Appalachian Region Weekly Update
Week of July 12–18, 2026
📋 This Week at a Glance
Welcome back, Pathfinders and Starfinders! This week the region picks up steam: 35 scheduled sessions across Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
On the Paizo front: this month’s Organized Play blog included a direct note from Alex Speidel on the restructuring — see below for what he shared.
DragonCon update: the needle moved this week, but we still need you. Sign-ups brought our projected cancellation rate down from roughly 70% to roughly 60% — real progress, but still not good enough. See immediately below.
🐉 THE NEEDLE MOVED. WE STILL NEED YOU RIGHT NOW.
Sign-ups this week brought our projected DragonCon cancellations down from roughly 70% to roughly 60% of what we had planned. That’s real progress, but 60% is still a bad number, and we’re inside the final 20 days before the July 31 deadline to finalize our volunteer roster with DragonCon leadership. Every day that passes without new sign-ups locks in more cancellations.
🚨 Paizo Restructuring — An Update From Alex Speidel
📣 Straight From This Month’s Organized Play Blog
Paizo published its July Organized Play Monthly Update this week, and it included a personal note from Alex Speidel, Manager of Conventions and Organized Play, addressing the restructuring directly. Alex confirmed what’s already been made public — the restructuring included eleven layoffs, including both Pathfinder Society developers, and a real reduction in Organized Play’s output going forward.
Rather than dwelling on it, he chose to focus on gratitude: for the players who’ve reached out to check on him and his coworkers, and for a community determined to keep playing no matter what. He was upfront that the road ahead is uncertain and that he doesn’t have all the answers yet, but he promised more information as soon as he has it to share.
We don’t have anything to add beyond what’s in that post right now, but we wanted to make sure you saw it directly rather than secondhand. You can read Alex’s full note, along with the rest of this month’s Organized Play news, at paizo.com/blog. As always, the moment there’s something new and public to share, we’ll share it with this region as fast as we can put it together.
— Joel H, Regional Venture-Coordinator, Appalachian Region
🎲 Gen Con Is Less Than Three Weeks Out
🎲 Gen Con 2026 — July 30 – August 2, Indianapolis, IN
Gen Con is now under three weeks away, and it’s worth getting excited about even if you’re nowhere near Indianapolis. Paizo traditionally saves its biggest organized play announcements for Gen Con — and historically, this is exactly where Paizo kicks off new seasons of both the Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society campaigns. The annual rules-change blog is expected to land this Thursday, July 16, with the changes taking effect at Gen Con. Combine that with a major restructuring year for the company, and Gen Con weekend could 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 this week and around July 30 — we’ll be covering whatever 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.
🎉 Congratulations, Morgantown — First Convention Appearance in the Books!
The Morgantown, WV lodge’s first-ever convention appearance wraps up this weekend: CharCon runs through Sunday, July 12, at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences in Charleston, WV. Congratulations to Morgantown on the milestone. The lodge 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 Events — Awaiting Confirmation
We’re still awaiting word from GalaxyCon regarding Pathfinder/Starfinder Society presence at this year’s shows, including the Raleigh event. Organized Play leadership has reached out and the door remains open, but as we get closer to show dates without confirmation, the lead time needed to stand up a full organized play presence gets tighter. If you were planning around PFS/SFS at a GalaxyCon event this year, it’s worth keeping a backup plan in mind. We’ll share an update as soon as we have one.
🚨 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 — 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 — Fresh off their CharCon debut, 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 — Progress, But Not Enough of It
September 3–7, 2026 — AmericasMart Building 3, Atlanta, GA
Sign-ups this week nudged our projected cancellation rate down from roughly 70% to roughly 60% of what we had planned to run at DragonCon this year. That’s genuine movement, and thank you to everyone who filled out the form. But it means we’re still on track to lose more than half of what’s planned unless that trend keeps going. 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 20 days — by July 31 — so they have the lead time to build the schedule grid and open ticket presales a month out. Every day that passes without new sign-ups locks in more of that 60%.
- 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. Even a few slots makes a real difference. 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.
🏰 CharCon – Charleston, WV
Dates: July 10–12, 2026 (wraps up this weekend)
Venue: The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences — Charleston, WV
Website: charcon.org
The Morgantown lodge is representing the Appalachian Region at CharCon this year — their first convention appearance. Congratulations to everyone helping staff it this weekend.
🎲 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. Watch Paizo and organized play channels closely this year.
🎰 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 — currently at risk of losing about 60% of its planned schedule to empty volunteer slots, down from 70% last week. GM and HQ volunteer recruiting is open now at the DragonCon 2026 Volunteer Form. Roster needs to be finalized in 20 days, by July 31. Early volunteers get first pick of time slots. Do not wait.
🎲 This Week’s Scheduled Games – July 12–18, 2026
The region picks up steam this week: 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 12 – Saturday, July 18
| Date | Time (EDT) | Scenario | System | Lodge / Venue | Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jul 12 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Bandits of Immenwood (PFS2 1-04) | PFS2 | Upstate SC Pathfinder Society (Greenville) – Game Kastle (Greenville, SC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | The Absalom Initiation (PFS2 1-01) | PFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Battle and Brew (Sandy Springs, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Breaching the Wreck (SFS2 1-21) | SFS2 | Athens PFS/SFS – Dragon Star Hobbies (Athens, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Sloughscar Summit (SFS2 1-05) | SFS2 | Piedmont Roleplaying Society (Charlotte) – The Mighty Meeple (Charlotte, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | The Beast of Birchfrost (Dark Archive Case File #1) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | The Verdure of Iblydos (Dark Archive Case File #5) | PFS2 | Hampton Roads – Atlantis Games & Comics (Portsmouth, VA) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Rescue in the Wreck (SFS2 1-22) | SFS2 | Cookeville PFS/SFS – Knighthood Games (Cookeville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Rescue in the Wreck (SFS2 1-22) | SFS2 | Athens PFS/SFS – Dragon Star Hobbies (Athens, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | The Swordlord’s Challenge (PFS2 Quest S2-14) | PFS2 | Morgantown Pathfinder Society – Wyvern’s Wargames (Morgantown, WV) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 13 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | The Arclord Who Never Was (PFS2 4-05) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 13 | 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Psychic Echoes (SFS2 1-23) | SFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Game Theory – Duraleigh (Raleigh, NC) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 13 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Rescue in the Wreck (SFS2 1-22) | SFS2 | Hampton Roads – Tap N Roll – Newport News (Newport News, VA) | Warhorn |
| Mon, Jul 13 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Disaster at Dreamlink Labs (SFS2 1-03) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Online (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Jul 14 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Invasion’s Edge (SFS1 1-01) | SFS1 | Garden River Lodge (Augusta, GA) | Garden River site |
| Tue, Jul 14 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | The Handmaiden’s Gaze (PFS2 7-22) | PFS2 | Garden River Lodge (Augusta, GA) | Garden River site |
| Tue, Jul 14 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Rescue in the Wreck (SFS2 1-22) | SFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Tue, Jul 14 | 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM | A Star’s Journey (PFS2 7-16) | PFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Online (Richmond Discord) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Jul 15 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Psychic Echoes (SFS2 1-23) | SFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Jul 15 | 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Crown of the Kobold King, Ch. 4: Droskar’s Doom | PFS2 | Palmetto Lodge (Columbia) – Firefly (Columbia, SC) | Warhorn |
| Wed, Jul 15 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | The Hollowed Shell (SFS2 1-25) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Manuel’s Tavern (Atlanta, GA) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 16 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Intro: Year of Battle’s Spark—Enough is Enough (PFS2 7-01) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Paragon Gaming (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 16 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | The Home of Empty Breath (PFS2 7-21) | PFS2 | NC Triad PFS – House of Cards (Winston-Salem, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 16 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Abomination Vaults, Part 3: Eyes of Empty Death (PFS2 AP 165) | PFS2 | Hampton Roads – Atomic Comics Emporium (Hampton Roads, VA) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 16 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | The King in Thorns (PFS2 2-00) | PFS2 | Durham PFS – Atomic Empire (Durham, NC) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 16 | 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Final Gambit: Part Two (SFS2 1-26) | SFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Online (Richmond Discord) | Warhorn |
| Thu, Jul 16 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | The Great Absalom Relay (SFS2 1-04) | SFS2 | AtlantaPFS – Online (Fantasy Grounds Unity) | Warhorn |
| Fri, Jul 17 | 6:00 PM (Extended) | The Second Confirmation | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Breaching the Wreck (SFS2 1-21) | SFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Game Theory – Wake Forest (Raleigh, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Midnights in Maro (SFS2 1-18) | SFS2 | Raleigh PFS – Game Theory – Wake Forest (Raleigh, NC) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | A Star’s Journey (PFS2 7-16) | PFS2 | Athens PFS/SFS – Tyche’s Games (Athens, GA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | The Blakros Deception (PFS2 2-07) | PFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Battlegrounds RVA (Richmond, VA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Balancing the Scales (PFS2 2-05) | PFS2 | Richmond & Central VA PFS – Battlegrounds RVA (Richmond, VA) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | A Most Wondrous Exchange! (PFS2 4-07) | PFS2 | Mid-South Pathfinder Society (Memphis) – The Cellar (Memphis, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | The Home of Empty Breath (PFS2 7-21) | PFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – The Game Piece (Knoxville, TN) | Warhorn |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Corpse Fleet Conflict (SFS2 1-17) | SFS2 | East TN PFS (Knoxville) – Old Black Mountain Games and Toys (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.
💬 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
Congratulations to Morgantown on wrapping up their first CharCon this weekend. Gen Con and Southern-Fried Gaming Expo land at the end of July — and Gen Con in particular is worth watching closely this year, with the annual rules-change blog expected this Thursday. DragonCon is now inside its final 20 days of volunteer scheduling, with the roster due July 31; sign-ups moved the needle this week from roughly 70% to roughly 60% projected cancellations, but we need that trend to keep going.
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. ⚔️🎲