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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Coredump" data-source="post: 6807653" data-attributes="member: 6939">Yeah...  (Note, the terminology is all changing soon, but I will use the 'old' terms)"Encounters" is based on using the hardback book and a continual story, often with the same PCs in a party.  While some folks will come and go, a party that started together will usually be given the chance to stay together.  At my LGS, one table has been very consistent and has the same 6 PCs the entire time. Other tables have more come and go."Expeditions" is more like what you are used to.  They are a single, self-contained, adventure that is intended to be run in a single sitting.  These tend to have different PC groups each time.I did not play 4E, but from how you explain them, the current "expeditions" are not as formulaic as you are used to. AL is producing about 30 of these self-contained adventures each year.  They are broken up into 2 Seasons with an overall story arc, that also has ties with the released Hardback.  Ex:  The hardback you played is in the underdark and deals with demons and madness.  The 15 mods released also deal with the underdark, and demons, and madness.  They are just happening in a different part of Faerun.AL has some 'official' pregens. (and really anyone can make one for their local group.)  Its too bad they did not have any available for you.All AL PCs need to start at 1st level.  This usually isn't a problem, unless you are joining an "encounter" group that is already been playing for awhile. OTOH, it also means that after 1 session you will be 2nd level, and maybe even 3rd level. So the problem quickly goes away.I can't speak to the actual encounters you had, since I am not that familiar with that part of the adventure.I see how the 'playgroup' feeling could lead to a 'noobie vs veteran' feel.... but I don't think thats it.  Turn it around, imagine you started playing a story with 5 other players, and played together every week for 4 months..... you probably would not want to arbitrarily break apart every few weeks just because somebody new came to the store.  (Assuming, of course, that there was another table available for the new people to play.)Record keeping is actually *very* important to AL, its one of the few hard rules. You need a logsheet, and you need to keep it up do date.  (that said, they are rarely actually checked....but they can be.)  A *PC* cannot play the same 'expedition" twice, and cannot play in the same "episode" (usually a chapter of the hardback) twiceA *Player* can play the same "expedition" or "episode" multiple times, as long as they use a different PC each time.Magic items and most PC info needs to be tracked on the Logsheet.My advice to you is to check the WotC site to find places that play AL. Then try and contact those places to see which days they play the Expedition modules. I think those will work better for you guys to get used to the system.  There is a new Season starting in March (Ravenloft). I may be easier to get into a continual story from the beginning.  (But if you had fun, you can always jump into the middle, but start from level 1)You can also get the Basic rules for free off of the WotC website, which you can use to create a PC that you like.  In AL you can change (Rebuild) your PC anytime before you get to 5th level.You can also get the AL PLayers Guide from the WotC website, which may answer some questions for you.Feel free to ask more here if you want...</blockquote>

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