The RPGA, D&D supplements and me

[MerricB]

haven't been an active member of the RPGA since the early/mid 80's.

what i've seen of the Living stuff brought back all of my bad experiences with them.
edit: meaning, i have tried the new stuff/RPGA but so far nothing is gonna get me to go active.

I think that's an entirely appropriate point of view, diaglo! The RPGA, by its very nature, is limited in what it can offer. I wouldn't trade my regular D&D game for a couple of extra sessions of RPGA adventures.

Mind you - I'd be very interested in playing in some of the DM's Mark adventures for the Mark of Heroes campaign, as they're written by the individual DMs rather than the RPGA...

I wonder if you could extend the idea of D&D alignments to the RPGA, thus you have the "Lawful" player who enjoys having the more rigid guidelines of the RPGA adventures, and the "Chaotic" player who rebels against the strictures?

In some cases, you could even view some RPGA adventures as having "training wheels" - for both DM and players.

Cheers!

 

[diaglo]

In some cases, you could even view some RPGA adventures as having "training wheels" - for both DM and players.

what i find ironic...

Olgar Shiverstone is the DM for the story hour in my sig.

so i probably wouldn't have even noticed he added the material until after we played it.

 

[Testament]

I'll be running it next month - I'll pass on the recommendation to my players... once I convince them that a party of 6 warforged is possibly not the best option. (Though amusing!)

Because of the dates, the first MoH adventure I'll run will be a DM's mark!

Cheers!

6 Warforged? HAH, I almost joined a group that was going to do that. Then again, some of my friends are running Team Shifter, 6 Shifters ALL going for Weretouched Master .

They're hysterical to watch in action from all reports; at Conquest we could hear the laughter from their room, on the rare occaisons that our room wasn't in hysterics at the pirate obsessed Warforged Swashbuckler and my character, Dr Johann Von Kruglor (an eccentric Hobgoblin detective)

 

[kenobi65]

One thing about the RPGA adventures I've never figured out: is it possible to download and use them in a home campaign without setting a "game day" date? I'd like to use some LGR adventures in my campaign, but I'd like to be able to download them, assess them, and then choose how to weave them in ... but the last time I looked into doing that, I had to set a specific date for home play and then provide specific feedback. I'm not really looking to run them for RPGA points. Is this even possible?

Generally speaking, no, it's not possible. Most RPGA modules are distributed by the RPGA solely for use as tournament modules (that is, for official play). The copyright notices on most RPGA modules spell out that distribution for any other purpose is forbidden.

However, as MerricB points out, LGR (and, apparently, MoH) are exceptions to this rule, in that the modules are also distributed to retailers.

 

[caudor]

I've been a member of the RPGA for years, but I've only been to two events. I noticed recently that adventures in Dungeon Magazine can now be played for points.

I'm interested in taking advantage of this opportunity for my 'home group', although I'll have to check into the details. I believe all that is necessary is for me to pass an online DM test.

 

[MerricB]

I've been a member of the RPGA for years, but I've only been to two events. I noticed recently that adventures in Dungeon Magazine can now be played for points.

I'm interested in taking advantage of this opportunity for my 'home group', although I'll have to check into the details. I believe all that is necessary is for me to pass an online DM test.

That's all - you need to pass the Herald DM test, which isn't hard.

Oh, and the RPGA is also now sanctioning Home brew games for points - my regular Greyhawk game is now sanctioned, despite me not using any RPGA material in it.

Cheers!

 

[Saeviomagy]

Is it true that the first mark of heroes module
1) Features an artifact level item as an (ineffective yet stupidly deadly) door guardian?
2) Introduces a new plane for the adventure when other planes would have sufficed? (messing with the entire campaign world's cosmology, not to mention the concept of 13-but-one-is-lost)
3) Introduces a new race for no particular reason?
4) Has sections that are impossible without the investigate feat? (which has been described by it's own author as being not essential to the act of investigating or finding clues...)

 

[MerricB]

Is it true that the first mark of heroes module...

Enjoy this read: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=393295

Please keep the discussion on the Wizards boards. It degenerated into a nasty flamewar there, and I don't want it spreading.

Cheers!

 

[Testament]

Is it true that the first mark of heroes module
1) Features an artifact level item as an (ineffective yet stupidly deadly) door guardian?

I looked at the Wizards Boards and found out about the item that way. Oooookaaaay, that's overkill, but I don't know a single player who got fragged by it. The sign is right there that tells you to wait for a representative.

2) Introduces a new plane for the adventure when other planes would have sufficed? (messing with the entire campaign world's cosmology, not to mention the concept of 13-but-one-is-lost)

Yes to the first part, there is a new plane involved, but a resounding no to the second, another plane would not have sufficed. It plays off the idea of Demiplanes as far as I can see, which still exist in Eberron.

3) Introduces a new race for no particular reason?

Hell no, the whole module is built around it! And as for the Whisper Gnome, it was a Whisper Gnome? I only found that out, again, at the WOTC board.

4) Has sections that are impossible without the investigate feat? (which has been described by it's own author as being not essential to the act of investigating or finding clues...)

Couldn't tell you for sure, since I'm building for Master Inquisitive, but I can see it being a whole buttload harder without the Investigate feat. You can blame the writers for that. I will say though, that without Disable Device the last encounter becomes a nightmare. With the "take one for the team" system though, that shouldn't be an issue UNLESS you have a rogue without that skill (like my own Dr Von Kruglor). I can't blame them for that, adventures are always written for the 4 Basic Monster Food Groups.

 

[Glyfair]

That's all - you need to pass the Herald DM test, which isn't hard.

Especially since you can keep taking it until you pass.

I've starting running the Mark of Heroes. So far, I've only run the DM's Mark adventure. I'll be running Reflections of the Multiverse at the end of the month.

BTW, does anyone know any good forums for discussing RPGA issues? Things like "how do you do this?" "What does this mean?" etc. The Wizards forums are disappointingly dead. That and I don't think I've seen any "official" appearances, either.