Grand Convocation Preview Highlights

Monday, June 25, 2012

This week’s blog is not only going to be my last sneak peak blog for the Grand Convocation, but is also going to be a change of pace from our last few, in-character updates on the upcoming Grand Convocation. Today we’re going to talk about it from an event standpoint.

For those who don’t know, the 2012 Grand Convocation will be running at PaizoCon, and will be the premiere Pathfinder Society event. What we haven’t discussed in detail is exactly what the event will comprise, so today I’m going to talk about that!

The Grand Convocation takes place Friday evening. Check-in for the event will begin at 6:30 P.M., giving players time to get in while GMs and volunteers finish up their prep. Each player will get a nametag, along with a special faction mission for the event.

At 7 P.M. the Grand Convocation officially opens. From here players will be able to participate in a series of ongoing events:

Side Tables: Each side table will give players a relatively quick event to experience, and each table may award a special Chronicle sheet depending on how well the players did during the event. These events may also be staffed by important NPCs, so in order to complete some faction missions, the players will need to attend these events and meet with the NPC.

Quests: Throughout the Convocation, venture-captains will be recruiting parties for dangerous missions. Players can expect to join a quest while they are waiting for the side tables, or resting and relaxing at the Pathfinder Social. Each player can expect a 45-minute to 1.5-hour event that awards a Chronicle sheet for completing the quest.

Pathfinder Social: As a rest-and-relaxation area, the Pathfinder Social will also have timed events occur. Players can interact in a live-action environment, without any enforced rules system governing their actions. This is a non-combat zone. Several faction-mission-related objectives will be found here.

Faction Missions: Each faction present at the Convocation will have a specific agenda, and players will be asked to aid their faction in promoting this agenda. We’re going to keep the specifics on the faction missions a mystery for now, but the results of these missions will directly impact a small part of Season 4 of Pathfinder Society!

Surprises: There are also a few other things planned but I don’t want to spoil all the surprises. Suffice it to say, there should be some very happy players by the time the Convocation ends.

The above events will wrap up by 10:30 P.M., at which point players will partake in a final event to close out the Convocation. As for what this finale entails... well, you’ll just have to show up and find out for yourself!

Mike Brock
Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator

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Tags: PaizoCon Pathfinder Society
Grand Lodge

AWESOME! I can't wait!!!

Grand Lodge

This is open to everyone and doesn't require signup?

Grand Lodge

It's open, but I still put it on my events just in case.

Grand Lodge

This looks really cool. I can't wait!


Wish I could go ;_; darnit, seems awesome.

Lantern Lodge

Will you pick one PFS character to do the events with or do you potentially switch them up?

Grand Lodge

I am planning to do them all with one character... though, we'll see depending on Faction missions...

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I'm a bit lost as to how to sign up.

Silver Crusade

Man I wish I was going. Oh well, have fun to those who are going!

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

michaelane wrote:
Will you pick one PFS character to do the events with or do you potentially switch them up?

You pick one character at the start of the event, and that's the PC you play the entire time.

Grand Lodge

Cool, thanks Mark! Will we be getting experience for these mini sessions, or possibly one at the end of the event?

Grand Lodge

Darn, should really have put that on my events list.

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Not my Cup of tea, but for those that it is, I am sure you will have a great time!

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16, 2012 Top 32

So it sounds like you're supposed to be in-character from the moment you step into the door until the moment the event is over. Is that correct?


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

This sounds awesome! Totally jealous that I do not get to go to Paizocon.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Epic Meepo wrote:
So it sounds like you're supposed to be in-character from the moment you step into the door until the moment the event is over. Is that correct?

If that's your thing. You can also pretty much just roll dice the whole time with very little roleplay, escpecially if you're 5th level. The Quests will be divided up by tier, so if you're 3-9th levels, you'll have at least two to play, and at 5th you'll have 3. These should take about 45 minutes to an hour each. But completing your faction mission, getting some neat, unique boons, and participating in some other surprises will require you to interact on a personal level with others in character.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16, 2012 Top 32

Do you have to have a registered PFS character, or can you use a pregen?

Grand Lodge

@Mark: So if I am playing a 1st level character, I would only have one to play?

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

While we'll have pregens, we'll only be offering 1st-level pregens at the event. So if you plan to play, best to bring your own new PC since you'll be playing 1st level with a pregen too.

And yes, characters of 1st and 2nd levels or those of 10th level or higher will only have one quest they'll qualify for based on how the level tiers overlap, but there will be a lot for everyone to do above and beyond that part of the event.

Grand Lodge

Hmm, that could be a deciding factor... >.<

Grand Lodge

Aeshuura wrote:
Cool, thanks Mark! Will we be getting experience for these mini sessions, or possibly one at the end of the event?

The entire Grand Convocation will offer 1 XP that will be recorded on the finale Chronicle sheet.

Grand Lodge

Kovok wrote:
This is open to everyone and doesn't require signup?

It is open but keep in mind, we only have 180 seats for the finale so real tickets get seated first and we will seat open players after that.

Grand Lodge

Michael Brock wrote:
Aeshuura wrote:
Cool, thanks Mark! Will we be getting experience for these mini sessions, or possibly one at the end of the event?
The entire Grand Convocation will offer 1 XP that will be recorded on the finale Chronicle sheet.

Thanks Michael! So conceivably we could be coming out with four or five chronicles, but only the final on will have the XP award. Gotcha!


Sounds awesome, wish I could go.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

We wish everyone could come, too!

But if this works out, we hope to use the logistical and structural framework of the event to replicate it with less legwork in future years, and make it something that could potentially be replicated at other events (just with different names and storylines). All that depends on many, many pieces falling into place in just the right way, but for all those that can't make this year's Grand Convocation, know that we plan to have one next year (start saving those pennies!) and maybe at other shows as well down the road.

Grand Lodge

Sounds amazing, can't wait to see how it all plays out


So cool. Wish I could be there.


Let's just say I'm very excited. This even will be a blast!

Lantern Lodge

Yes, very excited about this as are my boys. And thanks for the heads-up on the sweet spot at 5th level.

Silver Crusade

Real excited about this. Good work, Brock and team!

Shadow Lodge

Well dang...I wasn't even aware that there would be a part of the Convocation that would require sign-up. Nerds.

Well, here's hoping I can make it into the finale...

Shadow Lodge

I'm big on roleplay, and I REALLY look forward to the event. I'm all signed up and ready to go!

Grand Lodge

Dane Pitchford wrote:

Well dang...I wasn't even aware that there would be a part of the Convocation that would require sign-up. Nerds.

Well, here's hoping I can make it into the finale...

Only 154 of 170 people obtained tickets. So, we should have some room to fit those that didn't get tickets initially. But, those are first come first serve of course.

Sovereign Court

Ha Ha Ho!


Hmmmm. Should I play a high lvl PC who's all tricked out and give them an epic retirement? Or should I play a low lvl PC to maximize the amount of time I get to play with whatever shinnies are available?

Scarab Sages

Pirate Rob ... I was recently deciding the same thing.
I chose to go with the slow-track XP, so as to not retire the character, and get to p lay with shinies as long as possible.
Just my two cents.

Grand Lodge

Rob, I'm suffering from the same dilemma!


Michael Brock wrote:
Dane Pitchford wrote:

Well dang...I wasn't even aware that there would be a part of the Convocation that would require sign-up. Nerds.

Well, here's hoping I can make it into the finale...

Only 154 of 170 people obtained tickets. So, we should have some room to fit those that didn't get tickets initially. But, those are first come first serve of course.

When were the signups for this open? At the same time as the other limited seating events? Is it possible to get myself and my Buddy on the list for tickets for this still? :D

Grand Lodge

They were in the PFS section of sign ups. Show up at 6:30 on Friday evening and we will get both of you in.

Sczarni

Just a question or two. It will be my first paizocon and I am super excited for it. I will not be able to buy a ticket till just a day or two before the con. I was looking at the event list and it looks like many of the tables are full already. Are those the only tables available for play?

I am still going to attend for some of the seminars as I am always up for learning things. I would just like to know if all those events get full if the opportunity for gaming is still on the table.


There isn't an online equivalent to this is there?

Grand Lodge

Coraith wrote:

Just a question or two. It will be my first paizocon and I am super excited for it. I will not be able to buy a ticket till just a day or two before the con. I was looking at the event list and it looks like many of the tables are full already. Are those the only tables available for play?

I am still going to attend for some of the seminars as I am always up for learning things. I would just like to know if all those events get full if the opportunity for gaming is still on the table.

We have 30 PFS tables each slot. When those are full, we don't have any other tables we can utilize. However, I know there is also open gaming available. But, we will do our absolute best to seat everyone that wants to play PFS.

Grand Lodge

jtfoto wrote:
There isn't an online equivalent to this is there?

No there isn't.

Sczarni

Michael Brock wrote:

We have 30 PFS tables each slot. When those are full, we don't have any other tables we can utilize. However, I know there is also open gaming available. But, we will do our absolute best to seat everyone that wants to play PFS.

Awesome! You can only do what you can do. Super excited to be going and I know I'll have a great time no matter what!


Michael Brock wrote:
jtfoto wrote:
There isn't an online equivalent to this is there?
No there isn't.

Awwwww. That's too bad. I'd love to get into an enormous event like this. Might I suggest an exploration into an online/PbP version of this or something to this scale.

Scarab Sages

Michael Brock wrote:
jtfoto wrote:
There isn't an online equivalent to this is there?
No there isn't.

I think that this has been brought up before, but I wonder if Paizo has considered doing something like what Blizzard did for BlizzCon, and offered Virtual Tickets. They were affordable, and allowed watching the panels and such from a live feed on one's computer. It was somewhat ... no, strike that, it was *massively cool.

Sczarni

Is this a costumed event? Is there a contest for costumes?

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

You are welcome to wear a costume if you so choose (which is also the case for the entire convention), but there are no contests for costumes as part of the Grand Convocation. Perhaps that's something we'd do in the future if there seems to be enough interest in costuming the event.

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