Our local game store uses the advertisement of adventurer's league to pull in new players, but when it comes to it, they force folks to pay and force them to play their own in-store storyline, that has nothing to do at all with the AL. Can I report this to someone?
Unfortunately the AL admins don't have any control over that. It's apparently a problem that exists in a number of places, although it's not ubiquitous. Sorry.
Are you sure the false advertisement is done with malicious intent? Is it someone who works for the store doing the false advertisement ? Does the store owner know what's going on?
I'd be sure to talk to the store owner/employees about it in hopes of clearing up the issue... but if it was indeed someone who owns/works for the store who is knowingly and willingly practicing deceptive tactics I'd give them the chance to change their ways before leaving reviews online so that folks can be warned and know what they're really getting into.
There actually is a way to report it - see the page here .
That page has a link to a reporting form for Code of Conduct violations by stores that are part of the Wizards Play Network, and for intellectual property infringement. This probably falls under one or the other - even if the store isn't part of WPN, using the name Adventurer's League to advertise their non-AL game may be IP infringement.
But please talk to the local game store before you report them. This could just be a situation where they used to run AL games, they now run non-AL games, and the person who does their advertisements isn't involved enough to know the difference. Local game stores are a precious resource - don't sic the corporate lawyers on yours unless you're certain they're deliberately being misleading/dishonest.
Absolutely nothing wrong with a store charging a fee....nothing.
And are you 100% certain they're not Adventure League adventures? Before answering, I'd suggest you look in to how easy it is to create a series of adventures and stamp 'AL' on them. To be able to do that, you only need to check a couple boxes in adventure design. There's no review, publication, or registration process, anyone can make one. A lot of stores make their own AL adventures, with their own story lines. (in fact, for the van richten 'season', you had to make up your own domain)...there's literally tens of thousands of storylines out there and they're all made up - many you'd guess didn't have anything to do with AL, but when you look at the rules for designing an AL adventure...it complies.
I'd wager to guess they're doing everything right.
Before answering, I'd suggest you look in to how easy it is to create a series of adventures and stamp 'AL' on them. To be able to do that, you only need to check a couple boxes in adventure design. There's no review, publication, or registration process, anyone can make one. A lot of stores make their own AL adventures, with their own story lines. (in fact, for the van richten 'season', you had to make up your own domain)...there's literally tens of thousands of storylines out there and they're all made up - many you'd guess didn't have anything to do with AL, but when you look at the rules for designing an AL adventure...it complies.
My FGLSs stick to published adventures, so I've completely forgotten the ridiculous lack oversight/rules enforcement when it comes to making up your own adventure and calling it Adventurers League.
Before answering, I'd suggest you look in to how easy it is to create a series of adventures and stamp 'AL' on them. To be able to do that, you only need to check a couple boxes in adventure design. There's no review, publication, or registration process, anyone can make one. A lot of stores make their own AL adventures, with their own story lines. (in fact, for the van richten 'season', you had to make up your own domain)...there's literally tens of thousands of storylines out there and they're all made up - many you'd guess didn't have anything to do with AL, but when you look at the rules for designing an AL adventure...it complies.
My FGLSs stick to published adventures, so I've completely forgotten the ridiculous lack oversight/rules enforcement when it comes to making up your own adventure and calling it Adventurers League.
Not completely correct as far as I know. The DC program does allow for the creation of AL legal adventures in specific campaigns that follow a specific template and award specific magic items. However, as far as I know, these adventures have to be published on DMs Guild within a year of first being run to be AL legal.
So, as far as I know, I don't think a game store can make up any plot line they like and call it AL legal. It has to follow the DC rules and it has to be made publicly available.
Our local game store uses the advertisement of adventurer's league to pull in new players, but when it comes to it, they force folks to pay and force them to play their own in-store storyline, that has nothing to do at all with the AL. Can I report this to someone?
Thanks
Do you live in communist China? No one can force you to do anything. Just do not play.
Not completely correct as far as I know. The DC program does allow for the creation of AL legal adventures in specific campaigns that follow a specific template and award specific magic items. However, as far as I know, these adventures have to be published on DMs Guild within a year of first being run to be AL legal.
So, as far as I know, I don't think a game store can make up any plot line they like and call it AL legal. It has to follow the DC rules and it has to be made publicly available.
We're saying the same thing in the first half of your statement - you check a few design boxes and then you have an AL adventure. They do not need to publish on DMSGuild (if they choose not to upload, they can still play it for a year...it never has to be made publicly available). And yes, they can make up their own plot line.
I'd check out the latest version of the Dungeoncraft Design Guide (specifically the Publishing and Fine Print sections).
They do not need to publish on DMSGuild (if they choose not to upload, they can still play it for a year...it never has to be made publicly available).
And even if they continue to play/DM the adventure for over a year without publishing it on DMsGuild... what are the consequences? Are there any? How is anyone going to enforce it's status as a non-AL "legal" adventure on the 366 day mark? How would anyone other than the author(s) even know that the adventure isn't technically AL legal? Yes, yes, the "community" is supposed to enforce these rules, but at the end of the day it's not like people can actually do anything about it, assuming they even know what's going on.
That is part of the reason why filling out a Adventurer's League Log is so critical. I run DDAL. I require all my players to have completed logs for each character. I check those logs against what is official (There is a FAQ and list available) if I feel something is out of scope. I reserve the right to administer my table based on those logs. I have had issues only a handful of times, and most were simple rules mis-interpretations. For example, there is one early DDAL adventure that allows you to have a gazer for a familar. Another one later on allows the same for a magma mephit. But in both cases, the player didn't understand the fundamental change to the creature when it becomes a familiar (familiars cannot attack), so it was easily resolved.
As a player, I have lots of oddball stuff (Traipse the sock-puppet familiar, Mr. Meowskers, etc). But since I have the paperwork, it has never been a problem.
So this should be part of the resolution- ask the DM for the information to fill out the log. If they refuse to provide it, then call them out as not following the rules.
Like others have said there is a trend of DM Groups, or game store owners writing their own AL adventures instead of using tested and well liked ones. While I understand this is exciting for some DM groups, and kind of necessary when new sourcebooks are published, I don’t know why it seems like everyone is going that direction.
EDIT-I had a bunch of opinion and conjecture here, that isn’t really related or relevant, so I’ve cut it.
Hey folks,
Our local game store uses the advertisement of adventurer's league to pull in new players, but when it comes to it, they force folks to pay and force them to play their own in-store storyline, that has nothing to do at all with the AL. Can I report this to someone?
Thanks
Unfortunately the AL admins don't have any control over that. It's apparently a problem that exists in a number of places, although it's not ubiquitous. Sorry.
Are you sure the false advertisement is done with malicious intent? Is it someone who works for the store doing the false advertisement ? Does the store owner know what's going on?
I'd be sure to talk to the store owner/employees about it in hopes of clearing up the issue... but if it was indeed someone who owns/works for the store who is knowingly and willingly practicing deceptive tactics I'd give them the chance to change their ways before leaving reviews online so that folks can be warned and know what they're really getting into.
Better Business Bureau. Your local paper. Your local social media platforms.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
There actually is a way to report it - see the page here .
That page has a link to a reporting form for Code of Conduct violations by stores that are part of the Wizards Play Network, and for intellectual property infringement. This probably falls under one or the other - even if the store isn't part of WPN, using the name Adventurer's League to advertise their non-AL game may be IP infringement.
But please talk to the local game store before you report them. This could just be a situation where they used to run AL games, they now run non-AL games, and the person who does their advertisements isn't involved enough to know the difference. Local game stores are a precious resource - don't sic the corporate lawyers on yours unless you're certain they're deliberately being misleading/dishonest.
Absolutely nothing wrong with a store charging a fee....nothing.
And are you 100% certain they're not Adventure League adventures? Before answering, I'd suggest you look in to how easy it is to create a series of adventures and stamp 'AL' on them. To be able to do that, you only need to check a couple boxes in adventure design. There's no review, publication, or registration process, anyone can make one. A lot of stores make their own AL adventures, with their own story lines. (in fact, for the van richten 'season', you had to make up your own domain)...there's literally tens of thousands of storylines out there and they're all made up - many you'd guess didn't have anything to do with AL, but when you look at the rules for designing an AL adventure...it complies.
I'd wager to guess they're doing everything right.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
My FGLSs stick to published adventures, so I've completely forgotten the ridiculous lack oversight/rules enforcement when it comes to making up your own adventure and calling it Adventurers League.
Not completely correct as far as I know. The DC program does allow for the creation of AL legal adventures in specific campaigns that follow a specific template and award specific magic items. However, as far as I know, these adventures have to be published on DMs Guild within a year of first being run to be AL legal.
So, as far as I know, I don't think a game store can make up any plot line they like and call it AL legal. It has to follow the DC rules and it has to be made publicly available.
Do you live in communist China?
No one can force you to do anything.
Just do not play.
We're saying the same thing in the first half of your statement - you check a few design boxes and then you have an AL adventure. They do not need to publish on DMSGuild (if they choose not to upload, they can still play it for a year...it never has to be made publicly available). And yes, they can make up their own plot line.
I'd check out the latest version of the Dungeoncraft Design Guide (specifically the Publishing and Fine Print sections).
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
And even if they continue to play/DM the adventure for over a year without publishing it on DMsGuild... what are the consequences? Are there any? How is anyone going to enforce it's status as a non-AL "legal" adventure on the 366 day mark? How would anyone other than the author(s) even know that the adventure isn't technically AL legal? Yes, yes, the "community" is supposed to enforce these rules, but at the end of the day it's not like people can actually do anything about it, assuming they even know what's going on.
I do believe that as long as its not printed, boxed and thus published with the AL logo then everything should be fine.
They can charge for rented table space and the DM's time.
That is part of the reason why filling out a Adventurer's League Log is so critical. I run DDAL. I require all my players to have completed logs for each character. I check those logs against what is official (There is a FAQ and list available) if I feel something is out of scope. I reserve the right to administer my table based on those logs. I have had issues only a handful of times, and most were simple rules mis-interpretations. For example, there is one early DDAL adventure that allows you to have a gazer for a familar. Another one later on allows the same for a magma mephit. But in both cases, the player didn't understand the fundamental change to the creature when it becomes a familiar (familiars cannot attack), so it was easily resolved.
As a player, I have lots of oddball stuff (Traipse the sock-puppet familiar, Mr. Meowskers, etc). But since I have the paperwork, it has never been a problem.
So this should be part of the resolution- ask the DM for the information to fill out the log. If they refuse to provide it, then call them out as not following the rules.
Like others have said there is a trend of DM Groups, or game store owners writing their own AL adventures instead of using tested and well liked ones. While I understand this is exciting for some DM groups, and kind of necessary when new sourcebooks are published, I don’t know why it seems like everyone is going that direction.
EDIT-I had a bunch of opinion and conjecture here, that isn’t really related or relevant, so I’ve cut it.