Unlocking race boons

[talon74]

Hi all,

I love playing all the races in PFS but my schedule does not allow me to attend conventions to collect the non-core race boons. I've created so many fun non-core characters but I can't officially play them without the boon. I know there is a race boon trading thread (but you kind of need a convention boon to trade with so it is not much benefit to me). Has anyone heard about the possibility of unlocking more races without boons now that PFS 1st edition is getting phased out? Kind of how they unlocked the elemental races a few seasons back? I would love if Paizo started making some of the non-core races playable or being a little more free with the boons.

Thanks!

[Partizanski]

If your local lodge is registered under the RSP program, you can earn race boons by GMing.

We have had skinwalker, Aasimar or Tiefling, and now dhampir in our region.

[talon74]

Great idea, thanks! I searched the website for 2019 Regional Support Program but couldn't find the actual details. Anyone point me to the actual text of how many games I need to GM to qualify?

[roll4initiative]

There are 24 total boxes on the RSP race boons. You need to GM 12 games to play a race, 24 to allow another player of your choice to play the same race you unlocked.

[BigNorseWolf]

12 to get this years race boon (changeling i think)

24 will let you give someone else one, which gives you skin in the boon trading game.

You can also run at an online con if you can dm online (the technical portions are the easiest part of DMing: especially if someone makes your table)

[Wicked Brew]

Will GMing for PbP games under the RSP qualify for the race boons?

[BigNorseWolf]

Wicked Brew wrote:

Will GMing for PbP games under the RSP qualify for the race boons?

I think online has their own race boon.

Online has the changeling

[Tomppa]

I've played 1 play by post game so far, and I'm currently GMing my first PbP game in a PbP convention. It feels quite easy when compared to face-to-face games since you can check all the rules with care and don't usually need to make "on the fly" adjudications. GMing 1 game in a convention gets you a con GM race boon. Current boon is one that allows you to make either an aphorite, vishkanyan or ratfolk, but it likely changes very soon.

In any case, just saying that GMing in online conventions is probably the easiest/most flexible way of gaining access to race boons.

[Ascalaphus]

talon74 wrote:

Hi all,

I love playing all the races in PFS but my schedule does not allow me to attend conventions to collect the non-core race boons. I've created so many fun non-core characters but I can't officially play them without the boon. I know there is a race boon trading thread (but you kind of need a convention boon to trade with so it is not much benefit to me). Has anyone heard about the possibility of unlocking more races without boons now that PFS 1st edition is getting phased out? Kind of how they unlocked the elemental races a few seasons back? I would love if Paizo started making some of the non-core races playable or being a little more free with the boons.

Thanks!

Paizo's always been a bit careful with this, because they use boons as an incentive to get people to GM at conventions. Without GMs, the conventions can't work. So they're not going to be too generous with them outside.

That said, there are a couple different options already open to you:

1) The list of races everyone can play is a bit more than just Core nowadays. It also includes:
- Tengu
- Kitsune
- Wayang
- Nagaji
- Undine
- Sylph
- Ifrit
- Oread

2) Ask your local organizer about RSP (Regional Support Program). GMs can earn credits to unlock races. Currently it's about unlocking Dhampirs for PFS and Uplifted Bears for SFS, but options rotate every year. The reason you couldn't find this on the website is because it's organized through the VO chain.

3) Participate in a real-life convention. You mention this isn't practical for you.

4) Participate in an online convention. Online play has two main modes: Play By Post, and via Discord/Skype paired with Roll20 or similar service to create a virtual tabletop. Play By Post is pretty easy to fit into your schedule as a player ince you don't have to be active at exactly the same time as everyone else. Of course it's a bit more work as a GM, but you can spread it over the day. Online PFS also rewards GMs with race boons.

5) Try to get lucky with boon trading anyway. Now that PFS1 is heading into the sunset, PFS1 boons are not valued as highly so they're a bit easier to trade for. Also, PFS1 (convention) player boons might be just as valuable as GM boons. A lot of people who GM a lot get more race boons than other boons.

It's not allowed to sell boons for money, but it's fine to trade them for custom artwork for your character for example, or a nice miniature paintjob. So if you have an artistic streak, you could also try that.

[Mimo Tomblebur]

And thanks to the Plane Hopper's Handbook, there are two additional sub-races each for the Ifrit, Oread, Sylph and Undine, so that is effectively another 8 options to pick from that are available to everyone.

[Damian West]

talon74 wrote:

Hi all,

I love playing all the races in PFS but my schedule does not allow me to attend conventions to collect the non-core race boons. I've created so many fun non-core characters but I can't officially play them without the boon. I know there is a race boon trading thread (but you kind of need a convention boon to trade with so it is not much benefit to me). Has anyone heard about the possibility of unlocking more races without boons now that PFS 1st edition is getting phased out? Kind of how they unlocked the elemental races a few seasons back? I would love if Paizo started making some of the non-core races playable or being a little more free with the boons.

Thanks!

I kind of had this same thought the other day. Since they are changing the boon system for PF2, then I'm wondering if there will still be any race boons available for PF1. The focus won't be on PF1 really, so I don't see races really changing or new race boons put out for it. If not, then would only ever have the ones listed above.

[RealAlchemy]

Some GMs for PF1 (waves) end up with more race boons than there is playable content, and have been known to give them away to people with character ideas that need them. The only unassigned race boons I currently have are for Starfinder instead, but that could change at some point.