What is or is not allowed is listed in the RPGA Character Creation Guide, >located here<.
It's not just "any sourcebook", it's a specific list, and even then not all of a given sourcebook might be allowed.
For example, Bladelings from Manual of the Planes are not currently allowed in Living Forgotten Realms, unless you have a special LFR reward card that allows it. None of the player races from the back of the Monster Manual are allowed as the entire book is off-limits to players, unless you have like a reward card similar to the one for the Bladeling. (I myself obtained reward cards to be able to play that orc and shadar-kai in my sig)
Note that the main part of the Character Creation rules detail what is generally allowed in any RPGA campaign, and the appendices at the end detail how each individual campaign (like LFR) differs from the main part.
There's also a nice list of every LFR-legal race and class >located here<, maintained by Wolfstar76.
(By the way, these sorts of LFR specific questions really would be better asked in the LFR forum)
-karma
(By the way, these sorts of LFR specific questions really would be better asked in the LFR forum)
-karma
Later today I have a little cleanup to do through the forums, I'll move this along when I get there.
If you are talking about a sacntioned RPGA event where the DM gets the adventures from the RPGA, those have specific rules that you have to follow. I posted where you can get those rules in my last message.
Here, I'll link it again: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/downloads
The "Living Forgotten Realms" RPGA campaign for example has a specific list of what is allowed or not allowed.
The "D&D Delves" have a slightly different list of what they allow.
-karma
what about for home campaigns that are "other"?
Entirely up to the DM, Forgotten Realms or otherwise.
I don't have any custom races in my world but I also don't have Drow and other non standard races and I didn't know if I could legally disallow that.
On the flip side what about things like... custom monsters and the like? Do those have to be approved by anyone?
Ok. Just making sure all my bases are covered.
I don't have any custom races in my world but I also don't have Drow and other non standard races and I didn't know if I could legally disallow that.
On the flip side what about things like... custom monsters and the like? Do those have to be approved by anyone?
If it's your home campaign, you can do whatever you want.
Really, all you're doing when you're sanctioning a home campaign for RPGA credit is agreeing to run by RPGA table rules, which fundamentally means no fewer than 4 players, no more than 6 players (not including the DM), and all participants have RPGA numbers.
a) D&D Delves
These are one-shot events. They are ordered and downloaded from the RPGA website.
Players create a character based on the specific rules for each Delve. These rules are in the RPGA Character Creation Guide, and each Delve has an appendix at the back of the CCG that details any special rules or exceptions that only apply to that Delve.
For example, the standard RPGA rule is that characters start at 1st level. The Delve "Return to the Moathouse", however, has a special exception - the characters for that event start at 5th level.
After the event is played that character can be thrown away - it does not get any treasure or XP. You can often play the same Delve over and over if you wish, but must start with a fresh character each time.
Quite often Delves are "dungeon crawls", where 90% of the event is miniatures combat & tactics, with little if any roleplaying.
You also get RPGA Rewards points when the even is eventually reported as successfully run.
b) Living Campaigns
These are also downloaded from the RPGA website, but these events are different in that unlike Delves, characters here can earn treasure and XP that stay with them from adventure to adventure.
You cannot, however, play the same specific adventure twice with the same character. (Though you can play them again with a different character)
You keep your character, and at the end of each adventure you get treasure your character can keep, and experience points with which your character can level up. In theory these events are also more balanced in content between combat, skill challenges, and roleplay.
The only Living Campaign currently run by the RPGA is Living Forgotten Realms, often abbreviated as LFR.
LFR uses the RPGA Character Creation Guide as well, and also has it's own appendix for LFR-specific rules and exceptions.
Participating in Living Campaigns also earns you, the player or DM, RPGA Rewards points.
c) Home Campaigns reported for RPGA points
These are games where the DM makes up everything and decides what rules he or she will use, including how and what can be used to create characters.
The only connection with the RPGA is that the DM registers that he is running the game, and agrees to abide by the RPGA General Rules (which are mostly just stuff like how many players you can have, "don't be a jerk", and "don't be a bigot/racist/sexist", etc.)
The DM registers the event on the website, you play whatever he comes up with, and the DM confirms on the website that you played his game.
You cannot take anything, not characters nor treasure nor XP, from a Home Campaign into a Living Campaign or a Delve.
When the event is reported as successfully played, you and the DM earn, you guessed it, RPGA Rewards points. They're kinda like Frequent Flyer miles, aren't they?
In fact, the main reason to register a home campaign event with the RPGA is really to get the Rewards points. You also get listed in the event calendar, I think, which might be useful if you're looking for more players.
I hope this answers your question?
-karma
In fact, the main reason to register a home campaign event with the RPGA is really to get the Rewards points. You also get listed in the event calendar, I think, which might be useful if you're looking for more players.
At least in the past, this wasn't the case.
I'm not 100% certain if the event system still does it this way, but, originally, you could only choose the "Home Campaign" placeholders if you'd selected "Home" as the location for your event. And, events held in "Home" locations weren't listed in the public event calendar (since, by definition, they're private events).
a) D&D Delves
You also get RPGA Rewards points when the even is eventually reported as successfully run.
b) Living Campaigns
Participating in Living Campaigns also earns you, the player or DM, RPGA Rewards points.
c) Home Campaigns reported for RPGA points
When the event is reported as successfully played, you and the DM earn, you guessed it, RPGA Rewards points. They're kinda like Frequent Flyer miles, aren't they?
In fact, the main reason to register a home campaign event with the RPGA is really to get the Rewards points. You also get listed in the event calendar, I think, which might be useful if you're looking for more players.
A few updates:
The D&D Rewards Program is no longer. There is now a D&D GM Rewards program. It is quite a bit simpler than the old program, where different modules had different point values, and had multipliers for certain venues.
Now, no more points for playing. GMs, in general, earn one point per game run, except that the monthly D&D Delve Night is not worth any points. Once a GM has earned 5 points in a reporting period, and there are only two periods per year, he will earn GM Rewards. These rewards will be variable, and have not been explicitly listed as to exactly what each period will include.
Reward items mentioned have included custom Dungeon Tiles, customized minis, templates. etc.
Now, as to registering a custom campaign game to play, you get a few choices. Some will appear on the calendar, and should be considered if you want to find some new/additional players for your game. Note that Retail, at least, requires a registered location be in the DCI database in order to be able to sanction events of this type.
I am playing with the sanctioning mechanic as I write this, so you can take it as given:
Event type: Convention (which appears on the RPGA calendar)
D&D Home Campaign (Forgotten Realms) 1
D&D Home Campaign (Other) 1
Event type: Game Day (which appears on the RPGA calendar)
D&D Home Campaign (Forgotten Realms) 1
D&D Home Campaign (Other) 1
Event type: Home (which does NOT appear on the RPGA calendar)
D&D Home Campaign (Forgotten Realms) 1
D&D Home Campaign (Other) 1
Event type: Retail (which appears on the RPGA calendar)
D&D Home Campaign (Forgotten Realms) 1
D&D Home Campaign (Other) 1
Not tested, because of the very focused nature of the event:
D&D Delve Night
D&D Delve Night - Download Only
Special Event Game Day