Kind of comin at this from the same angle myself, not having done AL before and unlikely to be attracted to this change. It wouldn't surprise me if WotC is testing to see if people are interested in being able to drop into games without that accumulation metagame.
Presumably ya show up and play in order and level up as the adventures progress. But if you miss an adventure and play in the next you're still the right level. And if you go back and play the one you missed, you de-level and treat it like a flashback.
Honestly seems like a good simulation of classic pulp literature. Conan is the level he happens to be for that story.
They employ a bunch of 2nd edition vampires to level drain the PCs to the correct level.
Really, it's pretty much how fiction works in general. The protagonist is, or is not, the appropriate power level for whatever they face, since it's all authorial fiat.
No one seems to have commented on the bolded part. I wonder if this means there will be some more social interaction and investigation rules or guidelines in VRGtR?
Damn kids. THat AD&D not stinky 2E kid. Now mow my lawn. In the dark. To ticks off the neighbors.
In fairness most authors don't even think in terms of levels. That explanation is far more applicable than "authors make sure their heroes are of the right level for the challenge" implied by the earlier statement.
