First time at Paizo Con


PaizoCon General Discussion


Hi everyone!

I assume this is the right place to put this. This is my first time at Paizo con, me along with a friend who lives in Eugene will be going. I wanted to know if anyone has any advice for us? Any must see events or panels, etc.

Thanks!

Sovereign Court

Depends on where your interests lie, as there are usually a wide range of panels. I will say if you can get a spot at a Call of Cthulhu table run by James Jacobs you have scored a major win (the squirrel-killing albino deer image is still stuck with me three years later).

Scarab Sages

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zylphryx wrote:
Depends on where your interests lie, as there are usually a wide range of panels. I will say if you can get a spot at a Call of Cthulhu table run by James Jacobs you have scored a major win (the squirrel-killing albino deer image is still stuck with me three years later).

Here's my "things you should know", for what it's worth. I'm sure others will correct any misinformation below. This year will be my 6th PaizoCon.

1. You've already done the first thing I'd recommend: Join this forum. And just in time. Next week is when the lottery will open so you can sign up for special games. It'll be announced in this forum (and I guess various other means) once it is.

2. There are three kinds of games going on at the con, so it can be a little confusing if you're not familiar with the system:
A. The aforementioned lottery games. These are limited events including those run by highly desirable DMs (the James Jacobs Call of Cthulhu game mentioned above for example), and also things that other people just wanted to run, like my Call of Cthulhu game this year. If you enter the lottery, you've got a decent chance of getting into one of the games, and maybe even two. I've heard of people who've won three of their picks but I've never seen it first hand.
B. Pathfinder Society games. These are scheduled events that are not in the lottery, and are the primary focus of the convention. From what I understand, if this is the only only thing you're interested in, you will have no problem completely filling your time with them. (I don't actually do Pathfinder Society myself and yet the con devoted to it is still my favorite gaming con of all. That's how awesome these people are. :) So even if you're not interested in the lottery, keep an eye on the forums. They'll announce open sign up for these games after the lottery closes. Even if you don't manage to fill your card with PFS games, you can probably get into as many as you'd like just by dropping by the room and asking to be mustered into any open slots they have available.
C. Open or Ad-hoc games. Some of these will be announced during or shortly before the con on these forums, and some people will just grab a table and start setting up and other players can drop in as they do so.
D. There are also tons of other things to do besides gaming - lots of panels on tons of different topics - like DMing 101, or Auntie Lisa's Story Hour, or Miniatures Painting Workshops. The schedule for these should be out next week some time as well.

3. Hotel and food: There are no fridges in the room, so if you want to bring your own food you'll need your own ice chest as well. There are tons of dining options in the new hotel (I was just there for Norwescon). There's a bar (that also serves food) in the hotel, as well as its own restaurant. There's a Denny's across the street and also half a dozen other places - including a Thai place, a diner, a steak house, a Subway, a Hawaiian Food chain, and a couple of others I don't remember. Also, a liquor store that also sells very expensive cigarettes.

4. Have fun. You're in for a hell of a con, including awesome games and some of the friendliest people in gaming. :)


Pat Luther wrote:
zylphryx wrote:
Depends on where your interests lie, as there are usually a wide range of panels. I will say if you can get a spot at a Call of Cthulhu table run by James Jacobs you have scored a major win (the squirrel-killing albino deer image is still stuck with me three years later).

Here's my "things you should know", for what it's worth. I'm sure others will correct any misinformation below. This year will be my 6th PaizoCon.

1. You've already done the first thing I'd recommend: Join this forum. And just in time. Next week is when the lottery will open so you can sign up for special games. It'll be announced in this forum (and I guess various other means) once it is.

Hi Pat, thanks for the post. This is all very useful information. I am also new to PaizoCon and was about to post similar questions to Reti. My last Con was at the University of Waterloo in '98. I'm sure things have changed since then.

Besides my game face and dice, maybe someone can mention some of the things I should bring. Corebook? How many prerolled characters? Should they be high level characters or can they be L1? Am I limiting my choice of games if I have low level characters? What is the average number of players per table/game? Will there be games for other systems (DnD etc) being run? Are miniatures a must?

Thanks again.
GopherGuts (PazioNewb)


thanks for starting this thread! This is my first gaming con and I had all the same questions. What is the polite protocol to joining the open or ad hoc games?

Liberty's Edge

Starfinder Superscriber

No need to bring any prerolled characters. If you want, you can look at the PFS Guide to Organized Play, and create some legal starting PFS characters. But, even there, if you join a PFS game and don't have a character yet, you can play a pregenerated one.

The vast majority of the lottery games have pregenerated characters for you to play.

So, just bring your dice and your game face.

For some games (e.g. PFS games), you are "sort of" expected to have a miniature for your character at the table. However, practically speaking, there will be people there you can borrow one from, so you will be fine. (Worst comes to worst, you use a glass bead that somebody has, or some such. Hey, it works!) Myself, I have very few minis, but I have lots of pawns, so I bring those instead. (I also use those when I'm GMing.)

But, other things that are a good idea: pen and paper for taking notes. A backpack for carrying stuff in-- although if this year is like 2013, you'll get an excellent canvas bag as part of swag. (In 2014, it was just a plastic shopping-ish bag, not nearly as cool.) A water bottle; you want to stay hydrated, and if you can bring a filled water bottle to the table, you are more likely to actually drink something.

Probably a change of clothes or two if you're staying more than one day... but that has nothing to do with a gaming convention, and presumably you know how to live life :)

When you see the lottery, you'll see lots of game systems represented. Pathfinder is far and away the most common one, but, hey, it is PaizoCon. Still, it's not at all exclusively Pathfinder.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

1. Prerolled characters question: The games you sign up for will say whether characters are provided or you should bring one. For PFS (Pathfinder Society Organized Play) either you have a character you've been playing with in organized play gaming, or you will use a pregen (provided) of the appropriate level, or you have to start at level one. You can't just jump in at a high level for pathfinder society organized play ... there be rules.

2. On the lottery when it comes out you get to rate each event with the priority for how much you want it. Don't just rate them all as #1 though ... accurately prioritize. They have a list of names with each persons choices. When they get to your name, they assign you whatever still has spots at the table that you rated highest. If you had rated EVERYTHING as your #1 choice then you get a random one of them. On the other hand, if you only rated 2 things and nothing else, the chances those 2 tables of 6 are full before they get to you is very high. You would then get nothing.

3. Once the lottery events are assigned you get to fill the rest of your schedule with PFS and discussion sessions, etc

Stuff to bring
1. for each gaming session: Have water as stated. Have some snacks. Sometimes you have not had a chance to eat, or it's just been a long time. Be sure to have something to get you by. I have food available in the room in a cooler. I make sandwiches and such to take with us in a backpack to gaming (I am there with my kid). I have bottled coffees and such. It's always difficult to quickly get coffee at a con!
2. Show up EARLY for each session. I once showed up ten minutes before my session started and it had already been given up to someone who was in stand by!

Scarab Sages

In no particular order:

Yeah, Pathfinder is the focus, but there are other games. I've played in two total Pathfinder games in the last five years and have never been at a loss for a game, even if it's just an ad hoc board game someone's put together.

You can play in high level games if you only have low level PFS characters, but you have to play a pre-generated character.

You don't need to create your own PFS character, but I'd highly recommend it. I think part of the appeal is watching your own character grow over time. At least it would be for me. I played my own character last year, and he'll get his second XP this year. At PaizoCon 2017, he'll be second level! :)

Protocol for joining an open game? If there's an invitation posted to the forums, respond to it. If a bunch of people are setting up and it looks like not all the chairs are full, ask them if they have room for another player? I don't think there's much protocol beyond that. People are there to game with other people after all, and they tend to be a pretty friendly bunch. Even me.

PFS: Read the rules in the pdf - some books are legal to use, some aren't, and I know you have to have a copy of any book you use in creating your character with you. (Which is why I only used the core rulebook - I didn't want to carry more than that :)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Here's the current Pathfinder Society Organized Play Guide. It's a free downloadable PDF.

There are now two versions though, regular society play (as detailed in that PDF) and CORE play (that only uses core rules), those details are introduced in this blog post.

Sovereign Court

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As far as general Con advice goes, here's the basic rundown:

ITEMS THAT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING (but unfortunately sometimes do need to be said)

1. Carry water and, if the venue allows it, snacks. Hydration is your friends and if a game runs long you might not have time between sessions to grab a bite. It's bad when players pass out from hunger at your table; it's worse when your GM passes out from hunger at your table.

2. Bathe. Daily. Seriously. This is one of those should-be-common-sense things that occasionally needs to be put out there. In the five Paizocons I have been to this has not been an issue, but for every Paizocon the point is also raised in one or more "this is my first convention / what can I expect" threads, so that could have something to do with it (though I prefer to think that Paizocon attendees just have much better hygiene than your stereotypical con goer in general ... I have been to several conventions where there were "those guys" sitting at the gaming table). Clean clothes is also a good idea. Bottom line, do not bring a stinking cloud to the table (which also would include using significant amounts of cologne or perfume).

3. Get some sleep. Yes, we all want to game through the entire weekend 24/7, but really, you do need to be able to grab some sleep. You will be more focused and will enjoy your games more (and won't fall asleep at the table).

ITEMS THAT ARE MORE ESOTERIC (that is more gaming convention specific)

1. PCs. If you are playing PFS, yes, bring your own PC or be prepared to play a pregen. And be sure your PC is leveled up before going to the table (or you could end up playing a pregen). If you are playing in a lottery event, they typically state whether a PC will be provided or will give you the parameters for PC creation.

2. Minis. You probably should have some kind of mini or marker for your PC for a tactics oriented game like PF, though if you are playing a more abstract game it may not be needed. If you are unsure, ask the person running the table (you may even be able to do this pre-convention by posting to the forums using the thread title of "GAME XYZ QUESTIONS" or some such.

3. Dice. Always a good idea. Don't count on dice being provided. If you are a fan of the highly stylized dice that are difficult at best to read from a distance, be prepared to have a GM ask you to use a different set of dice. Other than that, roll dice, have fun.

4. Cosplay. I do like cosplay (observing more than participating, though I made for a great Po from Kung Fu Panda at DragonCon last year). Be sure you have read the info on the Paizocon FAQ (specifically about weapons, things that look like weapons, things that could be mistaken for weapons, etc.). It would suck to have your costume centered around a prop you could not use on the floor or in the hotel.

5. Show up on time. Yeah, this probably should have been in the first section, but it really is more geared to a gaming table than a panel or seminar. Panels and seminars can typically start and continue without issue if there are late arrivals. Game tables, not so much.

6. Paper and pencil/pen. Do bring a pen as it is good to have a more permanent option for reporting sheets (or if you want to get an autograph). Paper can always be handy (passing notes tot he GM or other players, taking notes during the adventure, etc.).

7. Keep an open mind. Try out a new game. Play at a table only with folks you have never met before. Strike up some banter with the people standing in line with you or at the bar (you never know who you are standing or sitting next to, after all ... got to meet Nick Logue and Richard Pett this way). This can be tough if you are introverted, but sometimes good things happen when you step out of your comfort zone. And you could end up meeting great folks that you will get to hang out with every year that you come back (Pat Luther, El-El, mearrin69, lolrobots, I am looking at you ;) ).

And, finally, if you take away nothing else, remember these three key things ...

1. Eat/drink.
2. BATHE (for the love of all the deities in the multiverse, bathe).
3. Sleep.


Haha, thanks for the advice everyone!

I have the Bathe thing down pretty well. I was actually somewhat worried about that as I have a pretty sensitive nose, but that's besides the point.

I will make sure to keep an eye on events and go for the lottery. Where do people generally stay for lodging?


The Paizo room block at the Hilton is great if you can afford it. There're always people looking for people to split rooms with, too.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels, Seattle Airport
18740 International Blvd.
Seattle, WA 98188
(206) 246-8600

Ask for the Paizo room block.

Sovereign Court

Yes. Stay on site if you can. It is always nice to being able to go from your room to the elevator and be on site. Makes life a lot easier if you forget something in your room as well.


Thanks!


7 hours away from getting on the plane to head to Paizocon!

How do we tell the difference from a pick up game and an official game with a time slot? I don't want to interrupt an official game asking if they could use another player.


Why not? Official games might need them too!

But I think most of the pick up games that are not in the afternoon time will be in different rooms.

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