I'm trying to figure out the AL rules on leveling.
Our local store is running HotDQ. Episode one played out over 4 sessions. I only played in the second and third sessions.
The second session (my first), I gained 191 XP. The third session, I gained enough to reach 300 XP, which is the XP cap for episode one.
The campaign guide originally said that you could level up at the end of a session, when you take a long rest, or when you complete an episode. In another place in the same section, it left out "end of a session."
I don't know if it's been formally updated or not, but the statements made around the forums indicate that the first reference was in error, and you can only level up between episodes or via a long rest.
So here's the thing, at no time did my character actually take a long rest. And I didn't finish the episode since I wasn't in session 4.
Here are my questions.
What level am I? Do I get to level up to 2nd level before I play in D&D Expeditions this Saturday?
Do I have any downtime or renown? Apparently those are only given out at the final session of an episode, so I miss out. Is that right? Would it have been better to just drop in for the final sessions of each episode and get full renown and downtime that way?
I think I know the answer to my second question.
My first question, I'm not entirely clear on, as it seems that according to the AL rules, without actually playing out the final encounter and episode wrap-up of episode one I am still stuck at 300 XP and level 1 indefinitely. I can't join another group on HotDQ episode one, though, because I can't replay the same adventure with this character. (Maybe a nice DM would let me hot-swap out this character for another when we hit the final encounter that I haven't played out yet? That's a lot to ask though.)
So do I just go on to Expeditions and acquire XP above 300 but be unable to level until I get a long rest in one of those adventures, or complete an episode (presumably at the end of the Expedition), or is my XP frozen? Should I just abandon this character entirely since I didn't make it to the final session of episode one?
Anyway, what level am I? One or two?
I don't know what level YOU are, but your character should be level 2. 
It appears that, for you, the episode is completed (with or without the downtime and renown), so that's one reason to consider this your chance to level up. If you're going to play something else (Expeditions), I think it's reasonable to consider there's at least one long rest before that adventure begins as well.
In no case should a character be left "in limbo" and unable to advance. So add your second hit dice, write down any changes due to leveling-up, and have fun at your next event.
Oraibi wrote: