Appalachian Region Weekly Update
Week of August 2 – August 8, 2026
📋 This Week at a Glance
Welcome back, Pathfinders and Starfinders! We’ve got 38 scheduled sessions on the calendar this week across the six-state region — details below.
It’s also a huge weekend for the hobby region-wide: Southern-Fried Gaming Expo is happening right now in Atlanta, Gen Con just wrapped up its keynote in Indianapolis with a big slate of Organized Play changes, and the Raleigh lodge just had a great showing at GalaxyCon Raleigh. On top of that, DragonCon’s volunteer roster has officially closed, and we’ve got word from the Raleigh area on Playthrough taking 2026 off to rebuild.
🎰 Southern-Fried Gaming Expo — Happening Now!
July 31 – August 2, 2026 — The Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center
Southern-Fried is underway right now and wraps up tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who’s already come out to play or run a game this weekend, coordinated by AtlantaPFS’s Steve H — and if you’re near Atlanta and haven’t made it out yet, there’s still time today and tomorrow!
🎲 Gen Con 2026 — Paizo’s Keynote Recap
🎤 What Paizo Announced This Week
Gen Con wraps up tomorrow in Indianapolis, 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):
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 ahead of Gen Con 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.
🎉 GalaxyCon Raleigh — Thank You!
After months of conversation between GalaxyCon’s gaming lead and the Raleigh lodge, organized play made it onto the show floor at GalaxyCon Raleigh, held July 23–26 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Thank you to everyone from the Raleigh lodge who came out to run or play a game — exactly the kind of event that puts Pathfinder and Starfinder Society in front of a whole new audience.
🎮 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.
🐉 DragonCon 2026 — Volunteer Roster Closed, Thank You!
🐉 The Schedule Is In
September 3–7, 2026 — AmericasMart Building 3, Atlanta, GA
The DragonCon 2026 volunteer sign-up period has closed, and our final schedule has been submitted to DragonCon leadership for upload to the gaming subdomain ahead of ticket sales. Thanks to a huge wave of last-minute sign-ups, we ended up covering just over 60% of our planned schedule — a real improvement from where we started, and a massive thank-you to everyone across the region who volunteered.
As in past years, both of our interactive specials will run as charity games, with all ticket sales benefiting DragonCon’s 2026 charity partner. We’ll also be running Battle for Hellknight Hill in three time slots as a charity game, plus at-the-table donations throughout the convention.
Once our games go live on gaming.dragoncon.org, expect a flurry of activity — announcements on the GeorgiaPFS Discord, both websites, and directly to volunteers via email.
📢 Regional Announcements & Opportunities
🎲 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.
🎉 Morgantown Gearing Up for WVPopCon
Fresh off CharCon, the Morgantown, WV lodge is preparing for its next convention appearance at WVPopCon, August 22–23 at Mylan Park in Morgantown. 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.
🎨 AtlantaPFS Gearing Up for LUGCon and Anime Weekend Atlanta
AtlantaPFS is turning its attention to two fall acquisition events: LUGCon (October 1–4, Gas South Convention Center, Duluth, GA), coordinated by Steve H, and Anime Weekend Atlanta (November 19–22, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA), coordinated by James R. Volunteer sign-ups for both are coming soon — reach out to the respective coordinator if you’d like to help.
🚨 Venture-Officer Opening: Charleston, WV — Ground Floor Opportunity
We are working to establish a new lodge in Charleston, WV. Morgantown continues to show what’s possible for a young lodge with strong local support — 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 appearance ahead, 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.
🎪 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.
🎰 Southern-Fried Gaming Expo – Atlanta, GA — Wraps Up Tomorrow!
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
Come out and support the region’s biggest non-DragonCon convention presence — today and tomorrow only.
🎉 WVPopCon – Morgantown, WV
Dates: August 22–23, 2026
Venue: Mylan Park — Morgantown, WV
Website: wvpop.com
The Morgantown lodge is bringing 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.
🐉 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 — the volunteer roster is closed with just over 60% of the planned schedule covered. Watch for ticket-sales announcements once our games are listed on gaming.dragoncon.org.
🎨 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. Volunteer sign-ups coming soon.
🎲 This Week’s Scheduled Games – August 2 – August 8, 2026
38 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 2 – Saturday, August 8
| Date | Time (EDT) | Scenario | System | Lodge / Venue | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Aug 2 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | To Seek the Heart of Calamity (PFS2 4-04) | PFS2 | Appalachian PFS (Asheville) – The Deck Box (Asheville, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 2 | 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Demonic Afterparty (PFS2 5-19) | PFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society – The Mighty Meeple (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 2 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Tarnbreaker’s Trail (PFS2 1-10) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 2 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Intro: Year of Clockwork Mystery (PFS2 8-01) | PFS2 | Cookeville PFS/SFS – Knighthood Games (Cookeville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Aug 2 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Seize and Destroy (SFS2 1-07) | SFS2 | Appalachian PFS (Asheville) – The Deck Box (Asheville, NC) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Aug 3 | 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM | Intro: Year of Clockwork Mystery (PFS2 8-01) | PFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Game Theory – Duraleigh (Raleigh, NC) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Aug 3 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Lost in Flames (PFS2 2-14) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Aug 3 | 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM | Spore War, Part 1: Whispers in the Dirt (PFS2 AP 210) | PFS2 | Hampton Roads – Tap N Roll – Newport News (Newport News, VA) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Aug 3 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Abduction (SFS2 1-09) — Full | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Virtual (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Aug 4 | 6:00 PM | The Hollowed Shell (SFS1 1-25) | SFS1 | Garden River Lodge (Augusta, GA) | Garden River site |
| Tue, Aug 4 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | In Glorious Battle (PFS2 4-15) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Aug 4 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Lightning Strikes, Stars Fall (PFS2 1-24) | PFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Virtual (Richmond Discord) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Aug 4 | 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM | Fury’s Toll (PFS2 3-12) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Battle and Brew (Sandy Springs, GA) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Aug 5 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Tales from the Vast Adventure Anthology | SFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Aug 5 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | The Lost Legacy (PFS2 7-19) | PFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Virtual (Richmond Discord) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Aug 5 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Dreams of a Dustbound Isle (PFS2 3-17) | PFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Aug 5 | 7:15 PM – 11:00 PM | The Choosing (Stolen Fate 1 of 3) (PFS2 AP 190) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Manuel’s Tavern (Atlanta, GA) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Godsrain in a Godless Land (PFS2 6-03) | PFS2 | Hampton Roads – Atomic Comics Emporium (Newport News, VA) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Citadel of Corruption (PFS2 2-01) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Inheritor’s Rite (PFS2 3-05) — Full | PFS2 | Durham PFS – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Once in Whispers (PFS2 6-10) | PFS2 | Durham PFS – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Psychic Echoes (SFS2 1-23) | SFS2 | Durham PFS – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Foul Humors (SFS2 1-13) | SFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Virtual (Raleigh) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Intro: Year of Clockwork Mystery (PFS2 8-01) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Manuel’s Tavern (Atlanta, GA) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Rites of Rekindling (SFS2 1-10) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Virtual (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Fri, Aug 7 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Shipyard Sabotage (PFS2 7-02) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Fri, Aug 7 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | A Star’s Journey (PFS2 7-16) | PFS2 | Nashville Organized Play (PFS/SFS) – The Game Keep (Nashville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM | Mantle of Gold (Sky King’s Tomb 1 of 3) (PFS2 AP 193) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – The Crazy Book Lady (Acworth, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Disaster at Dreamlink Labs (SFS2 1-03) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Level-Up Games (Dawsonville, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Rites of Rekindling (SFS2 1-10) | SFS2 | Murfreesboro PFS – The Dragons Hoard (Murfreesboro, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Final Gambit: Part Two (SFS2 1-26) | SFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Battlegrounds RVA (Richmond, VA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | PFS2 TBD | PFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Game Theory – Wake Forest (Wake Forest, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Collision’s Wake (SFS2 1-00) | SFS2 | Hampton Roads – Tap N Roll – Newport News (Newport News, VA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM | The Great Absalom Relay (SFS2 1-04) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Level-Up Games (Dawsonville, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Breaching the Wreck (SFS2 1-21) | SFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Final Gambit: Part One (SFS2 1-24) | SFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Age of Ashes, Part 4: Fires of the Haunted City (PFS2 AP 148) — Full | PFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society – Your Local Game Store (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Aug 8 | 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
It’s been a big week — Southern-Fried and Gen Con both wrap up tomorrow, Raleigh had a strong showing at GalaxyCon, and Paizo brought a substantial slate of Organized Play changes with the new program year. DragonCon’s volunteer roster is officially closed at just over 60% coverage, and we owe every one of our volunteers a huge thank you. Watch for the announcement once our games go live on the DragonCon gaming site — it’ll be everywhere: Discord, both websites, and volunteer emails.
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. ⚔️🎲
