Appalachian Region Weekly Update
Week of August 23 – August 29, 2026
📋 This Week at a Glance
DragonCon tickets are LIVE! See below for how to find our games. WVPopCon is happening this weekend in Morgantown. We’ve got a lighter schedule this week across the region, but virtual tables are still running strong. Check the full schedule below.
🚨 CRITICAL: We Need Officers Across the Region — Right Now
This is an emergency: the Appalachian Region is in a severe shortage of Venture-Officers, and we’re at a breaking point. Chattanooga cannot get active again without at least one officer stepping up. Charleston, WV is a possible new-lodge expansion we’re exploring, so Morgantown and Vienna’s officers aren’t stretched too thin. Atlanta’s Titan Games & Comics and Battle & Brew still have no dedicated VA, and Johns Creek is only covered on an interim basis. Without immediate help, scheduling will become increasingly erratic as our existing officers burn out trying to cover more ground than they can sustain — and we may be forced to scale back our footprint. It’s not just weekly venues, either — the same shortage limits how many conventions and acquisition events we’re able to staff. None of these roles require deep expertise — they need someone willing to show up, keep a searchable public presence (a Warhorn page is one option, but not the only one), and be a friendly face. If that’s you, please reach out TODAY. Email rvcapparegionop@gmail.com right now.
🐉 DRAGONCON 2026 — TICKETS ARE LIVE!
September 3–7, 2026 — AmericasMart Building 3, Atlanta, GA
Tickets are now on sale at gaming.dragoncon.org! To find Pathfinder and Starfinder Society games:
- Click Search Events
- Go to the Select Area dropdown and choose Role-Playing Games (Campaign)
- From the Select Game System dropdown, choose either Pathfinder Society or Starfinder Society to filter
Our schedule was submitted on time with all updates finalized — now it’s live and ready for you to grab your seats. Don’t wait, popular slots fill fast!
Our DragonCon Volunteer Team: We’re grateful to have an amazing crew helping make DragonCon happen this year, including Dennis B (Venture-Captain, Columbus), Courtney (Venture-Lieutenant, Statesboro), Brad G (Venture-Captain, Online PbP), and Arion and Raymond (Venture-Officers from Alabama, Gulf Region). Thank you all for stepping up!
🎉 WVPopCon Is THIS WEEKEND!
August 22–23, 2026 — Mylan Park, Morgantown, WV
WVPopCon is happening RIGHT NOW! The Morgantown lodge is bringing Pathfinder and Starfinder Society to their second convention appearance in as many months. If you’re anywhere near North-Central West Virginia, come out and support them! More at wvpop.com.
🎲 Gen Con 2026 Recap
🎤 What Paizo Announced at Gen Con
Gen Con wrapped up a few weeks ago, and Paizo used its keynote to unveil a genuinely huge slate of upcoming products. No Organized Play changes were part of the keynote itself — this is all about what’s coming to your shelf (and table). If you missed it, here’s the recap:
Debuting at Gen Con
- 13 Omens — an all-new, rules-light horror storytelling game from Paizo, played with six-sided dice. Full launch is October 13. More at 13omens.com.
- Impossible Magic — a new Pathfinder sourcebook debuting at the Paizo booth, featuring four classes (Summoner, Magus, Necromancer, Runesmith), 240+ spells including new “impossible spells,” archetypes, arcane schools, and items.
- Bastion of Blasphemies — a horror-themed Pathfinder Adventure Path for levels 5–13, set in a haunted castle that’s been part of Golarion lore since the beginning, with ties to the Beginner Box.
- Absalom Station: Center of the Galaxy — a Starfinder deep dive into Absalom Station, with new districts, NPCs, rules, archetypes, ancestries, and a poster map.
- Assault at Absalom Station — a new Starfinder novel and sequel to last year’s story.
- Pathfinder Dice Gods — a dice-drafting game getting its pre-release at Gen Con ahead of an official September launch.
Coming This Fall (Sept–Nov 2026)
- The Dead God’s Hand — a Pathfinder adventure (levels 1–7) with deep Aroden lore.
- Cheliax: Infernal Inheritance — a new Lost Omens book in October, following up on the Hellfire Crisis.
- Feybound — a Pathfinder rulebook in November centered on the Yestereve Revels, with new fey ancestries, a First World gazetteer, and fey/fairytale-inspired creatures and items.
- The Vaultlines — a Darklands-themed Adventure Path (levels 11–20) also arriving in November.
- Secrets of the Swarm — a Starfinder Adventure Path (levels 6–10) in September, callback to a 1st-edition interactive special, with six new ancestries.
- Starfinder Tech Core — finally arriving in October, with all-new tactical starship combat, two refined classes (Technomancer and Mechanic), and more ancestries.
- Paizo Printables Season 2 — the next wave of 3D-printable miniature STLs, including Lovecraftian horror designs.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The keynote also previewed a packed 2027, including Lost Omens: Sagalands (May, a return to Varisia, Irrisen, and the Lands of the Linnorm Kings), Invaders from the Dark (June, a Golarion alien-invasion Adventure Path built to showcase Pathfinder/Starfinder compatibility — yes, there’s a hoverbike), a Starfinder Beginner Box (May), and Pathfinder Tome of Dungeons at Gen Con 2027, introducing two new classes (Daredevil and Slayer) and two new ancestries (Awakened Ooze and Gargoyle).
Check out Paizo’s Gen Con blog for booth details and deals, or catch the full keynote video here.
— Joel H, Regional Venture-Coordinator, Appalachian Region
📋 Organized Play Rule Updates (Published July 16)
Separate from the keynote, Paizo published a rule-update blog laying out “Program Alignment” changes that took effect with the July 30 launch of Pathfinder Society Year 8 and Starfinder Society Season 2 — these directly affect how we run tables:
- Pathfinder Society: scenarios (and eventually other sanctioned adventures) become repeatable for different characters. New characters can start at 1st, 3rd, 5th, or 7th level, with more flexibility for how pregen credit gets applied. Pathfinder Provisions is going away, replaced by a bespoke kit of consumables handed out at mission briefing and returned afterward. Monster stat blocks from other sourcebooks are coming back in a combined appendix.
- Starfinder Society: Slow Track advancement is being added, letting players opt into half credit on a scenario-by-scenario basis. GM ranks are also arriving, called Nebulas, mirroring Glyphs and Stars.
Read the full rundown on Paizo’s blog.
📰 August Organized Play Monthly Update
Nothing dramatic out of Paizo this week — just their regular monthly Organized Play roundup. A few highlights:
- New sanctioning: Lost Omens: High Seas and Impossible Magic are now sanctioned for Pathfinder Society, the new Bastion of Blasphemies Adventure Path is sanctioned for PFS play, and Starfinder Society tables can now use options from Absalom Station: Center of the Galaxy.
- New scenarios release September 2: Pathfinder Society #8-05 A Shark’s Guide to Piracy and #8-06 Falling Sparks; Starfinder Society #2-05 File Corrupted and #2-06 An Inside Job.
- GM recognition: eleven GMs across the community reached their fifth rank this month, and one GM received a Campaign Service Coin for exceptional community contributions. If you know someone locally who’s going above and beyond, you can nominate them for a Campaign Coin by emailing organizedplay@paizo.com.
- And yes — both Pathfinder and Starfinder Society characters can now recruit Jimothy as an animal companion, if that’s your kind of thing.
Full details on Paizo’s blog.
🎮 An Update on Playthrough 2026
Passed along by the Raleigh lodge: Playthrough, the developer-focused gaming showcase, won’t be running in 2026. The organizers describe themselves as a small team working around day jobs and family life, and say one of their own families just welcomed a new baby — so rather than rush out another show before they’re ready, they’re taking the year to make the next one better. They’re inviting the community to keep hanging out and discovering games together on their Discord in the meantime, and they’re asking for feedback on what makes the show worth attending. They’re aiming to return in 2027.
📢 Regional Announcements & Opportunities
🚨 CRITICAL: Venture-Officer Opening: Chattanooga, TN — Restarting the Search
We’re restarting our search for a Venture-Officer in the Chattanooga area — our previous lead there didn’t end up working out. To be direct about it: this lodge cannot become active again without at least one officer stepping up. Chattanooga relaunched in 2025 and just needs someone consistent to build on that momentum. If you’re willing to help rebuild organized play in Chattanooga, or know someone who would be great at it, reach out.
Contact us at rvcapparegionop@gmail.com or through the Appalachian Region Hub.
🎲 Columbus, GA Lodge Still Gearing Up
The Columbus lodge, led by Dennis B, continues preparing to get games back on the calendar at Moxie Games. 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. Dennis will also be joining us at DragonCon — thank you for your help!
🚨 CRITICAL: Venture-Officer Opening: Charleston, WV — A Possible New Lodge
We’re exploring the possibility of a new lodge in Charleston, WV. The idea grew out of things like CharCon showing there’s real interest in the Charleston area, plus wanting to avoid stretching Morgantown and Vienna’s officers too thin if Charleston turns out to be too far a drive for them to cover reliably. If you’re willing to be the person who builds it, reach out now.
What being a Venture-Officer actually involves: scheduling games at a local venue, welcoming new players, maintaining a searchable public presence for the lodge (a Warhorn page is one option, but not the only one), 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 at WVPopCon this weekend, 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.
📈 Regional Growth Snapshot: Q2 vs. Q1 2026
We can’t publicly share raw table or player counts — those fall under our officer NDA with Paizo — but percentage trends are fair game, and they tell a good story about where the region is headed. These figures cover retail, virtual, and acquisition events only — larger conventions are reported directly to Paizo and aren’t included here. Comparing Q2 to Q1 (Q3 just started in July, so those numbers are still too incomplete to include):
One data note: we’ve identified that Virginia’s numbers below were affected by a now-resolved access issue on one of our event-reporting codes. A correction will show up in next quarter’s figures — going forward, we’ll expand these comparisons to show amended Q1, Q2, and Q3 data side by side so trends stay accurate as the data gets cleaned up.
Region-Wide
| Category | Q1 → Q2 Change |
|---|---|
| Retail PFS2 Sessions | ▲ +8% |
| Retail SFS2 Sessions | ▼ -39% |
| Retail SFS1 Sessions | New this quarter |
| Unique GMs | ▼ -8% |
| Unique Players | ▲ +2% |
| New Players | ▲ +71% |
By State
| State | Retail PFS2 | Retail SFS2 | Unique GMs | Unique Players | New Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | ▲ +60% | ▼ -69% | ▲ +19% | ▲ +2% | ▼ -22% |
| North Carolina | ▼ -72% | ▼ -72% | ▼ -62% | ▼ -57% | ▲ +157% |
| South Carolina | ▲ +107% | ▲ +21% | ▲ +100% | ▲ +39% | ▲ +89% |
| Tennessee | ▲ +31% | ▲ +9% | ▲ +12% | ▲ +8% | ▲ +11% |
| Virginia* | ▲ +27% | ▲ +50% | ▲ +18% | ▲ +41% | New this quarter |
| West Virginia | — | — | — | — | New this quarter |
*Virginia figures pending correction — see note above.
A few highlights: South Carolina had a strong quarter across the board, North Carolina’s new-player growth stands out even as overall table counts dipped, and Georgia’s PFS2 tables and GM ranks both climbed nicely. West Virginia doesn’t have retail table data yet, but new players showed up for the first time — a good sign as Morgantown and the Charleston effort build momentum.
🎪 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 — This Weekend!
Dates: August 22–23, 2026
Venue: Mylan Park — Morgantown, WV
Website: wvpop.com
See the push above — come support Morgantown’s second convention appearance in as many months.
🐉 DragonCon – Atlanta, GA — TICKETS LIVE!
Dates: September 3–7, 2026
Venue: AmericasMart Building 3 — Atlanta, GA
Website: dragoncon.org
The Premier Paizo Organized Play event in the Appalachian Region. Tickets are now on sale at gaming.dragoncon.org — see instructions above for finding our games.
Our DragonCon Volunteer Team: We’re grateful to have an amazing crew helping make DragonCon happen this year, including Dennis B (Venture-Captain, Columbus), Courtney (Venture-Lieutenant, Statesboro), Brad G (Venture-Captain, Online PbP), and Arion and Raymond (Venture-Officers from Alabama, Gulf Region). Thank you all for stepping up!
🎨 LUGCon – Duluth, GA
Dates: October 1–4, 2026
Venue: Gas South Convention Center — Duluth, GA
Lodge: AtlantaPFS (coordinated by Steve H)
Website: lugcon.com
AtlantaPFS is gearing up to support LUGCon again this fall and needs volunteers. Reach out to Steve H if you’d like to help.
🎨 Multiverse – Peachtree City, GA
Dates: October 16–18, 2026
Venue: Hilton Peachtree City — Peachtree City, GA
Lodge: AtlantaPFS
Website: multiversecon.org
AtlantaPFS is planning to be at Multiverse again this year and needs volunteers to staff it. Reach out to joel@atlantapfs.org if you’d like to help.
🌎 Also on the National Radar
A couple of national events worth knowing about later this year, both outside our region but on Paizo’s calendar:
- Toys of Boundless Wonder — November 27 – December 6, 2026. A distributed community event run through participating game stores nationwide; check leagueofaroden.com for locations or to sign up your venue.
- PAX Unplugged — December 4–6, 2026, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA. One of the largest tabletop-focused conventions in the country. unplugged.paxsite.com
💬 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!
🎲 This Week’s Scheduled Games – August 23 – August 29, 2026
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, August 23 – Saturday, August 29
| Date | Time (EDT) | Scenario | System | Lodge / Venue | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Aug 23 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | The Crocodile’s Smile (PFS2 5-10) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Battle & Brew (Sandy Springs, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 23 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Ukuja, The First Wall (PFS2 5-06) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Battle & Brew (Sandy Springs, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 23 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Seize and Destroy (SFS2 1-07) | SFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society – The Mighty Meeple (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 23 | 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Bandits of Immenwood (PFS2 1-04) | PFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society – The Mighty Meeple (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 23 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Age of Ashes, Part 4: Fires of the Haunted City (PFS2 AP 148) | PFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society – Your Local Game Store (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Aug 24 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Ruins of the World Soul (SFS2 1-15) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Virtual (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Aug 25 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | The Darkness Within (PFS2 7-11) | PFS2 | Garden River Lodge (Augusta, GA) | Garden River site |
| Tue, Aug 25 | 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM | The Hollowed Shell (SFS2 1-25) | SFS2 | Knoxville – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Aug 26 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Rescue in the Wreck (SFS2 1-22) | SFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Aug 26 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Sulfuric Negotiations (PFS2 7-04) | PFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Mountain of Sea and Sky (PFS2 2-02) | PFS2 | Knoxville – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | The Fey Reclamation (PFS2 8-02) | PFS2 | Durham – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Lightning Strikes, Stars Fall (PFS2 1-24) | PFS2 | Durham – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM | The Beasts of Bo: Part One (SFS2 1-14) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Virtual (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 9:30 PM – 12:00 AM | The Beasts of Bo: Part Two (SFS2 1-16) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Virtual (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 27 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | The Beasts of Bo: Part One (SFS2 1-14) | SFS2 | Raleigh – Virtual (Raleigh) | Warhorn |
| Fri, Aug 28 | 12:00 AM – 4:00 AM | The Swordlord’s Challenge (PFS2 Quest S2-14) | PFS2 | Knoxville – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Within Antiquated Halls (PFS2 7-15) | PFS2 | Memphis – The Cellar (Memphis, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | The Fey Reclamation (PFS2 8-02) | PFS2 | Knoxville – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | The Chitterwood Walks, Part 2: The Battle of Logas (PFS2 7-12) | PFS2 | Knoxville – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM | A Star’s Journey (PFS2 7-16) | PFS2 | Murfreesboro – The Dragons Hoard (Murfreesboro, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Intro: Year of Clockwork Mystery (PFS2 8-01) | PFS2 | Knoxville – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 29 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Burden of Envy (PFS2 1-12) | PFS2 | Knoxville – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | 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.
🎯 Looking Ahead
WVPopCon is happening this weekend — if you’re anywhere near Morgantown, go support the lodge. DragonCon tickets are LIVE — grab yours now and search for our games using the instructions above. Officer coverage remains the biggest challenge facing the region right now — Chattanooga and Charleston, WV both remain critical opportunities, and Atlanta has its own gaps at Titan Games & Comics, Battle & Brew, and Johns Creek. If you’re looking for a way to make a real, visible difference in this region, any one of these is a great place to start.
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. ⚔️🎲