I want to get started in the RPGA and would like some help... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

I want to get started in the RPGA and would like some help...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
lordtibarn
Jan 16, 2009 23:01:22 So basically, my group is barely ever meeting, and so to fulfill my needed quota of D&D, I wanted to try to start going to Living Forgotten Realms.

The Problem is, I'm having trouble figuring out how to do this.

First of all, what type of event is LFRs? On the RPGA event calender, finding out which locations will actually have this event is driving me crazy because I'm not sure what to search for so any advice would be welcome. Also, when you make a character, do you make it at level 1, or is LFRs currently at a certain level range that you need to make a character within? If you go to an event for the first time, do you need to have a group or RPGA number, or do you get them when you arrive?

Any answers anyone can give me would be great.
#2
kenobi65
Jan 16, 2009 23:29:06 First of all...as of right now, the *only* campaign offered by the RPGA is Living Forgotten Realms. About the only thing besides LFR that you'll see offered right now at a public RPGA event will be "delves". If you look at the entries for the individual adventures being offered by an event, an LFR module will have a code that looks like "XXXX #-#" (for example, WATE 1-1).

All LFR characters *must* start at 1st level. If you haven't already done so, you should download the Character Creation Guidelines (CCG) for the RPGA/LFR from the RPGA site. The current version is 1.7; version 1.8 will be coming out within the next week or so.

The trick to this is that the more recently-released LFR modules are for higher level characters...modules released in 4Q 2008 were for levels 4-7, and now modules being released this quarter will be for levels 7-10. So, what you'll need to play, for the time being, will be the first set of modules (released in August and September of 2008), which were for levels 1-4.

The event organizer should have RPGA/DCI cards available for new players, but you may want to contact that event organizer ahead of time, and let them know that you're a new player, and will need a card.
#3
lordtibarn
Jan 17, 2009 23:34:03 Ah, thanks. So I basically need to play some earlier moduals to get my character high enough level to play the new ones yes? Cool. I will get started!
#4
kenobi65
Jan 18, 2009 12:02:49
So I basically need to play some earlier moduals to get my character high enough level to play the new ones yes?

You've got it.

That said, there are several "Adapted" modules -- adventures published by WotC in other sources, which are playable with your LFR character. Most of these take longer to play than a standard LFR module (in some cases, considerably longer), but may also be a good way to jump-start a character.
#5
lordtibarn
Jan 18, 2009 21:34:10 Awesome. Last question:

Who can I play these adventures with? Can I play them with members of my home group? Or do I get a group together at an event. Thanks for all your help.
#6
kinevon
Jan 19, 2009 2:46:44 Either is acceptable.

As long as someone in your home group has an RPGA Herald GM certification, they can order the LFR modules for your group to play. Note that the Herald GM does NOT have to be the person who actually runs the module, just the one who orders it.

Some caveats on the LFR modules:

Modules designated PREV are not, despite being listed in the ordering system, legal LFR modules.

All modules listed as XXXX1-1 are legal for 1st to 4th level characters, other than the ADAP series, which are the adaptation for LFR of some more generic modules.
CORE1-2 & CORE1-3 are also for level 1-4 characters.
ADAP1-1 is for level 1 & 2 characters.
ADAP1-2 is for characters starting at 2nd level, and "locks" those characters in the Scepter Tower of Spellgard until they finish ADAP1-3 & ADAP1-4 or quit the series. Note, also, that characters cannot join in this series other than from the beginning of ADAP1-2.
ADAP1-5 is for characters of level 1-4.

LFR legal tables require a DM and 4-6 players. Each module contains instructions for both low and high level play, and for scaling the encounters for different numbers of players.

After the module is played, the Senior GM (the RPGA Herald GM) can report the results of the game into the tracking system.

At events, if someone orders a module, and you can get a group together, you can play it and report it.

Also, there are some conventions that offer slots of LFR gaming. Each slot is setup for 4 hours, which is what a typical LFR module is designed to take to run.

Just remember to use the Character Creation Guidelines (currently at version 1.7, next edition expected before the end of this month) to create LFR legal characters.
#7
paladinlightstar
Jan 19, 2009 9:46:11 Hi, I just joined the forum. Thank you for this thread.

So in order to have RPGA events at home (in case there is no public RPGA events within 10 miles or so) you need a minimum of 7 players (with GM and Herald) then?

In my part of Metro Detroit I wanted to start hosting some RPGA events down the road as well. Where are the steps to offically become a hearld? (the one who can report results and certify the event)

I made a RPGA legal character in the official character generator and I wanted to playtest it. Is that an online only character?

Thanks for listening.
#8
kenobi65
Jan 19, 2009 13:33:39
So in order to have RPGA events at home (in case there is no public RPGA events within 10 miles or so) you need a minimum of 7 players (with GM and Herald) then?

Actually, you need a minimum of 5 people (including the GM), and a maximum of 7 (including the GM). The person who orders the event needs to have passed the Herald-level test.

In my part of Metro Detroit I wanted to start hosting some RPGA events down the road as well. Where are the steps to offically become a hearld? (the one who can report results and certify the event)

All you need to do is pass the Herald-level test. When you log into your RPGA account, there's a link on the right side for "Judge Center", and that's where you'll find the test. It's an online, open-book, 20-question test.

I made a RPGA legal character in the official character generator and I wanted to playtest it. Is that an online only character?

No, you can use that character in face-to-face games. Do make sure that you download and read the RPGA Character Creation Guide off of the RPGA site, and double-check that you've selected legal character options...the "legal" info on the character generator does *not* ensure that you've actually created an LFR-legal PC!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 lordtibarn Jan 16, 2009 23:01:22	So basically, my group is barely ever meeting, and so to fulfill my needed quota of D&D, I wanted to try to start going to Living Forgotten Realms. The Problem is, I'm having trouble figuring out how to do this. First of all, what type of event is LFRs? On the RPGA event calender, finding out which locations will actually have this event is driving me crazy because I'm not sure what to search for so any advice would be welcome. Also, when you make a character, do you make it at level 1, or is LFRs currently at a certain level range that you need to make a character within? If you go to an event for the first time, do you need to have a group or RPGA number, or do you get them when you arrive? Any answers anyone can give me would be great.
#2 kenobi65 Jan 16, 2009 23:29:06	First of all...as of right now, the only campaign offered by the RPGA is Living Forgotten Realms. About the only thing besides LFR that you'll see offered right now at a public RPGA event will be "delves". If you look at the entries for the individual adventures being offered by an event, an LFR module will have a code that looks like "XXXX #-#" (for example, WATE 1-1). All LFR characters must start at 1st level. If you haven't already done so, you should download the Character Creation Guidelines (CCG) for the RPGA/LFR from the RPGA site. The current version is 1.7; version 1.8 will be coming out within the next week or so. The trick to this is that the more recently-released LFR modules are for higher level characters...modules released in 4Q 2008 were for levels 4-7, and now modules being released this quarter will be for levels 7-10. So, what you'll need to play, for the time being, will be the first set of modules (released in August and September of 2008), which were for levels 1-4. The event organizer should have RPGA/DCI cards available for new players, but you may want to contact that event organizer ahead of time, and let them know that you're a new player, and will need a card.
#3 lordtibarn Jan 17, 2009 23:34:03	Ah, thanks. So I basically need to play some earlier moduals to get my character high enough level to play the new ones yes? Cool. I will get started!
#4 kenobi65 Jan 18, 2009 12:02:49	So I basically need to play some earlier moduals to get my character high enough level to play the new ones yes? You've got it. That said, there are several "Adapted" modules -- adventures published by WotC in other sources, which are playable with your LFR character. Most of these take longer to play than a standard LFR module (in some cases, considerably longer), but may also be a good way to jump-start a character.
#5 lordtibarn Jan 18, 2009 21:34:10	Awesome. Last question: Who can I play these adventures with? Can I play them with members of my home group? Or do I get a group together at an event. Thanks for all your help.
#6 kinevon Jan 19, 2009 2:46:44	Either is acceptable. As long as someone in your home group has an RPGA Herald GM certification, they can order the LFR modules for your group to play. Note that the Herald GM does NOT have to be the person who actually runs the module, just the one who orders it. Some caveats on the LFR modules: Modules designated PREV are not, despite being listed in the ordering system, legal LFR modules. All modules listed as XXXX1-1 are legal for 1st to 4th level characters, other than the ADAP series, which are the adaptation for LFR of some more generic modules. CORE1-2 & CORE1-3 are also for level 1-4 characters. ADAP1-1 is for level 1 & 2 characters. ADAP1-2 is for characters starting at 2nd level, and "locks" those characters in the Scepter Tower of Spellgard until they finish ADAP1-3 & ADAP1-4 or quit the series. Note, also, that characters cannot join in this series other than from the beginning of ADAP1-2. ADAP1-5 is for characters of level 1-4. LFR legal tables require a DM and 4-6 players. Each module contains instructions for both low and high level play, and for scaling the encounters for different numbers of players. After the module is played, the Senior GM (the RPGA Herald GM) can report the results of the game into the tracking system. At events, if someone orders a module, and you can get a group together, you can play it and report it. Also, there are some conventions that offer slots of LFR gaming. Each slot is setup for 4 hours, which is what a typical LFR module is designed to take to run. Just remember to use the Character Creation Guidelines (currently at version 1.7, next edition expected before the end of this month) to create LFR legal characters.
#7 paladinlightstar Jan 19, 2009 9:46:11	Hi, I just joined the forum. Thank you for this thread. So in order to have RPGA events at home (in case there is no public RPGA events within 10 miles or so) you need a minimum of 7 players (with GM and Herald) then? In my part of Metro Detroit I wanted to start hosting some RPGA events down the road as well. Where are the steps to offically become a hearld? (the one who can report results and certify the event) I made a RPGA legal character in the official character generator and I wanted to playtest it. Is that an online only character? Thanks for listening.
#8 kenobi65 Jan 19, 2009 13:33:39	So in order to have RPGA events at home (in case there is no public RPGA events within 10 miles or so) you need a minimum of 7 players (with GM and Herald) then? Actually, you need a minimum of 5 people (including the GM), and a maximum of 7 (including the GM). The person who orders the event needs to have passed the Herald-level test. In my part of Metro Detroit I wanted to start hosting some RPGA events down the road as well. Where are the steps to offically become a hearld? (the one who can report results and certify the event) All you need to do is pass the Herald-level test. When you log into your RPGA account, there's a link on the right side for "Judge Center", and that's where you'll find the test. It's an online, open-book, 20-question test. I made a RPGA legal character in the official character generator and I wanted to playtest it. Is that an online only character? No, you can use that character in face-to-face games. Do make sure that you download and read the RPGA Character Creation Guide off of the RPGA site, and double-check that you've selected legal character options...the "legal" info on the character generator does not ensure that you've actually created an LFR-legal PC!