Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Nevvur Feb 05, 2015 21:32:59	I am considering becoming a DM for my FLGS Adventurer's League and I wanted to know about some of my rights as a DM...   Can I refuse characters of evil alignments, or with a certain faction? Can I ban characters above or below a certain level if they will imbalance the current episode/adventure/whatever?   If a player has particularly poor hygiene (enough to make people at the table uncomfortable), does this qualify as disruptive behavior for the purpose of removing him from the table?  I understand I am to inform the event organizer of disruptive behavior, but this is kinda touchy.    What if they come in smelling like weed or booze but behave themselves? I like a few beers at a home game, but public play is a different animal, especially if minors are around.   I've played in a couple AL games where the DM wasn't entirely on the level, in terms of doling out treasure. If examining a player's character sheet turns up something that looks anomalous, how should I handle it? Can I refuse to let a player use a character (or at least the treasure he supposedly earned) on a suspicion?   A catch all question might better be, can I refuse to let a player join the table for any reason?   I'm not as controlling as some of these questions may imply. I understand my role as an AL DM is to facilitate fun for all, these are just some possible snares for which I want to anticipate a solution. I know talking openly and honestly with the players is always the first step!
#2 Enevhar_Aldarion Feb 05, 2015 21:45:59	If you have not yet, make sure you read through the Player's Guide. It has all the rules and restrictions for character creation. And what you can and cannot do as a DM are described there as well.   http://media.wizards.com/downloads/dnd/ADVLeague_PlayerGuide_TODv1.pdf   But yes, one evil alignment is allowed and all factions in the Guide are allowed in any AL adventure, so you cannot deny those to players. The level restrictions of each adventure prevents anyone from outside that range from playing in it. But if, for example, it is for level 1-4, then no, you cannot prevent a level 4 playing with all level 1's or a level 1 playing with all level 4's.
(Reply to #2) Hamenopi	Enevhar_Aldarion wrote:
(Reply to #2) Undrhil	Enevhar_Aldarion wrote:
#5 QwertyAzerty Feb 06, 2015 8:08:27	For AL adventure:   only Neutral and Chaotic Evilt are forbidden. (Lawfull Evil restricted to Lord Alliance and Zhentarim) You cannot forbid a faction, all 5 factions(Harper, Order of teh Gauntlet, Emeral Enclave, Lord Alliance and Zhentarim) are legal and supported by AL.   The AL material is build by tier. you got tier 1 (1-4) tier 2 (5-10) tier 3 (11-16) and tier 4 (17-20). and by AL rule if you play a tier 1 adventure all tier 1 player can play (so all player between level 1 and 4) if someone come with a character lvl 5 you have to ask him to use a different character between 1 and 4.   For stinky player (poor hygiene, drug, booze, cigarette etc...) this depend on your table, if you believe that those person make the experience less interesting for the player at the table then you are welcome to ask him to go drink a bottle of mouthwash (to get rid of the drug/booze smell) or to go take a bath (maybe you can word it in a more diplomatic manner) because the smell bother the other participant.   For player suspecting of "cheating" with or without the assistance of pass DM, if you suspect that something is wrong (a payer got a stat array that seem inpossible with the standard, 27 point by system limited to 15 as your highest stats, you can ask him to explain how he got those stats and if he say he rolled or there is a math error in the calculation you can ask him to redo it properly before joining the table. If you believe he got too many magical item and suspect unfair advantage (DM too generous, he bully player in forcing them to give him the magical item at the end of the game etc...) you can tell him that he cannot use his magical item in your game (or tell him he can only have 1 or an amount that you deem reasonable, usually as a general rule I tell new player they can have the average magical item from my core player +1 otherwise they would unabalance my table and take the fun out of the other player (no one like to do nothing because that fighter is doing everything himself without problem since he got all those powerfull magical item)   Officially no you cannot really refuse player for any reason, but you can easily find a loop hole to refuse that player from joining.   -For example you don't feel confortable to play with a bigger table, as teh DM you can say that you are limiting your table to X player (as long that X is between 3 and 7 players). If the following week he come back and he's first you tell him that you already have your X players quota and you want to keep the same group since it had created a fun table and people like playing together. If he want he could ask to the event organizer to open a second table (if he can find a second DM). -Remember you are here to make the game fun for everyone, and this is probably the biggest loop hole of all. this is your catch all clause. If you feel like (or if your player tell you) that this new player won't be fun to play with then you can ask him to join/create a different table.
#6 Nevvur Feb 06, 2015 10:20:52	I read the AL Player Guide prior to posting. While I understood what was permissible regarding character attributes (alignment, level within tier), I wanted to know if I have the right to refuse an AL-legal character for reason x (any of the points in my OP) on the grounds that I felt it would make the game less fun for other players.   I suppose I'm better off just trying to navigate those situations if they happen, than worrying that they will. Cross that bridge when you get there, right? Thanks for all the feedback, everyone!
#7 Kalani Feb 06, 2015 11:14:29	Nevvur wrote:
#8 RCanine Feb 06, 2015 13:18:18	Kalani wrote:
#9 Oraibi Feb 06, 2015 13:34:45	I believe the AL admins have stated you can limit your game based on size, e.g. "I only want to run this table for five players."
#10 Kalani Feb 06, 2015 14:12:53	RCanine wrote: