RPGA Report #7 - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 WolfStar76 Sep 26, 2008 19:03:45	Part 7: Organizing Your First Living Forgotten Realms Game by Chris Tulach If you've been reading this column, we've already given you the lowdown on the RPGA's newest shared-world campaign, Living Forgotten Realms (see the RPGA Report in Dragon #365 for more information). But let's say you're interested in getting a Living Forgotten Realms game organized for your group. What do you do? Where do you go? Look no further, the answers are here!
#2 kinevon Sep 26, 2008 20:43:01	Seems to be missing the information on being a Herald level GM...
#3 the_redbeard Sep 26, 2008 21:30:41	Also doesn't mention a separate registration for rewards.
#4 TrustTymora Sep 27, 2008 1:50:28	Also doesn't mention a separate registration for rewards. How do you do this? I have passed the Hereld level DM test. I have organized a sanctioned Home game in which I'm going to be the DM. I want to make sure that my players and myself will get credit for the reward program. When I went to the Reward Program off of the link after signing in it took me here: https://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/rewards/welcome,,en Does the reward program still exist? Is everyone now automatically signed up or do you still have to go somewhere and sign up? It says that currently I'm eligible for the D&D player and the Magic but is there a GM reward program since I'll be the DM? Thanks for any help. [Edit] Okay found the sign up button and managed to sign up. Should be able to get the players to do so as well. Still want to know if there is something special that needs to be done between being a DM and being a player as far as the rewards program goes. [/Edit]
#5 kinevon Sep 27, 2008 2:14:02	According to the GM Rewards site, if you sign up for the player rewards program, you should also be automatically signed up for the GM rewards program.
#6 telvin3d Sep 27, 2008 12:33:05	I can verify that. I signed up as a player and am getting DM reward credit. EDIT: a 'not' got typoed in there. Not sure why. Must have been tired. Sorry for any confusion.
#7 TrustTymora Sep 29, 2008 5:38:23	I can verify that. I signed up as a player and am not getting DM reward credit. Hello, comments about this please. I just finished running a sanctioned home game. I was the DM. I have spent a ton of time getting this organized, getting my players cards, getting them signed up for reward program, etc. etc. I would like to know that when I go to report this event I will get credit for being the DM. All I have done is sign up for the Players Reward. Is that all you have to do? Thanks.
#8 WolfStar76 Sep 29, 2008 6:53:50	Hello, comments about this please. I just finished running a sanctioned home game. I was the DM. I have spent a ton of time getting this organized, getting my players cards, getting them signed up for reward program, etc. etc. I would like to know that when I go to report this event I will get credit for being the DM. All I have done is sign up for the Players Reward. Is that all you have to do? Thanks. Traditionally this has been true. There's one "D&D Rewards" program. That program tracks both player rewards, GM rewards, and Senior GM rewards (seldom used). The current indication is that this may not be correctly tracking DM rewards for new users. Our best course of action would be for people affected to contact Wizards Play Network Customer Service by visiting: http://wizards.custhelp.com.
#9 TrustTymora Sep 29, 2008 9:10:05	Okay, thanks.
#10 IanQuentin Sep 29, 2008 17:55:15	Can the online form for obtaining WPN number be used to sign up new RPGA players? And I mean the kind of players who just want to play, not organize. Be easier to use instead of the cards.
#11 AuricRAvenhelm Sep 30, 2008 0:53:35	I'm wondering about that same question myself.
#12 WolfStar76 Sep 30, 2008 6:19:37	If you use the online form you'll be an organizer and a member. You can just choose not to organize anything, it won't hurt anything to have more options.
#13 fiupntballr Sep 30, 2008 13:35:58	This is one of the problems in the RPGA... They need a true consolidation.... They seemed have attempted a consolidation with RPGA and DCI but now they start talking about the WPN.... What gives?? To run an RPGA event you ONLY need to have a DCI number and gain herald status (just pass a simple 20 question test). Order your event and report it in the links once its completed... This is a pretty simple process please do not make it such a complicated fiasco...
#14 WolfStar76 Sep 30, 2008 13:50:43	This is one of the problems in the RPGA... They need a true consolidation.... They seemed have attempted a consolidation with RPGA and DCI but now they start talking about the WPN.... What gives?? To run an RPGA event you ONLY need to have a DCI number and gain herald status (just pass a simple 20 question test). Order your event and report it in the links once its completed... This is a pretty simple process please do not make it such a complicated fiasco... The RPGA and DCI are both two "halves" of the Wizards Play Network. Now that the databases have been merged, they both fit under the WPN "umbrella" and a number for one program is valid for the other. It appears that passing a Herald Test may no longer be required - as per the instructions in Chris' report, filling out that form to become a WPN Organiser seems to give anyone the ability to order RPGA modules. I haven't tested it myself yet, but that's what I gather from the report. This would seem to fit with the "non-tournament" mindset of the RPGA with the advent of 4th edition.
#15 fiupntballr Sep 30, 2008 14:39:47	What I dont understand then... when they merged the numbers why not give a person their WPN number... so people with RPGA got numbers converted to DCI which is really part of the WPN? too many programs... a single program (single sign-on) approach is what they're going for but things should be compiled in a cleaner manner. Maybe pushing WPN and forgetting about DCI is the way to go?
#16 WolfStar76 Sep 30, 2008 14:57:01	What I dont understand then... when they merged the numbers why not give a person their WPN number... so people with RPGA got numbers converted to DCI which is really part of the WPN? too many programs... a single program (single sign-on) approach is what they're going for but things should be compiled in a cleaner manner. Maybe pushing WPN and forgetting about DCI is the way to go? Again; RPGA#, DCI#, and WPN# - it's all the same at this time. A rose by any other name. I could argue for or against making it just one universal program. As you state, that kind of consolidation could lead to less confusion, however, there's a fundamental difference between the RPGA and DCI. The RPGA is about promoting roleplay, and does so in an environment of playing for the fun of it. DCI is more about tournaments and competitive play, accordingly it focuses on competitive and collectible games. They both belong to wizards, however, and that's why they fit under a broader "WPN" banner. They're both two different faces of the Wizards Play Network. I agree this could all be spelled out a little more clearly, and perhaps I'll tack something up on my FAQ about it.
#17 Nautilus Oct 05, 2008 4:04:56	I signed up to the WPN, wanting to run LFR home games, and was signed up to four out of the six available brands - but not the one I was after, D&D! So I can't sanction D&D events. Is this a usual occurrence, and is there a simple way to fix this?
#18 pedr Oct 05, 2008 7:10:19	This is just a guess, but you may still have to pass the Herald level GM test, which you can find in the judge's centre, before you can sanction RPGA events.

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

WolfStar76

Sep 26, 2008 19:03:45

Part 7: Organizing Your First Living Forgotten Realms Game
by Chris Tulach

If you've been reading this column, we've already given you the lowdown on the RPGA's newest shared-world campaign, Living Forgotten Realms (see the RPGA Report in Dragon #365 for more information). But let's say you're interested in getting a Living Forgotten Realms game organized for your group. What do you do? Where do you go? Look no further, the answers are here!

kinevon

Sep 26, 2008 20:43:01

Seems to be missing the information on being a Herald level GM...

the_redbeard

Sep 26, 2008 21:30:41

Also doesn't mention a separate registration for rewards.

TrustTymora

Sep 27, 2008 1:50:28

Also doesn't mention a separate registration for rewards.

How do you do this?

I have passed the Hereld level DM test.
I have organized a sanctioned Home game in which I'm going to be the DM.
I want to make sure that my players and myself will get credit for the reward program.

When I went to the Reward Program off of the link after signing in it took me here:
https://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/rewards/welcome,,en

Does the reward program still exist? Is everyone now automatically signed up or do you still have to go somewhere and sign up? It says that currently I'm eligible for the D&D player and the Magic but is there a GM reward program since I'll be the DM?

Thanks for any help.

[Edit] Okay found the sign up button and managed to sign up. Should be able to get the players to do so as well. Still want to know if there is something special that needs to be done between being a DM and being a player as far as the rewards program goes. [/Edit]

kinevon

Sep 27, 2008 2:14:02

According to the GM Rewards site, if you sign up for the player rewards program, you should also be automatically signed up for the GM rewards program.

telvin3d

Sep 27, 2008 12:33:05

I can verify that. I signed up as a player and am getting DM reward credit.

EDIT: a 'not' got typoed in there. Not sure why. Must have been tired. Sorry for any confusion.

TrustTymora

Sep 29, 2008 5:38:23

I can verify that. I signed up as a player and am not getting DM reward credit.

Hello, comments about this please.

I just finished running a sanctioned home game. I was the DM. I have spent a ton of time getting this organized, getting my players cards, getting them signed up for reward program, etc. etc.

I would like to know that when I go to report this event I will get credit for being the DM. All I have done is sign up for the Players Reward. Is that all you have to do?

Thanks.

WolfStar76

Sep 29, 2008 6:53:50

Hello, comments about this please.

I just finished running a sanctioned home game. I was the DM. I have spent a ton of time getting this organized, getting my players cards, getting them signed up for reward program, etc. etc.

I would like to know that when I go to report this event I will get credit for being the DM. All I have done is sign up for the Players Reward. Is that all you have to do?

Thanks.

Traditionally this has been true. There's one "D&D Rewards" program. That program tracks both player rewards, GM rewards, and Senior GM rewards (seldom used).

The current indication is that this may not be correctly tracking DM rewards for new users.

Our best course of action would be for people affected to contact Wizards Play Network Customer Service by visiting: http://wizards.custhelp.com.

TrustTymora

Sep 29, 2008 9:10:05

Okay, thanks.

#10

IanQuentin

Sep 29, 2008 17:55:15

Can the online form for obtaining WPN number be used to sign up new RPGA players? And I mean the kind of players who just want to play, not organize. Be easier to use instead of the cards.

#11

AuricRAvenhelm

Sep 30, 2008 0:53:35

I'm wondering about that same question myself.

#12

WolfStar76

Sep 30, 2008 6:19:37

If you use the online form you'll be an organizer and a member.

You can just choose not to organize anything, it won't hurt anything to have *more* options.

#13

fiupntballr

Sep 30, 2008 13:35:58

This is one of the problems in the RPGA... They need a true consolidation....

They seemed have attempted a consolidation with RPGA and DCI but now they start talking about the WPN.... What gives??

To run an RPGA event you ONLY need to have a DCI number and gain herald status (just pass a simple 20 question test).
Order your event and report it in the links once its completed... This is a pretty simple process please do not make it such a complicated fiasco...

#14

WolfStar76

Sep 30, 2008 13:50:43

This is one of the problems in the RPGA... They need a true consolidation....

They seemed have attempted a consolidation with RPGA and DCI but now they start talking about the WPN.... What gives??

To run an RPGA event you ONLY need to have a DCI number and gain herald status (just pass a simple 20 question test).
Order your event and report it in the links once its completed... This is a pretty simple process please do not make it such a complicated fiasco...

The RPGA and DCI are both two "halves" of the Wizards Play Network. Now that the databases have been merged, they both fit under the WPN "umbrella" and a number for one program is valid for the other.

It appears that passing a Herald Test may no longer be required - as per the instructions in Chris' report, filling out that form to become a WPN Organiser seems to give anyone the ability to order RPGA modules.

I haven't tested it myself yet, but that's what I gather from the report. This would seem to fit with the "non-tournament" mindset of the RPGA with the advent of 4th edition.

#15

fiupntballr

Sep 30, 2008 14:39:47

What I dont understand then... when they merged the numbers why not give a person their WPN number...

so people with RPGA got numbers converted to DCI which is really part of the WPN? too many programs... a single program (single sign-on) approach is what they're going for but things should be compiled in a cleaner manner. Maybe pushing WPN and forgetting about DCI is the way to go?

#16

WolfStar76

Sep 30, 2008 14:57:01

What I dont understand then... when they merged the numbers why not give a person their WPN number...

so people with RPGA got numbers converted to DCI which is really part of the WPN? too many programs... a single program (single sign-on) approach is what they're going for but things should be compiled in a cleaner manner. Maybe pushing WPN and forgetting about DCI is the way to go?

Again; RPGA#, DCI#, and WPN# - it's all the same at this time. A rose by any other name.

I could argue for or against making it just one universal program.

As you state, that kind of consolidation could lead to less confusion, however, there's a fundamental difference between the RPGA and DCI.

The RPGA is about promoting roleplay, and does so in an environment of playing for the fun of it.

DCI is more about tournaments and competitive play, accordingly it focuses on competitive and collectible games.

They both belong to wizards, however, and that's why they fit under a broader "WPN" banner. They're both two different faces of the Wizards Play Network.

I agree this could all be spelled out a little more clearly, and perhaps I'll tack something up on my FAQ about it.

#17

Nautilus

Oct 05, 2008 4:04:56

I signed up to the WPN, wanting to run LFR home games, and was signed up to four out of the six available brands - but not the one I was after, D&D! So I can't sanction D&D events.

Is this a usual occurrence, and is there a simple way to fix this?

#18

pedr

Oct 05, 2008 7:10:19

This is just a guess, but you may still have to pass the Herald level GM test, which you can find in the judge's centre, before you can sanction RPGA events.