RPGA adventures

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Non-RPGA member here.

Are RPGA adventures, like the new Undermountain series, available in any way to anyone other than the folks running the adventures at conventions? It seems like the new Undermountain series would be a good way to flesh out the Expedition module, but not if you have to be one of a handful of convention DMs to get them.

 

[kenobi65]

Generally speaking, no.

Typically, the contracts that RPGA has with their authors only authorizes the modules to be distributed for official RPGA play. This means that the RPGA can't make modules available for general release once they are "retired" from official play.

Also, most (if not all) RPGA modules contain a copyright notice that also indicates that they may only be distributed for official play. This means, among other things, that it's against RPGA rules for anyone in possession of a copy of an RPGA module to redistribute it to someone else.

That said, there are a few exceptions:

- In the past few years, some RPGA modules (mostly, if not entirely, modules from the "D&D Campaigns", like Mark of Heroes and Xen'drik Expeditions) have been printed in hard-copy form, and distributed to game stores as part of the RPGA's retail program. I'm not positive, but I think that these particular modules can be more freely distributed.

- Many of the newer RPGA contracts have the rights to the module revert to the author once retired from RPGA play; in theory, this means that the author would be free to redistribute the module as they see fit at that point. However, the author would have to remove any RPGA / WotC intellectual property from the module before doing so (which means any reference to proper names, non-OGC rules items, etc.) I'm not sure that many (if any) modules have been redistributed in this way, probably because it'd be a lot of work to take the non-OGC content out.

Also, virtually all RPGA adventures (including, I believe, the Undermountain modules) can be ordered for "home play" -- very few RPGA modules are convention-only. There's nothing preventing you from joining the RPGA, passing the Herald-level test (a very straightforward online test on D&D rules, which allows you to be an "event co-ordinator", and order modules), and then ordering the modules for your home group, though, technically, you still need to run them as "RPGA events" (which means your players will also need to be RPGA members, and you need to report the play of the adventures).

 

[Asmor]

It's really not difficult to get sanctioned. You need to be a member already-- unfortunately, that means attending an event because you can't sign up online-- then you take a test to become a herald-level GM and if you pass you can start running sanctioned home games and download the modules.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Hmmm. Shame you can't join up online. Getting the modules for home use does sound like the way to go, otherwise.

 

[MerricB]

You need to be a member already-- unfortunately, that means attending an event because you can't sign up online-- then you take a test to become a herald-level GM and if you pass you can start running sanctioned home games and download the modules.

You can also get someone to send you some RPGA membership cards. There are *lots* of them floating around out there, and most RPGA DMs have spares.

Cheers!

 

[kenobi65]

Hmmm. Shame you can't join up online.

Yah; there seem to be two issues that have prevented that.

1) RPGA is an international organization, and allows minors to join. Thus, they have to follow all international laws regarding privacy...and, my understanding is that there are European countries with very strict policies regarding the personal information of minors. RPGA HQ has explained that WotC lawyers have instructed them to not allow online sign-up, for this reason.

2) You need to be over 18 to take the Herald-level test; for a while, you could take the test without being an RPGA member, and if you passed, they'd issue you a number. Unfortunately, they found that the vast majority of people who did this *never* played an RPGA game -- apparently, they were just curious about the test, or wanted to test their knowledge. As each of these "new members" had to be processed through the RPGA system (which had to be done manually), it was eating up a lot of man-hours, for very little benefit to the organization...and, so, they stopped allowing this.

 

[kenobi65]

You can also get someone to send you some RPGA membership cards. There are *lots* of them floating around out there, and most RPGA DMs have spares.

Indeed...Whizbang, drop me a line off-list. I should be able to help you.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

kenobi65, you're my only hope!

E-mail sent.

 

[kenobi65]

kenobi65, you're my only hope!

Never heard that one before.

 

[pedr]

One comment on the Undermountain stuff: from what I've seen and read, the Undermountain adventures at Origins and GenCon are adaptations of the published adventures in Expedition to Undermountain. Certainly you need a copy of the hardcover to run them (I think that copies will be provided to Origins/GenCon judges).

So it's not likely to be 'extra content' to any significant degree.

However the upcoming Living Greyhawk 'Greyhawk Ruins' mini-campaign is going to be extra adventures exploring less challenging bits of Castle Greyhawk (and, it sounds like, interacting with various Greyhawk City factions). The aim is to provide adventures which get PCs about half-way to the level they need to be to start playing Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk - so a Living Greyhawk PC would have to do some other modules but should have plenty of time before the Expedition is released for Living Greyhawk play, something I don't really expect to happen this year.