How do you get connected with a Captain

[Expax]

Good morning,

Recently I started to GM some games for close family/friends and once for a mixture of online strangers. My question is when a person gamemasters are you required to place yourself under a captain (real life person, not the fictional ones)? If so how do you determine which captain do you fall under? Are we required to place ourselves under a division? If so how do you determine which one you should be under, especially when doing it both in person at a table and online? And finally, after determine which captain/division you should be under, what is the best way to get connected with them so you can gm and do you have to have their permission before gm'ing a game?

[theshoveller]

No need for permission, your V-C is just there as your point of contact with the Organised Play society. Any V-C will do, in theory, the purpose of having local ones is that you might be able to meet them at some point!

There's a V-C for online play, if that's how you roll. Otherwise just note down the email address of your nearest (geographical) Venture Captain if you have any problems.

[Mark Stratton]

If you are running a Society game, you can certainly run it for a private group of friends, etc. You do not need permission from your local Venture Captain to do so.

Usually (at least, this is my experience), the Venture Captains help organize PUBLIC play Society games (at gaming stores, book stores, conventions, etc.) If you wanted to run at your local game store, and there is an established Venture Captain (or Venture Lieutenant - we have a number of VLs in Indiana), you would want to talk with them.

If, however, you want to run a Society game for just a few "close family/friends" you can do that in your own home if you want, and you do not need permission from a VC or VL to do it. You would still need to create the event online and report the event (so you and the players get credit.)

I hope that helps. And, as always, I stand to be corrected should I be wrong. :)

Mark

[Gwen Smith]

The venture officers are there to help. Check out the links on this page for resources and support for GMs, including a list of regional officers: http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/getInvolved.

[Grolick]

If you are running games, and would be willing to run them at cons, in stores, etc., your local venture captain would LOVE to hear from you! I'm sure he/she would be thrilled to have someone else in the area to help run games. VC's can also help you with questions, etc.