Regional Access too limiting? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Regional Access too limiting? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
heirodule
09-22-04, 09:03 AM Maybe this is something to look into with the next LGCS.

Regional access can end up being more restrictive than "Adventure" access, which is counter to the intention of Regional Access.

If I have a backup (or main) charcater that only plays 1-2 regionals a year, I might get access to an item in a mod, and almost never be able to buy it again, if I don't buy it immediatly. But if it were adventure, I'd have 3 more shots at it.

If interactives counted as "regionals" for their region, that would help. (in-game rationally, it should, shouldn't it? I'm in the region as much as I am when I'm playing a regional)

As PCs level out of the regional APL spread, they also "loose" access to something that was intended to give them renewable access.

Is this a bug or a feature? Did the circle make a ruling that said you could spend a TU to go back home and get a regional item? It would also help.
BDMERZ
09-22-04, 03:16 PM I tend to agree with what your saying. I also think the Regional Access is too limiting. I live in eastern Pennsylvania, which gives me access to New Jersey, northern Delaware and if I want to take a long ride, southern New York. Most of the people I game with are from Delaware and that's in a different region. Even though I've been a RPGA member for a few years, this is what has turned me off to the regional concept. I think that someone should reevaluate some of the regions and maybe do a little expansion to make it easier for PC's to travel from region to region without using up time units.
oroborous
09-23-04, 08:05 PM As a person who just permanently moved from one region to another, I'm feeling the pain of regional access. I'll only be able to make it back there maybe once a year, but I've got all these ARs with "Regional" on them. Not that I have to much to complain about, since I have most, if not all of the gear that I need (Except for that Aquatic Underwater Breathing +1 Spiked +2 Full Plate, but by the time I can afford it, I'll travel to a big Dyvers Con to get it)

I don't mind paying an extra TU to play in other regions. The rationale is that it takes your character a week to travel to the other region. Obviously this doesn't make sense if a Core happens in you home region, but nothing is perfect. I'll just suspend my disbelief and have fun.
gizmonster
10-01-04, 11:16 AM As a person who just permanently moved from one region to another, I'm feeling the pain of regional access. I'll only be able to make it back there maybe once a year, but I've got all these ARs with "Regional" on them. Not that I have to much to complain about, since I have most, if not all of the gear that I need (Except for that Aquatic Underwater Breathing +1 Spiked +2 Full Plate, but by the time I can afford it, I'll travel to a big Dyvers Con to get it).

Living Greyhawk was set up as a regional system for a reason. To give you a personal stake in your homeland. Your character moved...he lost his contacts...in game there was a reason for him to move. Out of game, there was a reason for you to move. When we move in real life in many ways we have to start over with our contacts and friends, it is no different for our characters. Life is like that...we deal with it...get over it. Start building your stake in your new home.
oroborous
10-02-04, 11:42 PM Living Greyhawk was set up as a regional system for a reason. To give you a personal stake in your homeland. Your character moved...he lost his contacts...in game there was a reason for him to move. Out of game, there was a reason for you to move. When we move in real life in many ways we have to start over with our contacts and friends, it is no different for our characters. Life is like that...we deal with it...get over it. Start building your stake in your new home.

I haven't LOST anything. It's just a little harder to play. In Greyhawk both Dyvers & CoU are on the Nyr Dyv, so there is no reason why my character can't jet set. (Read: I'll play with my buddies when I go back home.)

I've already "dealt with it" by having a low-level puke backup character play as many times as I've been able to.
Sieylianna
10-03-04, 01:53 AM Living Greyhawk was set up as a regional system for a reason. To give you a personal stake in your homeland. Your character moved...he lost his contacts...in game there was a reason for him to move. Out of game, there was a reason for you to move. When we move in real life in many ways we have to start over with our contacts and friends, it is no different for our characters. Life is like that...we deal with it...get over it. Start building your stake in your new home.

Unfortunately, your short-sighted tirade fails to take note of the fact that the Circle has changed the rules on us. My main PC has resided in region since the start of the LG campaign, but due to rules changes and the triads decision to promote low level play, she can't play half the regional modules any longer. (Because they cap below APL 12).

Ed
SteveMND
10-03-04, 10:31 AM I fail to see how that's a crippling issue, Ed. You may not be able to play half your regionals, but that also means you can play the other half. So get your regional-access items then, and switch to a backup character to enjoy the regional mods for lower-level PCs in the meantime.

It would be great, of course, if our main PCs could play each and every regional module that comes down the pike, but I think that's a bit of an unrealistic expectation.
Arinaad
10-03-04, 11:55 AM I must agree with the limitations on the regional accesses. They are rather limiting to higher level characters. I know that there have been a lot of amendments to the rules regarding regional access and I am not completely up to date on them. I am from Ottawa ON, Canada, right on the border between Ket and Tusmit. I have played nearly all of the mods from both regions. I would like to see some sort of reorganization of the regions in some way. Ket is FAR too big. It is more than half the width of the continental USA. From one end of the region to the other it is almost 3000 KMs (close to 1250 miles). Also, with such a large territory it makes it nearly impossible for some Kettites to travel to different regions. There simply are not enough games for a player who can not travel to keep them playing the campaign. I do alright since I can make it to NY (Keoland), Quebec (Tusmit), Vermont (Bissel), and my home region of Ket. I do believe that this particular region (and it's connected meta-region which includes France!!) could have been better thought out.

That's my 2 cents.
Arinaad
SteveMND
10-03-04, 02:20 PM The regions were initially set up, from what I understand, more on the number of active RPGA members than geographical location. They might split Ket into two or more regions, but only if they have enough members in each area to be able to support a region (my guess is at a minimum, about 300 LG players or more).

The only change to the distribution of regions that I'm aware of so far in the campaign has been a consolidation of regions, as opposed to an expansion, due to being too few LG players in an area to warrant its continued independant existance.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that being able to play in another region is a luxury, not a right -- if you can, great, but if you can't, no loss. I don't see why the campaign would (or should) be organized on the basis of how convenient it is to drive to another region... :)
dr_who
10-09-04, 11:44 PM Personally, I'm of the opinion that being able to play in another region is a luxury, not a right -- if you can, great, but if you can't, no loss. I don't see why the campaign would (or should) be organized on the basis of how convenient it is to drive to another region... :)

I kind of agree with that. Playing out of region is a special treat. Playing in region is (or should be) the most important thing for your character because that is where events that take place will have the most impact on that character. I love playing out of region when I travel because I meet new players and see new places, etc., but I never remember which Duke's son conspired to kill such and such's uncle. It just doesn't matter to my character.

Now, that being said, there is the issue of the APL window for various types of scenarios. It has often been said that LG is a "low magic" campaign. Thus, it makes sense that high level characters have fewer opportunities for challenge. If my character lived in a land where challenges appropriate for 12th level characters were common place, that character would move! One dragon a year is bad, but the great heros of the realm can handle it. Can you imagine 7-9 times a year having your kingdom face a problem like a demonic invasion or some such? Core scenarios, on the other hand, are supposed to be sort of "world-wide" problems, and thus more easily tiered for the entire gamut of abilities.

Why do you need one main character and one loser, scrub, worthless backup character? Why not place some stock in each of your characters? The low-level characters can face the low-level challenges and the high-level characters can face the high-level challenges.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
heirodule 09-22-04, 09:03 AM	Maybe this is something to look into with the next LGCS. Regional access can end up being more restrictive than "Adventure" access, which is counter to the intention of Regional Access. If I have a backup (or main) charcater that only plays 1-2 regionals a year, I might get access to an item in a mod, and almost never be able to buy it again, if I don't buy it immediatly. But if it were adventure, I'd have 3 more shots at it. If interactives counted as "regionals" for their region, that would help. (in-game rationally, it should, shouldn't it? I'm in the region as much as I am when I'm playing a regional) As PCs level out of the regional APL spread, they also "loose" access to something that was intended to give them renewable access. Is this a bug or a feature? Did the circle make a ruling that said you could spend a TU to go back home and get a regional item? It would also help.
BDMERZ 09-22-04, 03:16 PM	I tend to agree with what your saying. I also think the Regional Access is too limiting. I live in eastern Pennsylvania, which gives me access to New Jersey, northern Delaware and if I want to take a long ride, southern New York. Most of the people I game with are from Delaware and that's in a different region. Even though I've been a RPGA member for a few years, this is what has turned me off to the regional concept. I think that someone should reevaluate some of the regions and maybe do a little expansion to make it easier for PC's to travel from region to region without using up time units.
oroborous 09-23-04, 08:05 PM	As a person who just permanently moved from one region to another, I'm feeling the pain of regional access. I'll only be able to make it back there maybe once a year, but I've got all these ARs with "Regional" on them. Not that I have to much to complain about, since I have most, if not all of the gear that I need (Except for that Aquatic Underwater Breathing +1 Spiked +2 Full Plate, but by the time I can afford it, I'll travel to a big Dyvers Con to get it) I don't mind paying an extra TU to play in other regions. The rationale is that it takes your character a week to travel to the other region. Obviously this doesn't make sense if a Core happens in you home region, but nothing is perfect. I'll just suspend my disbelief and have fun.
gizmonster 10-01-04, 11:16 AM	As a person who just permanently moved from one region to another, I'm feeling the pain of regional access. I'll only be able to make it back there maybe once a year, but I've got all these ARs with "Regional" on them. Not that I have to much to complain about, since I have most, if not all of the gear that I need (Except for that Aquatic Underwater Breathing +1 Spiked +2 Full Plate, but by the time I can afford it, I'll travel to a big Dyvers Con to get it). Living Greyhawk was set up as a regional system for a reason. To give you a personal stake in your homeland. Your character moved...he lost his contacts...in game there was a reason for him to move. Out of game, there was a reason for you to move. When we move in real life in many ways we have to start over with our contacts and friends, it is no different for our characters. Life is like that...we deal with it...get over it. Start building your stake in your new home.
oroborous 10-02-04, 11:42 PM	Living Greyhawk was set up as a regional system for a reason. To give you a personal stake in your homeland. Your character moved...he lost his contacts...in game there was a reason for him to move. Out of game, there was a reason for you to move. When we move in real life in many ways we have to start over with our contacts and friends, it is no different for our characters. Life is like that...we deal with it...get over it. Start building your stake in your new home. I haven't LOST anything. It's just a little harder to play. In Greyhawk both Dyvers & CoU are on the Nyr Dyv, so there is no reason why my character can't jet set. (Read: I'll play with my buddies when I go back home.) I've already "dealt with it" by having a low-level puke backup character play as many times as I've been able to.
Sieylianna 10-03-04, 01:53 AM	Living Greyhawk was set up as a regional system for a reason. To give you a personal stake in your homeland. Your character moved...he lost his contacts...in game there was a reason for him to move. Out of game, there was a reason for you to move. When we move in real life in many ways we have to start over with our contacts and friends, it is no different for our characters. Life is like that...we deal with it...get over it. Start building your stake in your new home. Unfortunately, your short-sighted tirade fails to take note of the fact that the Circle has changed the rules on us. My main PC has resided in region since the start of the LG campaign, but due to rules changes and the triads decision to promote low level play, she can't play half the regional modules any longer. (Because they cap below APL 12). Ed
SteveMND 10-03-04, 10:31 AM	I fail to see how that's a crippling issue, Ed. You may not be able to play half your regionals, but that also means you can play the other half. So get your regional-access items then, and switch to a backup character to enjoy the regional mods for lower-level PCs in the meantime. It would be great, of course, if our main PCs could play each and every regional module that comes down the pike, but I think that's a bit of an unrealistic expectation.
Arinaad 10-03-04, 11:55 AM	I must agree with the limitations on the regional accesses. They are rather limiting to higher level characters. I know that there have been a lot of amendments to the rules regarding regional access and I am not completely up to date on them. I am from Ottawa ON, Canada, right on the border between Ket and Tusmit. I have played nearly all of the mods from both regions. I would like to see some sort of reorganization of the regions in some way. Ket is FAR too big. It is more than half the width of the continental USA. From one end of the region to the other it is almost 3000 KMs (close to 1250 miles). Also, with such a large territory it makes it nearly impossible for some Kettites to travel to different regions. There simply are not enough games for a player who can not travel to keep them playing the campaign. I do alright since I can make it to NY (Keoland), Quebec (Tusmit), Vermont (Bissel), and my home region of Ket. I do believe that this particular region (and it's connected meta-region which includes France!!) could have been better thought out. That's my 2 cents. Arinaad
SteveMND 10-03-04, 02:20 PM	The regions were initially set up, from what I understand, more on the number of active RPGA members than geographical location. They might split Ket into two or more regions, but only if they have enough members in each area to be able to support a region (my guess is at a minimum, about 300 LG players or more). The only change to the distribution of regions that I'm aware of so far in the campaign has been a consolidation of regions, as opposed to an expansion, due to being too few LG players in an area to warrant its continued independant existance. Personally, I'm of the opinion that being able to play in another region is a luxury, not a right -- if you can, great, but if you can't, no loss. I don't see why the campaign would (or should) be organized on the basis of how convenient it is to drive to another region... :)
dr_who 10-09-04, 11:44 PM	Personally, I'm of the opinion that being able to play in another region is a luxury, not a right -- if you can, great, but if you can't, no loss. I don't see why the campaign would (or should) be organized on the basis of how convenient it is to drive to another region... :) I kind of agree with that. Playing out of region is a special treat. Playing in region is (or should be) the most important thing for your character because that is where events that take place will have the most impact on that character. I love playing out of region when I travel because I meet new players and see new places, etc., but I never remember which Duke's son conspired to kill such and such's uncle. It just doesn't matter to my character. Now, that being said, there is the issue of the APL window for various types of scenarios. It has often been said that LG is a "low magic" campaign. Thus, it makes sense that high level characters have fewer opportunities for challenge. If my character lived in a land where challenges appropriate for 12th level characters were common place, that character would move! One dragon a year is bad, but the great heros of the realm can handle it. Can you imagine 7-9 times a year having your kingdom face a problem like a demonic invasion or some such? Core scenarios, on the other hand, are supposed to be sort of "world-wide" problems, and thus more easily tiered for the entire gamut of abilities. Why do you need one main character and one loser, scrub, worthless backup character? Why not place some stock in each of your characters? The low-level characters can face the low-level challenges and the high-level characters can face the high-level challenges.