cha, high Wis, judicial and wise. If Paizo decide to help ship him out from the outer Antipodean territories to Pathfinder HQ for a song and dance, and more great story-telling, well then I reckon that's very deserved.
Congrats Stephen!
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[bigger]CONGRATULATIONS STEPHEN![bigger]
Welcome to the Club Stephen. Meet me at the "secret" place by the thing, where you did the thing, so I can show you the secret handshake. ;-)
It's a trap! There's no secret handshake. Bob's just made because I made him go through "a ritual" to get his 5th star. I keep telling him to stop whining, as it's nothing compared to what Doug put me through.
I'm still hoping that some day we'll get across the big pond and play with the best the Aussies have to offer. Well deserved Stephen, welcome to the top of the mountain. Here, have Todd's seat. :-)