Appalachian Region Weekly Update
Week of July 19–25, 2026
📋 This Week at a Glance
Welcome back, Pathfinders and Starfinders! 35 scheduled sessions across Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia this week — details below.
It was a big week on the Paizo front, with two significant blog posts: one on the end of Paizo’s commercial license with Archives of Nethys, and one on this year’s Organized Play rule changes ahead of the new program year. Details immediately below.
DragonCon is in serious trouble, and the clock is nearly out. We are still projected to lose roughly 60% of what we planned, with the volunteer roster due to DragonCon leadership in under two weeks. See immediately below.
🐉 WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. PLEASE SIGN UP NOW.
DragonCon 2026 is still on pace to lose roughly 60% of what we had planned to run. Our volunteer roster is due to DragonCon leadership in under two weeks, and once it’s submitted, unfilled slots are gone for good. This is not a someday ask — it’s a right-now ask. A five-minute form today is the difference between a table running and a table getting cut.
🚨 Big Week for Paizo News
📣 Archives of Nethys License Has Ended
Both Paizo and Archives of Nethys have now published their own statements confirming that AoN’s eight-year licensed partnership with Paizo ends July 24. AoN says Paizo notified them a few weeks ago and pointed to a lack of royalties as the reason; Paizo’s own post adds that the licensing relationship had also become a legal and administrative burden, particularly around outside sites misusing the licensed artwork. Either way, Archives of Nethys is not going away — it will keep running under Paizo’s Community Use Policy — but AoN has laid out some real practical changes taking effect July 24: most of its non-iconic artwork is coming down (only CUP-compliant art like the iconics and religious symbols can stay), the legacy PRD mirror at legacy.aonprd.com is being retired, and early access to new books ends after the currently-in-the-pipeline releases (Bastion of Blasphemies, Dead God’s Hand, and Secrets of the Swarm) — so future content won’t hit the site on street date the way it has for years.
Worth reading both sides directly: Paizo’s blog post and Archives of Nethys’s own statement.
— Joel H, Regional Venture-Coordinator, Appalachian Region
📣 Organized Play Rule Updates — Summer 2026
Paizo also released this year’s annual rules-change blog early, ahead of the new program year launching in August. The headline is alignment between the two campaigns. For Pathfinder Society: scenarios, Quests, and Bounties become fully repeatable with a different character each time; new characters can start at 1st, 3rd, 5th, or 7th level; Pathfinder Provisions are being replaced with bespoke per-mission consumables; monster stat blocks are returning in a combined appendix. For Starfinder Society: slow track advancement is being added, and a new GM rank system called Nebulas is coming, with the top rank deliberately kept low-key so nobody burns out chasing it.
Full details are in the Organized Play Rule Updates blog, with the complete ruleset landing on the Lorespire Wiki before Gen Con.
🎲 Gen Con Is Under Two Weeks Out
🎲 Gen Con 2026 — July 30 – August 2, Indianapolis, IN
Gen Con is now under two weeks away, and this year it’s genuinely worth watching even if you’re nowhere near Indianapolis. Paizo just published its annual rules-change blog (see above), and the new Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society program year kicks off at Gen Con. Combine that with a major restructuring year for the company, and Gen Con weekend is shaping up to be one of the most consequential moments for Organized Play in 2026.
You don’t have to attend to care about this one. Watch paizo.com/blog and your regional channels around July 30 — we’ll be covering whatever else comes out of it as soon as it’s public.
📢 Regional Announcements & Opportunities
🎲 Columbus, GA Lodge Getting Back on Its Feet
After a quiet stretch following some player relocations, the Columbus lodge — led by Dennis B — is gearing up to start scheduling games again soon at Moxie Games. If you’re in the Columbus, GA area, keep an eye on their Warhorn page over the coming weeks, and reach out to Dennis B if you’d like to help build momentum as they get back up and running.
🎉 Morgantown’s Already Got a Second Convention Lined Up
Fresh off wrapping up their first-ever convention appearance at CharCon, the Morgantown, WV lodge has been invited to bring organized play to WVPopCon, happening August 22–23 at Mylan Park in Morgantown. Two convention appearances in two months is real momentum for a young lodge. It continues its regular schedule of Pathfinder Society sessions at Wyvern’s Wargames and could still use more regular GMs and players — if you’re in the area, reach out to Joel H or email rvcapparegionop@gmail.com.
📋 GalaxyCon Raleigh — Movement at Last
GalaxyCon’s new gaming lead has been in direct contact with the Raleigh lodge, and discussions are actively proceeding toward a Pathfinder/Starfinder Society presence at this year’s Raleigh event. Nothing is finalized yet, but this is genuine progress after weeks of waiting. We’ll share confirmation the moment we have it.
🚨 Venture-Officer Opening: Charleston, WV — Ground Floor Opportunity
We are working to establish a new lodge in Charleston, WV. Morgantown just brought organized play to CharCon this July and already has a second convention lined up — but a lodge with roots in Charleston itself is what makes sustained convention support and regular game days possible going forward. If you’re willing to be the person who builds organized play in West Virginia’s capital city, reach out now.
What being a Venture-Officer actually involves: scheduling games at a local venue, welcoming new players, keeping the lodge’s Warhorn page current, and being a point of contact for the region. You don’t need to be an expert — you need to show up and care. The VO Handbook covers everything else.
Contact us at rvcapparegionop@gmail.com or through the Appalachian Region Hub.
🎯 Lodges That Need You at the Table
The single most important thing you can do for organized play in this region is show up regularly and occasionally run a game. These lodges need that from you right now:
- Mebane, NC — Tables are running but attendance is inconsistent and GM support is thin. If you are in the Triangle or Triad area, this lodge needs warm bodies in chairs.
- Charlotte, NC — Real momentum recently — keep it going by showing up regularly, not just for the big weeks.
- Memphis, TN — Keep the growth going with more players and GMs.
- Nashville, TN — Strong existing interest, real potential. The schedule could be bigger with more GMs willing to step behind the screen.
- Morgantown, WV — Riding high after CharCon with a WVPopCon invite already in hand, this lodge could use more regular GMs and players at Wyvern’s Wargames.
If you are near any of these cities, reach out through the Lodge Directory or email rvcapparegionop@gmail.com to get connected.
🐉 DragonCon 2026 — Under Two Weeks, Still at Risk of Losing 60%
September 3–7, 2026 — AmericasMart Building 3, Atlanta, GA
DragonCon is still on pace to lose roughly 60% of what we had planned to run this year — that number has not moved this week. DragonCon is the Premier Paizo Organized Play event in the Appalachian Region — five days, thousands of attendees, one of the biggest stages in the country to showcase what Pathfinder and Starfinder Society can be. We do not want to lose most of it to empty volunteer slots.
The volunteer roster needs to be finalized and submitted to DragonCon leadership in under two weeks. Once it’s submitted, unfilled slots are gone. This is a right-now ask, not a someday ask.
- Early sign-ups get first pick of time slots — run what you want, when you want.
- Every table you run may be a player’s very first Society game. Make it count.
- HQ and operations volunteers are the backbone of the whole event: check-in, GM support, slot coordination. Unglamorous work that makes everything else possible.
- You will be part of a well-run regional team with experienced convention leadership behind you.
The DragonCon 2026 Volunteer Form is open right now. Fill it out today — not next week. Questions? Email rvcapparegionop@gmail.com.
🎪 Upcoming Conventions – Next 90 Days
The Regional & National Calendar tracks conventions and game days across the six-state region. If you are interested in volunteering at any of these events, contact the hosting lodge or email rvcapparegionop@gmail.com.
🎉 WVPopCon – Morgantown, WV
Dates: August 22–23, 2026
Venue: Mylan Park — Morgantown, WV
Website: wvpop.com
The Morgantown lodge has been invited to bring Pathfinder and Starfinder Society to WVPopCon — its second convention appearance in as many months, right on the heels of CharCon. Details on volunteer needs to come as planning firms up.
🎲 Gen Con – Indianapolis, IN
Dates: July 30 – August 2, 2026
Venue: Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium — Indianapolis, IN
Website: gencon.com
One of the largest tabletop gaming conventions in the world — and traditionally where Paizo makes its biggest Organized Play announcements and kicks off new campaign seasons. This year’s rules-change blog is already out (see above); watch Paizo and organized play channels closely as Gen Con approaches.
🎰 Southern-Fried Gaming Expo – Atlanta, GA
Dates: July 31 – August 2, 2026
Venue: The Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center — Atlanta, GA
Lodge: AtlantaPFS (coordinated by Steve H)
Website: gameatl.com
AtlantaPFS’s volunteer schedule for Southern-Fried is locked in for this year. Come out and support the region’s biggest non-DragonCon convention presence — watch the AtlantaPFS Discord for any last-minute updates.
🐉 DragonCon – Atlanta, GA
Dates: September 3–7, 2026
Venue: AmericasMart Building 3 — Atlanta, GA
Website: dragoncon.org
The Premier Paizo Organized Play event in the Appalachian Region — still at risk of losing about 60% of its planned schedule to empty volunteer slots. GM and HQ volunteer recruiting is open now at the DragonCon 2026 Volunteer Form. Roster due to DragonCon leadership in under two weeks. Early volunteers get first pick of time slots. Do not wait.
🎲 This Week’s Scheduled Games – July 19–25, 2026
Another full week ahead: 35 scheduled sessions across Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia — physical and virtual. Check your lodge’s Warhorn page directly for the most current information and sign up early — some sessions are filling quickly.
Sunday, July 19 – Saturday, July 25
| Date | Time (EDT) | Scenario | System | Lodge / Venue | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jul 19 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Compliance Protocol (SFS2 1-08) | SFS2 | Appalachian PFS (Asheville) – The Deck Box (Asheville, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 19 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM | The Lost Legacy (PFS2 7-19) | PFS2 | Cookeville PFS/SFS – Knighthood Games (Cookeville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 19 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Star-Crossed Voyages (PFS2 1-09) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 19 | 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM | The Strings of Hell (PFS2 7-20) | PFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society (Charlotte) – The Mighty Meeple (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 19 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Within the Prairies (PFS2 4-13) | PFS2 | Appalachian PFS (Asheville) – The Deck Box (Asheville, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 19 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | To Seek the Heart of Calamity (PFS2 4-04) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Titan Games & Comics (Smyrna, GA) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 20 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Sloughscar Summit (SFS2 1-05) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Online (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 20 | 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM | Chitterwood Walks, Part 1: Scrambling the Tribes (PFS2 7-09) | PFS2 | Hampton Roads – Tap N Roll – Newport News (Newport News, VA) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 20 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Final Gambit: Part One (SFS2 1-24) | SFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Game Theory – Duraleigh (Raleigh, NC) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 20 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Arclord’s Abode (PFS2 4-10) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Jul 21 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Shattering Golden Chains (PFS2 4-14) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Jul 21 | 6:00 PM | Escaping the Grave (PFS2 1-03) | PFS2 | Garden River Lodge (Augusta, GA) | Garden River site |
| Tue, Jul 21 | 6:00 PM | The Lost Legend (PFS2 1-20) | PFS2 | Garden River Lodge (Augusta, GA) | Garden River site |
| Wed, Jul 22 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Sewer Dragon Crisis (PFS2 5-07) | PFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Jul 22 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Chitterwood Walks, Part 2: The Battle of Logas (PFS2 7-12) | PFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Take the Bait (SFS2 1-12) | SFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Online (Game Theory) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Magic in the Mist (SFS2 1-06) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Online (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Doom of Cassomir (PFS2 1-22) | PFS2 | Durham PFS – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | The Locked Lodge (PFS2 3-07) | PFS2 | Durham PFS – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Rescue in the Wreck (SFS2 1-22) | SFS2 | Durham PFS – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | The Hollowed Shell (SFS2 1-25) | SFS2 | NC Triad PFS – House of Cards (Winston-Salem, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Lacking Respect (PFS2 Quest S2-23) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Sundered Waves (PFS2) | PFS2 | Hampton Roads – Atomic Comics Emporium (Hampton Roads, VA) | Warhorn |
| Fri, Jul 24 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Chitterwood Walks, Part 1: Scrambling the Tribes (PFS2 7-09) | PFS2 | Nashville Organized Play – The Game Keep (Nashville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Fri, Jul 24 | 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Fly Free or Die, Part 4: The White Glove Affair (SFS1 AP 37) | SFS1 | Palmetto Lodge – Online (GeoEmmer’s Foundry) | Warhorn |
| Fri, Jul 24 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Sulfuric Negotiations (PFS2 7-04) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Menace Under Otari, Part 1: Upper Level (from PF2 Beginner Box) | PFS2 | Hampton Roads – Tap N Roll – Newport News (Newport News, VA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM | The Hollowed Shell (SFS2 1-25) | SFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Battlegrounds RVA (Richmond, VA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Brastlewark at War, Part 2: The Gnome Liberation (PFS2 7-14) | PFS2 | Murfreesboro Pathfinder Society – The Dragons Hoard (Murfreesboro, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM | The Island of the Vibrant Dead (PFS2 5-05) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Level-Up Games (Dawsonville, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | A Star’s Journey (PFS2 7-16) | PFS2 | Mid-South Pathfinder Society (Memphis) – The Cellar (Memphis, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Age of Ashes, Part 4: Fires of the Haunted City (PFS2 AP 148) | PFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society (Charlotte) – Your Local Game Store (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Psychic Echoes (SFS2 1-23) | SFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Midnights in Maro (SFS2 1-18) | SFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Murder in Metal City | SFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Battlegrounds RVA (Richmond, VA) | Warhorn |
All times Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Virtual games hosted on each lodge’s platform — check the Warhorn listing for access details. Garden River Lodge (Augusta) uses its own scheduling site rather than Warhorn — visit gardenriverlodge.com for details. Game listings reflect the regional calendar as of publication; always verify with your lodge’s page for the latest. The schedule is subject to change and new sessions can be added at any time — check the Regional Calendar regularly.
💬 Connect With the Region
- Regional Hub Website: appaopregion.org
- Regional & National Calendar: Regional and National Calendar
- Lodge Directory: Find Your Lodge
- Facebook: Appalachian Region Organized Play
- X (Twitter): @AppaRegionOP
- BlueSky: @apparegionop.bsky.social
- Mastodon: @apparvc@dice.camp
- Regional Venture-Coordinator: rvcapparegionop@gmail.com
For individual lodge social media, Discord servers, and Warhorn event pages, visit the Lodge Directory.
🆕 New to Pathfinder or Starfinder Society?
Welcome to organized play! Whether you’re brand new to tabletop RPGs or a veteran player exploring Society play for the first time, here’s how to get started anywhere in the Appalachian Region.
🤗 Safe, Welcoming Tables for All
Everyone is welcome at our tables. Pathfinder and Starfinder Society organized play is committed to providing a safe, fun, and inclusive gaming environment for all participants worldwide, regardless of background, identity, or experience level.
All games operate under the Paizo Organized Play Code of Conduct and Community Standards. We do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or behavior that makes anyone feel excluded or threatened. If you experience or witness problematic behavior, please bring it to the GM, Event Organizer, any Venture-Officer, or contact Paizo directly at organizedplay@paizo.com.
Getting Started Resources:
- Create a free Organized Play account at paizo.com
- Find the lodge nearest you in the Lodge Directory and check their Warhorn page for upcoming games
- Most lodges have a Discord server — a great place to ask questions before your first session
- Check the Regional & National Calendar for conventions and game days across the six-state region
Don’t have a character yet? No problem! Pregenerated iconic characters are available at every table. If you’d like to build your own, GMs and volunteers at any lodge are happy to help — just arrive a little early and let them know you’re new.
❓ Did You Know?
🎁 Achievement Points (AcP): New to Organized Play? You get 80 AcP free on your Paizo Organized Play account to spend on cool boons and character options!
🎯 Looking Ahead
Two big Paizo stories to digest this week — read them straight from the source if you haven’t already. Morgantown already has a second convention lined up, and there’s real movement on GalaxyCon Raleigh at last. Gen Con and Southern-Fried Gaming Expo both land at the end of July, and Gen Con in particular is worth watching closely with this year’s rules changes already public. DragonCon remains the most urgent item on our plate: the volunteer roster is due in under two weeks, and we are still on pace to lose roughly 60% of what was planned. Please sign up today if you haven’t already.
The Charleston, WV opening remains one of the region’s most exciting structural stories right now. If you’re the person who could help build organized play in Charleston, reach out today.
Lodge leadership and VOs: If your lodge has news, milestones, or events to share in a future regional update, email rvcapparegionop@gmail.com. The more you share, the better we can spotlight what is happening across the region.
Roll well, Pathfinders and Starfinders. See you at the tables. ⚔️🎲
