Death House and Milestone Rules

[kalani]

For those who aren't aware, this season's Launch Event and Dragon+ adventure is Death House

For this adventure only - Milestones are allowed as per the following quote



This does not authorize players to use milestone rules with any other adventure (Rise of Tiamat, Curse of Strahd, etc).

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

Except that all of this is in direct contradiction to the Death House Instructions PDF...?

This is copied directly from the Character Advancement section of the PDF:

"In Death House, there are specific points in the adventure when characters level up. When you get to the place in the adventure that indicates the adventurers advance to 2nd level, award 300 XP to each character and allow them to level up, as well as take a long rest. When the adventurers complete the adventure, award an addition 600 XP, which will bring them up to 3rd level.
It is important to note that this is different from standard D&D Adventurers League XP awards. It is okay if a character doesn’t necessarily play in every single session that you go ahead and give them XP anyways. For example, if a character plays in the first 2 sessions, but XP is awarded at the end of session 3, when they return, you can go ahead and award them XP. Likewise, if a character joins the adventure for the first time in a session after the XP has been awarded, then they must wait until the next time XP is awarded in order to receive experience awards. Either way, use your best judgement, and do your best to avoid ‘feel-bad’ moments."

Since this is in a document that is specifically created for AL use, wouldn't that mean this is one instance where the Milestone Rule IS allowed in AL play? Specific trumps General, after all.

 

[kalani]

Adventurers League does not use Milestone rules (and never has). Ignore those instructions as they contradict the rules for AL.

(I tried to find a direct quote from Robert Adducci on this, but there have been so many posts on FB over the past 24hrs, it is like finding a needle in a haystack).

 

[darjr]

Milestone rules were in Rise of Tiamat and Hoard of the Dragon Queen and AL didn't use them either.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

Then why were the instructions, which were written with AL as the target audience, written to the contrary?

Until I see a response from the admins clarifying it one way or another, I will have to agree to disagree.

The only solace we can take is that this all has happened before S4 officially starts. Therefore, this adventure isn't even legal for AL play yet.

 

[kalani]

The module contains 7750 XP, which is enough XP to level 6 characters to 3rd level (assuming they overcome every obstacle). This isn't counting any additional XP that may be present if the DM scales the number of creatures in an encounter for larger parties.

 

[Raddu]

If you overcome every creature in the Death House the amount of XP is 7750, that's enough for a party of 6 to reach 3rd level. Ultimately it's the same, although using the Milestones will short some players XP.

If a new DM doesn't want to deal with the XP tracking they can use Milestones for Death House ONLY, however, we encourage DMs to use XP since it is the standard for other adventures.

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

So then the Instructions PDF is correct, thus meaning that Milestones is allowed for Death House?

 

[kalani]

UPDATE: Milestones will be allowed for Death House (and only Death House) after all.

If a new DM doesn't want to deal with the XP tracking they can use Milestones for Death House ONLY, however, we encourage DMs to use XP since it is the standard for other adventures.

I have edited the main entry in response to this change of policy.

 

[Nikmal]

So then the Instructions PDF is correct, thus meaning that Milestones is allowed for Death House?

As Robert said.. you can use the milestone rules for this adventure only. BUT if you do use the milestone rules.. then you will actually be shorting your player's characters of some XP then.

You should use the XP rules as AL is built around them. While the milestone rules can be used, as Robert also said, we would rather you used the XP rules instead if at all possible since the XP rules are used in every other adventure AL has.