A couple of Living Greyhawk rules questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

A couple of Living Greyhawk rules questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Calinon
11-10-05, 02:37 PM Under Sourcebook and Meta-game Policy (page 24) it states that "The book or article must be brought to the session by the person using them. Copies of the material are not acceptable unless it is an article that has been reprinted on the RPGA website." Shortly thereafter it states, "If you character takes anything from a non-core book, DMG or MM, then you must bring a copy of that book with you to every game you play with that character. Alternatively, you may bring a photocopy of the rules material you're specifically using, so long as you own the original book."

I have a few players who have feats and items they have access to on AR's from non-core books, and they have scanned pages of rules regarding them, but I have never once seen a copy of the book in their possession. When DM'ing, am I able to force them to produce the book before a game session or deny them use of items from those books, or must I accept that their scanned pages are from books they own. There is no travel time associated with the players; we are from the same local area so it is not as if they will have to lug a pile of books a hundred miles.

My second question is regarding character alignment. I can find no rules for alignment changing in the LGCS. When can a character change alignment? Can he change his alignment when he likes, providing he has a reasonable role playing reason?

For example, a barbarian who has been adventuring with a monk and a paladin for a few levels has seen both be far more effective in several situations and has decided he wants to give up his barbarian nature and become more structured and orderly and take up the monk or paladin class. Can he switch from Chaotic to Lawful? Can he switch from Neutral to Good? What rules govern the switching of alignments?

Thanks for your help.
King Kashue
11-11-05, 12:43 AM Under Sourcebook and Meta-game Policy (page 24) it states that "The book or article must be brought to the session by the person using them. Copies of the material are not acceptable unless it is an article that has been reprinted on the RPGA website." Shortly thereafter it states, "If you character takes anything from a non-core book, DMG or MM, then you must bring a copy of that book with you to every game you play with that character. Alternatively, you may bring a photocopy of the rules material you're specifically using, so long as you own the original book."

I have a few players who have feats and items they have access to on AR's from non-core books, and they have scanned pages of rules regarding them, but I have never once seen a copy of the book in their possession. When DM'ing, am I able to force them to produce the book before a game session or deny them use of items from those books, or must I accept that their scanned pages are from books they own. There is no travel time associated with the players; we are from the same local area so it is not as if they will have to lug a pile of books a hundred miles.

My second question is regarding character alignment. I can find no rules for alignment changing in the LGCS. When can a character change alignment? Can he change his alignment when he likes, providing he has a reasonable role playing reason?

For example, a barbarian who has been adventuring with a monk and a paladin for a few levels has seen both be far more effective in several situations and has decided he wants to give up his barbarian nature and become more structured and orderly and take up the monk or paladin class. Can he switch from Chaotic to Lawful? Can he switch from Neutral to Good? What rules govern the switching of alignments?

Thanks for your help.

There are no rules against drastic alignment changes (except when dealing with certain prestige classes such as Dragon disciple), Barbarian monks, while cheesy beyond measure, are not prohibited by the LGCS...

As for the Books, no you cannot force someone to bring their books if they have the photocopies...The copies are explicitly allowed, and you cannot compel someone to bring the books when the requirement has been met (by the copies)...
Calinon
11-11-05, 07:44 AM While you can't force them to bring their books to every session, you should be able to ask them to produce their books once to prove they own them. I have seen their other non-core rule books as they bring them to the game sessions. The book in question is Libris Mortis and it would require no additional effort for the players to bring the book.

If they own it.

Which I doubt strongly.
Mekorig
11-11-05, 08:16 AM And what is the problem if they dont own it. Has they said, a photocopy of the page were the feat/item/spell is, is also valid.
kenobi65
11-11-05, 10:19 AM And what is the problem if they dont own it.

The problem is that the rules specifically say you can only use a photocopy if you actually own the book:

"Alternatively, you may bring a photocopy of the rules material you're specifically using, so long as you own the original book."

Basically, it comes down to this: if you want to use rules material from a non-core source, you're expected to pony up and buy the book.
Namarus
11-11-05, 12:19 PM I would say scanned copies no, photocopy yes.

The rules don't say you can force someone to bring the books though. I know if I had to carry every single book it would be stupid. Piles of 9 to 10 books at each gaming session, per person just gets rediculous.

Like most of the stuff in RPGA, it's an honour system, if you ask them, and they say yes they own the books, that about all you can do.
King Kashue
11-12-05, 03:18 AM I would say scanned copies no, photocopy yes.

The rules don't say you can force someone to bring the books though. I know if I had to carry every single book it would be stupid. Piles of 9 to 10 books at each gaming session, per person just gets rediculous.

Like most of the stuff in RPGA, it's an honour system, if you ask them, and they say yes they own the books, that about all you can do.

For someone with a home copier (like a multifunction machine) a scanned copy and a photocopy are the same thing...A judge can't arbitrarily decide one copy is acceptable and another isn't...

And no, you can't even force them to prove they own it, you're a judge, not the copyright police...Having them bring the books completely defeats the point in many gaming settings (such as cons)...

The rule reads photocopies are acceptable if the player owns the book, not if the player can prove to the judge he owns the book...It's an unenforceable nod to WoCs copyrights...
Outla
11-13-05, 01:40 AM I'm interested in how this will affect rules reprints such as the Spell Compendium.

If a player owns the Spell Compendium, but not the Complete Arcane, should he be able to bring the Spell Compendium to the game and use spells listed in it?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Calinon 11-10-05, 02:37 PM	Under Sourcebook and Meta-game Policy (page 24) it states that "The book or article must be brought to the session by the person using them. Copies of the material are not acceptable unless it is an article that has been reprinted on the RPGA website." Shortly thereafter it states, "If you character takes anything from a non-core book, DMG or MM, then you must bring a copy of that book with you to every game you play with that character. Alternatively, you may bring a photocopy of the rules material you're specifically using, so long as you own the original book." I have a few players who have feats and items they have access to on AR's from non-core books, and they have scanned pages of rules regarding them, but I have never once seen a copy of the book in their possession. When DM'ing, am I able to force them to produce the book before a game session or deny them use of items from those books, or must I accept that their scanned pages are from books they own. There is no travel time associated with the players; we are from the same local area so it is not as if they will have to lug a pile of books a hundred miles. My second question is regarding character alignment. I can find no rules for alignment changing in the LGCS. When can a character change alignment? Can he change his alignment when he likes, providing he has a reasonable role playing reason? For example, a barbarian who has been adventuring with a monk and a paladin for a few levels has seen both be far more effective in several situations and has decided he wants to give up his barbarian nature and become more structured and orderly and take up the monk or paladin class. Can he switch from Chaotic to Lawful? Can he switch from Neutral to Good? What rules govern the switching of alignments? Thanks for your help.
King Kashue 11-11-05, 12:43 AM	Under Sourcebook and Meta-game Policy (page 24) it states that "The book or article must be brought to the session by the person using them. Copies of the material are not acceptable unless it is an article that has been reprinted on the RPGA website." Shortly thereafter it states, "If you character takes anything from a non-core book, DMG or MM, then you must bring a copy of that book with you to every game you play with that character. Alternatively, you may bring a photocopy of the rules material you're specifically using, so long as you own the original book." I have a few players who have feats and items they have access to on AR's from non-core books, and they have scanned pages of rules regarding them, but I have never once seen a copy of the book in their possession. When DM'ing, am I able to force them to produce the book before a game session or deny them use of items from those books, or must I accept that their scanned pages are from books they own. There is no travel time associated with the players; we are from the same local area so it is not as if they will have to lug a pile of books a hundred miles. My second question is regarding character alignment. I can find no rules for alignment changing in the LGCS. When can a character change alignment? Can he change his alignment when he likes, providing he has a reasonable role playing reason? For example, a barbarian who has been adventuring with a monk and a paladin for a few levels has seen both be far more effective in several situations and has decided he wants to give up his barbarian nature and become more structured and orderly and take up the monk or paladin class. Can he switch from Chaotic to Lawful? Can he switch from Neutral to Good? What rules govern the switching of alignments? Thanks for your help. There are no rules against drastic alignment changes (except when dealing with certain prestige classes such as Dragon disciple), Barbarian monks, while cheesy beyond measure, are not prohibited by the LGCS... As for the Books, no you cannot force someone to bring their books if they have the photocopies...The copies are explicitly allowed, and you cannot compel someone to bring the books when the requirement has been met (by the copies)...
Calinon 11-11-05, 07:44 AM	While you can't force them to bring their books to every session, you should be able to ask them to produce their books once to prove they own them. I have seen their other non-core rule books as they bring them to the game sessions. The book in question is Libris Mortis and it would require no additional effort for the players to bring the book. If they own it. Which I doubt strongly.
Mekorig 11-11-05, 08:16 AM	And what is the problem if they dont own it. Has they said, a photocopy of the page were the feat/item/spell is, is also valid.
kenobi65 11-11-05, 10:19 AM	And what is the problem if they dont own it. The problem is that the rules specifically say you can only use a photocopy if you actually own the book: "Alternatively, you may bring a photocopy of the rules material you're specifically using, so long as you own the original book." Basically, it comes down to this: if you want to use rules material from a non-core source, you're expected to pony up and buy the book.
Namarus 11-11-05, 12:19 PM	I would say scanned copies no, photocopy yes. The rules don't say you can force someone to bring the books though. I know if I had to carry every single book it would be stupid. Piles of 9 to 10 books at each gaming session, per person just gets rediculous. Like most of the stuff in RPGA, it's an honour system, if you ask them, and they say yes they own the books, that about all you can do.
King Kashue 11-12-05, 03:18 AM	I would say scanned copies no, photocopy yes. The rules don't say you can force someone to bring the books though. I know if I had to carry every single book it would be stupid. Piles of 9 to 10 books at each gaming session, per person just gets rediculous. Like most of the stuff in RPGA, it's an honour system, if you ask them, and they say yes they own the books, that about all you can do. For someone with a home copier (like a multifunction machine) a scanned copy and a photocopy are the same thing...A judge can't arbitrarily decide one copy is acceptable and another isn't... And no, you can't even force them to prove they own it, you're a judge, not the copyright police...Having them bring the books completely defeats the point in many gaming settings (such as cons)... The rule reads photocopies are acceptable if the player owns the book, not if the player can prove to the judge he owns the book...It's an unenforceable nod to WoCs copyrights...
Outla 11-13-05, 01:40 AM	I'm interested in how this will affect rules reprints such as the Spell Compendium. If a player owns the Spell Compendium, but not the Complete Arcane, should he be able to bring the Spell Compendium to the game and use spells listed in it?