The current CCG states that Player's Handbooks are legal for use in the campaign "upon release". I am of the opinion that "upon release" means exactly that, and if WOTC has given stores permission to sell the book, it's released and legal for use in the campaign. I have, however, encountered a player with the opinion that the book is not legal until the release date in the catalog.
Since there's a convention coming up this weekend, a definitive answer to give players would be nice. Any campaign staff want to express an opinion?
So far I haven't seen anyone disagree with the position you have taken. It's technically official release for those stores, so it should be fully legal. Especially since the legality no longer has a hard date in the CCG like it used to.
I tend to think that's the correct position (but then, I would), especially as the product's full page description lists the release date as simply "March 2010".
Beyond that, I tend to have the viewpoint that if I'm going to tell someone they've done something illegal with their character, I want to have it be clear and unequivocal that such is the case.
Still, the individual in question has an e-mail from CustServ (and we all know what that's worth) saying it isn't legal in LFR until March 16th, and as he's judging at the con, I wouldn't mind having someone with a title weigh in on the issue.
Because, hey, it's always possible I'm wrong. Judging from past discussions, divining the true intentions of the CCG's author is a bit of a tricky proposition.
Still, the individual in question has an e-mail from CustServ (and we all know what that's worth) saying it isn't legal in LFR until March 16th, and as he's judging at the con, I wouldn't mind having someone with a title weigh in on the issue.
"• Player resources are legal for character options. Each month, Wizards of the Coast releases more D&D game material through print products on sale at your local store or on our website through Dragon and Dungeon magazines.
"• The DM cannot specify what rules elements are or are not allowed for characters. This Character Creation Guide determines the legality of player resources for characters, not the DM."
I'd point out those two rules. The game material was released through a print product and bought at a local store. It is now a legal player resource by that rule alone. And the 2nd rule is highly relevant as well - it isn't up to the judge to decide what is a legal resource is, it is up to the Character Creation Guide to do that.
i.e. is PHB3 listed as a potentially legal resource? Yes, PHBs are legal upon release. Is material in PHB3 explicitly not legal, similar to Dragonmark rules from Eberron? No, all material in PHBs are legal.
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The judge shouldn't have a leg to stand upon here. If the player has the book with him, that judge can't legally tell the player that he can't use the material. Perhaps the simplest solution is just to simply not allow the judge in question to come near the lower level mods as that makes it much more likely it won't come up.
"• Player resources are legal for character options. Each month, Wizards of the Coast releases more D&D game material through print products on sale at your local store or on our website through Dragon and Dungeon magazines.
"• The DM cannot specify what rules elements are or are not allowed for characters. This Character Creation Guide determines the legality of player resources for characters, not the DM."
I think these rules alone have you completely covered. The con I attended this last weekend had PHB3 characters all over the place. Obviously, they were all in the low tiers but they were there. We had one player ask about whether they were legal and the organizer said the book was purchased from a premiere store that was allowed to sell them early so that meant the book was legal to use.
you obtained your PHB3 by sneaking into WOTC's underground lair and taking it from the trapped megavault guarded by zombie golems
*yoink*
Thanks for the plot of my next MYRE adventure.
By the way... PHB3 is legal now. Still not sure about Warforged though...
Wait! They're coming out with Warforged???
By the way... PHB3 is legal now. Still not sure about Warforged though...
Wait! They're coming out with Warforged???
Only for Dark Sun.
you obtained your PHB3 by sneaking into WOTC's underground lair and taking it from the trapped megavault guarded by zombie golems
*yoink*
Thanks for the plot of my next MYRE adventure.
You're welcome. Please do tell how that turned out
