I've recently gotten interested in participating in PFS. I thought it would be an easy thing to take a jaunt to one of the several FLGs around here and perhaps join in.
It's not that easy.
The closest PFS group it seems is around 3 hours to the NW of me.
After that, it gets worse. The next groups are around 12 hours away, and the next 15.
Ironically, to the south of me around 200 miles is a whole horde of PF players.
For a stretch of around 200 miles going southwards...PF is incredibly popular. They sell it everywhere. I was in a town of 700...and they had PF.
Another one of 7000 had ONE RPG being sold in a specialty store...Pathfinder.
However...there's does not appear to be a single PFS in that entire area!
Which got me thinking, how big a percentage of PF players actually participate in PFS?
I know for my areas it would be around 0% most likely, but in someplace like San Francisco which I visit several times a year, I believe they have multiple PFS groups in that area, and the percentage may be extremely high.
Which makes me wonder how big is PFS, and how much of an impact does it really have on PF and Paizo's bottom line?
I would say that PFS is one of the key things that keeps Paizo in buisness. It's probably more important to Paizo than RPGA is to WOTC.
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Definitely don't have an answer for you on numbers. But I wanted to say that there are online games that may meet your needs. I know a couple of collectives game almost anytime you'd like.
Pathfinder Online Collective I believe plays mostly by virtual tabletops like roll20 (there are more). I don't have much experience there, but it may be of interest to you.
The Flaxseed Lodge is set up for Play-by-post games.
I think there is another large collection of PbP games but I can't remember at the moment.
Also, the Grand Lodge section of these boards generally have announcements of games from local ones, to conventions, to online games.
Hopefully you can find something to suit your interest.
I would say that PFS is one of the key things that keeps Paizo in buisness. It's probably more important to Paizo than RPGA is to WOTC.
It seems that it's possible that more PF players don't participate in PFS than do. For example, I was was looking to see if any PFS might be in Hawaii when I visit, and I not only didn't seem to be able to find a PFS game for when I'm there(albeit, they may have one someplace I didn't look), but it doesn't seem to have any one in charge from what I could tell in the PFS lists.
Yet you have a TON of players there. Same goes for other areas. I know in a FEW of the cities they have PFS organized, but it seems that in many places around the world where you may have a concentration of PF players, PFS is oddly absent, at least for the passer through looking into it.
Of course, some are so remote that most players get PF either from buying from online vendors or using online resources (such as the PRD), so in that instance, with the PRD, might not be conducive to PFS I suppose.
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I think there is another large collection of PbP games but I can't remember at the moment.
Check out the Myth-Weavers PFS chapter.
Check out the Myth-Weavers PFS chapter.
I think there is another large collection of PbP games but I can't remember at the moment.
Thanks
Definitely don't have an answer for you on numbers. But I wanted to say that there are online games that may meet your needs. I know a couple of collectives game almost anytime you'd like.
Pathfinder Online Collective I believe plays mostly by virtual tabletops like roll20 (there are more). I don't have much experience there, but it may be of interest to you.
The Flaxseed Lodge is set up for Play-by-post games.
I think there is another large collection of PbP games but I can't remember at the moment.
Also, the Grand Lodge section of these boards generally have announcements of games from local ones, to conventions, to online games.
Hopefully you can find something to suit your interest.
And thanks
As well as thanks for the responses thus far.
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Check out the Myth-Weavers PFS chapter.
I think there is another large collection of PbP games but I can't remember at the moment.
Thanks. Couldn't remember the name, but knew it was out there.
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I was was looking to see if any PFS might be in Hawaii when I visit, and I not only didn't seem to be able to find a PFS game for when I'm there (albeit, they may have one someplace I didn't look), but it doesn't seem to have any one in charge from what I could tell in the PFS lists.
Yet you have a TON of players there.
Hawaii has been allocated to the PFS Asia-Pacific region. If anyone is aware of PFS groups within Hawaii, please suggest they get in touch with me.
Whether Hawaii or any location world-wide where public PFS play appears hard to find, these actually present a good opportunity to start a new local group. It's pretty easy to run PFS sessions within game stores, classrooms, community halls or any suitable public venue.
For assistance, contact your nearest Venture Volunteer, we're here to help. Or check out Pathfinder Society's Get Involved page.
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I know you said you already made a trip over to your local shops and struck out there, but have you tried putting out a general statement of interest on their FB pages? I mean if they sell Paizo products at all, they will likely have some customers who play Pathfinder who might be able to point you to a more private group (one that doesn't play in stores) or at the very least it might help you find a home game or something.
Good luck!
