Here I am. I'm quite a newbie about Pathfinder Society. Well, I read the guide, I have the books. Now I should start organizing an event here in my hometown, Forlì, Italy. Next week (this one I'm quit busy) I'll contact a local store where I think I can locate the event. I'm worried about the players. I play pf with some of my friends, but they're not interested in pfs (they can't play twice a week). I don't know how to recruit players other than leaving a poster or something like that at the store.
Any tips?
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Well, as you already said, start by getting a location and putting up a sign there. Also, post about the meeting here on the Paizo site. Are meetup.com and/or Facebook used for these sorts of things over in Italy? I know those are good recruiting tools here in the US.
Don't give up if you don't have enough people to play the first time. Try a second time anyway.
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Why would someone need to play twice a week? Let them know they can play as much or as little as they'd like. There is no need to be at "EVERY" session.
I think the point was that they already play a weekly home game, and these people don't have enough free time to add a 2nd session per week on top of that.
Well, as you already said, start by getting a location and putting up a sign there. Also, post about the meeting here on the Paizo site. Are meetup.com and/or Facebook used for these sorts of things over in Italy? I know those are good recruiting tools here in the US.
Don't give up if you don't have enough people to play the first time. Try a second time anyway.
Yup, as soon as I contact the store and set the right day, I'll register the event here on paizo.
I don't know meetup.com, I know facebook but I'm not registered on it. One of the few, but.. I don't feel like it.I think the point was that they already play a weekly home game, and these people don't have enough free time to add a 2nd session per week on top of that.
Exactly.
Ah, that makes sense...must not have enough caffiene in me. :P
No problem =P
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Hey there Yumeko
Set up a time with the store where you can run demo's for them. Get to the store early and throw down your game play map and a little sign that says something along the lines of "Pathfinder Demo's! Ask me about _______________________________!"
Do it on a weekend or some time when people can walk into the store and do nothing but play a demo or two.
I would use master of the fallen fortress for the demo, it's a free scenario and a solid one at that. It can run 4 or 5 hours...but just start them off with the first two or so encounters. You could also start them off with first steps scenario's, especially first steps part one...as that has more then just some combat encounters and breaks them up with puzzles and a little bit of intrigue if done right.
Definitely do the poster and flyers on the wall pointing out what times you plan on being there for both the game night and the demo.
Print up the pre-mades and carry them with you. All 7 of the level 1's. It's a great tool to get people involved, more so if you can do them in color.
Have a few sets of dice setup and ready to go, it looks far more inviting and professional that way.
The store owner will help you as much as he can if you do one thing for him: sell product. Get people involved, have them buy a core rulebook and the store should be willing to help you build it up.
Hmmm...
Just a few notes and questions.
I like the idea of the demo. But on saturday I play with my friends, and I don't think the store is open on Sunday. When would you locate the event? If you suggest playing at night, I have to find another place..
Even without the demo I'd use the first step scenario's, anyway. At least, that was the idea.
No.. Someone has to travel by train on Sunday to go back to university on Monday. Playing at Sunday with them is not an option.
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I will suggest that if you can manage, weeknights tend to work best for players. Most people have day jobs and won't be able to play until early evening. If you contact the store a lot of times they may be willing to stay open a little later to accommodate a PFS group, especially if the gamers tend to spend a little money in the store. I know our local store tends to stay open an extra hour or more to let us play on Monday evenings.
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I will suggest that if you can manage, weeknights tend to work best for players. Most people have day jobs and won't be able to play until early evening. If you contact the store a lot of times they may be willing to stay open a little later to accommodate a PFS group, especially if the gamers tend to spend a little money in the store. I know our local store tends to stay open an extra hour or more to let us play on Monday evenings.
I'm running into similar problems rescheduling Albuquerque's PFS game day. One of the other GMs in the area runs on Saturdays, and Friday (which we're doing right now) collides with FNM.
I've had a poll up for a couple weeks and it looks like people would be available more mid-week. Tuesday through Thursday. But none of the stores are open past ten (two are only open until seven).
Since the workday ends at around five and if people can only make it by six, that leaves four hours at most for us to play. And that's IF everyone makes it by six and is ready to start.
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I will suggest that if you can manage, weeknights tend to work best for players. Most people have day jobs and won't be able to play until early evening. If you contact the store a lot of times they may be willing to stay open a little later to accommodate a PFS group, especially if the gamers tend to spend a little money in the store. I know our local store tends to stay open an extra hour or more to let us play on Monday evenings.I'm running into similar problems rescheduling Albuquerque's PFS game day. One of the other GMs in the area runs on Saturdays, and Friday (which we're doing right now) collides with FNM.
I've had a poll up for a couple weeks and it looks like people would be available more mid-week. Tuesday through Thursday. But none of the stores are open past ten (two are only open until seven).
Since the workday ends at around five and if people can only make it by six, that leaves four hours at most for us to play. And that's IF everyone makes it by six and is ready to start.
Our group is scheduled from 6-10 pm and tends to always get done by 10 (sometimes 9-9:30), but the DM's have to realize that there is a time constraint much like at a convention and make sure the players stay pretty focused on the game.
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Any tips?
Yumeko--
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the Society and what sorts of things I would like to have known when I first started our local Lodge.
Recently, I've been more and more focused on setting expectations for the social contract (between players and organizers). I want my players to know that they are expected to give back to the Community. I want my players to talk about problems locally if and when there are issues. And I want my players to have fun every time they sit down at my tables.
Many of my thoughts can be found here: What We Teach New Players.
My initial suggestion is to focus on those points as your players come to play. You're really not just coming to play a game...you're coming together to form a community.
-Pain
Thanks for your support. It's easier to start such a thing with the help of a friendly community.
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Yumeko,
What we did to get the ball rolling for PFS in the Albany, NY area was to focus on a monthly event. We have a local gaming association that hosts a monthly Game Day one Saturday a month from 11am - 10pm (two 5-hour slots). It was an easier commitment for people than a weekly game and other members of the association will occasionally sit down to play as well. Then, if you occasionally run PFS at another store or Game Day, you can direct them back to your "main event".
We started out with only one or two tables per slot, but now we're easily accommodating three to four, have branched out to weekly games at a couple of the local game stores, and still looking to expand!
I would also recommend reaching out to some of the International Venture Officers, like VC Karim Majeri in France (probably the closest to you geographically?).
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I think every region so far has grown pretty organically with no real set method.
Here in the Twin Cities We just suddenly grew. It wasn't until after this first initial boost to the membership that I started actively trying to grow the region.
We still struggle at times. It's important for everybody to become part of the local PFS community. Make sure your store organizers know this. If one doesn't participate in trying to bring everybody together the whole system could lack the footing to take off the way it should.
Possibly more on this when I'm on a real keyboard later.
