Here's a quick summary:
1) The program is only for DMs now.
2) Mailings are twice a year.
3) DM 5 games in a 6 month window, and you'll get rewards.
4) What kinds of things? Well, we're going to mix it up each time, and we'll focus on giving you cool stuff that you'll actually use at your table or while prepping your game. Examples of things you might see include: new Rewards-only Dungeon Tiles, special artwork binders, full-color poster maps of interesting encounter areas, and new Rewards-only monsters and traps.
There will also be an annual mailing in the spring that will include a special adventure with color maps. Now would be a good time to update your mailing information to make sure you don't miss out.
Lastly "Player Rewards" are moving to convention support. Conventions can order support kits that will contain 20 rewards cards per kit. Card will also be available to everyone twice a year in PDF format.
Locally we have used the player rewards as a way to get folks to sign up. They will come and play but don't want to fill any form out unless they are getting something. This takes that away. So in a smaller community where we only have a few folks that can sanction games we then only have a few folks benefiting from the RPGA.
Now if a non Harold level DM can get point for DM'ing a game that I sanction that might change things a bit, but I don't see it changing then enough for us to continue signing up new players that just want to play D&D.
I don't see how this helps grow the game. Maybe I am just missing something.
Well, I guess my wife and several other players I know will never get rewards cards or bennies again. Actually, my wife didn't got rewards cards under the old system, despite contacting the RPGA numerous times including a face to face at Gencon. So I guess it doesn't -really- change anything for her. Still, I think I can safely color her ******.
Color -me- unamused. It's a bit early for April Fool's.
My concern is that they have taken away incentive for those that just play and don't DM. For example my son, age 13, looks forward the to mailings and the neat cards... He is not ready to DM for any RPGA games yet. However, he has gotten some of his friends to sign up based on "if you play you get these neat cards". None of them, except my son, are able to attend cons because of age and parent issues. We are 6+ hrs away from the nearest convention. So why should they continue playing RPGA events.
Locally we have used the player rewards as a way to get folks to sign up. They will come and play but don't want to fill any form out unless they are getting something. This takes that away. So in a smaller community where we only have a few folks that can sanction games we then only have a few folks benefiting from the RPGA.
Now if a non Harold level DM can get point for DM'ing a game that I sanction that might change things a bit, but I don't see it changing then enough for us to continue signing up new players that just want to play D&D.
I don't see how this helps grow the game. Maybe I am just missing something.
The formation of gaming groups is typically limited by the availability of DMs. The more DMs there are, the more groups that can be formed. This also adds incentive for everyone in small groups to not only expand their playgroup, but to cycle DMing duties so that everyone gets a chance to play a PC and a chance to sit behind the screen.
The cards you're using as "bait" have no intrinsic value to anyone outside of a game of D&D, so why would it be that all of a sudden no one wants to play D&D anymore because they don't get cards that they could only use during a game of D&D?
1) Players will still get the rewards cards at the end of the year via the PDF system as we saw with this year. Convention goers have a change to get the cards sooner.
2) DMs are the ones earning more rewards, because they're the ones that allow the players at a table to have fun. 1 DM enables fun for (up to) 6 people at a time. The DM needs to set aside a couple hours during the week before the game to read through their module, prepare the game, make notes or any minor edits, and they have to adjucate the rules during the game.
It can be a lot of work - that kind of work deserves to be rewards.
Players get to show up, play, have fun, and are "rewarded" with XP and Gold for their characters.
3) ANY player can step-up and DM a few games. It appears you get rewards for DMing, and any RPGA member can DM a game. Even if they aren't a Herald -Level GM the test is a cakewalk (IMHO), and others can sanction events for them.
In short, while this is certainly a change - I don't think it's a bad change. If you feel like you're losing out, why not step up and run a few games? Give your local GM a chance to sit in and play THEIR character. You might just enjoy it.
A few points:
1) Players will still get the rewards cards at the end of the year via the PDF system as we saw with this year. Convention goers have a change to get the cards sooner.
Not the same to my 13 year old son...
2) DMs are the ones earning more rewards, because they're the ones that allow the players at a table to have fun. 1 DM enables fun for (up to) 6 people at a time. The DM needs to set aside a couple hours during the week before the game to read through their module, prepare the game, make notes or any minor edits, and they have to adjucate the rules during the game.
It can be a lot of work - that kind of work deserves to be rewards.
Players get to show up, play, have fun, and are "rewarded" with XP and Gold for their characters.
I have no issue here, as I have been setting up RPGA games for years.
3) ANY player can step-up and DM a few games. It appears you get rewards for DMing, and any RPGA member can DM a game. Even if they aren't a Herald -Level GM the test is a cakewalk (IMHO), and others can sanction events for them.
This is not clearly stated in the article by Chris and if it is true I am very excited to hear it. I think that is a step in the right direction.
In short, while this is certainly a change - I don't think it's a bad change. If you feel like you're losing out, why not step up and run a few games? Give your local GM a chance to sit in and play THEIR character. You might just enjoy it.
Very true! Locally the three of us that DM all the time could always use the help.
But my experience in my location is that what will happen is the players will slowly drift back to there home games and stop showing up for RPGA events. Our local RPGA group competes for space in local stores with kids playing Magic, adults and teens WarMachine and Warhammer. So why go to a game in a store with all the constant interruptions and noise when you can play D&D at home with peace and quite and with any house rule you want...
"Examples of things you might see include: new Rewards-only Dungeon Tiles, special artwork binders, full-color poster maps of interesting encounter areas, and new Rewards-only monsters and traps."
Thing is, other than the artwork binders maybe, none of that stuff is useable in LFR, which is the flagship (currently of a fleet of one) campaign for the RPGA. The encounter maps are made with standard Dungeon Tiles, so what do I do with my rewards-only tiles? Likewise the poster maps might be nice looking, but I won't be having LFR encounters there. Those encounters will have the monsters and traps written in, and won't be these new Rewards-only ones.
The GM minis are/were useful. Even a bunch of square templates for areas would be somewhat useful. Or a set of tokens/markers for conditions, with the "Official WotC color scheme" or whatever. As an LFR DM, I'd actually rather get standard Dungeon Tiles than special prints, since the standard ones might show up in LFR encounter maps. Plus it has to be cheaper to send people stuff you already make than to print up special limited-run tiles.
You know, stuff that would actually help me run RPGA games.
This is not clearly stated in the article by Chris and if it is true I am very excited to hear it. I think that is a step in the right direction.
I'll try and verify this with Chris for clarity - however, that's how I read it. If you *run* an event, you earn points for rewards. It didn't say anything about organizing - and this would be a great way to reward convention judges as well.
In short, it seems like the more logical path, and it mimics the way points are currently earned as well (whomever judges a table gets points - not just the Senior GM).
But my experience in my location is that what will happen is the players will slowly drift back to there home games and stop showing up for RPGA events. Our local RPGA group competes for space in local stores with kids playing Magic, adults and teens WarMachine and Warhammer. So why go to a game in a store with all the constant interruptions and noise when you can play D&D at home with peace and quite and with any house rule you want...
I'll be curious to see how this works out then. I guess, while they're nice, I don't see the player rewards as enough of a draw for players who aren't fans of RPGA rules and/or the "hassles" of playing in their FLGS.
I've been wrong before, of course, but I guess I've always seen player rewards as "icing on the cake" (make no mistake - I'm an icing fanatic, literally, and in this figurative example). I get to spend 4-5 hours enjoying a game I love AND I get rewards for it? Awesome!
I can see where and why the RPGA is moving the icing to the GM. Previously GMs got a handful of alt-paint minis which, while very nice - if you're not a minis collector wasn't very useful.
I'll reserve judgement on the new rewards until I see them - but it SOUNDS like they're on the right track. Adventures, "special" tiles, and other "DM Aids". So, DM a little bit, and get things to make DMing easier as a thank you. Seems like a very streamlined process.
A few points:
1) Players will still get the rewards cards at the end of the year via the PDF system as we saw with this year. Convention goers have a change to get the cards sooner.
Well, that's something at least.
I'll try and verify this with Chris for clarity - however, that's how I read it. If you *run* an event, you earn points for rewards. It didn't say anything about organizing - and this would be a great way to reward convention judges as well.
I guess the crux is in what is "an event"... I read that to be the game day not the slot. But I am hoping you are right, because that would help out a great deal.
I just don't see players that pleased with the current state of LFR to play without more incentive. Maybe as the adventures get more regional in nature and less boiler plate things will change.
The big reason our core group here plays RPGA is that it take much less time. There are build in story arcs (hopefully) and as the DM you don't have to spend as much prep time as you do when you are creating and running your own world. The negative is obviously the inability to house rule things that either you don't like or just flat out don't make sense to you.
I guess the crux is in what is "an event"... I read that to be the game day not the slot. But I am hoping you are right, because that would help out a great deal.
A couple of points:
1) RPGA does not require a DM to have a Herald card to DM. LG did, but the other 3.5 campaigns did not; this was campaign specific. LFR doesn't require it. RPGA does require a Herald card to be a Senior DM.
2) Reward points under the new system are rewarded for running a session (a single instance of a single adventure). An event is group of events (sometimes only 1) such as a home game, a game day, or a convention. An event is sanctioned by a senior DM, but a session can be run by any RPGA member under the auspices of the senior DM.
So, any RPGA member can gain DM rewards by running sessions under the auspices of a senior DM who has ordered an event, which requires having his Herald card.
David
Q1) Are there going to be any convention exclusive rewards anymore?
Related Thought: Having all the reward cards unlock every six months really negates their draw as convention prizes. For most players, that means only a couple months before their prizes lose any exclusivity. Two smaller set of reward cards, one for conventions and one for everyone, might have been better.
Q2) While it is clear that 5 points gets you into the mailing, will there be additional rewards for more points? Does someone who has 5 points get the same reward as someone who has 30?
Related Thought: I agree with some of the other posters that the RPGA DM rewards seem to have been chosen to be useless to RPGA DMs.
- Unique dungeon tiles are neat, but do not lend themselves well to use in RPGA games.
- Artwork binders are... interesting, but not exactly play material.
- Maps of encounter areas are only useful in RPGA games if they are going to be used in RPGA adventures. If this means that you will send us the next 6 months worth of Module maps for being good DMs, that's cool, but otherwise completely not applicable. If these would be D&D miniatures skirmish style maps, those are worse than useless for trying to run generic encounters on.
- Additional monsters and traps are also interesting, as long as this means miniatures and not stat cards, but again only useful if they are monsters that show up in RPGA adventures. There have been a noticeable lack of Furious Owlbears in the adventures I have run. Personally, having the RPGA send me a box-o-goblins would be far more rewarding that an exclusive repaint purple worm.
And how about having some exclusive reward cards as DM rewards. That would give some real incentive to get players involved in DMing.
Q3) Just confirmation that by 'Rewards-only monsters and traps' they mean miniatures and not stat cards. Trap miniatures would be cool. Trap/monster statistics is a page in Dungeon/Dragon, not a reward.
Reading the writeup it says 5 or more so I would think that 5 or 30 is the same.
It's D&D. The point is to play and have fun. If you need more incentive to do something that is fun then really I have nothing to say on that. It just stuns me.
No, you are right. The rewards program isn't necessary or a deal breaker for almost any player. However, if the RPGA is going to have a rewards program, I don't think it is unreasonable to expect it to be run well, make sense and be a real reward to those involved.
No, you are right. The rewards program isn't necessary or a deal breaker for almost any player. However, if the RPGA is going to have a rewards program, I don't think it is unreasonable to expect it to be run well, make sense and be a real reward to those involved.
No, but nor is it unreasonable for people to accept that getting something for nothing is a reward and that all rewards are not going to have equal value to all those receiving them.
The old program was a database nightmare as well documented by some who never got them no matter what avenue they tried. Simplyfying things helps fix that problem while reaching more people with it. It also rewards judges which is who we really should be rewarding in the first place.
Getting something for free and then going "Well thanks but ya know I'd really would have rather had XXX" is just poor manners.
Getting something for free and then going "Well thanks but ya know I'd really would have rather had XXX" is just poor manners.
To be honest, Dave, I don't think that is what is going on here. I think what is being seen/said is that while the idea of rewards is nice, the implementation that seems to be being exampled is not going to be of a very high value if the GM being rewarded is purely an LFR DM, where very few of the rewards would be usable.
I can see where they are coming from, to be honest.
Getting a repainted mini is nice.
Getting a repainted mini that is of use is even nicer.
To be honest, I GM, but I am not a mini collector, so my supply of minis is fairly limited in scope and variety, although the variety is wider, in some ways, than the scope. I find it difficult coming up with more than 3 of the same minis to represent things like a pool of minions, and my stock of small minis is small in number, and my stock of minis that are smaller than small or larger than large is non-existent.
And my funds are such that I am pushing things to buy the Scepter Tower module, when it comes available again at my local game store; and I get a choice of dungeon tiles or a box of minis, if I can even afford anything at all during a week.
And my ability to get some other, more expensive, games is pretty much to skip a week or two of purchasing anything, or not get them...
Sorry about the side trip, there...
Getting something for free and then going "Well thanks but ya know I'd really would have rather had XXX" is just poor manners.
This is a reward program that is specifically geared towards rewarding people who run games. Thus, when the rewards presented don't actually confer any game-running (or character playing, for that matter) benefit I think we all have the right to look for some clarification.
Just because something is free is no reason that we shouldn't encourage it to become more relevant. Free non-useful rewards remain non-useful. Besides, I believe that all the criticism so far has been constructive, with proper context. No one is raging, no one is trolling, no one is flaming. There have been a bunch of people saying "We like this-and-this, but such-and-such isn't working for us and if it was done like this instead, it might get a better response". This is the kind of discussion that builds a community and makes the game better. Without it, the RPGA is just an adventure-of-the-week club. A reasonable, supported discussion about something that you would like to see changed isn't bad manners. It's good community.
Getting something for free and then going "Well thanks but ya know I'd really would have rather had XXX" is just poor manners.
Dave, so what you're saying is that if someone puts a lump of coal in your xmas stocking you'd say "Thank you"?
I'm not saying that this is an equivalent situation, but I am questioning your comment.
Giving suggestions for things you think you would find cool in the program is one thing. That's being helpful (and some are). Saying "These rewards are useless to me. I would rather have/want X, Y, and Z" is not the same thing.
But to answer the question ya I would. I might be really puzzled why somebody would do that and might question why I have such a friend that would do that but in the end it's the thought that counts right
It's D&D. The point is to play and have fun. If you need more incentive to do something that is fun then really I have nothing to say on that. It just stuns me.
Exactly. Nobody should be signing up for these Rewards. If you do, you're playing for the wrong reasons, and you're making Wizards of the Coast spend time and money they could be putting toward more important things.
Since I order events for a local meetup (LFR), home game (LFR and a homebrew) and an online game (homebrew) I just have one question: Do I get credit for all those game types or just the LFR ones I run?
I am sure they meant rewards for those who DM a LFR game but a bit of clarification might be helpful.
Thanks!
Since I order events for a local meetup (LFR), home game (LFR and a homebrew) and an online game (homebrew) I just have one question: Do I get credit for all those game types or just the LFR ones I run?
As I read it, it's running any RPGA event, which would include LFR, as well as Home Campaigns, Dawn of Defiance, whatever new campaign gets announced at DDXP, etc. But, yeah, it'd be good to get clarification.
It's a crappy gift but it's still a gift. It is not owed me by anyone. It was not paid for or somehow promised to me. They are giving you something free that costs you nothing but what you would already be doing (which is playing and having a good time).
This is ignoring the fact that the RPGA is a marketing arm of WotC. It is there to promote -more- play and use of WotC's product than might exist otherwise. If we were to assume that WotC would be happy with folks doing what they would be doing anyways, then I suspect that WotC could and should close the RPGA.
That's not to say that -fans- wouldn't create something like it ... THEY DID, and it used to be separate of TSR/WotC/Hasbro, ... but it would not have the same expectations.
For all intents and purposes, LFR, RPGA rewards, etc are all products of the RPGA, and by extension of Hasbro/WotC. What we don't pay for directly, we pay for indirectly through sales of D&D and through our attention to their marketing.
Giving suggestions for things you think you would find cool in the program is one thing. That's being helpful (and some are). Saying "These rewards are useless to me. I would rather have/want X, Y, and Z" is not the same thing.
By this reasoning, we should never give feedback on modules. These are free too. And not something that we pay for, nor something that we -should- expect. Except that someone said that they'd do it, and so we -do- expect that it will be done. If tomorrow the RPGA/LFR said they were only going to release 5 modules in 2009, ... do you really believe folks wouldn't raise a fuss?
But to answer the question ya I would. I might be really puzzled why somebody would do that and might question why I have such a friend that would do that but in the end it's the thought that counts right
If they were truly my friends, I probably would assume it was a practical joke. But they could bet on a re-gift the next year.
But that wasn't where I was going and I suspect you know it. If you truly would take such a gesture in good faith/will/humor, then you're a better man than I, Charlie Brown.
The original post is in the archives now - but you can read it here.
http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-897055
While it still may be a goal to promote play, one could also argue that it exists to facilitate play for existing customers. It's all a matter of perspective I suppose.
It's not a slight, it is just descriptive of their work.
Giving suggestions for things you think you would find cool in the program is one thing. That's being helpful (and some are). Saying "These rewards are useless to me. I would rather have/want X, Y, and Z" is not the same thing.
I hope I came across as the former. Even though that's a pretty fine line of distinction in what we're saying, it's important to remember how we're saying it too. I like to play non-RPGA games too, so all of those rewards would be of use to me and I will appreciate any that I might receive.
No, you are right. The rewards program isn't necessary or a deal breaker for almost any player. However, if the RPGA is going to have a rewards program, I don't think it is unreasonable to expect it to be run well, make sense and be a real reward to those involved.
It's not a deal breaker for me. But as a new member of the RPGA who just joined in November and was looking forward to the reward cards this Spring, I am severely disappointed that, unless a miracle happens and I'm able to get to GenCon this year, I'll have to wait until the end of the year to get any reward cards.
EDIT: I just reread the article. Looks like I'll be able to download last year's cards later this month, and cards will be downloadable twice a year, so that's not so bad. It's more than I had before joining the RPGA.
It's D&D. The point is to play and have fun. If you need more incentive to do something that is fun then really I have nothing to say on that. It just stuns me.
It's not an incentive to play, it's an incentive to continue to go through the pain-in-the-rear process of registering for the event, downloading the module, tracking everything for every character, then entering that info online.
That information is, I'm sure, used by Wizards/Hasbro in their marketing. Even if the RPGA isn't directly marketing, it's research so they can target their marketing. Targeted marketing is more effective marketing, so the ability to target is (or should be) worth minimal rewards for both players and GMs.
IMO, at least.
So I guess I have a question for WizO "Anybody", can my players expect anything in the mail for them as a one time thing for the rewards points they have earned as of the end of December? I think you owe them at least that.
Since I run the games it will only really benefit me in the future and they are going to wonder why they should even bother with tracking their characters since they only really play in my LFR campaign. I wish this would have been announced months ago so I don't feel like I wasted my time.
First it is not YOUR LFR campaign. It is everyones LFR campaign. Tracking of the characters is part of a Living campaign so that they have to opportunities to play these characters anywhere they are if they attend a convention or perhaps a game day.
And if your players and you are having fun then have you wasted your time?
So I guess I have a question for WizO "Anybody", can my players expect anything in the mail for them as a one time thing for the rewards points they have earned as of the end of December? I think you owe them at least that.
They owe you nothing, I hope that you realize that.
I think all I was asking is if my players could expect to recieve anything based on the information they had at the time they joined. My players will most likely not have the time to play in any other events, so tracking their characters isn't high on their priority list. I'm not trying to take anything away from those of you that really enjoy playing your LFR characters at different events and with different DM's. I think that is great. In this particular case though I was talking about my groups perspective, so I ask you to keep that in mind.
And as far as being owned anything, it really doesn't bother me if it turns out I end up with nothing, but if you make it appear that someone will get something if they join up and gain reward points, then I believe you do owe them what you promised. Funny thing that word "integrity".
I have faith though, and I think our friends at Wizards and RPGA will come though for my players (and any others that might be in the same situation). Maybe a little dose of positive thinking will carry the day.
They will twice a year like everyone else get access to the password and the PDF of the cards. They wont get them at the same time those that receive them at a convention will but they will get them none the less.
*nods* That was not clear in the original post's bulletted summary, but it is clear in the announcement if one follows the link. Until I read the full announcement on the linked page, I was under the impression I'd have to go to a convention to get anything. I feel some better after doing that.
As to whether it's printed on cardstock all nice and shiny, well, while that's nice and all I appreciate that this is a cost cutting measure on a number of levels to have players print out their own reward cards, and it's actually kind of nice to be able to save the PDF on my computer as a backup in case I misplace or damage my cards.
*nods* That was not clear in the original post's bulletted summary,
It's not?
*re-reads my post*
Oh. . . yeah. . . it's not.
Consider it corrected.
It's not?
*re-reads my post*
Oh. . . yeah. . . it's not.
Consider it corrected.
Thank you kindly!
It's not?
*re-reads my post*
Oh. . . yeah. . . it's not.
Consider it corrected.
Dont let it happen again or your shins I will be a kickin :D
1. Will I no longer need to sign up players to RPGA in order for me to run a legal game?
2. Will I no longer have to type in numbers (and names, even 6 months after submitting the cards myself, in bulk, in certified mail, and following up with emails for confirmation, because WotC never bothered entering my players into the database and RPGA kept giving me the "player not found" error message) into the reporting system?
3. Will I even be required to report the number of players and their gold/exp/treasure information after each session?
4. Does this mean that WotC will finally update the Master level GM test and expand the remainder of the DM qualification program? I've been ready to move to a Master-level status for some time, but I've been 4E exclusive since July and I'm not about to relearn 3.5 to take that Master test.
Finally, a few comments.
1. My players definitely did not play LFR because of the rewards. In fact, most of them viewed it as a hassle they had to deal with, rather than a benefit, since WotC never actually registered them (see above). In fact, we mainly use LFR because I run a game every Saturday and I simply don't have the time to prepare my own campaign and host regular games. LFR lets me give folks a balanced, one-shot adventure every week and still have time for the rest of my life. "Losing" RPGA rewards will have little impact on their lives.
2. I love the pdfs of the rpga cards being made available. I will actually probably print them on card stock at home and give them out as rewards myself. Maybe for players that come to 5, 10, etc games in a row? Or players that make the entire experience better for everyone else on a regular basis? Or maybe just one per person every game!
3. I would like to offer some constructive input on what "useful" rewards might be. I, like many others I know, don't have the cash to drop on minis. And coming up with groups of minis for minion fights, as mentioned previously, can be difficult. However, I love the tokens that came in the RPG starter set. I know they are not as flashy as minis, but if you gave me the chance to select (or even just randomly sent) 2 pages of tokens, or a couple sets of tokens for different monster groups (like an undead set one rewards period and an animal set the next), that would make my DMing experience incredibly easier.
Map tiles are ok, but they shift around a lot. I spend a few nights when I'm watching sports each week turning graph paper into colored pencil artwork of the maps included in the LFR mods. But monster and NPC representation is tough and tokens would be cheaper than minis (smaller too, for shipping) and more generically useful.
Just my $0.02.
So I have a question on how this changes paperwork for running RPGA games.
1. Will I no longer need to sign up players to RPGA in order for me to run a legal game?
Yes, why would you not?
2. Will I no longer have to type in numbers (and names, even 6 months after submitting the cards myself, in bulk, in certified mail, and following up with emails for confirmation, because WotC never bothered entering my players into the database and RPGA kept giving me the "player not found" error message) into the reporting system?
You will continue to report just like you did before. And it should be your players responsibility to get on DCI and log in with the code at the bottom of their DCI card.
3. Will I even be required to report the number of players and their gold/exp/treasure information after each session?
Yes, as in #1 why would you not.
4. Does this mean that WotC will finally update the Master level GM test and expand the remainder of the DM qualification program? I've been ready to move to a Master-level status for some time, but I've been 4E exclusive since July and I'm not about to relearn 3.5 to take that Master test.
They have not announced if they are going to update the Master level GM test into 4th edition or not. But it does not effect your GM rewards in any way.
Finally, a few comments.
1. My players definitely did not play LFR because of the rewards. In fact, most of them viewed it as a hassle they had to deal with, rather than a benefit, since WotC never actually registered them (see above). In fact, we mainly use LFR because I run a game every Saturday and I simply don't have the time to prepare my own campaign and host regular games. LFR lets me give folks a balanced, one-shot adventure every week and still have time for the rest of my life. "Losing" RPGA rewards will have little impact on their lives.
2. I love the pdfs of the rpga cards being made available. I will actually probably print them on card stock at home and give them out as rewards myself. Maybe for players that come to 5, 10, etc games in a row? Or players that make the entire experience better for everyone else on a regular basis? Or maybe just one per person every game!
3. I would like to offer some constructive input on what "useful" rewards might be. I, like many others I know, don't have the cash to drop on minis. And coming up with groups of minis for minion fights, as mentioned previously, can be difficult. However, I love the tokens that came in the RPG starter set. I know they are not as flashy as minis, but if you gave me the chance to select (or even just randomly sent) 2 pages of tokens, or a couple sets of tokens for different monster groups (like an undead set one rewards period and an animal set the next), that would make my DMing experience incredibly easier.
Map tiles are ok, but they shift around a lot. I spend a few nights when I'm watching sports each week turning graph paper into colored pencil artwork of the maps included in the LFR mods. But monster and NPC representation is tough and tokens would be cheaper than minis (smaller too, for shipping) and more generically useful.
Just my $0.02.
Once the Convention guidelines and the support document are posted you can figure out what it would take for you to qualify for and purchase convention support. Then you could get actual cards.
1.
Yes, why would you not?
I had assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that RPGA was keeping tabs for rewards purposes. If players will not be receiving anything from RPGA, why do I need to keep signing them up for it? Now that all RPGA events are 1 point, does the participation of RPGA members as opposed to the guy who's in town visiting his brother and comes along to play just once change the event at all? From WotC's perspective, I mean?
2.
You will continue to report just like you did before. And it should be your players responsibility to get on DCI and log in with the code at the bottom of their DCI card.
That would work if I had started with the new DCI cards. But when I first started DMing, WotC sent me the old RPGA cards. That's what all my players filled out, and those numbers are what I have been using to report the events - even though it required me to type in their name every single time. Of course, since rewards are no longer a concern, I guess I could use the new DCI cards, give them all new numbers, and they'd start from scratch. But then, the last 5 months of playing LFR wouldn't show up on their character record. Maybe they could appeal, but given that I've been sending an email to WotC trying to get the names added once a month for those 5 months, I'm not too enthusiastic about RPGA customer service.
3.
Yes, as in #1 why would you not.
Again, this must be more of a function of keeping RPGA play legal across the system, than tied to the rewards program, as I originally thought. I guess I can see that as a means for keeping PCs interchangeable, I just doubt my players are ever going to care what WotC says about their PCs, since WotC won't be sending them freebies. They appreciate the service that the RPGA represents, but the impact on them is minimal, while the paperwork impact on me is annoying, especially on the Saturdays when I run 2 games with 6 people. Recording all of that to report to WotC takes up time. Especially since they have to decide their rewards on the spot (don't bother suggesting having them report to me by email, they're not very communicative).
4.
They have not announced if they are going to update the Master level GM test into 4th edition or not. But it does not effect your GM rewards in any way.
I knew it didn't affect rewards at all. But we've been told that the DM system was going to be expanded for over a year now, and for my own personal benefit, I'd like to see that happen. This isn't a criticism or a gripe, just an honest question of if the focus on DMs would mean a revitalization of the DM qualification system.
Comments:
Once the Convention guidelines and the support document are posted you can figure out what it would take for you to qualify for and purchase convention support. Then you could get actual cards.
As I said, I don't care about the physical cards. Some of my players will go to cons, other won't, it doesn't matter to me.
I was simply hoping to offer a suggestion on what might be valuable from a DM's perspective. Maybe, with the new rewards program being DM-focused, what I would find useful as a DM will actually matter to WotC. Of course, if I'm the only one that likes tokens, then probably not. But if others out there agree with me, maybe bringing it to WotC's attention can implement a reward I'd actually like. And that's just gravy all around!
Questions:
1. I had assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that RPGA was keeping tabs for rewards purposes. If players will not be receiving anything from RPGA, why do I need to keep signing them up for it? Now that all RPGA events are 1 point, does the participation of RPGA members as opposed to the guy who's in town visiting his brother and comes along to play just once change the event at all? From WotC's perspective, I mean?
Tracking that information still tells WotC:
1) The average level of characters in the campaign
2) How much play a certain module (and to a degree a certain author) gets
3) What direction the campaign is going in (via Adventure Questions)
4) That 4-6 people showed up to play, and that you didn't just order a module to get points.
3.Again, this must be more of a function of keeping RPGA play legal across the system, than tied to the rewards program, as I originally thought. I guess I can see that as a means for keeping PCs interchangeable, I just doubt my players are ever going to care what WotC says about their PCs, since WotC won't be sending them freebies. They appreciate the service that the RPGA represents, but the impact on them is minimal, while the paperwork impact on me is annoying, especially on the Saturdays when I run 2 games with 6 people. Recording all of that to report to WotC takes up time. Especially since they have to decide their rewards on the spot (don't bother suggesting having them report to me by email, they're not very communicative).
As before, remember that in order for a GM to get his rewards, he still needs to run a legal table - how else would WotC track that, if not by making sure 4-6 RPGA players are at the table?
Related Thought: Having all the reward cards unlock every six months really negates their draw as convention prizes. For most players, that means only a couple months before their prizes lose any exclusivity. Two smaller set of reward cards, one for conventions and one for everyone, might have been better.
I am bothered by the thought that if you can go to a con (and most people think of major conventions when they say that) you should get something others can't. You are already doing something that many can't in going to the con in the first place. I live in West Texas and find that without traving at least 7 hours and spending at least $500-600 that I cannot attend a con. Unlike people living in the east coast who have close access to many cons within shorter range. I would love to go to a con but can't see how (especially in this economy right now) how it can happen. So why should I loose out on something due to where I live?
Related Thought: I agree with some of the other posters that the RPGA DM rewards seem to have been chosen to be useless to RPGA DMs.
- Unique dungeon tiles are neat, but do not lend themselves well to use in RPGA games.
- Artwork binders are... interesting, but not exactly play material.
- Maps of encounter areas are only useful in RPGA games if they are going to be used in RPGA adventures. If this means that you will send us the next 6 months worth of Module maps for being good DMs, that's cool, but otherwise completely not applicable. If these would be D&D miniatures skirmish style maps, those are worse than useless for trying to run generic encounters on.
- Additional monsters and traps are also interesting, as long as this means miniatures and not stat cards, but again only useful if they are monsters that show up in RPGA adventures. There have been a noticeable lack of Furious Owlbears in the adventures I have run. Personally, having the RPGA send me a box-o-goblins would be far more rewarding that an exclusive repaint purple worm.
And how about having some exclusive reward cards as DM rewards. That would give some real incentive to get players involved in DMing.
I agree that most of those things while cool would not be overly helpful to being a DM. What I would find more helpful would be cards printed with stats of monsters and traps so that you could slowly develop a deck of cards (preferably laminated or something to allow dry erase) to run your games. Barring cards of specific monsters having a mailing of tool cards on heavy stock which could be dry erase usable and fill in the info of the creatures would make many games easier so you don't have to have the pages taking up space in front of you while you run a combat.
I am bothered by the thought that if you can go to a con (and most people think of major conventions when they say that) you should get something others can't. You are already doing something that many can't in going to the con in the first place. I live in West Texas and find that without traving at least 7 hours and spending at least $500-600 that I cannot attend a con. Unlike people living in the east coast who have close access to many cons within shorter range. I would love to go to a con but can't see how (especially in this economy right now) how it can happen. So why should I loose out on something due to where I live?
There is nothing wrong with losing out on something.
There is nothing wrong with someone having something that you dont.
Everyone does not have to be equal.
And if you have read the announcement you would have seen that every 6 months the PDF and password will be made available to everyone.
And once the full details are posted, as to what constitutes a convention and what the convention support packages will cost, there is nothing keeping you from putting on a convention and paying for con support packages and getting the cards as well.
And if your players and you are having fun then have you wasted your time?
The time wasting is in the scheduling of events. It is not a streamlined process. I run a home game every Friday night, same players, same module code (D&D Home Game other), same DM. If they wanted to make it so that there was no wasted time then you should be able to register a similar event as a previous one with a new date for such a situation but you can't. You can avoid the typing in of location data but scrolling to the code and then to the bottom, saving the code and then scrolling to the bottom again to click next. Then when you report the event you can't mass input info you have to do it one at a time which again takes time. In all for one week's game it takes 5 min aprox to do. If you count 52 weeks that is 104 min so just under 2 hours of time. I am not saying I am owed something for this time just that you asked about wasted time, if the rewards are not there then what is the motivation to spend that time.
They owe you nothing, I hope that you realize that.
Think of it this way. If a friend offered to come and paint your house for you. Yet he used the most awful colors and did a bad job would you not be able to say anything about it? It is not that they owe it to anyone, they have offered something saying it is a "reward". A reward is defined as "A satisfying return or result" if the reward offered is not of use it is not satisfying. While it is nice of WOTC to offer rewards and to do the work to put them out. It was their choice to offer.
But the major cons are not all held on the East or West coast:
Gencon - Indianapolis, In
DDXP - Fort Wayne, In
Those are 2 of the major cons that RPGA people will attend.
Tracking that information still tells WotC:
1) The average level of characters in the campaign
2) How much play a certain module (and to a degree a certain author) gets
3) What direction the campaign is going in (via Adventure Questions)
4) That 4-6 people showed up to play, and that you didn't just order a module to get points.
If I was going to play devil's advocate*, I could see how, while a lot of that matters to the people running the campaign, it isn't very useful or relevant to the players or DMs.
First, the online tracking is not actually useful to the players or DMs. Look at any of the many threads devoted to people worried about their online tracking being screwed up. It official word is that online tracking doesn't matter, only paper records do.
Second, the online tracker can be a real pain to use. It's really bad if there are more than a handful of tables to report, but even for one or two tables is a hassle if you have to enter names by hand. No, not a world-ending issue, but it's time that many people would be just as happy not to spend.
So, as a DM, if I already have my 5 points and I'm in a situation where I have a bunch of tables to enter, I have to admit it will be tempting to just blow it off. It doesn't affect me and it doesn't affect any of my players on any level. The rewards are one potential way to reward DMs for jumping through hoops but frankly they are just not very interesting. For DMs who don't care about the rewards and don't want to deal with the system there is very little reason to as long as they continue to run the adventures and hand out the appropriate pieces of paper.
*Even though it makes me a bad person, I like playing devils advocate :-) I know, I know, that's practically unheard of on these here interwebs.
The time wasting is in the scheduling of events. It is not a streamlined process. I run a home game every Friday night, same players, same module code (D&D Home Game other), same DM. If they wanted to make it so that there was no wasted time then you should be able to register a similar event as a previous one with a new date for such a situation but you can't. You can avoid the typing in of location data but scrolling to the code and then to the bottom, saving the code and then scrolling to the bottom again to click next. Then when you report the event you can't mass input info you have to do it one at a time which again takes time. In all for one week's game it takes 5 min aprox to do. If you count 52 weeks that is 104 min so just under 2 hours of time. I am not saying I am owed something for this time just that you asked about wasted time, if the rewards are not there then what is the motivation to spend that time.
Please tell me you are not whining about 2 hrs of your life every year? I would think that you are doing it playing and running because its fun for you and your players not because you expect something from WOTC because of it. If that is why you do it then your priorities are pretty off.
Think of it this way. If a friend offered to come and paint your house for you. Yet he used the most awful colors and did a bad job would you not be able to say anything about it? It is not that they owe it to anyone, they have offered something saying it is a "reward". A reward is defined as "A satisfying return or result" if the reward offered is not of use it is not satisfying. While it is nice of WOTC to offer rewards and to do the work to put them out. It was their choice to offer.
If you are stupid enough to not provide the paint to your friend to paint with and are not there helping them, then its not their fault its yours.
If I was going to play devil's advocate*, I could see how, while a lot of that matters to the people running the campaign, it isn't very useful or relevant to the players or DMs.
First, the online tracking is not actually useful to the players or DMs. Look at any of the many threads devoted to people worried about their online tracking being screwed up. It official word is that online tracking doesn't matter, only paper records do.
Second, the online tracker can be a real pain to use. It's really bad if there are more than a handful of tables to report, but even for one or two tables is a hassle if you have to enter names by hand. No, not a world-ending issue, but it's time that many people would be just as happy not to spend.
So, as a DM, if I already have my 5 points and I'm in a situation where I have a bunch of tables to enter, I have to admit it will be tempting to just blow it off. It doesn't affect me and it doesn't affect any of my players on any level. The rewards are one potential way to reward DMs for jumping through hoops but frankly they are just not very interesting. For DMs who don't care about the rewards and don't want to deal with the system there is very little reason to as long as they continue to run the adventures and hand out the appropriate pieces of paper.
*Even though it makes me a bad person, I like playing devils advocate :-) I know, I know, that's practically unheard of on these here interwebs.
I'm a fan of playing Devil's Advocate - and you've done a really good job here.
You're right, the temptation to blow off reporting will be present now, without incentive to muddle through the system as it stands.
Here's hoping that incentive is found and given, or at the very least the system becomes less laborious to use.
I am bothered by the thought that if you can go to a con (and most people think of major conventions when they say that) you should get something others can't. You are already doing something that many can't in going to the con in the first place. I live in West Texas and find that without traving at least 7 hours and spending at least $500-600 that I cannot attend a con. Unlike people living in the east coast who have close access to many cons within shorter range. I would love to go to a con but can't see how (especially in this economy right now) how it can happen. So why should I loose out on something due to where I live?
Twice a year everyone will be able to download the cards. Please read the last paragraph of the actual link.
If a Dm do a RPGA home game, is it count at the rewards?
It looks that way.
Question: Has anyone gotten the newsletter that was supposed to be sent out that had the password for last year's cards in it? Because I haven't yet, and I'm a bit concerned it's lost somewhere in the internet.
It wasn't in an electronic newsletter; it was in a physical letter, which accompanied the actual mailing of physical cards that they sent out at the end of the year.
It wasn't in an electronic newsletter; it was in a physical letter, which accompanied the actual mailing of physical cards that they sent out at the end of the year.
That, too. But it was also supposed to be in an email newsletter. Because I'm new to the RPGA. but on the page that explains the new program, which is dated for 7 January 2009, it states (bolding mine):
Unlock a PDF image of the Rewards cards posted on the RPGA website. Twice a year, we will have the previous convention support Rewards cards available as a locked PDF on the RPGA website at www.wizards.com/rpga. Simply click on "Downloads" from the navigation on the left side of the page, and look for the current Rewards cards download. The file will be a locked PDF; we'll send the password to your email inbox when the time is right. The 2008 cards are now available; the password to unlock the PDF was sent via the Rewards mailing and will also be included in our quarterly e-newletter, hitting your inbox this month.
So I didn't get a physical letter because I just joined the RPGA and reward program in November, however, from the sound of it I should have gotten a newsletter in email last month. It is that email newsletter I was wondering if anyone received. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.
So I didn't get a physical letter because I just joined the RPGA and reward program in November, however, from the sound of it I should have gotten a newsletter in email last month. It is that email newsletter I was wondering if anyone received. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.
Ah, yes, thank you. I haven't seen or heard of anyone getting such an e-mail newsletter yet.
When you sign up and test to be a herald, you can judge games at private play. You need to then signup at WPN to judge public play events. You then need to enroll through another site to get into the DM Rewards program.
Otherwise you'll get screwed like I did this go round, basically wasted time reporting the events that I didn't get credited for because your not automatically enrolled in it when you sign up to judge.
I recently arranged a sanctioned home play event for my local gaming group. On the day i had 5 players turn up plus myself as DM, however only three of the players had or wanted DCI/RPGA membership.
Does this mean that I cant report it?
As to the DM rewards debate, it would be better to have something useful in general. (I too have trouble fielding large groups of minions).
Many years (early 90's) ago I was a RPGA member and used to attend European Gen Con and DM in several of the tournament rounds and this was then the only way to achieve any form of "rewards" - unfortunately there doesnt seem to such an event in the UK any more, in fact unless its planned by players themselves there are no events (including the new Encounters series) in my home town at all!!!
I recently arranged a sanctioned home play event for my local gaming group. On the day i had 5 players turn up plus myself as DM, however only three of the players had or wanted DCI/RPGA membership.
Does this mean that I cant report it?
If you've sanctioned the game officially, then all the players have to be RPGA members. If they refused to sign up, they can't play, and if there aren't 4 players, the game can't be run.
That said, you can always run an unofficial game anyway, but then you can't report it.
What you can't do is run a game with 4 RPGA members and 1-2 non-members and report it anyway. It's not an official game at that point.
Seems a little harsh, and not a good way to promote either the game or the RPGA membership.
It seems that unless Players are willing to put themselves out to promote the hobby to others then all we are going to be left with are the "veterans" of the previous editions (and all the sensless edition wars on forums throughout the internet) and the hobby itself will stagnate.
Surely a better option is to include everyone, then when those that chose membership get something to show for it, it will encourage the others to rethink.
As it happens I was later contacted by the other players, one of whom already had a Magic DCI membership and the other decided to sign up anyway.
There are multitudes of eager gamers out there and in the current economic climate (especially in the UK) many are reluctant to spend money on game products just to have them sat on the shelf. The Encounters program has been a great step forward in bringing new blood in, (if your lucky enough to have a venue nearby running it - absolutely nothing in Leicester!!) but private and public play are even better opportunities that are being bogged down in senseless beaurocracy.
Does every one at an Encounters evening have to sign up? Not having the opportunity to attend I dont know, but from the forum posts throughout the internet I would say that many are enjoying the events.
I got my DCI membership when I attended the Games Day in March for the PHB3 release, out of the 5 players I know 4 definately had DCI memberships but not if the DM or fifth player did.
Well, thats my little rant over for now, I'll return to my dark little hobbit hole and dream up more terrors for my gamers (whether they be members or not
).