PFS and PaizoCon 1st time.

[Cult of Vorg]

I love the idea of PFS, but keep running into complications that have kept me from actually playing it. So, now that I've already booked my flight/hotel/badge, I realized I was assuming PaizoCon would be a great way to introduce myself to the Society.

Is there going to be some newbie tables I can get into, and actually get to start the career of one or more of my character ideas?

I've seen posts referring to lottery and non-lottery games. Should I be trying to network with folks before the con to make sure I can play (1) at all, or (2) with a character of my own design and not just pregens?

I was just planning on showing up and finding the n00b train to ride through the weekend, but just realized I might have to be a bit more proactive than that instead.

[Pat Luther]

Cult of Vorg wrote:

I love the idea of PFS, but keep running into complications that have kept me from actually playing it. So, now that I've already booked my flight/hotel/badge, I realized I was assuming PaizoCon would be a great way to introduce myself to the Society.

Is there going to be some newbie tables I can get into, and actually get to start the career of one or more of my character ideas?

I've seen posts referring to lottery and non-lottery games. Should I be trying to network with folks before the con to make sure I can play (1) at all, or (2) with a character of my own design and not just pregens?

I was just planning on showing up and finding the n00b train to ride through the weekend, but just realized I might have to be a bit more proactive than that instead.

Hi! I haven't seen anyone official answer your questions, so I'll jump in.

1. Yes, PaizoCon is absolutely a good introduction to PFS. It's actually the only place I've been in PFS games so far. There will be many tables of all levels, so there will be many chances to start your own character's career (as I intend to do this year), or play higher-level games with a pre-gen character (as I have done a couple of times in the past).

2. It looks like there will be three categories of games this year:

Pathfinder Society Games: Lots and lots of these. As I understand it, you sign up at the con. Or, just show up at the beginning of a time slot and they'll find you a table.

Lottery Games: There will be a lottery *before* the con. Game submissions are done through this message board, and eventually (a month or so) they will be assorted, assigned timeslots, and a lottery will be announced. You can enter the lottery and may or may not get into one or more games. (If you don't, don't worry too much about it, there's plenty more to do - especially if you like PFS.) These games are of many different systems, not just Pathfinder. To sign up, check in here every few days between now and July.

Non-Lottery games: Games that people are running that aren't PFS or in the lottery. Some will be announced here, some won't. (I think a couple already have been :) Sometimes people will show up and not decide to run a game until they're there. Some people might decide they're going to run a game then change their mind after they get there. So, these are informal games. Watch this space, or wander around the gaming rooms to find them.

[Cult of Vorg]

Whew, awesome, was getting worried. Thanks for all the answers!
July can't come soon enough for me.

[Mark Moreland]

Pathfinder Society games at PaizoCon will be non-lottery and you should be able to sign up for specific events ahead of time to ensure you get a seat at the scenario you want. We'll be offering at least one different low-level scenario each slot, so you should be fine to start a new level 1 PC on Friday morning and play with that PC the entire con.

[Kyle Baird]

I'd also like to point out that PaizoCon offers a very high percentage of the best PFS GMs on the planet.* It's a great place for new players to get their feet wet.

*THE best GM volunteered too late and will be stuck "playing" all weekend. ;-)

[Dragnmoon]

Kyle Baird wrote:

*THE best GM volunteered too late and will be stuck "playing" all weekend. ;-)

no... no I volunteered on time... ;)

[Adam Daigle]

Kyle Baird wrote:

I'd also like to point out that PaizoCon offers a very high percentage of the best PFS GMs on the planet.* It's a great place for new players to get their feet wet.

*emphasis mine*

To be clear, kids, Kyle means your feet will be wet with blood.

[CalebTGordan]

Adam Daigle wrote:

Kyle Baird wrote:

I'd also like to point out that PaizoCon offers a very high percentage of the best PFS GMs on the planet.* It's a great place for new players to get their feet wet.

*emphasis mine*

To be clear, kids, Kyle means your feet will be wet with blood.

There are other things that can make your feet wet, like various oozes, bodily fluids, and beverages sold in taverns.

Here is to hoping you never step in an ooze,

[Kyle Baird]

Adam Daigle wrote:

To be clear, kids, Kyle means your feet will be wet with blood.

I love you Daigle, glad to see you made it to the Emerald City in one piece.

[Adam Daigle]

Right backatcha, Kyle!

[Chot]

I like going to CONs with at least a 2nd level guy, but I have played and sat at several tables with new players and playing new PC. Let the GM and other players know so they can help you understand the game. Paizocon is a much better con to get your feet wet over a monster con like Gencon. I only killed one PC once*.

*Paizocon 2009 grand melee PVP 1st level guy makes it to round 2 by killing another PC. The grand melee 2011 was avoiding Dragnmoons beat down till 1am. This year they are brewing something more like 2009 that 1st level guy is now 11th, it should be fun.

[Trailjava]

Hey Vorg,
I sooo get you in the questions department. I have been trying to get to my local PFS place to experince it, but will have to wait till July. Thankss for asking the questions.

Ash

[Jim Clark 542]

Does anyone know what time on Friday, July 6 the convention starts?

[Mark Moreland]

8 AM

[thunderspirit]

Mark Moreland wrote:

8 AM

I can say, from experience, that 8 a.m. on Sunday it is much more fun trying to get something coherent out of Mark. :-D

[zylphryx]

Wait ... there's an 8am on Sunday???

[Beerwolf]

I thought once 8:00 started on Friday it was 24x7 until Sunday evening :)

I was assuming the Paizo staff would have a fully cooked breakfast for all players by 6:30 every morning too. ;)

[Chot]

zylphryx wrote:

Wait ... there's an 8am on Sunday???

There has been discussion on removing the entire 0800 hour on all sundays and adding it to saturday at 2200. The bill went to congress but failed to make it out of committee.

Call your congress-man,woman, elf, dwarf and tell them to vote for the elimination of 0800 on sundays

[zylphryx]

Beerwolf wrote:

I thought once 8:00 started on Friday it was 24x7 until Sunday evening :)

That was my experience with 2009 and 2010 ... after Saturday night it just sort of blurs to the point where time is an abstract concept ...

[CalebTGordan]

Yeah, morning tends not to happen at PaizoCon. There may be things planned, but no one is sure if they even happen at all.

[Kyle Baird]

Morning events are also considered "late evening" events

[Mark Moreland]

thunderspirit wrote:

Mark Moreland wrote:

8 AM

I can say, from experience, that 8 a.m. on Sunday it is much more fun trying to get something coherent out of Mark. :-D

You think I'm groggy at PaizoCon on Sunday morning, you should see me at Gen Con. Turns out adding an extra day to the beginning of a convention, tacking on a day's worth of travel beforehand, and not letting me sleep in my own bed at night make for a much less-rested Mark in the morning. Luckily Mike's here this year, and I trust he'll bite the bullet on both late-night and early-morning shifts for both shows, allowing me more time to sleep.

[baron arem heshvaun]

Come on Mark, you've got that well spring of youth on your side!

Your starting to sound like us old fogies!

: )

[Ssevere]

This will be my first foray into PFS and Paizocon as well, glad to hear I'll be able to jump right in. I'll stalk these boards more as well as we lead up to the con.

[Pat Luther]

zylphryx wrote:

Wait ... there's an 8am on Sunday???

Yeah, it's the special secret time in which everyone who didn't get a lottery game can find one anyway as at least 3/4 of the people who are scheduled to be in them don't show up...

[zylphryx]

Pat Luther wrote:

zylphryx wrote:

Wait ... there's an 8am on Sunday???

Yeah, it's the special secret time in which everyone who didn't get a lottery game can find one anyway as at least 3/4 of the people who are scheduled to be in them don't show up...

I thought those were the really late Saturday night slots when the Secret Moon that shines as the sun lights the world for you until 2pm when you can finally pass out in your hotel without risk of missing a game. ;)

[CalebTGordan]

nope. 8am is when people don't show up to lottery games. I should know.

[Curaigh]

8 am time slots are for the east coast folks to catch after they have slept in :)

[Chot]

Curaigh wrote:

8 am time slots are for the east coast folks to catch after they have slept in :)

Maybe Friday and Saturday but by Sunday it is a different story

From Va

[Curaigh]

Chot wrote:

Curaigh wrote:

8 am time slots are for the east coast folks to catch after they have slept in :)

Maybe Friday and Saturday but by Sunday it is a different story

From Va

:)

[Warrant]

Ooooh boy. My buddy from MN, and another buddy of mine from Ellensburg WA will all be hitting the Con.

Talk about excited. So much fun to get together with gamers across the country for a "time-abstraction" exercise in PFRPG bliss.

Man I am excited!

[Michael Brock]

Mark Moreland wrote:

thunderspirit wrote:

Mark Moreland wrote:

8 AM

I can say, from experience, that 8 a.m. on Sunday it is much more fun trying to get something coherent out of Mark. :-D

You think I'm groggy at PaizoCon on Sunday morning, you should see me at Gen Con. Turns out adding an extra day to the beginning of a convention, tacking on a day's worth of travel beforehand, and not letting me sleep in my own bed at night make for a much less-rested Mark in the morning. Luckily Mike's here this year, and I trust he'll bite the bullet on both late-night and early-morning shifts for both shows, allowing me more time to sleep.

Pfftttt youre coming too mister!

Btw, Sunday Slot at both Paizo Con and Gen Con is set at 9 am.

[baron arem heshvaun]

That's a definite like from me! How about we move the 8 am slot to 10 am?

[dinketry]

How about we just worm-hole the city of Redmond on July 6th-8th, thus resulting in all gaming slots to start at, say, 2PM on Friday?

I'll bring my "Wormhole in a Can". I bought it in Pigeon Forge; the guy says it really works!