Adventurers League, Home Play, and Public Play for Out of the Abyss characters

[movieholic1977]

To whom this concerns,

I am afraid i have a difficult problem with my local Flag Ship Store that runs Out of the Abyss. I have read everything i could find and still have not figured out what is legal or illegal for public play, nor have i found what is legal for home play or even Adventurers League. I believe by posting this i can get some clarity for not only me but others as well. So here is my problem:

My group was not allowed to start until October 1st, 2015, because the DM didn't want to start until then. This is rather annoying but it means we should all be the same level, sadly we are not. There is at least a level 3 character, and maybe more but there is no way that i know of to confirm this.

The total number of games run since October 1st, 2015 is approximately 5. At this point, simple math tells you that something is seriously wrong, but what exacrtly is a bit of a mystery.

I was not allowed to play in one of the 5 games because there were too many people, and on a personal note i would like to know if this could be fixed?

Only certain people are allowed to be DM's, i had one chance but was told that i am not allowed to run anymore because i was "too slow" and that "if you get done early with the module then thats all the time you get", meaning run thru the module for the players benefit cause they don't care either way.

And most grievious of all, was the Voting of Rules to be followed in the Code of Conduct. Last week, November 10th, 2015, i asked another player to stop using swear words and offensive rules and language in front of me and at the game table. I was a pc or player character and so was me. The DM instead called for an open vote and i lost 5 to 1. So to overly clarify, we literally voted on, " Disruptive Behavior• Excessively vulgar or profane language "

I find this offensive, and sadly powerless as i do not know how to make this stop without sounding like a whiner here on the boards.

I tried talking to the store owner but they do not even care or even know that they are an Organizer and have some sway over these complaints.

So again and in closing, i am here asking both for an official answer and advice on how to proceed.

I love to play DnD but not with the 20 year olds that are mostly foul mouth and nonchalant about these matters.

Thanks for your advice and help in these matters,

Loyal DnD Player for over 20 years,
Michael Lyons of Houghton Lake, MI

 

[movieholic1977]

In response to Home Play and Public Play, i forgot to mention the following:

I believe the players at the end of the game, say to one another, lets go back to the DM's house and continue from there. Now since the DM and at least 2 other players have a house together, plus the DM's girlfriend is another player, that means that play continues there at their "not open to the public" house while i go home to my wife.

Its complicated, but it explains how one PC is level 3 as well as the others are at various levels.

The question evolves into "legality."

Is this legal? Your taking a sanctioned game in the public sphere and choosing whom to continue with and whome to exclude for obvious personal reasons

Where is the line or the rules for Home Play or Public Play?

All i could find was, " The Lost Mine of Phandelver" is legal for HOME PLAY ONLY !? Could i get confirmation that this is true?

Again thank you in advance for your thoughts as this weighs heavy on me,

Michael

 

[skerritthegreen]

All of the published adventures (Mine of Phandelver, Tyranny of Dragons, Rise of Tiamat, Princes of the Apocalypse, and Out of the Abyss) along with DDEX3-1 and DDEX3-2 from the expeditions part of the campaign, are all legal for homeplay.

 

[TwinPeaksGuy]

Michael,

Seems to me you'd be better off not playing with the "clique" at your FLGS. Find a different store, find a group on Fantasy Grounds, find a group of people you get along with in person. Questions about what is and is not legal are beside the point if their standards for good behavior differ so starkly from yours and they're actively trying to cut you out.

 

[Pauper]

I'm not an admin or otherwise have any authority within Adventurers League, but I'll give you my opinions as a former Store Organizer (my store shut down in January of 2015):

First off, let me say that the store owner does not have to be the Store Organizer -- in my own store, the owner deferred to me because he didn't want to have to be involved any more than required (which for him was entering the data into the Wizards Event Reporter to get credit for the things I was organizing). So you'll want to find out who the actual Store Organizer is, because if the owner doesn't care, that's the person who is 'in charge' in your FLGS.

I was not allowed to play in one of the 5 games because there were too many people, and on a personal note i would like to know if this could be fixed?

The maximum number of players allowed at a legal Adventurers League table is 7 -- any more than that makes it difficult for the DM to provide an appropriately balanced challenge for the party at the table.

However, the AL FAQ specifically allows organizers to limit tables to less than 7 players if that is the best solution for their venue (the DM is inexperienced, there's not enough room for all the players in the play area, or whatever reason the organizer comes up with). AL presumes that the local organizer knows best how many players should be on each table to provide the best possible D&D experience.

Only certain people are allowed to be DM's, i had one chance but was told that i am not allowed to run anymore because i was "too slow" and that "if you get done early with the module then thats all the time you get", meaning run thru the module for the players benefit cause they don't care either way.

It's up to the organizer to decide who will be a DM at that store -- you're welcome to volunteer, and most organizers are actively looking for more folks to run at their stores, but not every organizer accepts every volunteer.

And most grievious of all, was the Voting of Rules to be followed in the Code of Conduct. Last week, November 10th, 2015, i asked another player to stop using swear words and offensive rules and language in front of me and at the game table. I was a pc or player character and so was me. The DM instead called for an open vote and i lost 5 to 1. So to overly clarify, we literally voted on, " Disruptive Behavior• Excessively vulgar or profane language "

Well, please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm guessing that the DM decided to hold the vote as a way of pointing out that you're the only one at the table who felt that the language used at the table rose to the level of being disruptive to the game. The ALPG specifically allows that "if the situation calles for a more or less serious response to resolve a situation, the organizer is empowered to take appropriate action." You may feel, rightly so, that the environment isn't friendly to new players, but if the DM/organizer feels that you are the problem, then subtly suggesting you might want to find a different place to play would be appropriate.

Your options, at this point, are to communicate your experience (which you've done here, but I'd also recommend letting Wizards Customer Service know, as they're the only folks who might have any influence over what benefit the store gets from running AL), and find a table that's more conducive to your style of play. It sucks, but it's more likely to be effective than trying to legislate an entire game store into playing the kind of game you want to play.

--
Pauper

 

[movieholic1977]

Proud to go down swinging...

Another game, another night

Today i learned my DM was "poly-amorous", because there is no filter down at the local game store. People talk about whatever they want no matter how disgusted you might feel about something. I wish this could be stopped but feel that only Wizard Customer Service can step in after filling out a complaint form.

We played "Secrets of Sokol." When we got to the Animated Armors, there were 4 of them. The DM told all of us it was his goal to make sure one of the PCs died. The party warlock rolled a natural 1. So the DM made her roll a d8, and magically he chose me, so i took an eldritch blast, ouchy, but having 12 hp i am alive at like 4 hp. On my turn i move 5 feet, use a Help action, this advantage to the next ally in our party, i use healing word to go back to like 8 hp, woot, i am still alive. The party fighter goes attacks and kills 1, yeah. Then the next party fighter apparently got possessed by the Animated Armor, no save, somehow the armor magically bonded to him and made him attack me, so i took 9. I am at negative 1 or 0 per the rules. Ok i got this. I make a death saving throw, woot, coming back soon...

If you look at the abilities of Animated Armor, no where does it say that they make someone attack anotehr PC, its just the obvious failure of the DM who just doesn't like me..

The enemies go, since there are 3 of them. 2 attack me with obvious advantage, 1 hits me. automatic failure towards death. The next one rolls a 20, so death to the party cleric. oh well...

I say to all in the party, well at least you get to learn about death and death saving throws.

I ask if anyone has read the books, no one has....sad, so sad

Best Joke of the Night award went to the party fighter who killed me when he asks the following to the DM:

"Do I have to roll High, cause I don't wanna lose this spell ? "

lets let that sink in for a second...

so clearly no one knows how to play, nor do they care, but thats ok, its not a good place anyways, and sometimes we haev to lose in order to win, so lots of lessons learned here

Thanks for the above helps and comments

No longer playing 5e

Michael

 

[Tyranthraxus]

Honestly, I wish you would name the store. It sounds like the AL there isnt AL. Ive run 'Secrets of Sokol Keep' about 5 times now. Its actually one of my go to in a hurry games I can run If I need to. My group sounds a bit like yours, most are casual gamers who dont own a PHB.

1) There are no critical failures in 5e (ie rolling a 1). A characters spell cannot magically strike someone else, someones sword cannot stab a fellow party member.
2) You are very correct. Animated Armors .. and in particular those animated armors cannot possess people. They are are animated intellgience residing in a construct essentially.
3) To be honest the dm sounds like a .. well.. Im not sure I can say what I want to say in here on that person. It may be that they dont care about the rules, but obviously have gone to the effort of getting the scenario.

Have you thought about dming yourself? Its the best way to promote rules knowledge and conformity. I essentially started a Lost Mine of Phandelver group at my local store from the remnants of new players and people from games where the dm was flaky. I AM a rules enforcer (not neccesarily a rules lawyer) and Ill point out quickly if people are doing the wrong thing. Generally they dont know better.

Do you have any other stores in your area? Its say to see a player give up 5e because of a bad dm. I cant honestly say you will never find another bad one, because there are a lot of people who are pushed into it by other players and they just cant, but there are also many many good ones out there.

 

[skerritthegreen]

No longer playing 5e

I'm sorry of your experience, but it sounds like it was entirely the people you played with and very little to do with the rules system/game. I'd encourage you to mention your experience to your store coordinator and why you won't be playing there/frequenting their store anymore, but do try playing somewhere else. Not everyone is a **** who delights in making others miserable. There's lots of good people in gaming.

 

[Steve_MND]

it sounds like the guy running it is running it like a home campaign, with his own made-up house rules and such, and just using the AL modules as a base to work off of (and also probably has a bit of a callous mean streak). He may be ignoring the underlying concept of how an Organized Play campaign is different from a home campaign, or he may just be ignorant of those changes.

Regardless, sorry you got hung up with such an... eccentric DM and group. If it's any consolation, that all is very much not how it's supposed to be run.

 

[Pauper]

Today i learned my DM was "poly-amorous", because there is no filter down at the local game store. People talk about whatever they want no matter how disgusted you might feel about something. I wish this could be stopped but feel that only Wizard Customer Service can step in after filling out a complaint form.

Aaaand there we go.

It certainly seems from your description that the folks at this store are jerks, but then again this comment makes it seem as though their behavior toward you might be explainable, if not justified.

You've read the Player's Handbook, right? Especially this part?

"You don't need to be confined to binary notions of sex and gender. The elf god Corellon Larethian is often seen as androgynous or hermaphroditic, for example, and some elves in the multiverse are made in Corellon's image. You could also play a female character who presents herself as a man, a man who feels trapped in a female body, or a bearded dwarf who hates being mistaken for a male. Likewise, your character's sexual orientation is for you to decide." (Player's Handbook, p.121)

This is a pretty explicit statement of inclusiveness and tolerance when it comes to gender and sexuality, and there was an entire thread here in the ENWorld 5e boards that was discussing the degree to which that phrase was serving as motivation and invitation for gamers who identify as trans-gender, as poly-amorous, or even as asexual that the game acknowledges that they exist and might want to engage in some of this 'role play' stuff that's been around for decades. Sadly, that thread got derailed and it was shut down. (Note: this is not an invitation to start up that discussion again in this thread, merely a point illustrative to the original poster.)

The Adventurers League has a goal of being inclusive and welcoming, but it's a two-way street; the people being included must be welcoming as well. Walking into an existing game and insisting that the game be run according to your personal rules of decency and organization is simply not going to end well for you, regardless of the nobility of your intentions.

No longer playing 5e

This seems a bit excessive -- you'd be better served finding a different group that matches your outlook than in giving up the game completely. But it's ultimately your call what you want to do with your time.

--
Pauper