Looks like we have yet another Moonsea location for AL during Rage of Demons. Hillsfar
As far as I can tell, nothing in this article is noted as AL rules material, though the background and setting information can be very valuable when planning our your new Rage of Demons Expeditions character.
I'm also a fan of seeing how the region has developed since the end of the Shade Wars. Helpful for DMs to get a sense of the region.
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Pauper
I like the fact they are around the moonsea. Almost like a mini campagin setting for the area with the added stuff they provide on the AL website.
Pauper wrote:
I like that there is built-in societal conflicts in these locations ... Phlan was a brutal dictatorship, Mulmaster a brutal oligarchy with their feet on the necks of arcane casters and now Hillsfar who hates anyone non-human. Adds an extra dimension of tension for players beyond what monster needs to be squashed in a given mod.
Primarchx wrote:
This should be interesting. D&D wants to talk about racism, huh?
I suspect the vast majority of tables will handle it with maturity, but I can see certain types using the setting as an excuse to express real word resentments on fantasy stand-ins. I hope DMs and players alike can distinguish dramatic play from disruptive or harassing behavior fueled by the premise that racism is the norm in this setting.
Nevvur wrote:
Ok as a side note they should add the race of the Fey'ri or demon fey as they did last season with the Golith and deep gnome, because of their history in the area and the can use disguise self as a at-will ability because of their sucubes and incubes heritage.
Skerrit wrote:
I suspect they might. If they do however I fully expect Fey'ri to be banned in AL for the same reasons as aarakocra. fey'ri are winged tieflings of elvish descent
Nevvur wrote:
I suppose fey'ri are possible, given that it is a Realms adventure featuring demons. Given that most of the adventure is suggested to take place in the Underdark, though, I'd expect duergar, goblins, kobolds, and perhaps desmodu. It seems weird, in that sense, that we got deep gnomes in Elemental Evil, so there might be a 'preview' race for the next storyline in the upcoming one.
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Pauper
Pauper wrote:
Coredump00 wrote:
Ainulindalion wrote:
If an article discussing how to handle the racism in a mature manner is not already in the works, I will write such an article much like I did for the Arcane Edict earlier in the season. That way, players will not have an excuse for immaturity or insensitive behavior as other players can point to [random article X] saying they should act with maturity......etc.
This article is great
A) Yulash gets a mention. Which could mean Moander may be making a comeback (again!)
B) Hillsfar was the other city in the Moonsea region with a THayan enclave (even though its not mentioned in the article)
C) So many character ideas. (although I could of sworn The former first lord was assasinated not in the process of ascending to Lichdom
D) Lots of plot points!
Every character I create to play in Season 3 will now be non-human.
Bring on the conflict!
And I thought my lawful dwarven caster had trouble in Mulmaster! Hillsfar is going to be interesting.
This would be a good opportunity to expand some Tiefling sub-races. We have the arcane spellcaster already, could get a Big Bruiser type, and maybe add some differentiation between devil-bred and demon-bred.
If we are going to be stranded in the Underdark, some discussion of the Drow pantheon (or what's left of it) would be a good thing, too.
Also a description of the "miner helmet" chemical, and other things that let humans see in the 'Dark.
If I think about stuff for long enough, I might not leave any space to print any Adventures. 
BRJN wrote:
Nozareem wrote:
BRJN wrote:
Nevvur wrote:
Sorsohka wrote:
[quote="imaginaryfriend"]
Sorsohka wrote:
I agree with you and like I said my DM lack experience. The problem is because of the lack of DM a lot of DM are new to the game and lack experience, this is the reality of the community at the moment. Fixing this is easy, force DM to pass an exam that would show they have the minimum requirement for properly DMing a game, but then a new probem will emmerge, it will be extremly difficult to find new DM to run AL and many table will be force to shut down because of a lack of DM.
Sorsohka wrote:
Primarchx wrote:
Primarchx wrote:
Sorsohka wrote:
TheBreen wrote:
The only way a DM gets experience is by running a game. No gm I have ever known is a great dm off the bat, it takes time to 'mature' the dm. And not every dm gets better. Some just dont even if they have been dming for a long time.
In terms of Organised play , Conventions are generally the focal point. Conventions also operate on a system of rewarding /incentfizing DM's by giving them free entry /free things. THis is great sure for dms but it also raises the issue of .. is a person going to the convention in the dm capacity really there to be up for the dm work or just so they can get free accomodation / other.
Obviously this is only true at some conventions but I think its a valid concern in terms of the quality of dms you get.
Sadly all the documentation in the world wont help a DM, if A) Nobody tells them they are not so good (A lot of people use forums to vent about a bad dm they recently had, but never say they they told them that they didnt enjoy the game so much or anything similar. Venting might help you but wont help the dm
B) One person on the table might dislike the dms style, whilst everyone else loves it. This can often be true of a group of friends who have always played together with one as the dm. Then a new person outside of that group of friends joins and the group is so cliquish that its hard for the new player to 'access' the game. You often see a group of friends go to Gencon. I find it interesting that such groups go to Gencon... just to play with the same group of friends in the same game.
Last but not least, a DM has to be able to react on the fly. Even in an organised play campaign where you have a 'script of sorts of the page in front of you, pcs and players will often go off script. You cant give any advice on that to a dm in the script because its not how the writer would expect things to go. They cant account for every possible variation. Its all about how the DM 'improvises' to get the players back into the adventure or roleplays the fishmonger they find who has no name and knows not much about very little.
Tyranthraxus wrote:
I think improv is a great background for any prospective dm. We had a improv theatre group at Uni when I went and I watched a few of their performances. One of the ladies there was truly awesome and I kept thinking she would make a great dm.
Sorsohka wrote:
Sorsohka wrote:
Skerrit wrote:
My frst thought upon reading the article is if I play a Human could I convince the rest of the party and the GM into helping me burn Hillsfar to the ground and salting the earth?
Good time to work on that necromancer concept I have been thinking about.
Knight_Marshal wrote:
Are we supposed to be heroes? Ive got a Merc who does it for the coin and a challenge and a Wizard who does it because he wishes more power.
Ive yet to build a Hero.
Tyranthraxus wrote:
SteveMND wrote:
Sorsohka wrote:
Ainulindalion wrote:
Sorsohka wrote:
Sorsohka wrote:
As an LC myself I can state for the record that we are not allowed to act in such a manner. We are to try and be the example of how players and DMs should behave in AL. If your LC truly said that, I would contact your RC immediately. What region do you live in and I will get you their contact information.
Firstly however, please make sure that they are in fact your LC. Don't take their word for it. Look up their name on the administrators list in my signature (first link, the one which says what my position in the league is)
If another person is listed for your local area - I highly doubt the person is your LC. If they are not listed (or nobody is listed) it is possible that they have not been added to the list yet. As such I would contact your RC and explain the situation.
We LCs have a Code of Conduct which we must agree to uphold. We cannot exclude players unless they have caused a serious breach of the code of conduct that all players are required to uphold (as written in the Players Guide). Asking questions, or pointing out that house rules such as you describe are not allowed is not a breach. Heck, even being a rules lawyer isn't a breach unless it becomes highly disruptive or is used to browbeat the DM or other players.
Tyranthraxus wrote:
imaginaryfriend wrote: