D&D 4E 4e Rpga=mmtrpg?

[Reynard]

Note: this is not a dig at the RPGA or 4E.

From the Chris Perkins podcast thread:

Then there was this bit about how your character sheet will be labeled as "tournament legal" or not. What was interesting was that he said that if you had an item that was "not of an appropriate level" you would get some type of warning, and your sheet would be marked...

I said this in another thread and I think it got lost too quickly, but I have a funny feeling that the RPGA* is going to get a major boost with 4E and is going to become something of a Massive Multiplayer Traditional RPG. I don't mean that as a "videogamey" dig either; rather, I mean all the positive aspects of shared experience and even footing and competition -- not to mention the ability to play in sanctioned events on-line, at any time, without the need for getting the guys together on a work night -- could be emphasized for 4E RPGA play.

I would guess that RPGA* membership will come bundled with D&DI membership, and that RPGA sanctione devents will be designed to be played with the tools available on the digital tabletop, and that it doesn't matter where you play a particular adventure: con, digital or home game. Also, given the push to make Gleemax an actual social networking type gamer site, the feeling of being part of a larger world within the game and community outside of it becomes easier.

*I am not sure if Wizards owns the RPGA, but if not I assume they will license it or create their own form of organized play.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

I'll pipe in that if I liked 4th edition, I am tempted to join RPGA here in Quebec.

I just hope they will consider the local differences and not work in english only, at least.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

I'll pipe in that if I liked 4th edition, I am tempted to join RPGA here in Quebec.

I just hope they will consider the local differences and not work in english only, at least.

I can assure you, this is one of the things I've already thought of for our region. We'll come up with a solution one way or another.

Chris Wachal
POC - Living Forgotten Realms Region of Canada

 

[Creamsteak]

The "RPGA Tournament Legal stamp of approval" sounds like it is a general label that this character fits within standard wealth/stat/spell guidelines. Of course, I think we can assume that the list of approved stuff will extend beyond the core to include new wizards of the coasts books. I think that there could be a problem with people using every single "official" source that comes out to create the 'best' tournament legal characters, but that's not really my problem.

Personally, I'd love to be able to build a community like Living EN World within the scope of such a system, but I don't see that happening. It would be pretty interesting to have a shared setting between 50 or so players/dms that allows characters to advance within the specific confines of the setting.

 

[Rechan]

I'm pleasantly surprised that this thread has nothing to do with what I suspected based on the title.

That is all.

 

[Glyfair]

*I am not sure if Wizards owns the RPGA, but if not I assume they will license it or create their own form of organized play.

The RPGA is part of WotC. A pretty poorly funded part of them, but part nonetheless.

 

[The Little Raven]

The RPGA is part of WotC. A pretty poorly funded part of them, but part nonetheless.

If their four-element strategy for 4th edition holds true, then it should be getting a boost in the future.

 

[Glyfair]

If their four-element strategy for 4th edition holds true, then it should be getting a boost in the future.

I believe it when I see that they are hiring a real staff. As it stands the standard excuse for why something isn't done is "we don't have the manpower for it."

What sort of things?

The RPGA campaign database has often been out-of-date. Adventures not posted (they constantly used to allow the Dungeon adventures to expire without putting in the new ones). Fastplay characters take forever to get posted (they never posted the last round of Mark of Heroes ones, and there were months of new adventures after the last bump).

The RPGA grinds to a half when summer con season rolls around. At that time it really appears the purpose of the RPGA is to support the big cons and everything else is nice to have if they can get around to it.

 

[Antonlowe]

Man, I just had this great idea for a community based setting. It will be POL. Create a basic, map have a list of "official DMs", First continent use everything in the 3 core books, when new splat books come out add new continents. Could be a lot of fun.

 

[Darkwolf71]

I would guess that RPGA* membership will come bundled with D&DI membership.

It's late (early) and I may be more cynical than normal, but I find this to be unlikely. Especially since IMO the RPGA will experiance a boost in membership due to the online abilities of 4e.