Hey, folks. First off, I'm disappointed by the Adventurer's League in the local area and I'm trying to figure out what to do about it.
While I didn't go myself, from the conversations I have had with the local coordinator, it appears that not only is there no interest in helping local stores get going.
From what I heard, most of the coordinator's focus is to get DMs to go to some conventions to help out. I don't think any of us, even myself (I looked into DMing because we had two DMs and currently there is over 20 people at the moment) are willing to go that extra mile to go to the conventions like that. We don't exactly run around on high dollar checks.
It's not just that, however.
At the moment, I am sorely disappointed by the rules for the AL. I mean, really, you're using some basic already hand-picked statistics? No dice rolls to determine? Not even the old 4D6 and drop the lowest once rolls? I don't know who's idea that was, but that's turned us off as well collectively as a group. Even the point buy is better than that and I happen to hate the point buy.
Further, from what I heard about those that did go out and look around, the maps look like something that were hand drawn in a spur of the moment. I don't mind it here, but I'm sure there's some better ways to do the adventures overall? At least do something via computer or the like?
So, I'm asking, is this what is intended for the official Wizards of the Coast global campaign, or is there something better going on somewhere? While I like the thought of it, I'm wondering if perhaps the ball has been dropped somewhere and others don't want to pick up the slack in making this better? I would seriously at least like to see this be a lot better before committing to trying to get my local store involved if this is the best offerings.
Hi, Enryuken,
I'm not sure I understand what your complaints are. Around here, the local coordinators are great in helping stores get up and running with AL games. Sounds like a problem with your local coordinator, to be honest.
If you've got 20+ players and few DMs, then I suggest some of you should take a shot at DMing. Not sure what you're expecting there to be honest -- that seems reasonable to me.
You are mistaken about the ability scores -- point buy IS a valid option for AL characters, as is using the standard array. Rolling is not for simple purposes of fairness -- in an organized play game, you can't really trust everyone to have honestly rolled up their stats.
As far as the content and maps goes, there are three published adventures from WotC that are legal for organized play that have the level of cartography that you're looking for. Mind you, they're not given away for free like the Expeditions content is.
I've found that Expeditions quality can vary a lot depending on the particular adventure -- some do have poor maps, while others have excellent ones. (The final site map for Outlaws of the Iron Route is really amazing and useful.)
Given that AL is still quite new, you might want to cut them some slack. Also keep in mind that it's meeting the needs of thousands of gamers around the world as it is, and promises to only get better in the future.
Disclaimer: I'm an AL player and DM, but unaffiliated with running the program at all.
I'm starting to agree on the part of the local coordinator being the problem. I admit I did not go myself again, however, from what I heard, they only told them about the standard array. And some of us are going to give a shot at DMing. I'm a newbie DM so far, long time player, and going to try running the Lost Mines adventure the next time I can go to a session.
I can cut some slack, but when you're designing something, shouldn't there be some sort of quality expected? From what I heard, the map quality is something that any DM can make in about five or six minutes tops on a sheet of graph paper.
Who is telling you the map quality is poor? It doesn't sound like you're actually talking about things you've seen. Could you be relying on hearsay now?
(Also, for a D&D adventure, you don't actually NEED a fancy map.)
Enryuken wrote:
Lets get this clear now. Wizards has little control over what your DM tells you/ or does not tell you. WOTC and the volunteer Admins provided scenarios to these dms as well as the rules to go with creating a characters/ managing said characters and how to run the scenarios (to some extent). That's as far as it goes. They dont walk into the store and tell DM 1 'Dont forget to tell your players that they could use the standard array OR buy stats'
WOTC are never going to do that. Its an expectation that DMS are studious enough to understand the game they are running... just as the expectation is there that a Wizard player knows how to pick her spells, a Fighter knows what her feats do and so on.
Ill use my case as an Example. Im in Australia, thus by default its extremely unlikely that Ill ever see any certs for scenarios. From what I have learned around Australia, even if we do everything to the letter and get out Expeditions games organised properly, we still wont get the certs as apparently internationally the distribution past the faction kits was spotty at best. No problem with that though. I will point out that out of the 4 staff there, 2 know NOTHING about D&D.
We/I play at a local store which specialises in having a lot of table space and effectively concentrates on magic.. tournaments and so on. Now I play in Encounters on a Wed night where I can. After about level 4 (and past the free pdf point) I noticed that our DM was going off script. He was adding money where I dont think money should have been added, and the items that would of been likely found much later were all found immedatly. Effectively we were not playing AL anymore.
Now at the time I did bring this up (only once however) and mentioned that I wasnt sure we were still following AL rules. He nodded and proceeded to go the same way. So Ive effectively written off that character in regards to him being AL legal now.
I RUN expeditions locally and personally im a stickler for rules, so Ive made sure that anyone playing in my games is following the letter of the law when it comes to such rules. I was lucky I had a combination of the Wed night crow and some new players. Nobody originally had the PHB bar me (now almost everyone has a copy). I had a copy of the Tyranny of Dragons guide printed out for myself and others to read.
At this point Ill note, Im not the Local Organiser, or If I am.. Ive never had such a title bestowed on me.
So I helped people make characters and one person in particular ALSO had the Tyranny of Dragon Players guide on their ipad which was cool, he was definetly on the ball.
I have enjoyed running nearly every scenario so far (with the exception being Shadows over the Moonsea and that is entirely based on pacing issues). The maps do not concern me, I simply need to replicate the image onto my PAIZO flipmat surfaces.
As stated above, it seems that the problems in your area stem from a DM that either thinks his players have AL skills they dont have (ie they know that they can choose the standard array OR point buy) or the DM just isnt very good (and that can be the fact that he is a brand new dm or just an incredibly 'eh' one)
Sorry you are getting a bad impression, lets see if we can clear up some things.
Enryuken wrote:
Enryuken wrote:
Hamenopi wrote:
But I don't think that is what the OP is looking for. I think they just need to run their own non-AL home game to get what they want.
Oraibi wrote:
Enryuken wrote:
madscientistlabrat wrote:
If anyone has trouble with their Local Coordinator (LC), I always suggest you see if you can talk it out with them. If that does not get you to a resolution, consider escallating your concerns to the Regional Coordinator (RC). Its what they're there for; their contact emails can be found on our website.
Greg Marks
DnDAL Associate Resource Manager
Just for clarity, is the local coordinator the person who represents the store to the AL or are they a level between the store's representative and the regional coordinator?
It absolutely helps. I just wanted to be sure I was understanding the structure. 
I've reached out to the southeast coordinator about becoming a DM in the area but a week later I have yet to receive a reply. Bummer as 5e has the DM desire and creativity in me flowing again.
Update - my email must have gotten dumped in a spam folder as I have yet to hear back almost 2 weeks later. I'll try again and send another email.
EthanSental wrote:
If you are having trouble contactinmg your LC, try your RC.
Enryuken wrote:
EthanSental wrote:
Many thanks, I'll message him and thanks again for the information.
I also never received a reply after emailing the SE coordinator about an issue. Good to see there is a new coordinator. I just checked the SE Facebook page and the new guy is all over the place.
I ended up quitting playing AL, though, as the DM a) went way off script in HotDQ. If it were a home game I'd not have cared but I signed up for AL to play AL and b) he's bad at adjudicating rules properly.