D&D Adventurers League is not like your home brew game. Home brew games follow the ongoing adventures of a single party, but organized play is the episodic adventures of a rotating cast. Play long enough, and you will see adventures repeat with an all-new cast.
Read on to find out how to approach league play and how it’s different than your home brew game.
Be A Better Player
In a home game, you only get to play one character. But if you play Adventurers League games on a regular basis, you will quickly find that you need multiple characters as adventures repeat. Take the opportunity to play unusual characters. Rotate through them, and do not be afraid to try new things. If a character is not working like you hoped, take advantage of the rebuild rules and try different variations. The same fighter could be an Eldritch Knight, a Battlemaster, and Champion before they hit fifth level. Even if you are certain that your gnome wizard is going to be an illusionist, why not play one adventure as an Evoker, and another as a Transmuter? Not sure which feat to take? Try a different one each adventure between fourth and fifth. Even if you already know what you want your character to be at fifth level you should take the opportunity to explore the other options. If a particular character just does not work, there’s no shame or penalty in a premature retirement. Better yet, go out in a memorable blaze of glory. When the time comes to create a long term, permanent character for a home game, you will have a much better appreciation for all the different options.
Image courtesy of Lauren Bilanko
Just as you should take advantage of the D&D Adventurers League format to play many different characters, you should also take advantage of the opportunity to play with many different people. Many groups are large enough to run at least two tables every time they meet. This gives players not only a choice of adventures but also a choice in who they play with. Resist the temptation to always play with your favorite people and take the opportunity to play with other D&D Adventurers League gamers. You will see more character types and tactics, and be challenged in how you play your own characters. Can your cleric standout when they are the third healer in the party? Can your wizard survive in a party that does not include a pair of armored warriors to keep the charging orcs at bay?
D&D Adventurers League advocates a specific interpretation of the rules on players and Dungeon Masters. The League also imposes strict rules on treasure and magic. This lack of flexibility can be frustrating for players and Dungeon Masters used to the more common sense approach of house rules and on the fly arbitration of home games. But strict adherence to the rules and treasure limits is what allows a character to be played in multiple places. No one wants to attend a convention only to discover in the middle of a D&D Epic adventure that their character does not work the way they expected it too. Even if you cannot make it to one of the big gaming conventions, many large cities have multiple game stores running D&D Adventurers League, often on different nights. Traveling occasionally is a great way to meet new people and see even more new characters, and it is the consistent rules that make this possible.
Learn to be a Better Dungeon Master
Adventurers League also offers opportunities for the aspiring Dungeon Master. If you have never run a game before, the League is the easiest way to start your career as a Dungeon Master. The adventures are already prepared, and you can choose an adventure you have already played at least once and perhaps more. Someone in your group will be able to point you at one that is relatively simple to run (Hint : DDEX1-2, Secrets of Sokol Keep is the easiest season one adventure to run). The other players at the table will all be familiar with the rules, and will be thrilled to help you if you have misunderstood a rule or failed to keep up with the FAQ published an hour before game start. Many of them will have played the adventure before, and there is a strong likelihood that some of them have run it before and can help you should you encounter any problems. In well-organized groups there may even be a set of pre-drawn maps or other notes available to help you prepare to run the adventure. Once you have played four or five games with the league, it is time to start thinking about your first time behind the DM scene. Choose an adventure, read the module, make some notes, and sign-up to run it.
Image courtesy of FJ Rebolledo
For the experienced DM, D&D Adventurers League also offers the opportunity to sharpen skills that home games do not require but can benefit from. D&D Adventurers League, D&D Expeditions are intended run in four or five hours, and D&D Encounters are supposed to run in two. These time slots are often inflexible, as game stores close and convention schedules move on to the next game. Being prepared and familiar with the adventure is a must to wrapping up on time, but preparedness alone is not sufficient. Learn to move quickly through the initiative order. Giving your full attention to whichever player is taking their turn will gently pressure them to act quickly and decisively. Prompt them as necessary, and be prepared to resolve their attacks and actions quickly and move on to the next player. Be ready to take the monster’s turns as they come up in the initiative order. Providing “on deck” prompts can also help players be ready to quickly take their turn as it comes up. Talk over the table chatter and keep things moving. When the players get distracted by side conversations and meta-gaming, return the group to the game by prompting them for a quick decision or by providing the next clue to keep things moving. Good table control skills will help keep players engaged and the adventure moving along.
Have Fun
Organized play is not like your home game. D&D Adventurer’s League is a chance to meet new people and play D&D in a relaxed setting. Try new characters, learn new tactics, and have fun. Just don’t expect to recreate your home game.