Right now, I only run home games (through MapTool) because I don't have the time to go to the FLGS. I haven't had to ban anyone from my games yet, since my group of over 40 players is remarkably well-behaved, i.e. none of them are jerks.
Basically, I want to know ahead of time if I can do this because I may or may not be DMing a public game at the FLGS in the future.
Can I choose which players get to sit at my table if and when I run a public LFR game? That is, can I kick out a player because I don't like him? Or does he have to have an infraction record with the RPGA before I can kick him out?
That's an interesting question. My initial reaction would be to say that this is gameday organizer issue, not an RPGA issue. It is not uncommon for players to be restricted from playing a module because of issues entirely unrelated to their RPGA status (not having bought a convention pass, not buying a ticket for a slot, not qualifying for an event only offered to DMs as a slot zero, etc.).
As such, my guess would be that the RPGA has no position as to who you have to let play at your table.
This has nothing to do with DME, by the way, since that governs what happens to the PCs inside of the module, not what happens to players before they sit down at the table.
-- Brian Gibbons.
Shawn
DM empowerment has nothing to do with allowing or not allowing players at your table. Who gets to participate and who doesn't is not an RPGA issue--it is an issue on what the person running the game, or who owns the store, or who is running the convention, or whose house the game is at, etc.
The RPGA General Rules have elements that say that a public game is open to any RPGA member in good standing. That's my paraphrase and isn't precise, but catches the idea. Is this no longer in force?
David
Take a convention for example. At "WolfStarCon" there are 1000 tables of RPGA every slot (top THAT, Dave!) - but an RPGA member who hasn't payed to attend the convention can't access those games. Someone who has a con badge, but didn't buy tickets for a slot can't access the game either.
The game is open to him, but he still can't actually participate.
In another vein, if a player has been a problem at their FLGS, and is on any sort of restriction from the owner about if/when/how long they may enter the store - they may not be able to participate.
Where it becomes a stickier area is if Joe Average wants to join an RPGA game, but the GM just doesn't like Joe (poor Joe. . .). Officially, if Joe shows up (no store ban) and there's an open seat the RPGA rules *may* force him to be seated - if it was listed as a public game.
If you want to run a game for just yourself and 5 people "by invite only" I suppose the official way to run the game would be to order it as a home location. That makes it a "private" game, regardless of the venue.
The *game* may be open to any/all RPGA members in good standing - butif the location doesn't permit that RPGA member, that's another issue.
This. Obviously, I am not an RPGA admin, just LFR, so I am just giving my opinion. I don't think the RPGA wants to get into the business of investigating every instance where someone who is not welcomed into a gaming store or other public venue, for whatever reason, expects to be allowed in simply because RPGA guidelines say that they are allowed to play RPGA games.
Shawn
The *game* may be open to any/all RPGA members in good standing - butif the location doesn't permit that RPGA member, that's another issue.
Bingo. That's exactly how it's handled in DCI tournaments. DCI tournaments are open to all players who wish to participate, subject to the rules laid out in the Universal Tournament Rules and Floor Rules. However, if the player can't access the tournament because (for example) the tournament organizer has denied them access to the event venue, then they're out of luck.
I don't think you can deny someone a seat at an RPGA event just because you don't like them, if they haven't done something to warrant a penalty within the event. A prior history of infractions at events doesn't really cut it either - if the DCI/RPGA thought that this person needed a vacation from DCI and RPGA events, they can suspend that person. If they haven't been suspended, then they're still permitted to play in events, and you're being unfair to that player by denying them a seat without cause.
Don't try to lump DME in with this. DME allows you to make changes to a module to make the module more fun for the players at your table. That's it. It doesn't grant you any latitude outside of making changes to the module you're running.
The *game* may be open to any/all RPGA members in good standing - but if the location doesn't permit that RPGA member, that's another issue.
This is what I understood as well. It's not what I was seeing in the post I replied to, and thus the question. I think everyone is on the same page here.
David
Basically, I've seen players being really nice to DCI judges but total *******s to newbies outside events. My previous FLGS had lots of players like these. During events, their behavior was impeccable, but otherwise they would bully/scam/whatever newbies.
Anyway, where can I learn more about DME? Is there a PDF somewhere that I can read?
DME is mentioned briefly int he boilerplate section of LFR modules. The next iteration of the CCG is supposedly going to have guidance on DME. Although as others have mentioned here, the subject at hand is outside the scope of DME and more in scope of the RPGA General Rules.
DME is mentioned briefly int he boilerplate section of LFR modules. The next iteration of the CCG is supposedly going to have guidance on DME. Although as others have mentioned here, the subject at hand is outside the scope of DME and more in scope of the RPGA General Rules.
Take a convention for example. At "WolfStarCon" there are 1000 tables of RPGA every slot
1000 tables? Wow! Where is Wolfstarcon? Is there a website for this convention? I'd be interested in checking it out. Sounds like a blast.
1000 tables? Wow! Where is Wolfstarcon? Is there a website for this convention? I'd be interested in checking it out. Sounds like a blast.
Hypothetical, and totally fictional, example, unfortunately. :D
Hypothetical, and totally fictional, example, unfortunately. :D
D'oh! I should have guessed.
D'oh! I should have guessed.
Sorry, was my hope that the use of quotes would have made that more apparent.
Alas, as with most of my successes, it only exists in my mind.
The reason why I'm asking this is because I want to advance in the ranks as a DM, and I need to DM public games in order to become a Master DM. I don't like the idea of not being able to ban problem players if they haven't technically committed an infraction.
Basically, I've seen players being really nice to DCI judges but total *******s to newbies outside events. My previous FLGS had lots of players like these. During events, their behavior was impeccable, but otherwise they would bully/scam/whatever newbies.
That's not an issue for you to handle as judge / GM. Like it or not, in that role you're concerned with the conduct of the player within the scope of your event only, and you can enforce the rules on that basis. If the player's being unsporting within your event, then you can issue penalties in accordance with the RPGA Penalty Guidelines. If the player's being unsporting outside of your event, then that seems like something for the employees / owner of the FLGS to deal with. If the people in charge of your FLGS are unable or unwilling to handle such situations, then it seems to me that it's time to find a new FLGS (as you already seem to have done).