Multiple Faction Membership - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Joshua_Belden Dec 08, 2014 8:49:27	I'm running through the Phandelver Starter Adventure from the Start set and the PCs just got to Phandalin. I was planning on skipping the factions, mostly because I'm a bit new to 5th Edition and to DMing, and thought I'd keep it simple. I like the ideas of the factions and can leverage them for continuing adventure hooks so I think I'll bring them in but I have a couple questions. Obviously I'm free to do what I want in my games, but is it WOTC's intention that if you are a part of a faction, you need to be playing in the D&D Adventure's League. The only reason I thought this is I noticed they have DM Kits with cool faction swag so I thought perhaps the intent was in Encounters play only. Is there a way I can get a kit without hosting an Encounters game? And finally, are PCs only allowed to be in a single faction, or can they be members of multiple ones. If only one, is there an in game reason for the requirement? Thanks in advance! Josh
#2 Kalani Dec 08, 2014 10:24:05	According to the rules for Factions and Organizations (DMG p21-23), the default assumption is that players can earn renown for multiple factions simultaneously, and I quote: Renown (DMG p22) A player tracks renown separately for each organization his or her character is a member of. For example, an adventurer might have 5 renown within one faction and 20 renown with another, based on the character's interaction with each organization over the course of a campaign
#3 Pauper Dec 08, 2014 12:12:20	Joshua_Belden wrote:
#4 Tyranthraxus Dec 08, 2014 16:51:01	Also keep in mind you DO NOT have to have a character in a faction. A Character can also be factionless. My Bard, Kesh the Burnt ( so named because has a history of running from tough fights/ situations thus dooming the group he is with at the time) is Factionless. A side issue is no Faction Charity and obviously no access to boons that really havnt been seen yet. Its not a huge concern to me with that character as he is mostly a dm credit guy.
#5 BRJN Dec 16, 2014 17:39:25	There is no requirement (that I am aware of) that all PCs belong to the same faction. If I had a regular group, I would advise that each character work for a different faction, so we can pool resources and get jobs done more effectively. Also offers 'binocular vision' on why this job might be so important, and how to plan / exploit the final result. Of course each character might major in one faction and minor in another, so to speak. EDIT: My mistake; you can't do this. See quote from AL guidelines, below. This of course ignores the question, "What if one faction wants to take a whack at another?" (But I can't imagine a competent faction leader deliberately calling a mixed-membership group for such a job.) Also check if any of the factions are natural enemies; that will cause more grief than fun for the group.
#6 Knight_Marshal Dec 16, 2014 14:08:25	Joshua_Belden wrote:
(Reply to #5) Pauper	BRJN wrote:

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

Joshua_Belden

Dec 08, 2014 8:49:27

I'm running through the Phandelver Starter Adventure from the Start set and the PCs just got to Phandalin. I was planning on skipping the factions, mostly because I'm a bit new to 5th Edition and to DMing, and thought I'd keep it simple. I like the ideas of the factions and can leverage them for continuing adventure hooks so I think I'll bring them in but I have a couple questions. Obviously I'm free to do what I want in my games, but is it WOTC's intention that if you are a part of a faction, you need to be playing in the D&D Adventure's League. The only reason I thought this is I noticed they have DM Kits with cool faction swag so I thought perhaps the intent was in Encounters play only. Is there a way I can get a kit without hosting an Encounters game? And finally, are PCs only allowed to be in a single faction, or can they be members of multiple ones. If only one, is there an in game reason for the requirement?

Thanks in advance!

Josh

Kalani

Dec 08, 2014 10:24:05

According to the rules for Factions and Organizations (DMG p21-23), the default assumption is that players can earn renown for multiple factions simultaneously, and I quote:

Renown (DMG p22)
A player tracks renown separately for each organization his or her character is a member of. For example, an adventurer might have 5 renown within one faction and 20 renown with another, based on the character's interaction with each organization over the course of a campaign

Pauper

Dec 08, 2014 12:12:20

Joshua_Belden wrote:

Tyranthraxus

Dec 08, 2014 16:51:01

Also keep in mind you DO NOT have to have a character in a faction. A Character can also be factionless. My Bard, Kesh the Burnt ( so named because has a history of running from tough fights/ situations thus dooming the group he is with at the time) is Factionless. A side issue is no Faction Charity and obviously no access to boons that really havnt been seen yet. Its not a huge concern to me with that character as he is mostly a dm credit guy.

BRJN

Dec 16, 2014 17:39:25

There is no requirement (that I am aware of) that all PCs belong to the same faction.

If I had a regular group, I would advise that each character work for a different faction, so we can pool resources and get jobs done more effectively. Also offers 'binocular vision' on why this job might be so important, and how to plan / exploit the final result.

Of course each character might major in one faction and minor in another, so to speak. EDIT: My mistake; you can't do this. See quote from AL guidelines, below.

This of course ignores the question, "What if one faction wants to take a whack at another?" (But I can't imagine a competent faction leader deliberately calling a mixed-membership group for such a job.)

Also check if any of the factions are natural enemies; that will cause more grief than fun for the group.

Knight_Marshal

Dec 16, 2014 14:08:25

Joshua_Belden wrote:

(Reply to #5)

Pauper

BRJN wrote: