Why are some modules available in only certain regions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Why are some modules available in only certain regions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gwenfloor
02-02-06, 04:28 PM The RPGA has some rules that do not make sense to me. If an adventure that is really popular is only available in, let's say, Austria, and it is really popular, why not make modules available to any member? All modules are submitted online, right? Anyone of any nationality with a computer should be allowed to order the adventures. The "Sorry, you have to be in (Insert Far-Away Country Here) to play the adventure" policy is just dumb. If I have a computer, why do I need to fly all the way to Europe just to order the adventure and play it?
redgamer
02-02-06, 04:37 PM Its an inherent part of the regional system that Living Greyhawk uses. It has its pluses and minuses but asking to change it is like saying you think football would be better of without passing.
SteveMND
02-02-06, 04:52 PM Yes, plus IIRC the topic of "let's get rid of the regional system' has been declared a non-issue by the Circle before, as that's been flat out said as not going to be changing.
Mortepierre
02-02-06, 05:26 PM I don't think you need to get rid of the (meta-)regional system to grant his request. Just delete the requirement for DM to live in region X to be able to run adventures from region X.

Why bother with it?

If I run an adventure set outside my meta-region, all my (regular) players will have to pay more TU to participate, so it's not as if I was going to do it on a regular basis.

It is true that some (meta-)regional adventures are known as extremely popular and it's a shame not being able to order/run them just because you don't live in the right country.

If it's about the consequences, that's easy to take care of. Just state that ONLY games run by DM from meta-region X will have an influence on how meta-region X will evolve. Problem solved and everybody will have fun (which is, after all, the goal here)
Britt
02-02-06, 05:41 PM That doesn't solve anything. Out of region characters already have to pay double TUs, yet travelling to play them is still considered a boon. How would being able to play them at home for double TUs be a disincentive to playing them? Sure, maybe at 4x TUs you'd be able to discourage people from playing for any reason other than to experience a cool event, but doubtful. People would just make lots of characters and play every regional event there is. You'd basically just have a non-regional system with the adventures taking place in different settings and costing different amounts. There'd be nothing substantial to define a region.

There's also the fact that out-of-region DMs typically do not know the regional flavor very well and run a strong risk of misrepresenting the adventure and/or region. I know I wouldn't trust someone in the Pale or some other good region to run a BK mod unless they had played many of them. (Nothing against they Pale, they are just diametrically opposed to the BK)

BTW, you can run a regional as a judge from a different region, but only at a convention and only in that region.
Simpi
02-02-06, 05:50 PM Please consider authors as well. I as author DON'T WANT that some John Smith in Texas (or wherever) plays my modules.

I wrote them for Scandinavian region and for Scandinavian players. Yes, some of them have been quite popular and (I dare to say) better than many other regions modules i've played and they would probably be well received by people elsewhere in Europe/US as well.

But if you wish to play them, come visit us or sit down to an open slot in one of the bigger conventions.

S.H, the guy from Naerie
RanielK
02-02-06, 05:55 PM This is done so judges from other regions don't make a hash of the story because they don't know the region's ongoing plotlines or story arc atmosphere. This keeps out of region mods from becoming nothing more than a chance to go shopping.

Miles
Gwenfloor
02-03-06, 12:46 PM That doesn't solve anything. Out of region characters already have to pay double TUs, yet travelling to play them is still considered a boon. How would being able to play them at home for double TUs be a disincentive to playing them? Sure, maybe at 4x TUs you'd be able to discourage people from playing for any reason other than to experience a cool event, but doubtful. People would just make lots of characters and play every regional event there is. You'd basically just have a non-regional system with the adventures taking place in different settings and costing different amounts. There'd be nothing substantial to define a region.

There's also the fact that out-of-region DMs typically do not know the regional flavor very well and run a strong risk of misrepresenting the adventure and/or region. I know I wouldn't trust someone in the Pale or some other good region to run a BK mod unless they had played many of them. (Nothing against they Pale, they are just diametrically opposed to the BK)

BTW, you can run a regional as a judge from a different region, but only at a convention and only in that region.
To put it simple, I do not have the money to travel all over. I also do not like my home region's modules as much as others.
Britt
02-03-06, 01:04 PM To put it simple, I do not have the money to travel all over. I also do not like my home region's modules as much as others.
I empathize with you, but there is nothing that can be done about that in a regional system. The only solutions are to eliminate the regional aspect of the system or try to influence the writing of adventures in your region. The first isn't happening, so I can only suggest the second.
Mortepierre
02-03-06, 01:26 PM This is done so judges from other regions don't make a hash of the story because they don't know the region's ongoing plotlines or story arc atmosphere. This keeps out of region mods from becoming nothing more than a chance to go shopping.

Miles

I don't see this happening unless players from region X start bragging about items/spells/feats they've got to other regions' players. I am a frequent lurker on many of the "main" LG boards and I've yet to see this happen (at least on a regular basis).
JohnduBois
02-03-06, 01:31 PM I have heard things such as, "You don't have access to nightsticks? What backwater region do you live in?" and "your triad is a bunch of stiffs for not allowing Limited stuff outside of meta-orgs. In my region, the triads allow all kinds of limited stuff."

For clarification: I do think my region needs to import nightsticks from whoever has them due to the number of undead around (although the item itself needs fixing), and I support my triad's efforts to make Limited access something other than "Core once you ask your triad members".
Mortepierre
02-03-06, 01:34 PM I as author DON'T WANT that some John Smith in Texas (or wherever) plays my modules.

But if you wish to play them, come visit us or sit down to an open slot in one of the bigger conventions.

Those two sentences are kind of contradictory, don't you think?

Seriously folks, what are you afraid of?

6 players and a DM playing your module at home won't wreck your corner of the world since what they do has ZERO consequences. Simply put a statement that adventure's feedback is valid ONLY from members of your meta-region and you're done.

Sure, the "foreign" DM may not know all the info about your regional plotlines. So what? Will it break your world if Joe-the-DM didn't play your NPC as they were intended? You won't even know about it!

Good grief! I had no idea our little community had become so segregationist. Truly a shame :weep:
SteveMND
02-03-06, 01:45 PM "Good grief! I had no idea our little community had become so segregationist. Truly a shame."

Wow. By definition, a regionally-divided campaign is intended to be segregationalist. As I said in another thread, I think the campaign needs to reinforce the fact that in LG, you are supposed to be playing a regional campaign first, and a global campaign second. That was clear when the campaign was introduced five years ago, but many people seem to have either forgotten that, ignored it, or just weren't introduced to the concept when they joined to begin with.
Gwenfloor
02-03-06, 01:46 PM That's right, Mortepierre! I also move around sometimes, so I can't play some modules. Who says that I have to play adventures only in my own region? It feels like LG is a "Go stick among your own kind and stay away from our adventures" compared to Living Eberron and Living Force, where state/province/nationality is not a concern.
Britt
02-03-06, 01:47 PM The problem is not that they will run an NPC incorrectly. The problem is that an uninformed DM will likely make the adventure come across poorly and the players will get a bad impression of the adventure. As an author, I wouldn't want that happening to works that I put a lot of effort into.

Apart from that, there's the idea that it completely defeats the point of a regional system. However, I get the impression you don't like a regional system, so there's no real point in arguing that.
JohnduBois
02-03-06, 01:58 PM That's right, Mortepierre! I also move around sometimes, so I can't play some modules. Who says that I have to play adventures only in my own region? It feels like LG is a "Go stick among your own kind and stay away from our adventures" compared to Living Eberron and Living Force, where state/province/nationality is not a concern.

Umm... to my knowledge there is no "Living Eberron". Mark of Heroes is a D&D Campaign and has a completely different flavor (indeed, a consistent worldwide flavor) when compared to Living Greyhawk. And some people prefer that. And that's great. Personally, I like the local feel a regional system has. I like being able to be on a first-name basis with the people writing my adventures without going to cons every weekend. I play all my regional (and metaregional, if I can get tables) mods before starting on cores. The regional system is something unique to LG, and I would enjoy the campaign less if it left.

If you don't like it, that's fine too. There are other campaigns designed for the kind of feel it seems you're looking for. Not every campaign is for every person. MoH and LotGR aren't for me, so I don't play them.
Mortepierre
02-03-06, 02:06 PM Apart from that, there's the idea that it completely defeats the point of a regional system. However, I get the impression you don't like a regional system, so there's no real point in arguing that.

On the contrary, I don't understand why people seem to think I am against a regional system. I am fully in favor of it for crying out loud!

I wouldn't want to "live" (figuratively) in another part of the Flanaess, nor to have access to other meta-org than those I am used to (and that's not because of any "special" access they grant).

I want to continue to enjoy MY (meta-)regional adventures, knowing what I'll do at the gaming table will affect the future of MY region.

How is that incompatible with the desire to also enjoy some of the excellent adventures of our distant brethren :confused:

Allow them only for Home Games. Deny us the privilege of reporting. Heck! You can even cut off access to any "limited" feat/spell/item access from the AR if that's what it takes to convince you all that some of us aren't in it for the "shopping"!
Britt
02-03-06, 02:09 PM Allow them only for Home Games. Deny us the privilege of reporting. Heck! You can even cut off access to any "limited" feat/spell/item access from the AR if that's what it takes to convince you all that some of us aren't in it for the "shopping"!
I never said you were into it for the shopping. What I said is that being able to play them at home in a different region goes against the regional system. I'm not saying you're wrong or making any other kind of evaluative judgment about you. I'm just saying that playing them out of region is counter to the regional system.
Mortepierre
02-03-06, 02:28 PM I'm just saying that playing them out of region is counter to the regional system.

If I can take a plane, go to another region, and sit at a gaming table there to enjoy that region's adventure(s), then it already defeats the regional system you seem to defend.

To me, "regional" means that each region is entrusted to the care of people from a specific part of our world, and how it evolves will be based solely on what THEY do. Beyond that, it should be "free" access.

After all, isn't it our goal to help gamers discover & enjoy all the variety the Flanaess has to offer? That variety comes from our diversity and the different ways we handle things "at home".

As things currently stand, most LG players don't know the first thing about what is happening in other meta-regions. Heck, if it wasn't for some kind people coming to the boards with tidbits of info about recent events once in a while, we would be totally clueless about it!

I want to be able to go visit other countries of the Flanaess and discover for myself that the king of Keoland is dead, or that there was a coup in Nyrond.

Yes - I know - I can already do that by travelling to any of these regions. But the fact is a great many LG players simply can't afford either the time or the money (when it's not both).

We are now members of the same community in name only, with a privileged few being able to go "sample" exotic flavor once in a while while the vast majority sits in its own little corner of the playground, turning its back to the others. Once a year, we stand up and come together only long enough to make sure we're still speaking the same language.

Sorry but I find it distressing.

Ah, why do I even bother.. :surrender
Gwenfloor
02-03-06, 02:32 PM I never said you were into it for the shopping. What I said is that being able to play them at home in a different region goes against the regional system. I'm not saying you're wrong or making any other kind of evaluative judgment about you. I'm just saying that playing them out of region is counter to the regional system.
Wait, are you allowed to play out of region mods "just for fun" or is that also against the rules? I wouldn't mind playing adventures of another region, official or not. Last time I checked, I heard some people say that you can't play out of region or retired mods, even for fun! :confused:
Britt
02-03-06, 02:40 PM If I can take a plane, go to another region, and sit at a gaming table there to enjoy that region's adventure(s), then it already defeats the regional system you seem to defend.
I don't see how. That's the exact purpose of the regional system. You go to the region to experience the region.

To me, "regional" means that each region is entrusted to the care of people from a specific part of our world, and how it evolves will be based solely on what THEY do. Beyond that, it should be "free" access.
I agree, that is included in the regional system; however, trusting the care of the region to a specific part of the world requires letting that part of the world present the region. If you let it be presented by someone else, you aren't really trusting that one part of the world to present it.

After all, isn't it our goal to help gamers discover & enjoy all the variety the Flanaess has to offer? That variety comes from our diversity and the different ways we handle things "at home".
AFAIK, that's not our goal. Our goal is to produce games for the players that they will enjoy and facilitate their playing of said games. And if you play a regional mod in some other region, quite possibly, you aren't experiencing the diversity and variety of the Flanaess, which is the exact problem some of us have. You are experiencing a story told through the mores of your region.

I want to be able to go visit other countries of the Flanaess and discover for myself that the king of Keoland is dead, or that there was a coup in Nyrond.

Yes - I know - I can already do that by travelling to any of these regions. But the fact is a great many LG players simply can't afford either the time or the money (when it's not both).
I want to be able to go visit other countries of the Earth, and I can do that by travelling to those countries. Unfortunately, I can't afford either the time or money to do so. Lack of funds is always going to be a stumbling block to gaming. What if a group of people are isolated from other gamers and can't afford books or dice. What do we do then? What if someone can't afford to drive to meet other gamers, do we let him play by himself?

We are now members of the same community in name only, with a privileged few being able to go "sample" exotic flavor once in a while while the vast majority sits in its own little corner of the playground, turning its back to the others.
As Steve (I think) pointed out, that's kind of the point. We're supposed to be mostly enmeshed in our own regions. And the ability of a small group to afford something that the masses cannot is a necessary reflection of capitalistic societies and limited resources. It's always going to happen. That doesn't necessarily mean we need to eliminate that advantage. It might be the right thing to do, but there are much more complicated arguments behind that discussion, far outside the demesne of this forum.
Simpi
02-03-06, 03:34 PM Perhaps the Circle could increase the number of 'open slots' available so they are not only in the three or four biggest conventions. Or alternatively give regional triads an authority to hold one event per year where they can have an open slot.

It would still keep the occasion special (not being home game) but would require less from players who wish to come there. Of course some regions are large (like Naerie) but there is hardly a perfect solution if regional system is to be preserved.

Even I would be ok with that and I consider myself very vocal defender of the regional system. What would be your opinion of that Gwenfloor and Mortepierre?

S.H, the guy from Naerie
Mortepierre
02-03-06, 03:40 PM That would certainly be a (small) step in the right direction.

Note that I can appreciate your viewpoint S.H.

I too have no wish to see "my" corner of the world wrecked by people who know next to nothing about it, but I don't believe in living under a glass dome either :pint:
Britt
02-03-06, 03:57 PM Since, I believe, the Fiesta slots require someone from the region to run the adventure, I've never had much of a problem with those. I'd even be ok with allowing each region to have a Fiesta slot each year, at a convention of their choosing, as long as a judge from the appropriate region was needed to run the adventure. That gives people at least some opportunity to play events from other regions without travelling a whole lot, as long as they can get their hands on a judge. It keeps the number of opportunities low, and the flavor should be preserved.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gwenfloor 02-02-06, 04:28 PM	The RPGA has some rules that do not make sense to me. If an adventure that is really popular is only available in, let's say, Austria, and it is really popular, why not make modules available to any member? All modules are submitted online, right? Anyone of any nationality with a computer should be allowed to order the adventures. The "Sorry, you have to be in (Insert Far-Away Country Here) to play the adventure" policy is just dumb. If I have a computer, why do I need to fly all the way to Europe just to order the adventure and play it?
redgamer 02-02-06, 04:37 PM	Its an inherent part of the regional system that Living Greyhawk uses. It has its pluses and minuses but asking to change it is like saying you think football would be better of without passing.
SteveMND 02-02-06, 04:52 PM	Yes, plus IIRC the topic of "let's get rid of the regional system' has been declared a non-issue by the Circle before, as that's been flat out said as not going to be changing.
Mortepierre 02-02-06, 05:26 PM	I don't think you need to get rid of the (meta-)regional system to grant his request. Just delete the requirement for DM to live in region X to be able to run adventures from region X. Why bother with it? If I run an adventure set outside my meta-region, all my (regular) players will have to pay more TU to participate, so it's not as if I was going to do it on a regular basis. It is true that some (meta-)regional adventures are known as extremely popular and it's a shame not being able to order/run them just because you don't live in the right country. If it's about the consequences, that's easy to take care of. Just state that ONLY games run by DM from meta-region X will have an influence on how meta-region X will evolve. Problem solved and everybody will have fun (which is, after all, the goal here)
Britt 02-02-06, 05:41 PM	That doesn't solve anything. Out of region characters already have to pay double TUs, yet travelling to play them is still considered a boon. How would being able to play them at home for double TUs be a disincentive to playing them? Sure, maybe at 4x TUs you'd be able to discourage people from playing for any reason other than to experience a cool event, but doubtful. People would just make lots of characters and play every regional event there is. You'd basically just have a non-regional system with the adventures taking place in different settings and costing different amounts. There'd be nothing substantial to define a region. There's also the fact that out-of-region DMs typically do not know the regional flavor very well and run a strong risk of misrepresenting the adventure and/or region. I know I wouldn't trust someone in the Pale or some other good region to run a BK mod unless they had played many of them. (Nothing against they Pale, they are just diametrically opposed to the BK) BTW, you can run a regional as a judge from a different region, but only at a convention and only in that region.
Simpi 02-02-06, 05:50 PM	Please consider authors as well. I as author DON'T WANT that some John Smith in Texas (or wherever) plays my modules. I wrote them for Scandinavian region and for Scandinavian players. Yes, some of them have been quite popular and (I dare to say) better than many other regions modules i've played and they would probably be well received by people elsewhere in Europe/US as well. But if you wish to play them, come visit us or sit down to an open slot in one of the bigger conventions. S.H, the guy from Naerie
RanielK 02-02-06, 05:55 PM	This is done so judges from other regions don't make a hash of the story because they don't know the region's ongoing plotlines or story arc atmosphere. This keeps out of region mods from becoming nothing more than a chance to go shopping. Miles
Gwenfloor 02-03-06, 12:46 PM	That doesn't solve anything. Out of region characters already have to pay double TUs, yet travelling to play them is still considered a boon. How would being able to play them at home for double TUs be a disincentive to playing them? Sure, maybe at 4x TUs you'd be able to discourage people from playing for any reason other than to experience a cool event, but doubtful. People would just make lots of characters and play every regional event there is. You'd basically just have a non-regional system with the adventures taking place in different settings and costing different amounts. There'd be nothing substantial to define a region. There's also the fact that out-of-region DMs typically do not know the regional flavor very well and run a strong risk of misrepresenting the adventure and/or region. I know I wouldn't trust someone in the Pale or some other good region to run a BK mod unless they had played many of them. (Nothing against they Pale, they are just diametrically opposed to the BK) BTW, you can run a regional as a judge from a different region, but only at a convention and only in that region. To put it simple, I do not have the money to travel all over. I also do not like my home region's modules as much as others.
Britt 02-03-06, 01:04 PM	To put it simple, I do not have the money to travel all over. I also do not like my home region's modules as much as others. I empathize with you, but there is nothing that can be done about that in a regional system. The only solutions are to eliminate the regional aspect of the system or try to influence the writing of adventures in your region. The first isn't happening, so I can only suggest the second.
Mortepierre 02-03-06, 01:26 PM	This is done so judges from other regions don't make a hash of the story because they don't know the region's ongoing plotlines or story arc atmosphere. This keeps out of region mods from becoming nothing more than a chance to go shopping. Miles I don't see this happening unless players from region X start bragging about items/spells/feats they've got to other regions' players. I am a frequent lurker on many of the "main" LG boards and I've yet to see this happen (at least on a regular basis).
JohnduBois 02-03-06, 01:31 PM	I have heard things such as, "You don't have access to nightsticks? What backwater region do you live in?" and "your triad is a bunch of stiffs for not allowing Limited stuff outside of meta-orgs. In my region, the triads allow all kinds of limited stuff." For clarification: I do think my region needs to import nightsticks from whoever has them due to the number of undead around (although the item itself needs fixing), and I support my triad's efforts to make Limited access something other than "Core once you ask your triad members".
Mortepierre 02-03-06, 01:34 PM	I as author DON'T WANT that some John Smith in Texas (or wherever) plays my modules. But if you wish to play them, come visit us or sit down to an open slot in one of the bigger conventions. Those two sentences are kind of contradictory, don't you think? Seriously folks, what are you afraid of? 6 players and a DM playing your module at home won't wreck your corner of the world since what they do has ZERO consequences. Simply put a statement that adventure's feedback is valid ONLY from members of your meta-region and you're done. Sure, the "foreign" DM may not know all the info about your regional plotlines. So what? Will it break your world if Joe-the-DM didn't play your NPC as they were intended? You won't even know about it! Good grief! I had no idea our little community had become so segregationist. Truly a shame :weep:
SteveMND 02-03-06, 01:45 PM	"Good grief! I had no idea our little community had become so segregationist. Truly a shame." Wow. By definition, a regionally-divided campaign is intended to be segregationalist. As I said in another thread, I think the campaign needs to reinforce the fact that in LG, you are supposed to be playing a regional campaign first, and a global campaign second. That was clear when the campaign was introduced five years ago, but many people seem to have either forgotten that, ignored it, or just weren't introduced to the concept when they joined to begin with.
Gwenfloor 02-03-06, 01:46 PM	That's right, Mortepierre! I also move around sometimes, so I can't play some modules. Who says that I have to play adventures only in my own region? It feels like LG is a "Go stick among your own kind and stay away from our adventures" compared to Living Eberron and Living Force, where state/province/nationality is not a concern.
Britt 02-03-06, 01:47 PM	The problem is not that they will run an NPC incorrectly. The problem is that an uninformed DM will likely make the adventure come across poorly and the players will get a bad impression of the adventure. As an author, I wouldn't want that happening to works that I put a lot of effort into. Apart from that, there's the idea that it completely defeats the point of a regional system. However, I get the impression you don't like a regional system, so there's no real point in arguing that.
JohnduBois 02-03-06, 01:58 PM	That's right, Mortepierre! I also move around sometimes, so I can't play some modules. Who says that I have to play adventures only in my own region? It feels like LG is a "Go stick among your own kind and stay away from our adventures" compared to Living Eberron and Living Force, where state/province/nationality is not a concern. Umm... to my knowledge there is no "Living Eberron". Mark of Heroes is a D&D Campaign and has a completely different flavor (indeed, a consistent worldwide flavor) when compared to Living Greyhawk. And some people prefer that. And that's great. Personally, I like the local feel a regional system has. I like being able to be on a first-name basis with the people writing my adventures without going to cons every weekend. I play all my regional (and metaregional, if I can get tables) mods before starting on cores. The regional system is something unique to LG, and I would enjoy the campaign less if it left. If you don't like it, that's fine too. There are other campaigns designed for the kind of feel it seems you're looking for. Not every campaign is for every person. MoH and LotGR aren't for me, so I don't play them.
Mortepierre 02-03-06, 02:06 PM	Apart from that, there's the idea that it completely defeats the point of a regional system. However, I get the impression you don't like a regional system, so there's no real point in arguing that. On the contrary, I don't understand why people seem to think I am against a regional system. I am fully in favor of it for crying out loud! I wouldn't want to "live" (figuratively) in another part of the Flanaess, nor to have access to other meta-org than those I am used to (and that's not because of any "special" access they grant). I want to continue to enjoy MY (meta-)regional adventures, knowing what I'll do at the gaming table will affect the future of MY region. How is that incompatible with the desire to also enjoy some of the excellent adventures of our distant brethren :confused: Allow them only for Home Games. Deny us the privilege of reporting. Heck! You can even cut off access to any "limited" feat/spell/item access from the AR if that's what it takes to convince you all that some of us aren't in it for the "shopping"!
Britt 02-03-06, 02:09 PM	Allow them only for Home Games. Deny us the privilege of reporting. Heck! You can even cut off access to any "limited" feat/spell/item access from the AR if that's what it takes to convince you all that some of us aren't in it for the "shopping"! I never said you were into it for the shopping. What I said is that being able to play them at home in a different region goes against the regional system. I'm not saying you're wrong or making any other kind of evaluative judgment about you. I'm just saying that playing them out of region is counter to the regional system.
Mortepierre 02-03-06, 02:28 PM	I'm just saying that playing them out of region is counter to the regional system. If I can take a plane, go to another region, and sit at a gaming table there to enjoy that region's adventure(s), then it already defeats the regional system you seem to defend. To me, "regional" means that each region is entrusted to the care of people from a specific part of our world, and how it evolves will be based solely on what THEY do. Beyond that, it should be "free" access. After all, isn't it our goal to help gamers discover & enjoy all the variety the Flanaess has to offer? That variety comes from our diversity and the different ways we handle things "at home". As things currently stand, most LG players don't know the first thing about what is happening in other meta-regions. Heck, if it wasn't for some kind people coming to the boards with tidbits of info about recent events once in a while, we would be totally clueless about it! I want to be able to go visit other countries of the Flanaess and discover for myself that the king of Keoland is dead, or that there was a coup in Nyrond. Yes - I know - I can already do that by travelling to any of these regions. But the fact is a great many LG players simply can't afford either the time or the money (when it's not both). We are now members of the same community in name only, with a privileged few being able to go "sample" exotic flavor once in a while while the vast majority sits in its own little corner of the playground, turning its back to the others. Once a year, we stand up and come together only long enough to make sure we're still speaking the same language. Sorry but I find it distressing. Ah, why do I even bother.. :surrender
Gwenfloor 02-03-06, 02:32 PM	I never said you were into it for the shopping. What I said is that being able to play them at home in a different region goes against the regional system. I'm not saying you're wrong or making any other kind of evaluative judgment about you. I'm just saying that playing them out of region is counter to the regional system. Wait, are you allowed to play out of region mods "just for fun" or is that also against the rules? I wouldn't mind playing adventures of another region, official or not. Last time I checked, I heard some people say that you can't play out of region or retired mods, even for fun! :confused:
Britt 02-03-06, 02:40 PM	If I can take a plane, go to another region, and sit at a gaming table there to enjoy that region's adventure(s), then it already defeats the regional system you seem to defend. I don't see how. That's the exact purpose of the regional system. You go to the region to experience the region. To me, "regional" means that each region is entrusted to the care of people from a specific part of our world, and how it evolves will be based solely on what THEY do. Beyond that, it should be "free" access. I agree, that is included in the regional system; however, trusting the care of the region to a specific part of the world requires letting that part of the world present the region. If you let it be presented by someone else, you aren't really trusting that one part of the world to present it. After all, isn't it our goal to help gamers discover & enjoy all the variety the Flanaess has to offer? That variety comes from our diversity and the different ways we handle things "at home". AFAIK, that's not our goal. Our goal is to produce games for the players that they will enjoy and facilitate their playing of said games. And if you play a regional mod in some other region, quite possibly, you aren't experiencing the diversity and variety of the Flanaess, which is the exact problem some of us have. You are experiencing a story told through the mores of your region. I want to be able to go visit other countries of the Flanaess and discover for myself that the king of Keoland is dead, or that there was a coup in Nyrond. Yes - I know - I can already do that by travelling to any of these regions. But the fact is a great many LG players simply can't afford either the time or the money (when it's not both). I want to be able to go visit other countries of the Earth, and I can do that by travelling to those countries. Unfortunately, I can't afford either the time or money to do so. Lack of funds is always going to be a stumbling block to gaming. What if a group of people are isolated from other gamers and can't afford books or dice. What do we do then? What if someone can't afford to drive to meet other gamers, do we let him play by himself? We are now members of the same community in name only, with a privileged few being able to go "sample" exotic flavor once in a while while the vast majority sits in its own little corner of the playground, turning its back to the others. As Steve (I think) pointed out, that's kind of the point. We're supposed to be mostly enmeshed in our own regions. And the ability of a small group to afford something that the masses cannot is a necessary reflection of capitalistic societies and limited resources. It's always going to happen. That doesn't necessarily mean we need to eliminate that advantage. It might be the right thing to do, but there are much more complicated arguments behind that discussion, far outside the demesne of this forum.
Simpi 02-03-06, 03:34 PM	Perhaps the Circle could increase the number of 'open slots' available so they are not only in the three or four biggest conventions. Or alternatively give regional triads an authority to hold one event per year where they can have an open slot. It would still keep the occasion special (not being home game) but would require less from players who wish to come there. Of course some regions are large (like Naerie) but there is hardly a perfect solution if regional system is to be preserved. Even I would be ok with that and I consider myself very vocal defender of the regional system. What would be your opinion of that Gwenfloor and Mortepierre? S.H, the guy from Naerie
Mortepierre 02-03-06, 03:40 PM	That would certainly be a (small) step in the right direction. Note that I can appreciate your viewpoint S.H. I too have no wish to see "my" corner of the world wrecked by people who know next to nothing about it, but I don't believe in living under a glass dome either :pint:
Britt 02-03-06, 03:57 PM	Since, I believe, the Fiesta slots require someone from the region to run the adventure, I've never had much of a problem with those. I'd even be ok with allowing each region to have a Fiesta slot each year, at a convention of their choosing, as long as a judge from the appropriate region was needed to run the adventure. That gives people at least some opportunity to play events from other regions without travelling a whole lot, as long as they can get their hands on a judge. It keeps the number of opportunities low, and the flavor should be preserved.