What exactly are the requirements to DM an Adventurer's League Game - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What exactly are the requirements to DM an Adventurer's League Game

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Mark_Ruyley
Feb 06, 2015 13:15:27
Long story short,

some friends and I play weekly encounters at a hobby shop. We have recently reread the AL Player's Guide that says we can play AL at home, which appeals to us because we wanted to play a couple extra games a week outside of the store's routine and furthermore we have an additional friend who can't make the trip to the store each week for encouters.

I was told I need to be "sanctioned" to play as a DM and the store event organizer "won't sanction home games." Am I unable to run an AL game with other friends outside of the store's routine, without official sanction? I keep reading in multiple places that all I need to run a game as a DM is a DCI number, log sheets, and an adventure.

As a tangential question, what are the minimum number of players required for an AL game. Is the DM allowed to run one of his characters as an NPC, with full risk of death and no experience, gold or story rewards (other than the alloted DMing exp for episode completion) in order to help fill a quota?

#2
Oraibi
Feb 06, 2015 13:29:10 You don't need official sanction to run a home game. Your store organizer is wrong.

However, you are limited to the published adventures -- Lost Mine, Hoard, etc. -- and you can't play the Expeditions in a home game. You can't make up your own adventure.

There is a minimum if 3 players besides the DM. Your DM can't run his character while DMing in the way you describe. If you have less than three players, your home game can't be a legal AL session.

Reread the ALPG, I think all of this is in there.
#3
Kalani
Feb 06, 2015 14:06:06
In addition, home games fall under the Casual Play banner, with the exception that they do not need to be reported to Wizards. The players and DM should still follow all ALPG guidelines however, and should still keep accurate Adventure Logs. You do not need to record the DMs DCI number on your logsheet however (although I still recommend it if they have one), nor do you need your own DCI number until such times as you play in a store-sanctioned game, con, or other event. If you lack a DCI number when you attend such an event, the event organizer should be able to provide you one (and I would request it if they don't as they are required to).

#4
Oraibi
Feb 06, 2015 14:11:21 You can get a DCI number online, even with a smart phone, so you don't even need to bug the local store for a card.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mark_Ruyley Feb 06, 2015 13:15:27	Long story short, some friends and I play weekly encounters at a hobby shop. We have recently reread the AL Player's Guide that says we can play AL at home, which appeals to us because we wanted to play a couple extra games a week outside of the store's routine and furthermore we have an additional friend who can't make the trip to the store each week for encouters. I was told I need to be "sanctioned" to play as a DM and the store event organizer "won't sanction home games." Am I unable to run an AL game with other friends outside of the store's routine, without official sanction? I keep reading in multiple places that all I need to run a game as a DM is a DCI number, log sheets, and an adventure. As a tangential question, what are the minimum number of players required for an AL game. Is the DM allowed to run one of his characters as an NPC, with full risk of death and no experience, gold or story rewards (other than the alloted DMing exp for episode completion) in order to help fill a quota?
#2 Oraibi Feb 06, 2015 13:29:10	You don't need official sanction to run a home game. Your store organizer is wrong. However, you are limited to the published adventures -- Lost Mine, Hoard, etc. -- and you can't play the Expeditions in a home game. You can't make up your own adventure. There is a minimum if 3 players besides the DM. Your DM can't run his character while DMing in the way you describe. If you have less than three players, your home game can't be a legal AL session. Reread the ALPG, I think all of this is in there.
#3 Kalani Feb 06, 2015 14:06:06	In addition, home games fall under the Casual Play banner, with the exception that they do not need to be reported to Wizards. The players and DM should still follow all ALPG guidelines however, and should still keep accurate Adventure Logs. You do not need to record the DMs DCI number on your logsheet however (although I still recommend it if they have one), nor do you need your own DCI number until such times as you play in a store-sanctioned game, con, or other event. If you lack a DCI number when you attend such an event, the event organizer should be able to provide you one (and I would request it if they don't as they are required to).
#4 Oraibi Feb 06, 2015 14:11:21	You can get a DCI number online, even with a smart phone, so you don't even need to bug the local store for a card.