Is Wizards Play Network and RPGA the same thing? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Is Wizards Play Network and RPGA the same thing?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
sidestepper
May 17, 2009 21:26:00 Hello!

I am confused about the new system. I have noticed that the DCI and RPGA and WPN are somehow combined. Some of my numbers still seem to pull up my profile. I am not sure if I should pick one and stick with it or not.

Also, so much old RPGA stuff is still linking to dead topics. If the old campaigns that were 3.5 are dead, please remove them. They lead new people to believe they can still do them. Or is this not the case?

Please explain what the RPGA is and isn't. I am currently running Star Wars: Dawn of Defiance.

Sidestepper
#2
KarmaInferno
May 17, 2009 21:43:54 The DCI is basically the card games and the like.

The RPGA is basically roleplaying games.

WPN is the larger aegis that both groups are now under. I think.

What's confusing is that "private play" is somehow different. Yet still under the RPGA or DCI.

-karma
#3
zombiegleemax
May 17, 2009 22:39:16 As said, the DCI is for competitive play events, like Magic and Star Wars minis.

RPGA is for role-playing events, like D&D and well... D&D. Ok, there is some Star Wars there, but it gets slow love due to licensing rules. So, let's call it D&D.

Wizards Play Network (WPN) is, I think, the overall organization that oversees both 'sides' of the organized play/promotion for WoTC. I believe the long term goal is to get rid of RPGA and DCI and it all be under WPN (which is already under way, RPGA events now get the DCI style cards).
#4
Lord_Darquain
May 18, 2009 10:40:21
As said, the DCI is for competitive play events, like Magic and Star Wars minis.

RPGA is for role-playing events, like D&D and well... D&D. Ok, there is some Star Wars there, but it gets slow love due to licensing rules. So, let's call it D&D.

Wizards Play Network (WPN) is, I think, the overall organization that oversees both 'sides' of the organized play/promotion for WoTC. I believe the long term goal is to get rid of RPGA and DCI and it all be under WPN (which is already under way, RPGA events now get the DCI style cards).

See, but that doesn't hold up if new RPGA players need to have a DCI number and if D&D games are either D&D: Private or D&D: WPN with no mention of RPGA anywhere.

I thought the original intention when WPN was first announced was that DCI and RPGA were going away and there would be only WPN. I was kind of assuming they've been waiting to run out of DCI cards before we start getting WPN cards and that once again just aren't updating all areas of the site to the WPN logo, but rather just adding it to new pages. =\
#5
wagnert
May 18, 2009 23:26:58 As I understand it, RPGA is for WOTC D&D Living Campaigns like Living Forgotten Realms (and it's predecessors and successors) and related D&D campaigns. RPGA stands for Role Playing Gamers Association and was started way back in the pre Wizards days for promote D&D and role playing in general.
Each member had an RPGA number. After WOTC was acquired by Hasbro many changes have come along. More recently, then have rolled all the RPGA numbers under the DCI banner which was originally for Magic and related tournament use. All RPGA numbers have been converted to DCI numbers and only DCI numbers are used to record both Magic or other CCG activity and RPGA activity. These do continue as separate activities.

WPN or Wizards Play Networks merely combines the ordering/reporting mechanism into one spot for both CCG and RPGA events. You have one profile which contains your activity in CCG, RPGA, or both activities.

The public or private mode for D&D allows you to either order RPGA adventures in a private mode or a public mode. Private mod is when you want to run an LFR adventure with your home group and don't want it open to outside players. A public event means you are scheduling a convention, game day, or retail event (as used in the previous system) at a public location such as a game store, hotel, or convention center, and anyone who shows up will be allowed to play (unless they have been officially banned in the DCI system for infractions). There is a calendar at WOTC which shows all scheduled public events. You can filter by state/region and/or month to locate those events near you. All public mode events will appear on this calendar with contact information (coordinator name, email and phone number) so you can contact them in order to attend this event. Private events on the other hand will never appear on this calendar.

Hope that clears up the connection and differences.
#6
sidestepper
May 20, 2009 21:46:28 Thank you for your response.

I had heard that the RPGA was somehow not legally affiliated with WOTC anymore. That RPGA no longer means Role-Playing Game Association. It is just RPGA.

Your response clears up a lot. I would like something to exist that carry on the old campaigns using the 3rd Edition or 3.5 version of D20. I am not currently interested in Piazo's campaign. I would also like to see a revival of some sort of Star Wars campaign. If I go to GenCon this year, I worry that there may be little or nothing for me to do. I assume other groups can run campaigns at conventions?
#7
kenobi65
May 20, 2009 23:34:46
I had heard that the RPGA was somehow not legally affiliated with WOTC anymore.

Just in case it wasn't already clear...that's not the case.

That RPGA no longer means Role-Playing Game Association. It is just RPGA.

Well, IIRC, they haven't used the longer name for quite a while now.

I would like something to exist that carry on the old campaigns using the 3rd Edition or 3.5 version of D20.

Well, the RPGA only supports whatever the current edition of the rules are (since the goal is to encourage play of, and purchase of, WotC's current products)...so, you aren't going to see any more 3.x support from the RPGA, unfortunately.

I would also like to see a revival of some sort of Star Wars campaign.

The RPGA does currently offer sanctioned play of the Dawn of Defiance adventures which are being released (for free) on the SWRPG site. Not exactly the same as a true campaign, but better than nothing. One of my groups is playing through it currently, as is another group I'm friends with, and all of us are enjoying it quite a lot.

I'd also note that the RPGA has said that the level of sanctioned play they see for Dawn of Defiance will factor into any future decisions they make on an actual SW campaign.

If I go to GenCon this year, I worry that there may be little or nothing for me to do. I assume other groups can run campaigns at conventions?

You should have no problem at all finding people running D&D 3.5 games (although, as event tickets went on sale over a month ago, you may find that some events are sold out by now). However, many of these games are likely to be self-contained (i.e., not ongoing or "living-style" campaigns, but more like what the RPGA used to call "classics").

Yes, other groups can run campaigns using the 3.5 rules, though several have run into issues with using non-OGC material from WotC in their campaigns (in short -- you can use non-OGC material in a module you write and run yourself, even at a con, with no problem. But, if you write a module using such material, and give it to someone else to run, you're violating WotC's rights to their own intellectual property -- and being able to distribute modules in that way is pretty key to a living-style campaign).

Of the non-RPGA 3.5-based living-style campaigns that I know of:

- Living Arcanis (Paradigm Concepts) is wrapping up their first story arc with modules premiering at Origins. When they start their next story arc (likely in 2010), it'll be using a non-d20 ruleset whcih Paradigm is currently developing. And, Paradigm isn't going to be at GenCon, anyway.

- Legends of the Shining Jewel is converting to the new Paizo RPG (as is Paizo's own Pathfinder Society campaign); both of them will be premiering their first modules using the new ruleset at GenCon.

- Dave Arneson's Blackmoor is converting to 4E, and they, too, will be premiering their first modules in the new ruleset at GenCon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 sidestepper May 17, 2009 21:26:00	Hello! I am confused about the new system. I have noticed that the DCI and RPGA and WPN are somehow combined. Some of my numbers still seem to pull up my profile. I am not sure if I should pick one and stick with it or not. Also, so much old RPGA stuff is still linking to dead topics. If the old campaigns that were 3.5 are dead, please remove them. They lead new people to believe they can still do them. Or is this not the case? Please explain what the RPGA is and isn't. I am currently running Star Wars: Dawn of Defiance. Sidestepper
#2 KarmaInferno May 17, 2009 21:43:54	The DCI is basically the card games and the like. The RPGA is basically roleplaying games. WPN is the larger aegis that both groups are now under. I think. What's confusing is that "private play" is somehow different. Yet still under the RPGA or DCI. -karma
#3 zombiegleemax May 17, 2009 22:39:16	As said, the DCI is for competitive play events, like Magic and Star Wars minis. RPGA is for role-playing events, like D&D and well... D&D. Ok, there is some Star Wars there, but it gets slow love due to licensing rules. So, let's call it D&D. Wizards Play Network (WPN) is, I think, the overall organization that oversees both 'sides' of the organized play/promotion for WoTC. I believe the long term goal is to get rid of RPGA and DCI and it all be under WPN (which is already under way, RPGA events now get the DCI style cards).
#4 Lord_Darquain May 18, 2009 10:40:21	As said, the DCI is for competitive play events, like Magic and Star Wars minis. RPGA is for role-playing events, like D&D and well... D&D. Ok, there is some Star Wars there, but it gets slow love due to licensing rules. So, let's call it D&D. Wizards Play Network (WPN) is, I think, the overall organization that oversees both 'sides' of the organized play/promotion for WoTC. I believe the long term goal is to get rid of RPGA and DCI and it all be under WPN (which is already under way, RPGA events now get the DCI style cards). See, but that doesn't hold up if new RPGA players need to have a DCI number and if D&D games are either D&D: Private or D&D: WPN with no mention of RPGA anywhere. I thought the original intention when WPN was first announced was that DCI and RPGA were going away and there would be only WPN. I was kind of assuming they've been waiting to run out of DCI cards before we start getting WPN cards and that once again just aren't updating all areas of the site to the WPN logo, but rather just adding it to new pages. =\
#5 wagnert May 18, 2009 23:26:58	As I understand it, RPGA is for WOTC D&D Living Campaigns like Living Forgotten Realms (and it's predecessors and successors) and related D&D campaigns. RPGA stands for Role Playing Gamers Association and was started way back in the pre Wizards days for promote D&D and role playing in general. Each member had an RPGA number. After WOTC was acquired by Hasbro many changes have come along. More recently, then have rolled all the RPGA numbers under the DCI banner which was originally for Magic and related tournament use. All RPGA numbers have been converted to DCI numbers and only DCI numbers are used to record both Magic or other CCG activity and RPGA activity. These do continue as separate activities. WPN or Wizards Play Networks merely combines the ordering/reporting mechanism into one spot for both CCG and RPGA events. You have one profile which contains your activity in CCG, RPGA, or both activities. The public or private mode for D&D allows you to either order RPGA adventures in a private mode or a public mode. Private mod is when you want to run an LFR adventure with your home group and don't want it open to outside players. A public event means you are scheduling a convention, game day, or retail event (as used in the previous system) at a public location such as a game store, hotel, or convention center, and anyone who shows up will be allowed to play (unless they have been officially banned in the DCI system for infractions). There is a calendar at WOTC which shows all scheduled public events. You can filter by state/region and/or month to locate those events near you. All public mode events will appear on this calendar with contact information (coordinator name, email and phone number) so you can contact them in order to attend this event. Private events on the other hand will never appear on this calendar. Hope that clears up the connection and differences.
#6 sidestepper May 20, 2009 21:46:28	Thank you for your response. I had heard that the RPGA was somehow not legally affiliated with WOTC anymore. That RPGA no longer means Role-Playing Game Association. It is just RPGA. Your response clears up a lot. I would like something to exist that carry on the old campaigns using the 3rd Edition or 3.5 version of D20. I am not currently interested in Piazo's campaign. I would also like to see a revival of some sort of Star Wars campaign. If I go to GenCon this year, I worry that there may be little or nothing for me to do. I assume other groups can run campaigns at conventions?
#7 kenobi65 May 20, 2009 23:34:46	I had heard that the RPGA was somehow not legally affiliated with WOTC anymore. Just in case it wasn't already clear...that's not the case. That RPGA no longer means Role-Playing Game Association. It is just RPGA. Well, IIRC, they haven't used the longer name for quite a while now. I would like something to exist that carry on the old campaigns using the 3rd Edition or 3.5 version of D20. Well, the RPGA only supports whatever the current edition of the rules are (since the goal is to encourage play of, and purchase of, WotC's current products)...so, you aren't going to see any more 3.x support from the RPGA, unfortunately. I would also like to see a revival of some sort of Star Wars campaign. The RPGA does currently offer sanctioned play of the Dawn of Defiance adventures which are being released (for free) on the SWRPG site. Not exactly the same as a true campaign, but better than nothing. One of my groups is playing through it currently, as is another group I'm friends with, and all of us are enjoying it quite a lot. I'd also note that the RPGA has said that the level of sanctioned play they see for Dawn of Defiance will factor into any future decisions they make on an actual SW campaign. If I go to GenCon this year, I worry that there may be little or nothing for me to do. I assume other groups can run campaigns at conventions? You should have no problem at all finding people running D&D 3.5 games (although, as event tickets went on sale over a month ago, you may find that some events are sold out by now). However, many of these games are likely to be self-contained (i.e., not ongoing or "living-style" campaigns, but more like what the RPGA used to call "classics"). Yes, other groups can run campaigns using the 3.5 rules, though several have run into issues with using non-OGC material from WotC in their campaigns (in short -- you can use non-OGC material in a module you write and run yourself, even at a con, with no problem. But, if you write a module using such material, and give it to someone else to run, you're violating WotC's rights to their own intellectual property -- and being able to distribute modules in that way is pretty key to a living-style campaign). Of the non-RPGA 3.5-based living-style campaigns that I know of: - Living Arcanis (Paradigm Concepts) is wrapping up their first story arc with modules premiering at Origins. When they start their next story arc (likely in 2010), it'll be using a non-d20 ruleset whcih Paradigm is currently developing. And, Paradigm isn't going to be at GenCon, anyway. - Legends of the Shining Jewel is converting to the new Paizo RPG (as is Paizo's own Pathfinder Society campaign); both of them will be premiering their first modules using the new ruleset at GenCon. - Dave Arneson's Blackmoor is converting to 4E, and they, too, will be premiering their first modules in the new ruleset at GenCon.