Post/Author/DateTime	Post
delroland 09-13-07, 12:51 AM	So, browsing the threads, I see a common theme popping up from time to time: what happens when we run out of regional mods? I had a thought as to how to rectify this situation. RPGA already gives reward points for players in non-sanctioned home games. I believe we should build on this by building a "Generic Adventure Template", one which has XP, gold, and item caps already in place, as well as a few sample encounter CR charts (not specific monsters, just CR's that total up to the XP cap). This could be used by a home GM to write his own mini-adventures to run at home that would be considered, for all intents and purposes, official LFR games. The main concern I am sure most of you would have is that players could use this to catapult their characters above and beyond the expected campaign power curve. However, it would be very easy to limit the gains for these home mods. First of all, GM's would be limited to handing out only basic magic items to their players. Secondly, by reducing the possible rewards to below that of a normal, published LFR mod and charging the same number of TU's, we limit character growth so that it stays in line with the rest of the campaign. Finally, we could institute a level cap on home mods that increases from year to year so as to prevent people from being more than one level above the expected curve. This would serve two purposes: one, to keep people playing LFR even when there is no new content available (which does happen from time to time, especially if people are avid players, and ESPECIALLY at the beginning of the campaign), so that they don't get bored and move on to something else. Two, this would reduce or eliminate the need for "intro" mods, as home GM's could get their players leveled up and kitted out for "real" campaign play. Now, I am not sure if this is viable, or even desirable, but I figured I would throw it out there and see what you guys think.
aljergensen 09-13-07, 03:15 PM	That's an interesting idea, if you could develop guidelines. I would recommend that they don't grant any access (if that's even an issue in LFR) but simply give out XP and GP. The hard part would be where the adventure takes place and how it interacts with the overall story arc. Part of what makes a living campaign is the idea that the majority of people are interacting in the same shared world. Maybe there could be a corner (or two) of the world set aside for home game use. The advantages I see is that it would make it easier to make mini "special" missions for just your gaming group. It also gives aspiring mod authors a way to hone their craft. Allen.
smerwin29 09-13-07, 03:26 PM	Xen'drik Expeditions already does this through what is known as DM's Marks. LG also does this, somewhat, in the high-level campaign. It is certainly something worthy of investigation for a place in LFR.
Butterface 09-13-07, 04:36 PM	Yep, you're basically describing a DM's Mark, which I really enjoyed in XE. Especially if the majority of your play is at home, you'll find that there is alot of character-specific events that the regular mods just don't address. That's whats great about a DM's Mark, the DM can tailor it (within the xp/gp limitations) to his home group. Pre-written adventures are great, but for alot of DMs, they don't really shine unless they're DM'ing something that they made themselves. . . I looked at the DM's Marks in XE as "filling in the gaps" that seem to pop up in between adventures.
tharlan 09-13-07, 09:00 PM	Probably the easiest way to do this (and I do like this idea) is to say that a character can gain no more than Y x level = Z experience per year. If experience given in the adventure exceeds what you can earn then you can earn up to Z and any other experience is lost. You may play as many DM Mark scenarios as you can as long as you do not exceed Z for that year. If you said, 100 = Y, then you really are not giving them more than what, 10% of current first level? Also something like this allows your first level character to play in one DMs Mark in their first year, possibly 3 or 4 depending on how much XP is given out in year 3, ect. Just a thought... :-) Troy The Troubled. :-)
tombollis 09-13-07, 09:48 PM	Probably the easiest way to do this (and I do like this idea) is to say that a character can gain no more than Y x level = Z experience per year. If experience given in the adventure exceeds what you can earn then you can earn up to Z and any other experience is lost. You may play as many DM Mark scenarios as you can as long as you do not exceed Z for that year. If you said, 100 = Y, then you really are not giving them more than what, 10% of current first level? Also something like this allows your first level character to play in one DMs Mark in their first year, possibly 3 or 4 depending on how much XP is given out in year 3, ect. Just a thought... :-) Troy The Troubled. :-) Easier still is no limitation. A character need only be limited by the level of adventures available. If the campaign isn't ready for 11th level characters, don't allow 11th level charactrs to be played yet. Once appropriate adventures are available, the character can be used again. No artificial limitations required. Tom Bollis
tharlan 09-13-07, 10:11 PM	Hey there Tom! I was referring to the concept of the DM Mark idea that was being tossed around. I am fully in agreement with you about not letting 11th level players in by not writing 11th level mods. Just was throwing my two cents in about the concept of some sort of customizable event that could be played as a filler or even bandied into a special mission, and was posting about ways to limit it. Take care! Troy
madoule 09-13-07, 10:51 PM	Looks as if i'll be planning more of these At home Home brews untill the show gets started. Can anyone here refer me to a pre-made module that I could use durring the next session I have planned, or do I keep using the home module code? =(