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Paizo Organized Play Code of Conduct and Policies

10 November 2020
organizedplayfoundation
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Paizo Organized Play, encompassing Pathfinder Society (PFS), Starfinder Society (SFS) and Pathfinder Adventure Card Society (PACS), is an inclusive social event open to everyone, where we intend that all participants may enjoy gaming in a fun and safe environment. Participants are expected to respect their fellow players and work together to create positive and memorable experiences. While conflict between characters may arise, at no time should a player or Game Master (GM) feel excluded or threatened at the table. The Paizo Organized Play organization reserves the right to refuse participation to any person for inappropriate or illegal conduct. All refusals of participation from Organized Play must be accompanied by a reason, duration of refusal, and criteria for rejoining organized play activities.

Inappropriate conduct includes, but is not limited to: the excessive use of foul language, physical or verbal aggression/intimidation, lewd conduct, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention, slander, stalking, or harassment/discrimination based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender or gender expression/identity, race, religion, sexuality, or any other reason.

Complaints under this policy should be brought to the Event Organizer or a Venture-Officer, who will work to resolve the issue or escalate the issue to the next level within the PFS organization.  As an alternative, issues may be reported to the Organized Play Manager (OPM) via email at organizedplay@paizo.com. Issues will be resolved at the lowest level possible within the Organized Play organization.  In the case that escalation is necessary, the OPM is the final arbiter of any dispute arising from application of this policy.

Illegal activity needs to be escalated to proper authorities such as convention organizers, facility security, local police, or other appropriate organizations. Event Organizers or Venture-Officers are available to assist participants with contacting local law enforcement, providing escorts, or otherwise help participants feel safe for the duration of an event.

Paizo recognizes that there may be themes included in the Organized Play campaigns that result in uncomfortable situations at the gaming table. If content within a scenario or another character at the table presents cause for concern, we request players identify the issue to the Game Master either vocally or by passing a note.  We ask that GMs help the table respect attendees’ sensibilities and reduce/redirect problematic themes once identified.  If a participant has been asked to stop any problematic behavior, they are expected to comply immediately, or will be asked to leave the table.

Once again, the intention of Paizo Organized Play is to provide a fun and inclusive gaming environment. The above policy is in place to help further that goal. By joining any Organized Play table, participants are agreeing to the terms and conditions of Paizo Organized Play.

An organized play program aimed at providing incentive rewards to players and GMs at Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society events worldwide.

Qualifying Events This program is open to all events running Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society organized play content. The category of support depends on which criteria the event fulfills.

Terminology The categories of support listed below are for internal classification of Paizo support and do not indicate naming criteria for events. Events may name themselves as they like to personalize

Charity Status Any event may qualify for charity status, provided they complete the charity section on the Event Support Request Form and the charity is a non-political, religious, or sectarian public entity.

The event must run 15+ sessions run within a period of 3 days in a non-retail, public location. The event must register on paizo.com and advertise online.

Complete the Support Request Form no later than 4 weeks before the event.

All events that meet the criteria and are submitted on time will receive support. Submissions received after the deadline will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

All GMs receive their scheduled scenarios for free as PDFs added to their paizo.com account. Events also receive a package of player boons, GM boon(s), and gift certificates to paizo.com based on the size of the event. Gift certificates and player boons need to be distributed in an egalitarian, unbiased manner, with all attendees having a chance to win. GM boons are intended for those individuals who GM at least one session.

Qualifying events will receive special boons to be granted to those who donate to the event’s charity.  Each event may only distribute one boon for each program (one PFS(1ed), one SFS and/or one PFS(2ed)).  The distribution method is up to the organizer and may consist of a charity auction, a raffle with the proceeds benefiting the charity, or some other option.  The organizer must submit the winners’ information via the provided form.  The charity boons will be sent to the winners by the OPM.

Submissions received by the due date will have scenarios granted to GMs at least 2 weeks before the event date and reward packages sent to event organizers no later than one week out.

Venture-Captains should be aware of the event and submit paperwork to the OPM, though officers can delegate this processes as needed. The event counts towards fulfilling Venture-Officer convention lead requirements.

The event organizer needs to submit an after-action report of the event, including number of sessions broken out by campaign, number of attendees, number of new organized play numbers issued, boon dispersal methods, and any other information that would assist in planning the next event. This summary should be submitted to the provided form no later than 1 month after the event. Not submitting an event summary may lead to withdrawal of future support.

Functions as Convention Support with the following changes:

This operates as standard conventions, except retail locations are also valid

This operates as a standard convention, except no gift certificate support.

Encourage growth and support events that don’t qualify for Paizo convention support.

Any location with an associated venture-officer of any rank, from agent to regional coordinator.

Any public event at a qualifying location.

Yearly, starting in February and ending January 31 of the following year (effective 2020 dates are February 1 to January 31, 2021).

Allocated by the Regional Venture-Coordinators.

  1. Venture-Officer (VO) plans an event, either one-off or recurring, for their location.
  2. VO contacts their RVC with details of their planned event to indicate interest.
  3. RVC confirms VO status and confers with VO about implementing the program.
  4. RVC adds event to the regional support tracker.
  5. RVC sends a regional support package to VO. Package includes GM tracking cards, player boons, and a tiered GM boon.
  6. VO advertises event as Regional Support Program qualified.
  7. VO runs event(s) and provides rewards as applicable
  8. VO reports on event statistics to RVC.
  9. RVC inputs data on regional support tracker.
  10. OPM reviews data and revises program as necessary.

Players have a 10% chance per game played at an event to win a boon, which is the same rate as a player at a convention. VOs will determine the method of boon distribution for their venue, after consulting with their RVC. Some suggested methods include rolling a 19-20 on a d20, earning a token each game played with each token increasing the likelihood of receiving a boon, or entries into a raffle.

GMs earn a race boon with different levels of reward. If a GM runs 6 games at qualifying events, they earn Reward A. If they GM 12 games at qualifying locations during the program period, they earn Reward B. If they GM 24 games at qualifying events over the course of the program period, they earn Reward C.

This program is designed to encourage players to reward retail locations that are providing space for Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild players. Locations utilizing the program should advertise its presence to their clientele. We realize that each location is unique, and has an overriding right to determine what is best for their business, so participation in this program is not mandatory. In cases where the specifics of the program don’t align well with the retail’s procedures (for example, if they don’t provide receipts, or they run daily tabs), the event coordinator should work with the retailer to best approximate the intent of the policy.

Game stores and other retail locations are an important part of the Pathfinder Society community, and it’s important to support them so that they continue to provide support for Pathfinder Society play. Under this program, players can redeem receipts in exchange for modest benefits for the entire party.

Redeeming a receipt simply involves showing it to the event coordinator, who marks the receipt to denote that it was used. A player can only use a receipt in this way on the day of the purchase, and only for an event at that venue. The receipt need not include Paizo products—any products the venue sells count as qualifying purchases. Players cannot acquire or redeem receipts during their own turn or during any player’s encounter; otherwise, players can acquire and redeem receipts during play only when doing so does not significantly disrupt gameplay.

If the combined value of the receipts redeemed by players at the table exceeds $10, all of the characters at the table receive the ongoing benefit described below, and each character chooses one of the single-use benefits described below. If the combined value exceeds $50, you may use the enhanced version of the applicable benefits instead. (In countries that use currencies other than US Dollars, use approximate equivalents of $10 and $50; don’t worry too much about figuring out the exact exchange rate.) The ongoing benefit lasts for up to 5 hours, and each character may use their chosen one-time benefit once in each scenario played during those 5 hours. Characters can only receive these benefits once during any 5-hour block.

Conventions: For games taking place at conventions, players may take advantage of the Retail Incentive Program by making purchases in a convention vendor hall, artist’s alley, official convention store or similar area and showing receipts. Food and beverage purchases from restaurants, food courts or delivery services do not count, though bake sales and similar do qualify.

Harder to Kill: One time per game, reduce your dying condition value by 1. This can prevent you from dying.

Enhanced Version: For the enhanced benefit, reduce your dying condition value by 2.

Cheaper Healing: Before the end of the session, you can use the benefit to reduce the cost a single healing spell or ritual to remove a condition, affliction, or death to 90%.

Enhanced Version: You instead reduce the cost to 80%.

Recover from Wounds: Once per game, you can rest for 10 minutes to gain the result of a success on a trained DC 15 Treat Wounds.

Enhanced Version: You instead gain the result of a success on a master DC 30 Treat Wounds.

Bonus Wealth: When you roll a critical failure on a check to Earn Income, you get the results of a failure instead.

Enhanced Version: When you fail or critically fail a check to Earn Income, you earn double the base amount of money from a failure.

Harder to Kill: Treat the character’s Constitution as 5 points higher than normal for the purpose of determining when hit point damage would kill him.

Enhanced Version: For the enhanced benefit, treat the character’s Constitution as 10 higher.

Cheaper Healing: Before the end of the session, you can use the benefit to reduce the Prestige Point cost of one spellcasting service of the healing subschool by 1 (minimum 0).

Enhanced Version: You can instead reduce the cost by 2.

Recover from Wounds: The PC recovers hit points equal to twice their character level.

Enhanced Version: Each PC also recovers 2 points of ability damage to one ability score. This benefit can only be used outside of combat.

Bonus Wealth: If you do not use the subsidized healing benefit above, you can instead choose to roll twice and take the higher result when rolling a Day Job check.

Enhanced Version: You also increase the gold you earn from the day Job result by 50% (maximum 300 gp total).

The benefits gained from this program are in addition to benefits such as the Accessory Perks referred to in the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide or on the Accessory Perks page.

Harder to Kill: Reduce the number of Resolve Points required to stabilize by 1.

Enhanced Version: Reduce the number of Resolve Points required to stabilize by 2.

Cheaper Healing: Before the end of the session, you can use the benefit to reduce the Fame cost of purchases listed on the Basic Purchasing Plan boon* by 1 (minimum 0). Qualifying purchases include dispel magic, lesser restoration, make whole, remove affliction, break enchantment, greater dispel magic, restoration, regenerate, or raise dead.

Enhanced Version: Reduce the cost above the cost by 2.

*Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide page 27

Recover from Wounds: Anytime you spend a Resolve Point to regain Stamina Points through resting, you can recover 2 points of ability damage.

Enhanced Version: Increase the amount of ability damage recovered to 4.

Bonus Wealth[SA1] : If you do not use the subsidized healing benefits above, yYou can instead choose to roll twice and take the higher result when rolling a Day Job check.

Enhanced Version: You also increase the credits you earn from the Day Job result by 50%. This does not stack with other boons that apply to Day Job checks.

 The benefits gained from this program are in addition to benefits such as the Accessory Perks referred to in the Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide or on the Accessory Perks page.

Harder to Kill: When you reset your hand, you may treat your hand size as 1 lower.

Enhanced Version: When you reset your hand, you may treat your hand size as 2 lower.

Cheaper Boons: Add 1d6 to your check to acquire.

Enhanced Version: Add 2d6 to your check to acquire.

Recover from Wounds: Recharge a random card from your discard pile.

Enhanced Version: Recharge 2 random cards from your discard pile.

Bonus Wealth: Draw 1 card.

Enhanced Version: Draw 2 cards.

 The benefits gained from this program are in addition to benefits such as the Accessory Perks referred to in the Pathfinder Society Adventure Card Guild Guide or on the Accessory Perks page.

Paizo Organized Play Venture Officer Ranks

23 November 2020
organizedplayfoundation
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VENTURE-OFFICERS RANKS

Regional Venture-Coordinator (RVC)

Services

  • Act as the top authority regarding community building, responsible for oversight of all Venture-Coordinators in the region. 
  • Responsible for the promotion/demotion of all Venture-Captains and any Venture-Lieutenants/Venture-Agents that may report directly to them. 
  • Maintain a current roster of Venture-Officers (VOs) in the region. 
  • Identify potential VOs and consider them for positions within the Venture-Officer organization. 
  • Be an active participant in the Regional Venture-Coordinator Council, responsible for community development and advising the OPF leadership. 
  • Be familiar with regional Organized Play customs such as table variations and player travel patterns and identify them to the OPF leadership. 
  • Acknowledge different styles of role-play and their presence in the Organized Play Foundation (OPF).
  • Schedule games catering to a variety of play styles, based on the needs and desires of the community. 
  • Act as the third step in the conflict-resolution process, working with VCs to resolve community issues utilizing established guidelines. Communicate any issue that cannot be resolved to the OPF leadership up channel. 
  • Attend teleconferences with the OPF leadership as requested. 
  • Meet with VCs on an as-needed basis, at least quarterly, to provide mentoring in running Organized Play activities, discuss local issues, and identify growth areas. Online/telephone meetings count for this requirement. 
  • Compile information from VC reports and submit this information to the OPF leadership on a quarterly basis due the last Thursday of April/July/October/January. 
  • Find conventions within the region which would benefit from a Paizo staff presence and submit this information to the OPF leadership by June to facilitate travel schedule planning. 
  • Ensure every Venture-Captain maintains a searchable online presence for their area. 
  • Coordinate Organized Play activities at regional premier and premier plus conventions. This can be in person or by mentoring area Venture-Officers through the planning and organizational processes. 
  • Assist GMs in achieving recognition requirements, including adjudication game(s) and evaluations. Ensure GMs receive feedback after the game and report the results to the OPF leadership via applicable forms. 
  • Provide historical context of the Organized Play campaign to the OPF leadership. 
  • Play at least one game at a public venue per quarter

Benefits

  • Free PDFs of Paizo products added to user account downloads on paizo.com. 
  • Credit of $50 on paizo.com per qualifying convention run, maximum of $100 per calendar year. 
  • A status bonus toward qualifying for tier rewards at PaizoCon and Gen Con (bonus does not apply to convention housing benefits, if applicable). 
  • Invitation to a regional coordinators’ dinner at PaizoCon and Gen Con. 
  • Treated as two GM ranks higher for qualification to run Exclusive events. 
  • Regional Venture-Coordinator + region tag that displays when posting in the paizo.com forums. 
  • Access to the Venture-Officer communication tools. 
  • Custom paizo.com avatar image. 
Venture-Captain (VC)

Services

  • Oversight authority of Venture-Lieutenants (VLs) as delegated by the Regional Venture-Coordinator to whom they report.
  • Responsible for the promotion/demotion of any Venture-Lieutenants and any Venture-Agents that report directly to them. 
  • Maintain a current roster of volunteer GMs, organizers, and store/community contacts in the assigned region. 
  • Identify potential VOs and consider them for positions within the Venture-Officer organization. 
  • Be familiar with local game stores or community organizations where Organized Play activities are conducted. Work with them to register as retailers on paizo.com/retailers. 
  • Acknowledge different styles of role-play and their presence in the Organized Play Foundation.
  • Schedule games catering to a variety of play styles based on the needs and desires of the community. 
  • Act as the second step in the conflict-resolution process, working with Venture-Lieutenants to resolve community issues utilizing established guidelines. Communicate any issue that cannot be resolved to the RVC up channel. 
  • Attend teleconferences with Regional Venture-Coordinator as requested. 
  • Meet with VLs on an as needed basis, at least quarterly, to provide mentoring in running Organized Play activities, discuss local issues, and identify growth areas. Online/telephone meetings count for this requirement. 
  • Compile information from VL/VA reports and submit this information to RVC on a quarterly basis in the manner requested by the RVC. These reports are due the third Thursday of May/August/September/February. 
  • Compile a list of all conventions with Organized Play activities in the community. Provide this list to RVC on a quarterly basis to aid in planning. 
  • Maintain a searchable online presence for the area. This can be forums, social media, websites, or scheduling apps. 
  • Work with event organizers in the geographical area to submit support requests within established time frames using online forms. Follow up with event organizers to ensure filing of after-action reports within one week of convention end. 
  • GM one or more blocks of Organized Play events at two different conventions a year. These conventions do not need to be in the home region of the Venture-Officer. 
  • Assist GMs in achieving recognition requirements, including adjudication game(s) and evaluations. Ensure GMs get feedback after the game and report the results to the OPF leadership via applicable forms. 
  • Choose an activity path and complete the associated tasks:
    • Take the lead organizing Organized Play activities at two or more conventions a year. Conventions must qualify for event support based on established criteria. These conventions do not need to be in the local community. 
    • Actively participate in a Task Force as created by the OPF leadership. Activity requirements are set by the Task Force Chair / OPF leadership and will be clearly communicated to Task Force members. 
    • Run an additional 6 games per quarter in the local community. 
    • Coordinate a Special Project with the OPF leadership. 
    • Translate Organized Play documents if translations are not already provided by Paizo-licensed translators. 
  • Coordinate one session a month at a public venue where any may attend. This may include running the sessions if no other GMs are available. 
  • Ensure games run at conventions are reported on paizo.com. 
  • Play at least one game at a public venue per quarter

Benefits

  • Free PDFs of Paizo products added to user account downloads on paizo.com. 
  • Credit of $50 on paizo.com per qualifying convention ran, maximum of $100 per calendar year. 
  • A status bonus toward qualifying for tier rewards at PaizoCon and Gen Con (bonus does not apply to convention housing benefits, if applicable). 
  • Invitation to a regional coordinators dinner at PaizoCon and Gen Con. 
  • Treated as two GM ranks higher for qualification to run Exclusive events. 
  • Venture-Captain + region tag that displays when posting in the Organized Play forums. 
  • Access to the Venture-Officer communication tools. 
Venture-Lieutenant (VL)

Services

  • Oversight authority of Venture-Agents as delegated by the Venture-Captain to whom they report. 
  • Responsible for the promotion/demotion of all Venture-Agents that report directly to them. 
  • Maintain a current roster of volunteer GMs, organizers, and store/community contacts and supply this to the reporting VC. 
  • Identify potential VOs and consider them for positions within the Venture-Officer organization. 
  • In cases where you are a location liaison, build a positive rapport with the location group leadership. 
  • Acknowledge different styles of role-play and their presence in the Organized Play Foundation. 
  • Schedule games catering to a variety of play styles, based on the needs and desires of the community. 
  • Act as the first step in the conflict-resolution process, working with Venture-Agents and Location Operators to resolve community issues utilizing established guidelines. Communicate any issue that cannot be resolved to the area VC up channel . 
  • Meet with the regional VC on an as needed basis, at least quarterly. Online/telephone meetings count for this requirement. 
  • Meet with VAs on an as needed basis, at least quarterly, to provide mentoring in running Organized Play activities, discuss local issues, and identify growth areas. Online/telephone meetings count for this requirement. 
  • Compile information from VA reports and submit this information to regional VC on a quarterly in the manner requested by the VC. These reports are due the second Thursday of April/July/October/January. 
  • Support the regional VC in maintaining a searchable online presence for the local area. 
  • GM one or more blocks of Organized Play events at two different conventions a year. These conventions do not need to be in the home region of the Venture-Officer. 
  • Choose an activity path and complete the associated tasks: •
    • Take the lead organizing Organized Play activities at two or more conventions a year. Conventions must qualify for event support based on established criteria. These conventions do not need to be in the local community. 
    • Actively participate in a Task Force as created by the OPM. Activity requirements are set by the Task Force Chair/OPM and will be clearly communicated to task force members. 
    • Run an additional 6 games per quarter in the local community. 
    • Coordinate two sessions a month at a public venue where any may attend. This may include running the sessions, if no other GMs are available. 
  • Ensure organizers report games run at supervised locations on paizo.com. 
  • Play at least one game at a public venue per quarter

Benefits

  • Free PDFs of Paizo Organized Play products added to user account downloads on paizo.com. 
  • Credit of $50 on paizo.com per qualifying convention ran, maximum of $50 per calendar year. 
  • Treated as one GM rank higher for qualification to run Exclusive events. 
  • Venture-Lieutenant + region tag that displays when posting in the Organized Play forums. 
  • Access to the Venture-Officer communication tools. 
Venture-Agent (VA)

Services

  • Ensure venture-officer to whom they report has current contact information. Maintain a current roster of volunteer GMs, organizers, and store/community contacts and supply this to the regional VC. 
  • Maintain a current roster of volunteer GMs and location contacts and supply this to the reporting VL. 
  • Build a positive rapport with the location group leadership. 
  • Encourage stores to register as retailers on paizo.com/retailers. 
  • Acknowledge different styles of role-play and their presence in the Organized Play Foundation.
  • Schedule games catering to a variety of play styles, based on the needs and desires of the community. 
  • Identify any issues to regional VL, so that they may begin the conflict resolution process.
  • Meet with the regional VL on an as needed basis, at least quarterly. Online/telephone meetings count for this requirement. 
  • Submit monthly status reports to the regional VL including the number/type of sessions ran, current numbers of players/GMs, and other requested metrics. These reports are due the first Thursday of April/July/October/January. 
  • Support the regional VC in maintaining a searchable online presence for the local area with current game information.
  • Coordinate two sessions a month at the location where you coordinate games. Run one of the sessions, but the other can be ran by any area GM. 
  • Ensure organizers report games run at supervised locations on paizo.com. 
  • Play at least one game at a public venue per quarter

Benefits

  • Free PDFs of Paizo Organized Play products added to user account downloads on paizo.com. 
  • Venture-Agent + region tag that displays when posting in the Organized Play forums. 
  • Access to the Venture-Officer communication tools. 

New Players Welcome to Paizo Organized Play

14 October 2020
organizedplayfoundation
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Pathfinder Society

Welcome to Paizo Organized Play!

Paizo Organized Play is an organized system of playing Pathfinder Role Playing Game, Starfinder Role Playing Game, and Pathfinder Adventure Card Game around the world and online. You’re on your way to fantastical adventures with a community of thousands of players.

You’ll want to create your account and register your player number at https://paizo.com/organizedplay/myAccount. If you’ve already played a game in organized play, your Game Master or Event Coordinator should have given you a card with a Player Number and a confirmation code. You’ll enter that information in the box on the left. If not, click the box on the right to generate an Organized Play number on your own. This number will keep track of all your characters and all the games they play. It will track your experience, fame and reputation, and track how your characters’ actions influence the game worlds as the story continues, so make sure you don’t lose it!

You’ll also want to read the Pathfinder 2nd Edition, Starfinder, Pathfinder 1st Edition, and Pathfinder Adventure Card Society Guild Guides to Organized Play located on their respective pages of this site.. These will include all the guidelines and rules for creating legal characters for organized play, as well as outline code of conduct expected at all events. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your event coordinator, or any of the Regional Venture Coordinators.

All characters must have legally obtained source material to support their play. Your favorite local gaming stores will have plenty of books to help you build your first character. If you prefer PDFs, you can purchase them from https://paizo.com/ , just make sure you bring copies of them with you on a tablet or laptop. While character builders are helpful tools for making characters, they alone do not count as legal sources for character creation.

Now that you have your character, your player number, and your source material, you’ll want to find some games. The Regional Venture Coordinators can help direct you to a local contact, or you can search for games on Warhorn. Register for your local lodge, and start signing up for games. The home page for the Warhorn site should also have links to other ways to socialize with the local community, such as Facebook, Discord or Slack channels they may have set up. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the local Venture Officers. They’ll be happy to help you build characters, find games, and ensure you’re having an enjoyable and safe gaming experience. 

Until next time: Explore! Report! Cooperate!

Tonya Woldridge
Paizo Director of Community

Alex Speidel
Paizo Organized Play Coordinator

New Player Resources

Here are some tools to help you get started in your Paizo Organized Play adventures.

Pathfinder Society