D&D AL admin Greg Marks talks with Misdirected Mark about recent changes.

darjr · Dec 13, 2016

http://misdirectedmark.com/dwdd78-greg-marks-on-the-dd-adventurers-league/?platform=hootsuite

Let’s get down with D&D AL Admin Greg Mark’s. We talk AL changes, misconceptions, content, and some hints at future seasons. Enjoy and find your OP groove.

skerritthegreen · Dec 13, 2016

Give it a listen. Next week I will also be talking James Introcasso of the Tome Show's Roundtable on a similar set of topics.

Motorskills · Jan 2, 2017

While I'm excited that AL is generating high level content, I'm intrigued as to how they will achieve this, as the discussion I've seen says that 5e is simply not adequately constructed to cope with it.

Warmaster Horus · Jan 4, 2017

Check out the Durlag's Tower duo or DDAL00-01 for some takes on high level play for AL. They offer what appear to be (I haven't played them yet) serious challenges for a high level party. This occurs in five ways -
1) Bosses with powerful offensive abilities and staying power
2) Placing non-trivial supporting monsters with bosses to slow up the PC onslaught
3) Deadly environments that favor the monsters and cause significant interference to the PCs
4) 'Corrosive' Exploration - ie exploration that soaks PC resources as they move through the adventure via traps, environmental conditions, PC choices, etc
5) Restrictions on Resting, or at least significant consequences depending on how PCs use rests during the mod

CapnZapp · Jan 8, 2017

Warmaster Horus said:
Check out the Durlag's Tower duo or DDAL00-01 for some takes on high level play for AL. They offer what appear to be (I haven't played them yet) serious challenges for a high level party. This occurs in five ways -
1) Bosses with powerful offensive abilities and staying power
2) Placing non-trivial supporting monsters with bosses to slow up the PC onslaught
3) Deadly environments that favor the monsters and cause significant interference to the PCs
4) 'Corrosive' Exploration - ie exploration that soaks PC resources as they move through the adventure via traps, environmental conditions, PC choices, etc
5) Restrictions on Resting, or at least significant consequences depending on how PCs use rests during the mod

Easier said than done.

But, if they pull it off I'm intrigued.

Nutation · Jan 10, 2017

Warmaster Horus said:
Check out the Durlag's Tower duo or DDAL00-01 for some takes on high level play for AL. They offer what appear to be (I haven't played them yet) serious challenges for a high level party. This occurs in five ways -
1) Bosses with powerful offensive abilities and staying power
2) Placing non-trivial supporting monsters with bosses to slow up the PC onslaught
3) Deadly environments that favor the monsters and cause significant interference to the PCs
4) 'Corrosive' Exploration - ie exploration that soaks PC resources as they move through the adventure via traps, environmental conditions, PC choices, etc
5) Restrictions on Resting, or at least significant consequences depending on how PCs use rests during the mod

I recognize all of these from the 4E Living FR epic modules, so this may be universally applicable advice. #4 and sometimes #1 and #3 also involved unique rules and abilities that were thematically appropriate to each module.

RCanine · Jan 12, 2017

Nutation said:
I recognize all of these from the 4E Living FR epic modules, so this may be universally applicable advice. #4 and sometimes #1 and #3 also involved unique rules and abilities that were thematically appropriate to each module.

They weren't in 4E LFR originally; it seems like it's a natural part of the development process. The authors (well, WotC) overoptimize for simplicity, and end up with milquetoast monsters at high levels. With better system mastery comes revisions to the design rules.