Appalachian Region Weekly Update
🎲 Giving Back This Holiday Season! 🌟
Greetings, Pathfinders and Starfinders! As we enter the holiday season, it’s important to reflect on what makes our community special—the volunteers, venues, and players who come together to create amazing gaming experiences and give back to our communities.
This week, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers and venues across our region who participated in the Toys of Boundless Wonder event, benefiting Toys for Tots. The holiday season is a time when we give of ourselves, and this event was no different. Your dedication to bringing joy to children in need while sharing our love of gaming exemplifies the best of what organized play represents. Thank you for making a difference!
📢 Current Announcements & Updates
🎲 Dice & Diversions Volunteer Window is OPEN!
Convention Dates: January 23-25, 2026
Location: Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria
Website: diceanddiversions.com
Great news for those planning to attend Dice & Diversions! The volunteer window is now open, and it only requires 8 volunteer hours to earn a free convention admission badge. This is an excellent opportunity to support organized play at one of the region’s premier gaming conventions while getting free admission!
Interested in volunteering? Whether you want to GM Pathfinder and Starfinder Society games, help with table coordination, or assist with other convention logistics, we’d love to have you on the team. For more information and to sign up, email atlantapfs@gmail.com.
Dice & Diversions is a fantastic way to kick off the new year with gaming, and your volunteer hours help make the event a success for hundreds of attendees!
📅 Explore the Regional Calendar
Don’t forget to check out our Regional and National Calendar to see game days happening across all six states in the Appalachian Region, plus upcoming conventions and special events. The calendar is continuously updated as lodges schedule new sessions and events.
Whether you’re in your home lodge or exploring a new area, the regional calendar helps you stay connected to organized play wherever you go in the Appalachian Region. Traveling for work or visiting family? Find games near you on the calendar!
🎯 This Week Across the Region
It’s another active week of gaming across the Appalachian Region! From Virginia to Georgia, our lodges are running fantastic games and building community throughout our six-state region. Check the Regional and National Calendar to find games happening near you this week!
🤝 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. Whether you’re a veteran player, a first-time gamer, young or old, regardless of background, identity, or experience level—there’s a seat at our table for you.
All Pathfinder and Starfinder Society games operate under the Paizo Organized Play Code of Conduct and Community Standards. We expect all participants—players and GMs alike—to treat each other with respect and work together to create positive, memorable gaming experiences.
We do not tolerate: harassment, discrimination, intimidation, unwelcome contact, or behavior that makes anyone feel excluded or threatened. Inappropriate conduct includes, but is not limited to, harassment or discrimination based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender or gender expression/identity, race, religion, sexuality, or any other reason.
If you experience or witness problematic behavior: Please bring it to the attention of the GM, Event Organizer, or any Venture-Officer. You can also contact your local lodge leadership, the Regional Venture-Coordinator, or report directly to Paizo at organizedplay@paizo.com. Your concerns will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.
Our commitment: These standards apply at every organized play table worldwide. We strive to resolve issues at the table level when appropriate, but we will not hesitate to remove anyone whose behavior violates our community standards. Gaming should be fun and welcoming for everyone—that’s the foundation of organized play.
🆕 New to Pathfinder or Starfinder Society?
Welcome to organized play! Whether you’re brand new to tabletop RPGs or a veteran player exploring Pathfinder or Starfinder Society for the first time, we’re here to help you get started.
Getting Started Resources:
- Browse the Lodge Directory to find a lodge near you
- Check the Regional Calendar for upcoming game days
- Create a free Organized Play account at paizo.com
- Connect with your local lodge through their Discord, Facebook, or Warhorn links
- Visit individual lodge websites for detailed getting-started guides and local resources
Don’t have a character yet? No problem! You can use an iconic pregenerated character to try out the game before committing to building your own. GMs will have pregens available at the table. If you’d prefer to create your own character, your local lodge’s GMs and volunteers are happy to help—just arrive a little early and let them know you’re new.
🤝 Volunteer Opportunities
The Appalachian Region thrives because of dedicated volunteers who GM games, coordinate venues, organize conventions, and support their local communities. Whether you’re interested in becoming a Venture-Officer or simply want to help your lodge grow, there are opportunities throughout the region.
🌟 Interested in Lodge Leadership? NOW is the time!
Our region is growing, and we need passionate volunteers to help lead the charge! Multiple lodges across the Appalachian Region are actively seeking new Venture-Officers to help coordinate games, support GMs, welcome new players, and build thriving local communities.
Why become a Venture-Officer?
- Make a lasting impact on your local gaming community
- Help shape the future of organized play in your area
- Gain leadership experience and build connections across the region
- Access exclusive Venture-Officer resources and support
- Be part of a dedicated team working to grow organized play
We believe in promoting from within. Most Venture-Captains and Venture-Lieutenants started as dedicated GMs who built strong relationships within their communities before taking on leadership roles. The path typically begins with:
- Volunteering as a GM in your local lodge
- Building experience and relationships within the community
- Demonstrating reliability and dedication to organized play
- Working alongside current Venture-Officers to learn the role
Ready to take the next step? If you’re interested in lodge leadership, reach out to your local Venture-Captain directly or contact the Regional Venture-Coordinator at rvcapparegionop@gmail.com. We’re happy to discuss opportunities, answer questions, and help you find the right fit for your skills and interests.
The Appalachian Region is growing stronger every day, and we need passionate leaders like you to help us continue that momentum. Whether you’re in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Georgia—there’s a place for you in organized play leadership!
You can also check out the Lorespire Onboarding resources to learn more about Venture-Officer roles and what’s involved.
📅 Upcoming Regional Conventions
Mark your calendars for these upcoming conventions featuring Pathfinder and Starfinder Society organized play!
🎌 Anime Weekend Atlanta
December 18-21, 2025
Georgia World Congress Center Building C
More details at awa-con.com
Our final event of 2025! Join us at Anime Weekend Atlanta for an amazing opportunity to introduce organized play to the anime gaming community. This is a fantastic event to close out the year and bring new players into our hobby.
🎮 MarsCon
January 16-18, 2026
Holiday Inn Virginia Beach – Norfolk
5655 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
More details at marscon.net
Start the new year with gaming in Virginia Beach! MarsCon features Pathfinder and Starfinder Society organized play throughout the weekend.
🎲 SCARAB
January 16-18, 2026
South Carolina State Museum
301 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201
More details at tabletop.events/conventions/scarab-2026
Join us at SCARAB in Columbia for a weekend of tabletop gaming! Pathfinder and Starfinder Society games will be running throughout the convention.
🎲 Dice & Diversions
January 23-25, 2026
Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria
200 Interstate North Parkway SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30339
More details at diceanddiversions.com
Continue the new year gaming! This fantastic gaming convention will feature Pathfinder and Starfinder Society games throughout the weekend. Volunteer opportunities are now open—email atlantapfs@gmail.com to sign up!
❓ 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! These points let you customize your characters and unlock special options right from the start.
🗺️ Regional Play: The Appalachian Region covers six states with dozens of active lodges. No matter where your travels take you within Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Georgia, there’s likely a game happening near you!
🚀 Two Great Systems: Whether you prefer fantasy adventures in Pathfinder Society or sci-fi action in Starfinder Society, both systems are active throughout the region. Many lodges run games for both systems—check your local schedule!
💬 Connect With the Region
- Regional Hub Website: appaopregion.org
- Regional Calendar: Regional and National Calendar
- Lodge Directory: Find Your Lodge
For individual lodge social media, Discord servers, and Warhorn event pages, visit the Lodge Directory to find contact information for your local community.
🎲 Until Next Week, Pathfinders!
What an incredible week of gaming lies ahead across the Appalachian Region! From the mountains of Tennessee to the coast of Virginia, from the Piedmont of North Carolina to the heart of Georgia, our lodges are bringing amazing adventures to tables throughout our six-state region. Whether you’re diving into the latest scenarios or exploring classic adventures, there’s something happening near you.
Once again, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the Toys of Boundless Wonder event. Your generosity and dedication to giving back during the holiday season exemplifies the best of what our community represents. The children who receive those toys will have brighter holidays because of your efforts, and that’s something to be proud of.
If you’re planning to attend Dice & Diversions in January, now is the time to sign up for volunteer slots! Just 8 hours gets you free admission to one of the region’s premier gaming conventions. It’s a fantastic way to give back to the organized play community while enjoying an amazing weekend of gaming.
For those interested in taking the next step in organized play leadership, remember that we’re actively seeking new Venture-Officers across the region. Whether you’re an experienced GM looking to expand your impact or someone who wants to help build your local community, now is an excellent time to reach out. Contact your local Venture-Captain or the Regional Venture-Coordinator to explore opportunities!
Thank you for being part of this vibrant regional community. Your GMs work hard to bring great adventures to tables across six states, and your participation makes it all worthwhile. We look forward to sharing more news and updates with you next week!
Have lodge news to share? Lodge leaders, don’t forget to submit your updates, announcements, and achievements for inclusion in future weekly posts. Let’s celebrate our regional community together!
Roll well, friends, and we’ll see you at the tables across the Appalachian Region! ⚔️🌟