February 2009 Questions/Comments for the admins - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

February 2009 Questions/Comments for the admins

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
WolfStar76
Feb 03, 2009 12:11:45 My hope for these threads is to give the admins (regional, global, and RPGA) a place they can check in and see what the "issues of the month" are. As such, I'd hope to keep discussion and debate in *this* thread to a minimum.

Hopefully, the questions that land here will be those that have already seen a little debate and discussion, but remain unresolved.

I don't guarantee these threads will generate any immediate answers, but hopefully, at the very least, they can be used to give a quick pointer to where the existing "hot" issues are.

That said, feel free to start posting current ambiguities or concerns you have in the current RPGA rules at hand.
#2
telvin3d
Feb 06, 2009 14:45:34 By my count, with the PHII coming out, there are now at least 7 different implements that different classes use. Holy Symbols, Rods, Staffs, Wands, Orbs, Tomes and Totems. In addition, there are a few other sort-of implements. Songblades and Magical Instruments for the bards, various Pact-Weapons and Holy Avengers and the like.

There seems to be an average of 14-16 adventures coming out each quarter, including convention specials and such. Since there is typically only, at most, one implement in any treasure bundle that means that any given implement will only show up twice in a quarter. Since any given character is only likely to play 9 modules in each level band, there is an excellent chance for a character to never see a usable implement. Also, assuming no duplicate items and two per tier, there will be a grand total of six items for characters to choose from, and more like 4 if you only count the +2 items that start showing in the 4-7 modules.

At the same time, martial characters are given the choice of a different magical weapon every adventure.

So my question is, does the RPGA have a plan to address the relative scarcity of implements? Do they have a plan in place to make sure that treasure distribution is appropriate across modules?
#3
Keith53
Feb 07, 2009 10:06:35 As of this date, there is no plan. The selection of magic items for treasure bundles is one of the few decisions the LFR admins, basicaly the 12 Writing Directors and the 3 Global Admins get to make, within the guidelines given to us by WotC and modified by the Global Admins. So 15 people make independent decisions.

We have discussed the challenge of replicating a system where the home DM knows his players' characters and what they would like within the framework of a Living Campaign, and adherence to the goals set by WotC that found magic items should be desired as versus gp to just buy stuff. Opinions are divergent. Whether the publication of PH2 will result in a change, I don't know.

Unless Mr Tulach changes the treasure bundles in specific adventures which I think will normally not occur, even if a plan is developed, the first adventures which will reflect needs of characters derived from PH2 will probably be the ones released in the 3rd quarter of 2009, and certainly the 4th quarter.

I realize that this is probably not the answer you wanted to hear, but it is an honest answer.

EDIT: For what it is worth, I am thinking about options to address the problem and how to argue the case to the other admins and the Globals.

Keith
#4
Kurald_Galain
Feb 07, 2009 17:11:23 A very simple solution might be this:

You may trade any "found" implement for any lower-level implement of your choice, but the new item will also take up a "found" item slot.

Thus in effect, you pay two slots for one item, but this lets you trade, e.g., a level-8 Thunderwave Staff for any one totem, tome, or whatever of 7th level or lower. After all, casters already have trouble getting implements in LFR, and with the advent of PHB2 this will likely get worse.
#5
tancread
Feb 09, 2009 8:34:35 I had a player ask me yesterday in light of the vets armor reset for LFR, will a similar reset occur for the Barbarian, and ultimately the artificer and warforged when the final version comes out if they have acquired found magic items they are no longer able to use? He had some examples, but I am thick and forgot them.
#6
JohnduBois
Feb 09, 2009 20:04:43
I had a player ask me yesterday in light of the vets armor reset for LFR, will a similar reset occur for the Barbarian, and ultimately the artificer and warforged when the final version comes out if they have acquired found magic items they are no longer able to use? He had some examples, but I am thick and forgot them.

Playtest and Preview classes are addressed in the gray box at the top of the second column on page 2 of CCG 1.8. As of yet, items have not been mentioned.
#7
tancread
Feb 09, 2009 20:42:47
Playtest and Preview classes are addressed in the gray box at the top of the second column on page 2 of CCG 1.8. As of yet, items have not been mentioned.

Yep, I was aware on the class itself, he was asking about items. Again, he had some samples that he said could cause problems, but I didn't write them down and am not sure on the explicits.
#8
sutro
Feb 12, 2009 9:04:56 Here's a quick question:

When the unique power cards come out with the D&D minis lines, will these be LFR legal? And, if so, will they be legal on the minis street date?

-Sutro
#9
kenobi65
Feb 12, 2009 9:35:28
When the unique power cards come out with the D&D minis lines, will these be LFR legal? And, if so, will they be legal on the minis street date?

Yes and yes. Already answered by Chris Tulach last week:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20090209
#10
telvin3d
Feb 12, 2009 10:23:51
Yes and yes. Already answered by Chris Tulach last week:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20090209

Chris has said that they are legal. However, they do not appear in the CCG. In order to avoid some more unfortunate arguments, it would be very nice if they updated the CCG before these come out. After all, they have said that for reasons of simplicity they are not going to be adding campaign specific notes and special rules to the CCG. It kind of defeats the purpose if they start posting exceptions in various places and expect them to be followed.
#11
telvin3d
Feb 18, 2009 11:51:37 What level band will QUES1-1 Black Cloaks and Bitter Rivalries be? As people are starting to level out of the 7-10 band, there is some concern that they will disqualify characters from being able to participate. So, will it be a 7-10 adventure, or a Paragon adventure?
#12
smerwin29
Feb 18, 2009 12:39:22 I am not in charge of that portion of the campaign, but I can confirm that it will be a 7-10 level adventure. And yes, we are aware that some people are starting to level out of that band, if they haven't reached level 11 already. The admins didn't find out the level of the adventure until just recently, so we didn't know either.

Shawn
LFR Global Admin

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 WolfStar76 Feb 03, 2009 12:11:45	My hope for these threads is to give the admins (regional, global, and RPGA) a place they can check in and see what the "issues of the month" are. As such, I'd hope to keep discussion and debate in this thread to a minimum. Hopefully, the questions that land here will be those that have already seen a little debate and discussion, but remain unresolved. I don't guarantee these threads will generate any immediate answers, but hopefully, at the very least, they can be used to give a quick pointer to where the existing "hot" issues are. That said, feel free to start posting current ambiguities or concerns you have in the current RPGA rules at hand.
#2 telvin3d Feb 06, 2009 14:45:34	By my count, with the PHII coming out, there are now at least 7 different implements that different classes use. Holy Symbols, Rods, Staffs, Wands, Orbs, Tomes and Totems. In addition, there are a few other sort-of implements. Songblades and Magical Instruments for the bards, various Pact-Weapons and Holy Avengers and the like. There seems to be an average of 14-16 adventures coming out each quarter, including convention specials and such. Since there is typically only, at most, one implement in any treasure bundle that means that any given implement will only show up twice in a quarter. Since any given character is only likely to play 9 modules in each level band, there is an excellent chance for a character to never see a usable implement. Also, assuming no duplicate items and two per tier, there will be a grand total of six items for characters to choose from, and more like 4 if you only count the +2 items that start showing in the 4-7 modules. At the same time, martial characters are given the choice of a different magical weapon every adventure. So my question is, does the RPGA have a plan to address the relative scarcity of implements? Do they have a plan in place to make sure that treasure distribution is appropriate across modules?
#3 Keith53 Feb 07, 2009 10:06:35	As of this date, there is no plan. The selection of magic items for treasure bundles is one of the few decisions the LFR admins, basicaly the 12 Writing Directors and the 3 Global Admins get to make, within the guidelines given to us by WotC and modified by the Global Admins. So 15 people make independent decisions. We have discussed the challenge of replicating a system where the home DM knows his players' characters and what they would like within the framework of a Living Campaign, and adherence to the goals set by WotC that found magic items should be desired as versus gp to just buy stuff. Opinions are divergent. Whether the publication of PH2 will result in a change, I don't know. Unless Mr Tulach changes the treasure bundles in specific adventures which I think will normally not occur, even if a plan is developed, the first adventures which will reflect needs of characters derived from PH2 will probably be the ones released in the 3rd quarter of 2009, and certainly the 4th quarter. I realize that this is probably not the answer you wanted to hear, but it is an honest answer. EDIT: For what it is worth, I am thinking about options to address the problem and how to argue the case to the other admins and the Globals. Keith
#4 Kurald_Galain Feb 07, 2009 17:11:23	A very simple solution might be this: You may trade any "found" implement for any lower-level implement of your choice, but the new item will also take up a "found" item slot. Thus in effect, you pay two slots for one item, but this lets you trade, e.g., a level-8 Thunderwave Staff for any one totem, tome, or whatever of 7th level or lower. After all, casters already have trouble getting implements in LFR, and with the advent of PHB2 this will likely get worse.
#5 tancread Feb 09, 2009 8:34:35	I had a player ask me yesterday in light of the vets armor reset for LFR, will a similar reset occur for the Barbarian, and ultimately the artificer and warforged when the final version comes out if they have acquired found magic items they are no longer able to use? He had some examples, but I am thick and forgot them.
#6 JohnduBois Feb 09, 2009 20:04:43	I had a player ask me yesterday in light of the vets armor reset for LFR, will a similar reset occur for the Barbarian, and ultimately the artificer and warforged when the final version comes out if they have acquired found magic items they are no longer able to use? He had some examples, but I am thick and forgot them. Playtest and Preview classes are addressed in the gray box at the top of the second column on page 2 of CCG 1.8. As of yet, items have not been mentioned.
#7 tancread Feb 09, 2009 20:42:47	Playtest and Preview classes are addressed in the gray box at the top of the second column on page 2 of CCG 1.8. As of yet, items have not been mentioned. Yep, I was aware on the class itself, he was asking about items. Again, he had some samples that he said could cause problems, but I didn't write them down and am not sure on the explicits.
#8 sutro Feb 12, 2009 9:04:56	Here's a quick question: When the unique power cards come out with the D&D minis lines, will these be LFR legal? And, if so, will they be legal on the minis street date? -Sutro
#9 kenobi65 Feb 12, 2009 9:35:28	When the unique power cards come out with the D&D minis lines, will these be LFR legal? And, if so, will they be legal on the minis street date? Yes and yes. Already answered by Chris Tulach last week: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20090209
#10 telvin3d Feb 12, 2009 10:23:51	Yes and yes. Already answered by Chris Tulach last week: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/drrep/20090209 Chris has said that they are legal. However, they do not appear in the CCG. In order to avoid some more unfortunate arguments, it would be very nice if they updated the CCG before these come out. After all, they have said that for reasons of simplicity they are not going to be adding campaign specific notes and special rules to the CCG. It kind of defeats the purpose if they start posting exceptions in various places and expect them to be followed.
#11 telvin3d Feb 18, 2009 11:51:37	What level band will QUES1-1 Black Cloaks and Bitter Rivalries be? As people are starting to level out of the 7-10 band, there is some concern that they will disqualify characters from being able to participate. So, will it be a 7-10 adventure, or a Paragon adventure?
#12 smerwin29 Feb 18, 2009 12:39:22	I am not in charge of that portion of the campaign, but I can confirm that it will be a 7-10 level adventure. And yes, we are aware that some people are starting to level out of that band, if they haven't reached level 11 already. The admins didn't find out the level of the adventure until just recently, so we didn't know either. Shawn LFR Global Admin