The DMG and Adventurer's League - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 knlndrs Dec 14, 2014 18:24:02	Now that the DMG is out, are the races (eladrin, aasimar) and class options (cleric: death domain, paladin: oathbreaker) included in the DMG useable in Adventurer's League play? The AL play rules don't mention any race or class specifically as playable or unplayable. The only alignments that are prohibited are neutral evil and chaotic evil. Lawful evil is specifically mentioned as a playable alignment. There is even a part in the FAQ section of the AL play rules that deals with, "how to deal with players of evil characters, or who venerate an evil deity," as would potentially be the case when using a Death Domain Cleric or an Oathbreaker Paladin. I am aware that the class options were previously only playable through the use of a certificate handed out at cons. As this was well before the release of the DMG the indication seemed to be that it was more an early release option, but conflicting information has cast doubt on the nature of that particular promotion. One section in the AL rules FAQ deals with the release of new player rules options and provides information on how to incorporate them, but it doesn't refer directly to the DMG. There is also a section that refers to the crafting of magic items, the rules for which are found in the DMG, not being allowed, and goes on to say that most rule options in the DMG are not allowed. This phrasing indicates that some, all be it few, rules options in the DMG are allowed. Furthermore, class and race options aren't explicitly rules options. Since the DMG is listed as one of 3 core rule books it wouldn't make any sense for it to have no content applicable to AL play. There is nothing in the AL rules that seems to indicate a clear reason why these options wouldn't be useable. I'm not saying they are useable, but if they aren't, the reason why is not made clear by the rules. So are these options (race and class) outlined in the DMG useable by players in AL play? If they are not, can you please explain why, so that I can explain it to players at the table rather than just saying no you can't use that?
#2 TheBreen Dec 14, 2014 18:33:45	knlndrs wrote:
#3 guachi Dec 14, 2014 20:05:14	The only optional rules allowed are the rules for playing on a grid from the PHB. Now, if your entire table agreed to some rule there really isn't anything preventing you from using it. Our table has added the alternate movement calculation for diagonals on a grid and added flanking. They are simple rules and don't necessarily have to be maintained from table to table or session to session.
#4 Pauper Dec 15, 2014 7:42:01	knlndrs wrote:
#5 knlndrs Dec 15, 2014 15:27:25	guachi wrote:
(Reply to #5) Womba	From ALPG, p.3: Allowed Rules Characters originating during the Tyranny of Dragons storyline season can use the following rules for character options: • D&D basic rules (all rules except rolling ability scores and hit points, some alignment restrictions) • D&D Player’s Handbook™ (all rules except rolling ability scores and hit points, some alignment restrictions) • Hoard of the Dragon Queen™ appendix A Official documentation, such as a D&D Adventurers League certificate, might provide exceptions to the allowed rules.
#7 guachi Dec 15, 2014 16:33:30	knlndrs wrote:
#8 R3velation Feb 11, 2015 21:10:21	This is actually pretty typical for rulings on races, season 2 is coming upon us and as with other living campaigns, new to play races are brought in and others are taken out. with the dmg out and season 2 around the corner it is my hope to actually play a kobold in adventure league in season 2. also a bugbear. god i would love to make a bugbear. also a lizardfolk anywho, the big thing is to wait till teh season 2 manual comes out and looking over it to see what new races are available. most likely you will have to look for the details but they will most likely be there
#9 Tyranthraxus Feb 11, 2015 21:42:12	I think D&D is moving AWAY from making Monstrous races playable (thank Helm for that too!).
#10 Pauper Feb 12, 2015 8:08:40	Every day I don't see a bugbear PC at the game table is another good day.
#11 CahPahkah Feb 12, 2015 10:40:16	Tyranthraxus wrote:
#12 Undrhil Feb 14, 2015 9:58:21	There was a playtest for Elemental Evil? The blurb on the Wizard's page only mentioned "a new playable race" referring to the Genasi.
#13 Tyranthraxus Feb 15, 2015 17:43:40	Undrhil: There is a playtest for almost everything. Module, Rulebook, Splatbook, Computer game etc etc. Playtesting is a thing.
#14 TheGimper Feb 18, 2015 22:07:50	Tyranthraxus wrote:
(Reply to #10) TheGimper	Pauper wrote:
#16 ZHDarkstar Feb 19, 2015 10:19:29	The NPC Features chart on p.282 is really good at showing at a glance some of the design differences between PC and Monstrous races. The only ones on that chart that I could foresee as PC races are Hobgoblins and Deep Gnomes. The Deep Gnomes will likely be added as a subrace, along with the Duergar subrace for dwarves, once an Underdark season begins. One thing that I would like to see is a set of "Villainous" Races, in a vein similar to the Villainous Class Options. These (sub)races would be ones that are typically associated with the bad guys, but are designed for balance as possible player options. We already see the start of that with Tieflings, Chromatic Dragonborn, and especially Drow. #ThanksDrizz't I would also like to see some villainous options become standard options for AL use, as the behavior guidelines and alignment restrictions already curtail any disruptions they could cause other players. When you strip away the fluff, Death Clerics are necrotic damage gishes and Oathbreakers are frontline control tanks. I understand the appeal of limiting some to exclusive content to promote the public play options. However, I think that adapting the concept of timed exclusive content would be more beneficial to AL in the long run. In the current rules environment, the only consistent utility that the DMG provides to AL is the magic item directory. Hopefully, that will expand in future ALPG updates.
#17 RCanine Feb 22, 2015 0:04:03	TheGimper wrote:
(Reply to #17) ZHDarkstar	RCanine wrote:
(Reply to #13) Undrhil	Tyranthraxus wrote:
(Reply to #17) Pauper	RCanine wrote:
#21 Tyranthraxus Feb 23, 2015 21:53:49	You do realise you can be a 'unique snowflake' and not be playing a monstrous race right? I sometimes think people dont see that and just link one with another.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

knlndrs

Dec 14, 2014 18:24:02

Now that the DMG is out, are the races (eladrin, aasimar) and class options (cleric: death domain, paladin: oathbreaker) included in the DMG useable in Adventurer's League play? The AL play rules don't mention any race or class specifically as playable or unplayable. The only alignments that are prohibited are neutral evil and chaotic evil. Lawful evil is specifically mentioned as a playable alignment. There is even a part in the FAQ section of the AL play rules that deals with, "how to deal with players of evil characters, or who venerate an evil deity," as would potentially be the case when using a Death Domain Cleric or an Oathbreaker Paladin. I am aware that the class options were previously only playable through the use of a certificate handed out at cons. As this was well before the release of the DMG the indication seemed to be that it was more an early release option, but conflicting information has cast doubt on the nature of that particular promotion.

One section in the AL rules FAQ deals with the release of new player rules options and provides information on how to incorporate them, but it doesn't refer directly to the DMG. There is also a section that refers to the crafting of magic items, the rules for which are found in the DMG, not being allowed, and goes on to say that most rule options in the DMG are not allowed. This phrasing indicates that some, all be it few, rules options in the DMG are allowed. Furthermore, class and race options aren't explicitly rules options. Since the DMG is listed as one of 3 core rule books it wouldn't make any sense for it to have no content applicable to AL play. There is nothing in the AL rules that seems to indicate a clear reason why these options wouldn't be useable. I'm not saying they are useable, but if they aren't, the reason why is not made clear by the rules.

So are these options (race and class) outlined in the DMG useable by players in AL play? If they are not, can you please explain why, so that I can explain it to players at the table rather than just saying no you can't use that?

TheBreen

Dec 14, 2014 18:33:45

knlndrs wrote:

guachi

Dec 14, 2014 20:05:14

The only optional rules allowed are the rules for playing on a grid from the PHB.

Now, if your entire table agreed to some rule there really isn't anything preventing you from using it. Our table has added the alternate movement calculation for diagonals on a grid and added flanking. They are simple rules and don't necessarily have to be maintained from table to table or session to session.

Pauper

Dec 15, 2014 7:42:01

knlndrs wrote:

knlndrs

Dec 15, 2014 15:27:25

guachi wrote:

(Reply to #5)

Womba

From ALPG, p.3:

Allowed Rules
Characters originating during the Tyranny of Dragons storyline season can use the following rules for character options:
• D&D basic rules (all rules except rolling ability scores and hit points, some alignment restrictions)
• D&D Player’s Handbook™ (all rules except rolling ability scores and hit points, some alignment restrictions)
• Hoard of the Dragon Queen™ appendix A
Official documentation, such as a D&D Adventurers League certificate, might provide exceptions to the
allowed rules.

guachi

Dec 15, 2014 16:33:30

knlndrs wrote:

R3velation

Feb 11, 2015 21:10:21

This is actually pretty typical for rulings on races, season 2 is coming upon us and as with other living campaigns, new to play races are brought in and others are taken out. with the dmg out and season 2 around the corner it is my hope to actually play a kobold in adventure league in season 2. also a bugbear. god i would love to make a bugbear. also a lizardfolk anywho, the big thing is to wait till teh season 2 manual comes out and looking over it to see what new races are available. most likely you will have to look for the details but they will most likely be there

Tyranthraxus

Feb 11, 2015 21:42:12

I think D&D is moving AWAY from making Monstrous races playable (thank Helm for that too!).

#10

Pauper

Feb 12, 2015 8:08:40

Every day I don't see a bugbear PC at the game table is another good day.

#11

CahPahkah

Feb 12, 2015 10:40:16

Tyranthraxus wrote:

#12

Undrhil

Feb 14, 2015 9:58:21

There was a playtest for Elemental Evil?

The blurb on the Wizard's page only mentioned "a new playable race" referring to the Genasi.

#13

Tyranthraxus

Feb 15, 2015 17:43:40

Undrhil: There is a playtest for almost everything. Module, Rulebook, Splatbook, Computer game etc etc. Playtesting is a thing.

#14

TheGimper

Feb 18, 2015 22:07:50

Tyranthraxus wrote:

(Reply to #10)

TheGimper

Pauper wrote:

#16

ZHDarkstar

Feb 19, 2015 10:19:29

The NPC Features chart on p.282 is really good at showing at a glance some of the design differences between PC and Monstrous races. The only ones on that chart that I could foresee as PC races are Hobgoblins and Deep Gnomes. The Deep Gnomes will likely be added as a subrace, along with the Duergar subrace for dwarves, once an Underdark season begins.

One thing that I would like to see is a set of "Villainous" Races, in a vein similar to the Villainous Class Options. These (sub)races would be ones that are typically associated with the bad guys, but are designed for balance as possible player options. We already see the start of that with Tieflings, Chromatic Dragonborn, and especially Drow. #ThanksDrizz't

I would also like to see some villainous options become standard options for AL use, as the behavior guidelines and alignment restrictions already curtail any disruptions they could cause other players. When you strip away the fluff, Death Clerics are necrotic damage gishes and Oathbreakers are frontline control tanks. I understand the appeal of limiting some to exclusive content to promote the public play options. However, I think that adapting the concept of timed exclusive content would be more beneficial to AL in the long run.

In the current rules environment, the only consistent utility that the DMG provides to AL is the magic item directory. Hopefully, that will expand in future ALPG updates.

#17

RCanine

Feb 22, 2015 0:04:03

TheGimper wrote:

(Reply to #17)

ZHDarkstar

RCanine wrote:

(Reply to #13)

Undrhil

Tyranthraxus wrote:

(Reply to #17)

Pauper

RCanine wrote:

#21

Tyranthraxus

Feb 23, 2015 21:53:49

You do realise you can be a 'unique snowflake' and not be playing a monstrous race right? I sometimes think people dont see that and just link one with another.