CGG v1.8 Adventuring Company Rules - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

CGG v1.8 Adventuring Company Rules

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
-Bander
Jan 28, 2009 8:15:14 So...

You can't name your Ad.Co. after pre-existing (e.g. The Flaming Fists) adventuring companies in Faerun. I imagine that'll apply to my Knights of Mystic Fire and the Aglarondan Griffin Riders too.

And while these groups exist, and any character of a particular region or background would be proud to belong to them, they're completely comprised of NPCs and they don't want you. Period.

$%@#!!!

And the (single) Ad.Co. benefit (other than coolness factor) a bonus group action point when 4 members are at the same table? Really!?

On behalf of the Knights of Mystic Fire (Aglarond chapter)...
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Knights_of_Mystic_Fire/
Monumentally lame WotC RPGA LFR. So much more should have been done with Ad.Co.s.

You hint that there's more coming, but that is a lousy start.

You should allow Ad. Co.s that are a portion of existing groups such as Harpers; Shadowstaves; Knights of Mystic Fire; Order of the Starry Quill; Order of the Shooting Star; etc. etc. et. al.

You should have offered Ad. Co. benefits similar to regional benefits.

You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members that allow for the player driven Ad. Co. to have LFR legitimacy. E.g. A rewards card that duplicates 3.XE's Servant of the Fallen feat would be perfect for the Knights of Mystic Fire & the Talons of Horus-Re Ad. Co.s.

You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members for things like Rank; Title; Land; Ships; Mounts and the like.

I love you guys but sometimes you just kill me!

I'm bitterly, bitterly disappointed in what you've come up with.

If you have an Ad. Co. Czar, perhaps s/he could use an assistant or at least look at what's being said over on the LivingFR/LFRSEUSA (Aglarond) Yahoo! Groups for ideas.

Thank you.
-Bander

“Nothing on the face of this earth --and I do mean nothing- is half so dangerous as a children's story that happens to be real, and you and I are wandering blindfolded through a myth devised by a maniac.” -- Master Li Kao (Tang Dynasty)
#2
Dragon9
Jan 28, 2009 11:51:36 They are tryign to avoid ACs becoming what Metaorgs were in LG... clearing houses for all sorts of character benefits beyond a roleplaying hook. Metaorgs, while many fo them were cool, were an abuse.

Maybe they felt it necessary since they knew there would be ACs following a dead goddess and didn't want them to get any advantages. ;) *pokepoke*
#3
jeffv
Jan 28, 2009 12:42:37 You can't just set up adventuring companies that are parts of existing organizations, because you don't have control over those organizations. You can't just wave your hands and say "we're a part of the Harpers" or whatever other established organization. An example in existing modules is...
Show
...the Flaming Fist of Baldur's Gate. There are specific requirements in the BALD modules on how you become an initiate, and subsequently a member, of the Flaming Fist.
#4
Mirtek
Jan 28, 2009 13:06:12
I imagine that'll apply to my Knights of Mystic Fire and the Aglarondan Griffin Riders too.

Maybe the knights are OK because they debanded over a century ago?

You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members that allow for the player driven Ad. Co. to have LFR legitimacy. E.g. A rewards card that duplicates 3.XE's Servant of the Fallen feat would be perfect for the Knights of Mystic Fire & the Talons of Horus-Re Ad. Co.s.

You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members for things like Rank; Title; Land; Ships; Mounts and the like.

I think at best they might do some pre-form cards which are identical for all Ad. Co.s and have some blank space where you can write your own text. Given how they only design 16 cards per year for the whole RPGA, I doubt they will design a hundred different cards which will only be used by a few dozend
#5
JohnLynch
Jan 28, 2009 17:58:34
And the (single) Ad.Co. benefit (other than coolness factor) a bonus group action point when 4 members are at the same table? Really!?

Well if you were joining because you're seeking coded benefit then yeah it sucks. But I personally have joined an adventuring company because its fun to have a group of characters who have the same background and have in-character connections with each other. To me, that's the benefit because it makes the game more fun.
#6
sehmerus
Jan 28, 2009 23:03:33 so does the AC gain an additional action point to share at milestones? or is ONE all they get for the whole session?

Yea its lame, hopefully new things will develop with them to make them worth the effort
#7
Dragon9
Jan 28, 2009 23:31:55 According to the CCG, they get one. It's powerful though as it doesnt count as an AP expenditure for the round. So you could conceivably drop two AP actions in one turn. Giving that every milestone could be a bit much.
#8
Keith53
Jan 29, 2009 7:08:17 For LFR, WotC made the decision that they did not want affiliations to be a source of game mechanic bennies which would break the carefully structured new system they designed, but rather focused on role playing characters with a shared interest. People in real life bond for that same reason. If you only interest in AC companies is what game mechanic benefit you get, then you will be disappointed.

Regional writing directors do have the option to include a slight bonus for characters with that region's background and I think that might extend to region based AC. Please note the operative word is "slight."

Keith
#9
pint_glass_crusader
Jan 29, 2009 7:18:14 Adventuring Companies have proved to be one of the biggest boons for our local gaming scene so far.

New players often find it difficult to come up with an interesting backstory for their character... and [even worse ] some players don't even bother with one!

However, with Adventuring Companies, we can [effectively] create one for them. An optional one, that they can dump later on it they come up with a better idea, but a ready made "reason to adventure" nonetheless.

Not only that, but for those who are more into the tactical [D&D minis-style] action of the game, it gives them a tactical benefit and gives the RP player a hook for interacting with them.

It's win-win! :D

So what if you can't make the Harpers et al... you can make your own "meddling organisation of Rogues and Bards"... they may not be as well known, but it's up to the members to sort that out.

As a GM, I would allow an NPC a History check, to find out if they had heard of a particularly high profile/well established [local] Adventuring Company. So there are potentially some RP benefits to having a succesful Adventuring Company... at a local level at least.
#10
sehmerus
Jan 29, 2009 8:49:52
Regional writing directors do have the option to include a slight bonus for characters with that region's background and I think that might extend to region based AC. Please note the operative word is "slight."

Keith

So who is the writing director of Waterdeep? MY ac is Region specific (basically a band of vigilante's in waterdeep)
#11
Dragon9
Jan 29, 2009 8:57:11 Heh... Keith is. Dind't you read his sig?
#12
SYB
Jan 29, 2009 10:00:48 This is a great thread. Just by reading the responses, I can tell who actually is interested in roleplaying and who just cares about tweaking their character to the fullest. I can now go out of my way to avoid playing in games with the latter.

Thanks. I hope more people post here. :D

-SYB
#13
amysrevenge
Jan 29, 2009 12:33:35 Heck, I joined one of these months ago, and we didn't even get the AP benefit. :P
#14
syrsuro
Jan 29, 2009 22:04:19 But you can say you are 'affiliated with' the Harpers.

You can even require that the members join the Harpers.

You just can't call yourself Harpers (Flaming Fists, etc.).

Carl
#15
sehmerus
Jan 30, 2009 7:00:53
This is a great thread. Just by reading the responses, I can tell who actually is interested in roleplaying and who just cares about tweaking their character to the fullest.

All im saying is that they claim AC were setup to help the role playing of character groups yet if this is true why not give us the benefits that help us play the role instead of one big generic benefit. perhaps they could have came up with AC types (examples, Vigilante's, religions, racial, regional, redemption, ect.) and given each type its own specific in game bonus,( example if your AC is in the category of "Vigilante" then you gain +1 Streetwise and +1 Intimidate for every member of your ac that is in your group while you are in your home region. An Ac with a "religous" category can get simular benefit with the religion skill and possibly gain some benefits with turning or something based on the groups diety) either way these benefits would fit the role they define for said group types and in my opinion would help role playing.
However giving one action point promotes the opposite, and is not tied in to the AC's mechanics. For example, if the AC is a group of scholars that devote to studying rituals, Why would they need an action point? combat isnt thier focus.

(just my opinion)
#16
Dragon9
Jan 30, 2009 7:08:25 Tha's all stuff that falls under DME though. You DM can apply extra bonuses or penalties on the fly if they feel it's appropriate. Mayeb you Vigilante group would gain a bonus to social rolls with the populace, but a penalty with law enforcement. (who typically don't like vigilantes)

Such mechanics don't need to be in the AC rules. It's already covered.
#17
pint_glass_crusader
Jan 30, 2009 7:29:40
Tha's all stuff that falls under DME though. You DM can apply extra bonuses or penalties on the fly if they feel it's appropriate. Mayeb you Vigilante group would gain a bonus to social rolls with the populace, but a penalty with law enforcement. (who typically don't like vigilantes)

Such mechanics don't need to be in the AC rules. It's already covered.

Indeed... having just seen a local Adventuring Company (on the local LFR Yahoo Group) with the entry requirement of "must be proficient with and use a Brutal weapon"... I'll be interested to see the charter for that little ensemble!

I would imagine there won't be a lot of Diplomacy for that group...
#18
sehmerus
Jan 31, 2009 8:19:14
Indeed... having just seen a local Adventuring Company (on the local LFR Yahoo Group) with the entry requirement of "must be proficient with and use a Brutal weapon"... I'll be interested to see the charter for that little ensemble!

I would imagine there won't be a lot of Diplomacy for that group...

Do they make a brutal dagger? LOL i am almost tempted in making a brutal dagger wielding wizard just to join this group as its only diplomat LOL
#19
brightbane
Jan 31, 2009 11:43:12 Even for CGG 1.8 I was busy making some kind of guild for a local game scoiety in my neighborhood, where I am part off.

I like this idea of Adventuring Companies. And it certainly gives more incentive to arrange this kind of things.

My 'guild' is now called Source of the Arts, and consist of only Arcane classes. We have among 12 members now
#20
JohnLynch
Jan 31, 2009 21:20:35
But you can say you are 'affiliated with' the Harpers.

You can even require that the members join the Harpers.

You just can't call yourself Harpers (Flaming Fists, etc.).

Carl

Exactly. Anothert example is if you want to be the Flaming Fists, call yourselves something else (e.g. The Fist of Justice) and require that everyone who joins be a member of the Flaming Fists.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 -Bander Jan 28, 2009 8:15:14	So... You can't name your Ad.Co. after pre-existing (e.g. The Flaming Fists) adventuring companies in Faerun. I imagine that'll apply to my Knights of Mystic Fire and the Aglarondan Griffin Riders too. And while these groups exist, and any character of a particular region or background would be proud to belong to them, they're completely comprised of NPCs and they don't want you. Period. $%@#!!! And the (single) Ad.Co. benefit (other than coolness factor) a bonus group action point when 4 members are at the same table? Really!? On behalf of the Knights of Mystic Fire (Aglarond chapter)... http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Knights_of_Mystic_Fire/ *Monumentally* lame WotC RPGA LFR. So much more should have been done with Ad.Co.s. You hint that there's more coming, but that is a lousy start. You should allow Ad. Co.s that are a portion of existing groups such as Harpers; Shadowstaves; Knights of Mystic Fire; Order of the Starry Quill; Order of the Shooting Star; etc. etc. et. al. You should have offered Ad. Co. benefits similar to regional benefits. You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members that allow for the player driven Ad. Co. to have LFR legitimacy. E.g. A rewards card that duplicates 3.XE's Servant of the Fallen feat would be perfect for the Knights of Mystic Fire & the Talons of Horus-Re Ad. Co.s. You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members for things like Rank; Title; Land; Ships; Mounts and the like. I love you guys but sometimes you just kill me! I'm bitterly, bitterly disappointed in what you've come up with. If you have an Ad. Co. Czar, perhaps s/he could use an assistant or at least look at what's being said over on the LivingFR/LFRSEUSA (Aglarond) Yahoo! Groups for ideas. Thank you. -Bander “Nothing on the face of this earth --and I do mean nothing- is half so dangerous as a children's story that happens to be real, and you and I are wandering blindfolded through a myth devised by a maniac.” -- Master Li Kao (Tang Dynasty)
#2 Dragon9 Jan 28, 2009 11:51:36	They are tryign to avoid ACs becoming what Metaorgs were in LG... clearing houses for all sorts of character benefits beyond a roleplaying hook. Metaorgs, while many fo them were cool, were an abuse. Maybe they felt it necessary since they knew there would be ACs following a dead goddess and didn't want them to get any advantages. ;) pokepoke
#3 jeffv Jan 28, 2009 12:42:37	You can't just set up adventuring companies that are parts of existing organizations, because you don't have control over those organizations. You can't just wave your hands and say "we're a part of the Harpers" or whatever other established organization. An example in existing modules is... Show ...the Flaming Fist of Baldur's Gate. There are specific requirements in the BALD modules on how you become an initiate, and subsequently a member, of the Flaming Fist.
#4 Mirtek Jan 28, 2009 13:06:12	I imagine that'll apply to my Knights of Mystic Fire and the Aglarondan Griffin Riders too. Maybe the knights are OK because they debanded over a century ago? You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members that allow for the player driven Ad. Co. to have LFR legitimacy. E.g. A rewards card that duplicates 3.XE's Servant of the Fallen feat would be perfect for the Knights of Mystic Fire & the Talons of Horus-Re Ad. Co.s. You should offer reward cards to founding members to hand out to members for things like Rank; Title; Land; Ships; Mounts and the like. I think at best they might do some pre-form cards which are identical for all Ad. Co.s and have some blank space where you can write your own text. Given how they only design 16 cards per year for the whole RPGA, I doubt they will design a hundred different cards which will only be used by a few dozend
#5 JohnLynch Jan 28, 2009 17:58:34	And the (single) Ad.Co. benefit (other than coolness factor) a bonus group action point when 4 members are at the same table? Really!? Well if you were joining because you're seeking coded benefit then yeah it sucks. But I personally have joined an adventuring company because its fun to have a group of characters who have the same background and have in-character connections with each other. To me, that's the benefit because it makes the game more fun.
#6 sehmerus Jan 28, 2009 23:03:33	so does the AC gain an additional action point to share at milestones? or is ONE all they get for the whole session? Yea its lame, hopefully new things will develop with them to make them worth the effort
#7 Dragon9 Jan 28, 2009 23:31:55	According to the CCG, they get one. It's powerful though as it doesnt count as an AP expenditure for the round. So you could conceivably drop two AP actions in one turn. Giving that every milestone could be a bit much.
#8 Keith53 Jan 29, 2009 7:08:17	For LFR, WotC made the decision that they did not want affiliations to be a source of game mechanic bennies which would break the carefully structured new system they designed, but rather focused on role playing characters with a shared interest. People in real life bond for that same reason. If you only interest in AC companies is what game mechanic benefit you get, then you will be disappointed. Regional writing directors do have the option to include a slight bonus for characters with that region's background and I think that might extend to region based AC. Please note the operative word is "slight." Keith
#9 pint_glass_crusader Jan 29, 2009 7:18:14	Adventuring Companies have proved to be one of the biggest boons for our local gaming scene so far. New players often find it difficult to come up with an interesting backstory for their character... and [even worse ] some players don't even bother with one! However, with Adventuring Companies, we can [effectively] create one for them. An optional one, that they can dump later on it they come up with a better idea, but a ready made "reason to adventure" nonetheless. Not only that, but for those who are more into the tactical [D&D minis-style] action of the game, it gives them a tactical benefit and gives the RP player a hook for interacting with them. It's win-win! :D So what if you can't make the Harpers et al... you can make your own "meddling organisation of Rogues and Bards"... they may not be as well known, but it's up to the members to sort that out. As a GM, I would allow an NPC a History check, to find out if they had heard of a particularly high profile/well established [local] Adventuring Company. So there are potentially some RP benefits to having a succesful Adventuring Company... at a local level at least.
#10 sehmerus Jan 29, 2009 8:49:52	Regional writing directors do have the option to include a slight bonus for characters with that region's background and I think that might extend to region based AC. Please note the operative word is "slight." Keith So who is the writing director of Waterdeep? MY ac is Region specific (basically a band of vigilante's in waterdeep)
#11 Dragon9 Jan 29, 2009 8:57:11	Heh... Keith is. Dind't you read his sig?
#12 SYB Jan 29, 2009 10:00:48	This is a great thread. Just by reading the responses, I can tell who actually is interested in roleplaying and who just cares about tweaking their character to the fullest. I can now go out of my way to avoid playing in games with the latter. Thanks. I hope more people post here. :D -SYB
#13 amysrevenge Jan 29, 2009 12:33:35	Heck, I joined one of these months ago, and we didn't even get the AP benefit. :P
#14 syrsuro Jan 29, 2009 22:04:19	But you can say you are 'affiliated with' the Harpers. You can even require that the members join the Harpers. You just can't call yourself Harpers (Flaming Fists, etc.). Carl
#15 sehmerus Jan 30, 2009 7:00:53	This is a great thread. Just by reading the responses, I can tell who actually is interested in roleplaying and who just cares about tweaking their character to the fullest. All im saying is that they claim AC were setup to help the role playing of character groups yet if this is true why not give us the benefits that help us play the role instead of one big generic benefit. perhaps they could have came up with AC types (examples, Vigilante's, religions, racial, regional, redemption, ect.) and given each type its own specific in game bonus,( example if your AC is in the category of "Vigilante" then you gain +1 Streetwise and +1 Intimidate for every member of your ac that is in your group while you are in your home region. An Ac with a "religous" category can get simular benefit with the religion skill and possibly gain some benefits with turning or something based on the groups diety) either way these benefits would fit the role they define for said group types and in my opinion would help role playing. However giving one action point promotes the opposite, and is not tied in to the AC's mechanics. For example, if the AC is a group of scholars that devote to studying rituals, Why would they need an action point? combat isnt thier focus. (just my opinion)
#16 Dragon9 Jan 30, 2009 7:08:25	Tha's all stuff that falls under DME though. You DM can apply extra bonuses or penalties on the fly if they feel it's appropriate. Mayeb you Vigilante group would gain a bonus to social rolls with the populace, but a penalty with law enforcement. (who typically don't like vigilantes) Such mechanics don't need to be in the AC rules. It's already covered.
#17 pint_glass_crusader Jan 30, 2009 7:29:40	Tha's all stuff that falls under DME though. You DM can apply extra bonuses or penalties on the fly if they feel it's appropriate. Mayeb you Vigilante group would gain a bonus to social rolls with the populace, but a penalty with law enforcement. (who typically don't like vigilantes) Such mechanics don't need to be in the AC rules. It's already covered. Indeed... having just seen a local Adventuring Company (on the local LFR Yahoo Group) with the entry requirement of "must be proficient with and use a Brutal weapon"... I'll be interested to see the charter for that little ensemble! I would imagine there won't be a lot of Diplomacy for that group...
#18 sehmerus Jan 31, 2009 8:19:14	Indeed... having just seen a local Adventuring Company (on the local LFR Yahoo Group) with the entry requirement of "must be proficient with and use a Brutal weapon"... I'll be interested to see the charter for that little ensemble! I would imagine there won't be a lot of Diplomacy for that group... Do they make a brutal dagger? LOL i am almost tempted in making a brutal dagger wielding wizard just to join this group as its only diplomat LOL
#19 brightbane Jan 31, 2009 11:43:12	Even for CGG 1.8 I was busy making some kind of guild for a local game scoiety in my neighborhood, where I am part off. I like this idea of Adventuring Companies. And it certainly gives more incentive to arrange this kind of things. My 'guild' is now called Source of the Arts, and consist of only Arcane classes. We have among 12 members now
#20 JohnLynch Jan 31, 2009 21:20:35	But you can say you are 'affiliated with' the Harpers. You can even require that the members join the Harpers. You just can't call yourself Harpers (Flaming Fists, etc.). Carl Exactly. Anothert example is if you want to be the Flaming Fists, call yourselves something else (e.g. The Fist of Justice) and require that everyone who joins be a member of the Flaming Fists.