- Is this for real?
- If there really are such cards, then were they ever intended to be used beyond that edition's games?
- If both answers are yes, then what does it even mean? Is there any official ruling? He has his own interpretation ... don't double dip on the same stat, etc. but honestly, getting two sets of stat bonuses, and two sets of benefits, and being able to choose from two race's feats, with absolutely no downside (since all downsides were removed from character races in 4th ed) is just too huge.
- Finally, if the answers to 1 and 2 are yes, then what moron did this?
In the 1990s, the RPGA raised money for charities (actually true in the 1980s as well) and in the early 90s started including certificates with ingame benefits for sale. Think Jean Rabe and Jim Ward era. A few, not a lot, of certificates were sold that authorized the holder to play a character, usually of a race not otherwise allowed, sometimes a playtest class, but I thought ALL of the above was restricted to Living City. Perhaps there was some poor wording, but I definitely don't see how it would be extended into 4th edition (honestly into 3rd edition), as all that was 2nd edition.
A few individuals payed a major amount of money (something like $1200 to $1500 in one extreme case, yes, I was in the audience at the time), and that player was really annoyed when his character died after about 3 adventures. He wanted his money back, and whined until I think they told him he could make a replacement character. However, as I recall, again, that was all LC.
Keith Hoffman
former LC Director (metaorgs)
don't ask how much I spent at such charity auctions!
Honestly, I was gaming in the 80s and 90s, just nothing "living," and so I'm totally unfamiliar with these certificates. When I saw this guy's campaign- and edition-spanning, numbered and laminated card, I was just blown away. The way it's worded, there are no limits --- it says any on-going RPGA campaign --- and it appears to be irrespective of any existing character creation guidelines. At least in previous editions, there was some bad you had to take with the good for each non-human race. I still don't know what to do. He's a very nice guy, but his characters are ... well you can guess.
Tell me the truth: If this guy showed up at Gen Con with his cert and wanted to play one of his duel-race characters in an official game, what would happen?
I am not saying the gamer is lying, but I don't recall any official certificate that was that universal or that option, or being laminated or numbered. None of the official (full page) LC certificates were laminated. Whose signature was on it? Some local guys would make up their own unofficial certificates for play in their local area; they had no authority to do that, but they did it anyway.
Ultimately I doubt it matters even if say Robert Weise signed it; if there is no reference to such exceptions in the CCG, OR it would need to be approved by the current D&D Organized Play Content Manager. The authority of such a certificate would never extend past the reign of the person who signed it. Signed by the President of TSR, Inc? Who cares? The company went bankrupt and was bought by WotC who was bought by Hasbro, Inc.
Such certificates were not honored by LG (I think) or LD (I know). It is like a store coupon or gift card, but the store has gone out of business IMHO. Too bad. Sure, I paid like $80 for my wife to play a playtest specialty priest in 2E LC. Worthless now, but the money went to charity.
Keith
Hopefully I'll have something this afternoon.
Is there any kind of symbol on the cert, by the by? If so, what's it look like?
If you want to get formal about it, the card was issued by TSR, a company that no longer exists. You wouldn't expect it to bind (say) Pathfinder Society games, even though that's a living campaign. Legally speaking I'm sure WotC incurred TSR's obligations, but we're not talking about a legal document here.
Either way I'd be curious to see a scan of the card, btw. It's a bit of history!
Certainly not a legal obligation. Since certificates were sold at charity auction, they all had zero monetary value. Players usually took a charity deduction on their income taxes.
Keith
I asked around and had people get in touch with those who were in charge of the original certificate program(s).
The general concensus is that nobody has any recollection of making any such certificate - at least, not one that would work in-perpetuity. While there were some pretty powerful certificates of this nature - those almost always had a rider on them that they were only for a single character.
Further, without one of a couple pictures/logos that I was told about, I have that much more reason to doubt the validity of the certificate. Factor in that this is a copy/litho of a cert, and not a driect printing, and I'm more than ready to declare it void.
I'm sure that won't make the bearer of the certificate happy, but, alas, those are sometimes the breaks. If they wish to persue the issue further, I'd welcome them to contact Wizards Customer Service (www.wizards.com/customerservice) to persue the matter. I highly dout they'd get an answer they'd like any better from there, however (though, stranger things have certainly been known to happen).
Hope that helps.
Sure, I paid like $80 for my wife(.....)Keith
Now that the OP has been resolved I'd like to discuss this little bit from Keith, I mean really, that's just not something you share! (and can I get a link to the website) =)
She's really nice, too! Sweet deal!
