Post/Author/DateTime	Post
WotC_Tulach 08-30-07, 05:08 PM	Here's a couple of bits of info for those browsing the new forum: 1. Living Forgotten Realms will have less than 20 but more than 6 regions. 2. The general call for administrators (as well as the tests and requirements) should be up on the RPGA site next week.
Relikin 08-30-07, 05:18 PM	So with less regions, there will be less opportunity to travel to other regions for modules, which could hurt conventions with a Living *** focus. Will there still be metaregions, or will they be unnecessary with the smaller number of triads needed?
JohnduBois 08-30-07, 05:31 PM	Here's a couple of bits of info for those browsing the new forum: 2. The general call for administrators (as well as the tests and requirements) should be up on the RPGA site next week. Chris, A couple questions on this: 1. Will there be a "cheat sheet" explaining what an administrator would be expected to know about the campaign setting prior to taking the test, or would we be limited to our knowledge? 2. Will you be responding to the flurry of "I want to help" e-mails you requested at GenCon, or should this be considered the response to those e-mails? How about those of use who e-mailed asking about the next D&D Campaign? Thanks a lot for keeping everyone as up-to-date on news as you can!
Geodragon 08-30-07, 06:06 PM	So with less regions, there will be less opportunity to travel to other regions for modules, which could hurt conventions with a Living *** focus. Will there still be metaregions, or will they be unnecessary with the smaller number of triads needed? While no answer has been given yet. The following presumption might be accurate: Even w/ less regions, you have to remember, 4E supports on-line play. You won't have to travel beyond your computer to participate in RPGA sanctioned modules.
catsclaw 08-30-07, 06:11 PM	Even w/ less regions, you have to remember, 4E supports on-line play. You won't have to travel beyond your computer to participate in RPGA sanctioned modules.I'll believe it when I see it. Admittedly, my online play experience is limited, but from what I've seen it generally takes twice as long to run a module online as it does face-to-face. If you can only spare 5 hours a week for gaming, you'd never be able to finish a single mod.
JohnduBois 08-30-07, 06:19 PM	I'll believe it when I see it. Admittedly, my online play experience is limited, but from what I've seen it generally takes twice as long to run a module online as it does face-to-face. If you can only spare 5 hours a week for gaming, you'd never be able to finish a single mod. That varies based on the system used. If you use voice chat, it can take time similar to that of a real mod. I've even had some online games with prepared DMs run faster than the mod would have IRL. The issue is that face-to-face gaming is easier to prep for and easier to do unprepped.
Howie23 08-30-07, 06:31 PM	Here's a couple of bits of info for those browsing the new forum: 1. Living Forgotten Realms will have less than 20 but more than 6 regions. 2. The general call for administrators (as well as the tests and requirements) should be up on the RPGA site next week. Has the administrative structure been worked out yet? What is being tested? David
WotC_Tulach 08-30-07, 07:08 PM	The general call will have the application instructions and tests. Those of you that emailed me directly regarding this campaign will receive a direct email from me with the information. You will receive that email approximately 2-4 days before the general call gets posted. Most (if not all) questions on the administrative structure and requirements will be answered in the email, the applications, or the website article.
tharlan 08-30-07, 11:31 PM	I'll believe it when I see it. Admittedly, my online play experience is limited, but from what I've seen it generally takes twice as long to run a module online as it does face-to-face. If you can only spare 5 hours a week for gaming, you'd never be able to finish a single mod. Hello there! One of the things that I enjoy doing with online games because of the time required is to split them up into two three hour sessions. Typically speaking you can summarize "what has come before" in a few minutes and then get the players back into the game. With the structure of most RPGA scenarios, it is easy to stop at Encounter X (try to find that special encounter that allows a rest, best after a combat) where when you restart the game, the players are at full HP and have all of their spells, ready to go again. I am VERY much looking forward to Online play with the D&D Insider system. I believe that it is going to open a LOT of doors.. lots even. :-) Take care, and good gaming friends! Troy Daniels LKoK Lead Director All around nice guy...
nony2klerch 08-30-07, 11:46 PM	Tests!?! Noone said anything about tests?... I hope this isn't about making a half elemental half fiendish? black guard fire giant...Looking forward to your email. waves to John (whisper Minus two! ....MINUS two!):shocked: :OMG! Lynn
tombollis 08-31-07, 01:21 AM	I'll believe it when I see it. Admittedly, my online play experience is limited, but from what I've seen it generally takes twice as long to run a module online as it does face-to-face. If you can only spare 5 hours a week for gaming, you'd never be able to finish a single mod. Playing at convensions often requires much travel time and overnight accomodation that is expensive and requires even more of your time, imposing even more of a limit on play opportunities. Tom Bollis
Britt 08-31-07, 04:30 AM	I'm sure whomever the LFR admins are, along with HQ, will work to make sure conventions and the community survive and thrive in the new Living campaign structure. I doubt all the details have been worked out yet and things like this will probably be part of the job of being an admin for LFR.
RanielK 08-31-07, 07:39 AM	That varies based on the system used. If you use voice chat, it can take time similar to that of a real mod. I've even had some online games with prepared DMs run faster than the mod would have IRL. The issue is that face-to-face gaming is easier to prep for and easier to do unprepped. Yeah, nothing like having pre-prepared boxtext in an open text file to copy past. The online All Roads Lead to Rauxes I played in was interesting. "Roll K(Rel), K(History), K(Dungeon), K(Architect) and K(Planes)" "What was the highest roll in each?" search search copy paste And then about four pages of "this is what you know" flashes up on the screen. More of the same is helpful on the player's end. I've got text files for each character which has all relevant rolls stated for the various systems' dice bot. I also like PCGen because it could export a character into the proper format for one of the onlie table tops such that each roll was set up as a single button push. We'll see what WoTC's online stuff is like.
miked_msn 08-31-07, 07:40 AM	I have one thing I would like to suggest here Chris. It is very difficult to keep up with all the places where information is being posted. It will be difficult for me to get here regularly, but since the yahoo group posts show up in email, I get them every day. I suspect that I am not the only person that is in this situation. Can you designate someone to be in charge of getting important posts here reflected over in the yahoo group? That would certainly help keep more of us informed <g> TIA MikeD
Skerrit 08-31-07, 09:17 AM	I believe the hope is that eventually the gleemax site will be empowered to do such things; at least I hope it is...
MatteBlack 08-31-07, 09:43 AM	I am hoping that more Core and Metaregional content will supplement there being fewer regions and online play expands the opportuities for play.
tharlan 08-31-07, 10:11 AM	Can you designate someone to be in charge of getting important posts here reflected over in the yahoo group? That would certainly help keep more of us informed <g> MikeD If you want Chris I can do that. Was going to start relaying stuff over there anyway.. :-) Take care! Troy
dougemes 08-31-07, 11:15 AM	2. The general call for administrators (as well as the tests and requirements) should be up on the RPGA site next week. My "pie in the sky" wishes: I'd like to see the campaign staff have a 2 year term personally. I'd also like to see more published methods (ombudsman, facilitators, etc.) for the end player to have the ability to formally address issues they come across. For the appeals process, there should be a formal appellate that does NOT play in the campaign. It should be separate from the triad'ish like administrators.
catsclaw 08-31-07, 12:11 PM	I believe the hope is that eventually the gleemax site will be empowered to do such things ...Pshaw. Hold out for maximized, man!
Geodragon 08-31-07, 12:18 PM	I'm hoping the on-line aspect works out well.. I don't go out to cons (except one anime con) generally. I'm also curious in how the signup for certain modules will work out.. The only reason I haven't participated in any Living campaigns is because I don't go to cons that they are held at. So, here's hoping to a good on-line system.. If it takes a few more hours to get through a module, that's fine.. It can still be quite fun. And the cut/paste with information is so nice for DMs and players. DMs, because they can have all the information prepped ahead of time, and players (because we can't trust our memories in RL, the having access to the information to refer to without asking the DM to repeat it again 15-20 minutes later is nice).
gizmonster 08-31-07, 12:39 PM	Okay, my 2 coppers I HATE ONLINE PLAY! Yes, I said it, I hate online play. If I wanted online play, I'd be in WOW or dungeon runners or some other mmo. I like going to conventions, seeing guys I haven't seen for six months to a year, gaming with them for a couple of days while we catch up on our characters exploits. I like getting together with my buddies on the weekends at one of our houses to drink beer and get some really good gaming in. Face to Face, with real dice! I like the fact that my memory is fallable! I like forgetting details and having it come back and bite me in my backside, I think that is what REAL adventuring would be like. Drinking mead or ale by a campfire out of a waterskin while your buddies tell crazy stories about their exploits, getting attacked while half drunk and scrambling to get a sword, thinking, "CRAP they warned about these guys but I was having too much fun thinking about treasure to pay to close attention!" I don't think I am going to like 4 very much, I loved Greyhawk, but there was room for improvement, so I am here to do the best I can to get LFR as good as it can be, just don't count on seeing me online....not gonna happen. Now, on to LFR, how is canon going to be handled??? There is SOOOO much out there, can the new administrators be sure their region's adventures aren't stepping on existing FR toes?
tharlan 08-31-07, 12:47 PM	Hey there! First off... Online Play is not everyone's cup of tea. I think that the majority of people would rather be face to face with a bunch of friends, beer included or not, playing D&D. We all realize that cannot happen all of the time, however you are not only entitled to your opinion, I am sure that many people share it. As for how FR Canon is going to be taken care of, that is an issue with Chris, WOTC and the campaign staff to decide. If they push the timeline far enough into the future though, a lot less governance on that front will be needed. The FR campaign would not have to worry about stepping on the toes of giant s if most of the giants are dead and we are not trotting around in their particular cave. :-) Take care friend. Hope to see you at a real, live, table some day! Troy Daniels Okay, my 2 coppers I HATE ONLINE PLAY! Yes, I said it, I hate online play. If I wanted online play, I'd be in WOW or dungeon runners or some other mmo. I like going to conventions, seeing guys I haven't seen for six months to a year, gaming with them for a couple of days while we catch up on our characters exploits. I like getting together with my buddies on the weekends at one of our houses to drink beer and get some really good gaming in. Face to Face, with real dice! I like the fact that my memory is fallable! I like forgetting details and having it come back and bite me in my backside, I think that is what REAL adventuring would be like. Drinking mead or ale by a campfire out of a waterskin while your buddies tell crazy stories about their exploits, getting attacked while half drunk and scrambling to get a sword, thinking, "CRAP they warned about these guys but I was having too much fun thinking about treasure to pay to close attention!" I don't think I am going to like 4 very much, I loved Greyhawk, but there was room for improvement, so I am here to do the best I can to get LFR as good as it can be, just don't count on seeing me online....not gonna happen. Now, on to LFR, how is canon going to be handled??? There is SOOOO much out there, can the new administrators be sure their region's adventures aren't stepping on existing FR toes?
delewobmesid 08-31-07, 02:39 PM	I prefer f2f play, but if I can slot zero a 'new' module to run locally online first, I will be more willing to judge/coordinate games in the future.
HassanSabbah 08-31-07, 03:07 PM	Okay, my 2 coppers I HATE ONLINE PLAY! Yes, I said it, I hate online play. If I wanted online play, I'd be in WOW or dungeon runners or some other mmo. I like going to conventions, seeing guys I haven't seen for six months to a year, gaming with them for a couple of days while we catch up on our characters exploits. I like getting together with my buddies on the weekends at one of our houses to drink beer and get some really good gaming in. Face to Face, with real dice! Hi, FtF is better, but some people don't have much choice. Also, an online game is a very good way for a local judge to play a mod not previously played locally so s/he won't have to eat it. Moreover, online game is nothing like any MMORPG. Not one bit. I personally find more RP on online games; YMMV, depending on your table. Finally, I now have friends all over the world because of online playing. I can go to Australia, or Netherlands, and know I'll find friends there to share stories over a beer or two. And I have a few invitations out for folks to come over to Turkey. So, here's my 2 coppers for online play. May it never go away! Baris
Geodragon 08-31-07, 06:38 PM	Online play.. Yes, I like Face to face play.. I'm involved in two RPGs right now.. And both DMs will not be switching the 4E (one because he's stubborn and the second because we're in a very long campaign and may take quite some time before we reach a point where we could switch to 4E).. And, neither games count towards RPGA.. And due to time constraints, funding, and ability to travel, I would like to join the LFR, but only in an on-line capacity.. ((Heck, if I had actual friends with anyone that worked at Wizards, I'd try to get into one of their games)) And to think, I used to work for a Gaming Distribution Company (that was a fun group of people to work with)..
alaras 08-31-07, 07:57 PM	I prefer face to face as well. It just wouldn't be as much fun to play a mod with Troy as a DM if Morgan wasn't around. I like the idea of online play but call me oldschool. I like sitting around a table with folks and rolling the dice myself.
LGMoses 08-31-07, 09:44 PM	Here's a couple of bits of info for those browsing the new forum: 1. Living Forgotten Realms will have less than 20 but more than 6 regions. 2. The general call for administrators (as well as the tests and requirements) should be up on the RPGA site next week. Addressing issue one: I think it would be a great idea if more places were left core, especially places famous or that people would really want to visit. I didn't like how in LG EVERYTHING core took place in the City of Greyhawk, or so it seemed to me in this last year of play. 2. Is this "call" going to be posted on the main RPGA page? I think we players should spend some time picking our suggestions from the Living Greyhawk and 4e forums and bringing them here for posting. Regional issues: I would like meta-org prerequisites requiring 3 YEARS REAL TIME investment to not be allowed. That is far too long. 2 years is even a bit much.
scon40 09-01-07, 12:55 AM	It is very difficult to keep up with all the places where information is being posted. It will be difficult for me to get here regularly, but since the yahoo group posts show up in email, I get them every day. I suspect that I am not the only person that is in this situation. Can you designate someone to be in charge of getting important posts here reflected over in the yahoo group? I'm sure there are plenty of people who will copy important posts from here to the Yahoo groups. But I'd be surprised if Chris can officially designate someone to do it. The RPGA uses these forums as the official place for discussions about their campaigns. The Yahoo groups are unofficial and not directly supported by the RPGA. Yes, the campaigns do post there as well, but it's a secondary place to post ... these forums will likely always be the primary place to post.
Jonathon_M_Johnson 09-01-07, 03:50 PM	I prefer f2f play, but if I can slot zero a 'new' module to run locally online first, I will be more willing to judge/coordinate games in the future. Hey delewobmesid (some guy from Colorado)- Though I would prefer face to face, I watched the cheesy online play video and it looks pretty good for starters. I love the darkening of the area except for the light source you are carrying. I am not too thrilled about when you move and you go flying through the wall to the end square location. Maybe colored squares to show your path; unless there isn't going to be AoOs in v4.0. People here seem to complain for more gameplay; so if online is going to get you to play a game from the UK then why not. Maybe with more gameplay, people won't complain too much when they die since they can get back up in level quickly. Now I haven't researched the online play too much, but is there going to be a price on the online play? See you all at the monitor. Jonathon M. Johnson Colorado
BrotherCadfael 09-02-07, 05:29 PM	Chris, Has any decision been made as to whether the playable regions will be set in areas that have a lot in print about it or in the less well developed areas? I personally like the idea of using the lesser known regions, as the players, mod writers and members of the region will feel much more ownership in campaign if they have more input to the region on the front end. Additionally, I hope that administration can be diffused a bit from the triad format. While maybe not carrying the same weight or responsibilty as a regional administrator, I think it would be a good idea for each state to have at least one admin type to deal with promoting play in their state, being a point of contact for people in their state, handling simple rules questions and otherwise filtering out some of the flotsom that triads currently have to deal with from a region. This would free up the regional admins to deal more with campaign development, mod editing, interactive creation, etc. Additionally, it will create a pool of talented volunteers from which to draw upon to more easily replace regional admins that step down. Larry Sargent P.S. While language will likely dictate the number and size of regions in Europe, I hope that consideration will be given in North America to geography so that no one would have to travel 12 hours just to reach the nearest neighbor region for con play.
Newpaintbrush 09-07-07, 05:04 PM	Playing at convensions often requires much travel time and overnight accomodation that is expensive and requires even more of your time, imposing even more of a limit on play opportunities. Tom Bollis True. But on the other hand, when you go to a convention, you . . . go to a convention. When you're at home online, you're just at home online.
jhorred 09-07-07, 05:06 PM	True. But on the other hand, when you go to a convention, you . . . go to a convention. <snip>. where you can buy more dice from the chessex booth for your next character (Yes, I'm one of those players who has a set of dice for each character.)
LGMoses 09-18-07, 02:59 AM	Excuse me Chris, I was wondering if you have anymore information on regions? Will regions encompass several political boundaries or will they simply be 12 different countries with the rest left open for Core adventures? I was getting the feeling that it may be divided up into the Forgotten Realms areas such as "Unapproachable East", "Frozen North", and "Shining South" regions. If so, this could be done best by delegating regions to the areas they most closely resemble. This way would offer plenty of room to mess with within regions and keep regions familiar If divided into political countries, I think it would be really cool if a list of viable countries was provided and a vote was done via mail or email to decide what country each region wants. This way would be good because it would mean that areas might get a region that is different and fresh. Also, it would mean wider spaces are left core. That would be cool because it wouldn't be like Greyhawk where all core adventures take place in Greyhawk.