Game day volunteers and Convention/Event volunteers are handled slightly differently. The one thing in common is they both start by signing up on our Volunteer form so your information can be passed on to the appropriate Venture-Officer. You only need to sign up once. Once you’re on the list, you will be contacted by a Venture-Officer to recruit you for the type of event you’ve selected and/or the conventions/events where you’ve indicated an interest.

Conventions and events get a slightly different treatment. Those get actively recruited by the Venture-Officer who is organizing AtlantaPFS participation in the event. If you already signed up on our Volunteer Form, you won’t need to again. Your information will be passed on to the Venture-Officer organizing our volunteers for the convention/event annually so they can reach out to you. If you are unable to volunteer when they do, or if your circumstances have changed (such as having moved out of the area), let them know so we can take the appropriate action for your circumstances (whether that means reaching out for a different convention/event, asking you the following year, or removing you from further contact, we’ll do it).

Game Day GM

This is the most common and one of the most important positions. This is the person who runs games at the tables we schedule at local venues. It could be a Venture-Officer or it could be someone who just really enjoys the games and wants to run them. These are the people who keep us functional on a day to day basis at our Friendly Local Game Stores and other venues.

In 2024, Paizo is bringing back GM Incentive Boons to Organized Play as part of the Regional Support Program. Any GM who runs a Pathfinder Society 2^nd Edition or Starfinder Society game for Organized Play under a Regional Support Program event code is eligible for one of the GM Boons. The boons will be retroactive to January 1, 2024, so any games you already ran in 2024 for Organized Play will be counted toward unlocking the boons. Each boon requires a number of boxes to be checked to unlock either the entire boon or some portion thereof, so the more games you run, the quicker you can unlock them.

Without further ado, I present to you the 2024 Pathfinder Society 2^nd Edition Regional Support Program GM Boon and the Starfinder Society Regional Support Program GM Boon.

How do you become a game day GM?

When we post games to our Warhorn event page, you can sign up there to GM. Even if there is someone in the GM spot already, you can sign up to be waitlisted to GM. As more people sign up to play, it will cause us to open up more tables, so you will get your chance to run. Additionally, when you are out at local game day events, you can talk with the Venture-Officer responsible for the venue to let them know you are interested. When we are adding tables of games on the event calendar, we can slot a GM from the beginning, so if we know you want to run, we can put you in the slot from the very beginning.

Curious to run but haven’t tried it yet? The GM 101 and GM 201 documents, which are being reworked by volunteers on the Onboarding Committee to update to the newer rule systems, do still have very sound guidance in them. Prefer to learn it in-person? That can also be arranged. Reach out on the Contact Us page of the website and let us know if you are interested in Pathfinder (including which edition) or Starfinder and which venue from the Venues Where we Play page is most convenient to you. You may want to include dates/times that work best for you as well so we can try to accommodate that as best we can.

So, what do you have to do?

• Well, for starters, volunteer.
• Once you have volunteered and are scheduled to run a session, you need to have access to the particular adventure you are going to run.
• Then, you will need to prepare for the session by reading the adventure and taking any other prep steps you deem appropriate.
• Follow the guidance on the Volunteer Information page in the Local Game Day Specific and Applicable to All Volunteers sections.
• Get to know who your contacts are – both the responsible Venture-Officer and the venue contacts should become familiar to you.
• Know the reporting chain as well.
  • When getting to know who the Venture-Officer is, find out to whom they report (Venture-Agent > Venture-Lieutenant > Venture-Captain > Regional Venture-Coordinator > Organized Play Coordinator) in case of an escalated issue or in the event the Venture-Officer for the venue is not available for any reason.
• Know how to report an issue (support@atlantapfs.freshdesk.com or the responsible Venture-Officer)
• Capture required player sign-in information for reporting
• Run the game
  • Make sure you have spare materials players may need, like dice, minis/pawns, pencils, paper, etc.
• Distribute chronicle sheets (as mentioned on the Volunteer Information page, if you opt to give out physical copies of the sheets, you will need to have printed them in advance)
• You may have been added by the Venture-Officer as a reporter on the Paizo site for the event. If this is the case, you will need to go to Paizo.com to report the session (there will be a how-to video coming for this in the near future and the link will replace this text). If not, you will need to provide the sign-in information to the Venture-Officer so they can perform reporting, whether electronically or physically.
• Most of all, have fun. Be engaging. Encourage the player shenanigans we all like to pull when we are in the player seat. Remember, it is the player’s responsibility to be able to tell you how something works or should work, and they should be able to attempt to justify their shenanigans in-game.

Convention/Event HQ

At any convention or event, this is the linchpin position and wears many hats. You are a greeter, a sales person (not actual commercial sales, but talking up and selling people on the games), a walking knowledge base, the information center, an organizer, and typically, the person responsible for first contact.

Optimally, we’d like to have 2 HQ people per convention/event time slot. That way, 1 can handle mustering and the other can be available for questions.

So, what does it entail?

• Be prepared to answer questions. That is probably at least 50% of your responsibility.
• Talk about/up PFS/SFS.

• The more interest you can help generate, the more players will possibly experience our games.
• No matter how much you may be irritated by an interaction, do your best to never let it show, but remember, you are not there to take abuse. Before things get to that point, ask for help.
• Be patient, calm, and positive, especially during a stressful situation with players.
• If things get to be too much to handle, do not be afraid to reach out for help.
• Muster players for seating at tables

• Some conventions, like DragonCon, sell 2 types of tickets – “reserved” game tickets and generic game tickets. When seating players, those with a “reserved” ticket get seated first as they purchased a spot at the game in session where a player with a generic ticket has a ticket to play at any table with an open spot.
  • Seating generic ticket holders should take place up to but no later than 10 minutes past the scheduled start time of the session.
• Mustering should begin approximately 10-15 minutes prior to game start.
• Get players signed in. Copies of the QR Codes for the sign-in sheets may be available at HQ.
• Collect tickets and cash (if/when accepted or needed) to turn in to convention leadership
• Hand out new player ID cards

• We will attempt to have a good number of new player cards available, both at HQ and at the tables.
• If someone comes up wanting to play but has never played before, be sure to give them a new player ID (and welcome kit, if we have them for the event).
• Keep track of how many new player IDs you hand out. This number is required to be reported to Paizo in the after-action report the organizing Venture-Officer submits.
• Fill out log books/Collect tickets/money (where required)

• Remember, pre-registered members get first priority for seating.
• Collect generic tickets from players as you seat them (where used)
  • Be sure to know the convention’s policy on how many generic tickets, if they use generics, it takes to play at a standard scenario vs. a quest.
• Collect cash from players as you seat them at conventions where cash is accepted as a way to play for gaming.
  • Just as above, be sure to know the convention’s policy on how much cash it takes to play in a standard scenario vs. a quest.
• Secure the tickets/cash so convention gaming leadership can collect it when they come around, typically near the beginning of every time slot.

• Seat players with similar character levels at each table.
  • The level ranges are 1-4, 3-6, 5-8, 7-10, 9-12, 11-14.
    • Seating a Level 1 character at an 11-14 table, aside from being counter to what Organized Play wants, is very likely to result in character death and/or a negative experience for all at the table.
  • If a player does not have character in the level range for the table where they are being seated, make sure they have a pregen.
• Adjust player table assignments if they are assigned to a table that didn’t make, if they are willing and still want to play, working with a VO on site to come up with the best possible resolution.
• Seat players at Interactive Special tables based on the level range for the GM at that table (this will be provided to HQ prior to the convention/event).
  • If the table for the player’s level range is full, ask if they would want to play a pregen to play at another table.
    • If the player is not willing to do this, work with the ranking Venture-Officer on site or the Overseer GM for that Interactive Special to address this.
• Help with cleaning up at the end of your slot.

• If there is another slot taking place immediately after yours, the clean up will be limited to your area.
  • If not, please help tidy up the gaming room we are assigned.
• Pass on any notes or important information to the next crew
• Let the organizing Venture-Officer know your choice of reward for helping at the convention – PFS2 Achievement Points, SFS Achievement Points, PFS1 Boons if you haven’t already.

Virtual Headquarters (Virtual HQ)

Virtual HQ will be specific only to DragonCon, as the intention of the convention is to continue to offer a blended presence of both in-person and virtual events, gaming included.

• Familiarize yourself with the RPGChronicles Dashboard for the convention
  • You will have administrative access, so you’ll have the links to give each player for signing in.
• Muster the players
  • Make sure players have a way to access the sign-in site (RPGChronicles) and point them to the site by pointing them to it
  • Adjust player table assignments if they are assigned to a table that didn’t make, if they are willing and still want to play to come up with the best possible resolution.
  • Make sure players know how to access the VTT their GM will be using.
• Be patient, calm, and positive, especially during a stressful situation with players.
  • If things get to be too much to handle, do not be afraid to reach out for help.
• Seat generic ticket holders after pre-purchased ticket holders, if applicable.
  • Seating generic ticket holders should take place up to but no later than 10 minutes past the scheduled start time of the session.
• Be prepared to answer questions. That is probably at least 50% of your responsibility.
• Talk about/up PFS/SFS.
  • The more interest you can help generate, the more players will possibly experience the games.
  • No matter how much you may be irritated by an interaction, do your best to never let it show, but remember, you are not there to take abuse. Before things get to that point, ask for help.
• Give out new player ID cards
• Pass on any notes or important information to the next crew
• For some slots, there may only be an HQ and no GM HQ.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you get overwhelmed.
• Let the organizing Venture-Officer know your choice of reward for helping at the convention — PFS2 Achievement Points, SFS Achievement Points, PFS1 Boons

Convention/Event GM HQ

What’s the difference between GM HQ and a Table GM or HQ and GM HQ, for that matter? Well, there are a few differences. One of those differences is specific to the smaller conventions/events where we’re invited to run sessions. At those events, we will only schedule GM HQ.

• Check in GMs as they arrive

• Make that all your GMs have arrived.
  • If any are not checked in, let the organizing Venture-Officer know.
• Verify that they have their scenario
• Make sure they set up a sign-in/chronicle sheet page on RPGChronicles (when used)
• Make sure they have and anything else they need to run their scenario. You should have most anything they are missing at the GM table.
• Loan out minis and maps, as needed (and make sure to get them back by having the GM sign out the maps and minis they take)
• Be prepared to be a backup GM in the event of a GM backing out or not showing up.
  • Familiarize yourself with the scenarios that are scheduled during your GM HQ slot and be prepared to jump in to run any of them.
  • If you are unable to run the scenario that is missing a GM, help reseat the players at another session or offer to run a different scenario that you do have prepped.
• Pass out water and table awards to GMs.
  • A GM should receive a bottle of water per session at a minimum
  • Paizo vouchers or gift certificates should be given to the GMs to award to players at their tables at events where event support levels are reached.
• Post the schedule for the next slot (if applicable)
  • If a GM in the next slot is currently running a session, try to keep them at the same table in the next slot.
  • Make sure the schedule includes the scenario number, name, levels, and the table number where it will be run.
• Pass on any notes or important information to the next crew.
• Help with clean up at the end of your slot.
  • If there is another slot taking place immediately after yours, the clean up will be limited to your area.
    • If not, please help tidy up the gaming room we are assigned.
• For slots immediately preceding a special
  • Make sure the slot ends 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the special (remind the GMs of the remaining amount of time)
  • Work with the Overseer GM on seating and on arranging the room
  • Ensure that players with specific tickets for the special and its level range are seated before players with generic tickets or paying cash to play the spot (where cash, tickets, or generic tickets are accepted).
• Reach out to either the organizing Venture-Officer or the Venture-Captain if you need to, no matter what (especially if there are issues)
• Let the organizing Venture-Officer know your choice of reward for helping at the convention — PFS2 Achievement Points, SFS Achievement Points, PFS1 Boons

New for 2024

• Help players with character questions/creation (we will be attempting to have character creation stations available at all events)
• Have a few bounties/quests prepared to be able to run (2-4 at most)
  • At Acquisition events, we will only be scheduling GM HQ, as previously mentioned, and you should be prepared to run a bounty or quest when there is enough player interest.
  • At DragonCon, specifically, we will be sharing the quest mustering area with another Organized Play group, and convention leadership has requested that we send GMs to grab available players to seat for bounties or quests as we have availability to do so, helping to minimize player wait times and to potentially help us give new players exposure to PFS/SFS games.
• Just as with Game Day GMs, you will be eligible for GM Incentive Boons for sessions run.

Convention/Event Table GM

A lot of the guidance from the Game Day GM section applies here, though Warhorn is not always the method of scheduling for conventions/events. The only other true differences are the hard stop time constraints and having to report success conditions to the House GM when running an Interactive Special table.

• Create your tables on RPGChronicles using the appropriate event code

• When naming your tables on RPGChronicles, the responsible Venture-Officer may have specific guidance for you on a naming convention
• Make sure your players all sign in (have the QR Code available at your table if using RPGChronicles) so they can get both a chronicle sheet and credit on the reporting site.
  • Should you opt to hand out paper chronicles at a convention/event, the use of RPGChronicles for Sign-In sheets and reporting is still required as the reporting extension will make getting the tables into the Paizo system less cumbersome and time consuming.
    • The ability to email chronicle sheet to players at the push of a button in RPGChronicles is a subscription only feature. If you do not have a subscription to RPGChronicles to be able to email the sheets to the players at the end of the session, you will need to download the chronicle sheets and get them to the players via email, Discord, or some other way.
      • RPGChronicles does require proof of purchase of a scenario before you can either send out chronicles or report a game (though this is slightly different for conventions/events). For older scenarios, this means having to upload a copy of the scenario via a button on their website. For newer scenarios, this means inputting the code that’s on the chronicle sheet into a box in the browser.
• If your table does not have enough players to fire, check in with either the organizing Venture-Officer or with HQ.
  • Some conventions have a requirement that you check in with convention leadership so they can possibly reassign you for your slot. If they have nothing for you, you are considered released and having met your convention/event requirement for the slot.
• Collect tickets from seated players to turn in to HQ or the Venture-Officer on site when there is no HQ and where tickets are required.
• If players come to the table with cash rather than tickets, be ready to collect it and turn it over to HQ or the Venture-Officer on site when there is no HQ so it can be turned over to convention leadership, if cash is accepted.
• There will be a number of New Player IDs left with HQ. Make sure your players who need them receive one, whether from HQ or from your own stock (which is another way of saying please reserve enough New Player IDs to be able to cover at least some of your tables; players).

Interactive Special Table GMs

• Keep your tables from getting bogged down whenever possible. Running long will impact the next slot’s start time.
• Make sure to follow any direction given by the Overseer GM on your slot. They’re the time keeper.
• Ask for a volunteer to be a runner. Someone will need to let the Overseer know when your table has achieved an objective.
• Create your tables on RPGChronicles and use the appropriate event code
  • When naming your tables on RPGChronicles, the responsible Venture-Officer may have specific guidance on a naming convention.
• Make sure your players all sign in (have the QR Code available at your table) so they can get both a chronicle sheet and credit on the reporting site.
  • Should you opt to hand out paper chronicles at the con, the use of RPGChronicles for Sign-In sheets and reporting is still required as the reporting extension will make getting the tables into the Paizo system less cumbersome and time consuming.
    • The ability to email chronicle sheet to players at the push of a button in RPGChronicles is a subscription only feature. If you do not have a subscription to RPGChronicles to be able to email the sheets to the players at the end of the session, you will need to download the chronicle sheets and get them to the players via email, Discord, or some other way.
      • RPGChronicles does require proof of purchase of a scenario before you can either send out chronicles or report a game (though this is slightly different for conventions/events). For older scenarios, this means having to upload a copy of the scenario via a button on their website. For newer scenarios, this means inputting the code that’s on the chronicle sheet into a box in the browser.
• In the event we do not meet the required minimum player/table count for a special to fire, be ready to move to another table to help make sure it has enough players to fire.
• Collect tickets from seated players to turn in to HQ or the Venture-Officer on site when there is no HQ.
• If players come to the table with cash rather than tickets, be ready to collect it and turn it over to HQ or the Venture-Officer on site when there is no HQ so it can be turned over to convention leadership, if cash is accepted at the convention/event
• There will be a number of New Player IDs left with HQ. Make sure your players who need them receive one, whether from HQ or from your own stock (which is another way of saying please reserve enough New Player IDs to be able to cover at least some of your tables’ players).

Convention/Event House GM

This position is very different from the other GM positions on the list. This is the overseer of an Interactive Special. You’re part time keeper, part announcer, part adjudicator, and part storyteller. Though your “table” will have no players, it will still be reported as a table and you will also benefit from the GM Incentive Boons listed above.

• Be ready to answer questions from table Gms
• Keep the game pace moving. With a packed schedule, running late on a game’s ending won’t work. If there’s a hard time limit, make sure to keep to it.
• We may or may not have Audio/Visual support. If we don’t, make sure your announcements can be heard, whether by walking to each table to alert them or any other means you deem appropriate.
• In the event we do not meet the required minimum player/table count for a special to fire, be ready to sit in at another table that was not scheduled to take part in the special or to run something else.
• Create a table for yourself on RPGChronicles

“Site Coordinator”

Though this is not an official position within the Venture-Officer structure, when someone indicates they are interested in becoming a Venture-Officer, or if a current Venture-Officer recommends someone to become a Venture-Officer, this unofficial title is given to give that person a trial run at overseeing a venue. They are also then added to the Staff role on Warhorn and given the ability to schedule sessions at their venue. The trial period is normally relatively short (2 – 3 months at most) before an offer to become a Venture-Officer is given.

Venture-Officer

These are the people to pity since they have to deal with me on a regular basis. If you want to become a Venture-Officer, (I swear we, as a group, don’t bite, though I do on occasion, but have gotten my shots) you will either be identified as a potential candidate by a Venture-Officer at a venue you frequent or by you having reached out to a Venture-Officer (or through the website contact form) to ask about getting further involved. Being a Venture-Officer comes with requirements and benefits which are described in detail in the Volunteer Agreement sent to you by Paizo Organized Play (this may be done by the Organized Play Foundation going forward, so this text will be updated in that eventuality). However, at the most basic, the requirements are:

• Schedule 2 games per month
• Run 1 game per month
• Report games within 2 weeks
• Checking in with venue personnel at least monthly to see how things are going, recruitment (including in-venue advertising such as placing fliers/business cards), any issues with players/GMs/Vos, and anything else that may need discussing.

Well, that and put up with me. I could drive you nuts and give you PGSD (Post-Goat Stress Disorder) if I’m not careful.