Questions abobut DMing Adventurer's League

[MNblockhead]

I would like to start DMing AL for kids, starting with the In Volo's Wake mini-adventurers.

I hate asking these questions because there is so much material out there. Perhaps I'm just dense or distracted but even after reading the DM's Guide, I'm still confused.

(1) How do I get DCI cards to hand out?

The recommendation to have computers available and instructions for creating a Wizard's account is not practical for games geared to kids. I read that I could order through the Wizard's Event Reporter, which I downloaded, but I couldn't log into it using my Wizard's account. After more research, it seems that the WER is only for retailers.

(2) Can you play without a DCI and fill in the DCI later if and when you get one?

While it would be ideal to hand out a DCI card with the parental consent form, if I don't have DCI cards, I can't do that. Can I instead just give the kids and their parents the character sheet, log sheet, account-registration instructions, and parental-consent form. That way, if the kids & parents are interested in playing at other AL events, they can register and fill in their DCI number retroactively. I can't see how it would matter, but I thought I would ask here, in case I'm missing something.

(3) What records do I need to keep as a DM?

I figure I might as well get my DM XP and downtime days for DMing. Do I just record this on my normal log sheet for the character I want to give the XP and DT to? Or is there a separate log I need to keep? Do I need to submit any records to WoTC? I thought I was supposed to register events using the WER, but again, that seems to be for retailers.

Sorry if this is a RTFM situation, but I spend a couple hours going over AL material last night and am still not clear on the above. Thanks for you

 

[darjr]

No worries.

DCI numbers and cards are really only needed for in store events and store sponsored events. The store gets credit and in turn they can have the books in store earlier than other retail outlets. Other bonuses may happen in the future. Bottom line you don't need DCI numbers.

Filling DCI numbers after the fact is frowned upon as well.

I'd encourage you to find a store to sponsor your events but you don't have to.

DM rewards are tracked on the character sheet you use them for. There is a handy card for keeping track of some of it. Also there are unofficial DM reward sheets. Note the card may be mandatory. Checking now.

 

[darjr]

OK I have mixed in DM rewards and the DM quests.
The DM rewards you track on the character log sheet of the character you give it too.

The DM quests come with a card for tracking.

I would recommend having a separate tracking sheet for DM rewards/quests.

 

[MNblockhead]

Thank you. So if I have a player in my game that doesn't have a DCI number, but they log everything correctly, if that player takes the character to an in-store AL event will it be accepted by the DM?

 

[darjr]

Yes. They may get asked to take a DCI number at that point for the store, but they don't need one before. If the log is in order and legal they are good.

 

[jasper]

You don't need this but I do and keep a dm cheat sheet. It has spaces for name, class/level, hit pts, Race , spell dc, AC, passive perception, Faction. And game day.
This helps so you don't have to ask what a person ac etc is all the time. And since I keep the last two weeks with me, I can do a spot check to see if someone made a mistake.

 

[MNblockhead]

Thanks, I used to keep a character tents that I put over my DMs screen until I started using Hero Lab in my normal campain.

With AL I'll probably ditch the software and go to 100% pen and paper. It sounds like what you are talking about is a mix of both a player-character reference and a log.

If I'm having different players all the time, I figured that I would just ask everyone for their AC and passive perception and write that down for the session.

In terms of spot checking character sheets, that's actually something I'm feeling a bit inadequate about. I've been running a campaign at home (non AL) for over two years with all the same characters and I almost never play. I'm very week on character creation and leveling options, especially for classes that my players don't use. Also, I don't own any of the early APs like Princes of the Apocalypse and the Rise of Tiamat, so there are probably character race and class options that I don't even have the reference materials for.

 

[Pauper]

Note that the ALPG (available from the DMs Guild) explains how to register for a DCI number online from the Wizards of the Coast website, if you have a player who really needs a DCI number before going to play at another venue. (See "How To Sign Up For A New DCI Number Online" on p.2 of the Season 5 Adventurers League Player's Guide.)

--
Pauper