D&D 5E DM rewards in the D&D Adventurers League
- Thread starter Raddu
- Start date
Thaumaturge
Wandering. Not lost. (He/they)
It's my understanding that DMs will get to level up a character as they DM. If that is true, being able to give that character an occasional magic item would also be nice.
As far as physical rewards, battle mats are nice. Anything a DM can pull out at a store to make the experience easier: mats, screens, or minis.
Maybe coupons for dndclassics.com.
Thaumaturge.
As far as physical rewards, battle mats are nice. Anything a DM can pull out at a store to make the experience easier: mats, screens, or minis.
Maybe coupons for dndclassics.com.
Thaumaturge.
Alphastream
Hero
There are a couple of different rewards I like. First and foremost, I want to see DMs encouraged to DM. One part of that is for DMs to feel like DMing is cool. They are recognized, cared for, valued, and seen as special. A second part is to remove perceived detriments to DMing.
Along those lines, it would be great for DMs to be able to, every time they run an adventure, apply the benefits (XP, treasure, items, but perhaps not certs) to one of their characters. (No character can receive the reward of an adventure more than once, and that character can't also play the adventure. Also, the DM doesn't have to apply this benefit if they don't care to do so). This helps DMs stay current with their play group and facilitates groups that want to rotate the DM job.
Prestige can really help. I recall being new to Living Greyhawk and hearing about DM 'levels' and seeing DMs that had swagger around the levels they had obtained. Pathfinder Society borrowed from that system and has put it to good use recognizing their most experienced DMs. The system can help promote DMs so they take on more responsibilities and want to become further involved. DM levels could link to all kinds of benefits, particularly in Expeditions where they might be able to leave their mark on the campaign world if there are special ways to interact with the campaign (participate in a special online event, special table at Winter Fantasy, get to name an NPC, get to decide an NPC's fate, weigh in on plot with the admins, design a monster, etc.).
Physical rewards can both provide swagger and serve as a reminder that the DM is valued. I count my RPGA rewards as some of my most prized possessions. Promo minis are cool. Special AL adventures, even short bits like conversions of DnDClassics adventures or 'lost levels' can be awesome. Discounts on DnDClassics would be fantastic. The ability to get older rewards that are hard to get, such as copies of older Encounters adventures, maps from those adventures, dice, or other collectibles would be really cool and encourage more DMing from the people I know.
Along those lines, it would be great for DMs to be able to, every time they run an adventure, apply the benefits (XP, treasure, items, but perhaps not certs) to one of their characters. (No character can receive the reward of an adventure more than once, and that character can't also play the adventure. Also, the DM doesn't have to apply this benefit if they don't care to do so). This helps DMs stay current with their play group and facilitates groups that want to rotate the DM job.
Prestige can really help. I recall being new to Living Greyhawk and hearing about DM 'levels' and seeing DMs that had swagger around the levels they had obtained. Pathfinder Society borrowed from that system and has put it to good use recognizing their most experienced DMs. The system can help promote DMs so they take on more responsibilities and want to become further involved. DM levels could link to all kinds of benefits, particularly in Expeditions where they might be able to leave their mark on the campaign world if there are special ways to interact with the campaign (participate in a special online event, special table at Winter Fantasy, get to name an NPC, get to decide an NPC's fate, weigh in on plot with the admins, design a monster, etc.).
Physical rewards can both provide swagger and serve as a reminder that the DM is valued. I count my RPGA rewards as some of my most prized possessions. Promo minis are cool. Special AL adventures, even short bits like conversions of DnDClassics adventures or 'lost levels' can be awesome. Discounts on DnDClassics would be fantastic. The ability to get older rewards that are hard to get, such as copies of older Encounters adventures, maps from those adventures, dice, or other collectibles would be really cool and encourage more DMing from the people I know.
DMZ2112
Chaotic Looseleaf
Thaumaturge shows his usual genius.
I think at various points throughout the long reign of the RPGA I was rewarded with a branded battlemat, the Fist of Emirikol, and two free adventures.
The battlemat saw a lot of use during D&D3, but now I use laminated poster-size inch-quad-rule paper; it's easier to see and erase. There are so many superior options to the traditional vinyl battlemat these days that I would be kind of disappointed to receive one, not in the least because D&D5 doesn't need one (praise be).
The Fist is awesome, and I still find a use for it from time to time -- for a while players in my public campaign could accumulate reward points towards rolling it and receiving a random advantage in play -- but as merchandise goes I would have preferred a nice branded dice bag or set of premium dice. A t-shirt, a car magnet. I still have my brass lacquer pin from when I first started paying RPGA dues back in the early 90s, and I still wear it on my dice bag. I like swag that lets me show off that I'm a "qualified" dungeon master.
(That's a dungeon master who meets qualifications, not a dungeon master only when certain qualifications are met. Isn't English wonderful?)
I never ran either of the two free adventures I earned (The Village of Hommlet and the direct conversion of the Tomb of Horrors) because by that time I was already through with D&D4, but all things considered I would have preferred some kind of balance at dndclassics.com had it existed at the time, so I could purchase my own choices of adventure. This is only more true now that D&D5 lends itself so well to early-edition conversions.
So, in short, I like branded flash and free money.
But oddly, what I'd most like to see come back is the ranking system from the old days. I was too young when it was discontinued and never had the opportunity to become a paragon judge. I realize this is probably counter to the mission of the Adventurers League and the simplification of organized play, but man, I eat this rank stuff up. That would really keep me dungeon mastering.
jodyjohnson
Adventurer
Optional Character XP, preprinted battlemats, and a ranking system.
Thaumaturge
Wandering. Not lost. (He/they)
The general truism that DMs are more valuable and rare than players means that investing a small amount of money in free adventures enables a relatively large amount of playing, which seems beneficial to the hobby at all.
The branded swag is cool, too. An ampersand pin would be relatively cheap and would be a cool bit of kit to show around.
Thaumaturge.
DMZ2112
Chaotic Looseleaf
Ah, QFT.
I was thinking what a nice lacquer pin any of the new D&D logos, including the Adventurers League logo, would make, but just the ampersand would be slick as hot grease. Either in black and red lacquer or just in silver relief.
Thaumaturge
Wandering. Not lost. (He/they)
This is the one I stalk in the dreamscape, seeking with outstretched, clasping hands.
Thaumaturge.
