I was curious if there is any official AL guidelines for events that are one session only and time running out?
This particular one that I was involved with was Tier 4 end of the world stuff and unfortunately midnight came and the store hosting the event had to close up.
However the last battle had not played out as the players and the baddie were both still alive.
I know you could use math and probability to guess where it would have ended up, but then again it is not 100% certain.
So are there any AL guidelines with regards to situations like this?
Yes. The DM and host are supposed to shorten the encounters. But if I remember correctly only one epic I read has an auto complete scene if time runs out. Do you have a name for the epic. I may have on file.
That is just a regular module not an epic. Epics are usually timed multi-table events though some of them have versions for single group play.
Unfortunately, if you are playing a module and you run out of time, it just ends. It can be challenging for a DM running a module for the first time to gauge how long a module will take but it is up to them to cut scenes from the module as necessary to fit into the time slot - especially if there is a fixed ending time like a store closing.
With 5 or 10 minutes to go and the battle clearly not able to be completed the DM should typically just narrate the conclusion to the module for the players at the table. However, the DM will also have learned a bit for the next time they run it so they will be able to better judge what to skip/change/narrate so that the last encounter has a chance to play out.
The only other option is to finish the module during a second session but that often doesn't work for games at a store which may not have a regular group playing.
That is just a regular module not an epic. Epics are usually timed multi-table events though some of them have versions for single group play.
Unfortunately, if you are playing a module and you run out of time, it just ends. It can be challenging for a DM running a module for the first time to gauge how long a module will take but it is up to them to cut scenes from the module as necessary to fit into the time slot - especially if there is a fixed ending time like a store closing.
With 5 or 10 minutes to go and the battle clearly not able to be completed the DM should typically just narrate the conclusion to the module for the players at the table. However, the DM will also have learned a bit for the next time they run it so they will be able to better judge what to skip/change/narrate so that the last encounter has a chance to play out.
The only other option is to finish the module during a second session but that often doesn't work for games at a store which may not have a regular group playing.
Thanks for the info...it was like an epic in that it was for charity on a Saturday with many tables running...but it was individual modules.
That is just a regular module not an epic. Epics are usually timed multi-table events though some of them have versions for single group play.
Unfortunately, if you are playing a module and you run out of time, it just ends. It can be challenging for a DM running a module for the first time to gauge how long a module will take but it is up to them to cut scenes from the module as necessary to fit into the time slot - especially if there is a fixed ending time like a store closing.
With 5 or 10 minutes to go and the battle clearly not able to be completed the DM should typically just narrate the conclusion to the module for the players at the table. However, the DM will also have learned a bit for the next time they run it so they will be able to better judge what to skip/change/narrate so that the last encounter has a chance to play out.
The only other option is to finish the module during a second session but that often doesn't work for games at a store which may not have a regular group playing.
Thanks for the info...it was like an epic in that it was for charity on a Saturday with many tables running...but it was individual modules.
One of the advantages in that context of actual epics is that there is one specific person in charge of running the event and they will often let the DMs know if they need to speed up. (The organizer can walk around and see if the various tier tables are at an appropriate point in the module). However, I played an epic at tier 3 where we were fighting a dragon in the last scene when time ran out. At that point the organizer had the tables start wrapping up the story and the combat just ended so even in an actual epic there is no guarantee that the final battle will play out.
In our case, the table was moving through the content slowly since the party was mostly martials - two barbarian/fighter multiclasses, a monk, can't recall the rest but my bard/warlock was the only caster in the party so I was playing healing and support. However, due to the party makeup they strongly preferred the combat option for resolution of any of the encounters or the combat path if there were multiple choices so the table was much slower than some of the others getting through content which could solve some of the encounters using social or skills interactions.
That is just a regular module not an epic. Epics are usually timed multi-table events though some of them have versions for single group play.
Unfortunately, if you are playing a module and you run out of time, it just ends. It can be challenging for a DM running a module for the first time to gauge how long a module will take but it is up to them to cut scenes from the module as necessary to fit into the time slot - especially if there is a fixed ending time like a store closing.
With 5 or 10 minutes to go and the battle clearly not able to be completed the DM should typically just narrate the conclusion to the module for the players at the table. However, the DM will also have learned a bit for the next time they run it so they will be able to better judge what to skip/change/narrate so that the last encounter has a chance to play out.
The only other option is to finish the module during a second session but that often doesn't work for games at a store which may not have a regular group playing.
Thanks for the info...it was like an epic in that it was for charity on a Saturday with many tables running...but it was individual modules.
One of the advantages in that context of actual epics is that there is one specific person in charge of running the event and they will often let the DMs know if they need to speed up. (The organizer can walk around and see if the various tier tables are at an appropriate point in the module). However, I played an epic at tier 3 where we were fighting a dragon in the last scene when time ran out. At that point the organizer had the tables start wrapping up the story and the combat just ended so even in an actual epic there is no guarantee that the final battle will play out.
In our case, the table was moving through the content slowly since the party was mostly martials - two barbarian/fighter multiclasses, a monk, can't recall the rest but my bard/warlock was the only caster in the party so I was playing healing and support. However, due to the party makeup they strongly preferred the combat option for resolution of any of the encounters or the combat path if there were multiple choices so the table was much slower than some of the others getting through content which could solve some of the encounters using social or skills interactions.
We did speed it up and even skipped a significant portion...time still ran out.
Friend of the Ageless. Through your efforts to thwart Dendar the Night Serpent, you inadvertently freed the lich Rhaugilath from his bondage to the archlich Larloch. While you have made one friend, another no doubt calls you an enemy.
Your Tale is Over. In your last moments, you witnessed Dendar the Night Serpent consume the sun and crush the world in her coils. Even if there was some way to come back from that horrific death, there is no world to come back to. Your character is permanently retired. More information can be found in Player Handout 4.
Magic Items Potion of Flying, Potion of Supreme Healing, Scroll of Mass Heal, Scroll of Teleport, Scarab of Protection
If you played in this between Sept and now, the current rules apply. Which means all magic items duplicate at the end of the session if not use. Yes some of my players have abused this duplication. And my rule of thumb if time ran out, all magic is rewarded even if the PCS skipped the encounter.
Friend of the Ageless. Through your efforts to thwart Dendar the Night Serpent, you inadvertently freed the lich Rhaugilath from his bondage to the archlich Larloch. While you have made one friend, another no doubt calls you an enemy.
Your Tale is Over. In your last moments, you witnessed Dendar the Night Serpent consume the sun and crush the world in her coils. Even if there was some way to come back from that horrific death, there is no world to come back to. Your character is permanently retired. More information can be found in Player Handout 4.
Magic Items Potion of Flying, Potion of Supreme Healing, Scroll of Mass Heal, Scroll of Teleport, Scarab of Protection
If you played in this between Sept and now, the current rules apply. Which means all magic items duplicate at the end of the session if not use. Yes some of my players have abused this duplication. And my rule of thumb if time ran out, all magic is rewarded even if the PCS skipped the encounter.
Just curious - how does the "Your Tale is Over" story award work with the current AL rule that if you die it only applies for the current session? The world being "gone" doesn't really make much sense in AL and even less with Spelljammer FR and a potentially infinite number of worlds.
"During sessions of play, if you die, are subject to a lingeringeffect such as a disease or curse, or removed from theadventure, you deal with the consequences for the durationof the session of play. At that session’s conclusion, you maychoose the following fate: •You return your character to life or remove the negativeeffect. If you were removed from the adventure, yougain rewards earned until removed. You may gain alevel."
Do you have the choice of returning them to play? or do they retire?
Friend of the Ageless. Through your efforts to thwart Dendar the Night Serpent, you inadvertently freed the lich Rhaugilath from his bondage to the archlich Larloch. While you have made one friend, another no doubt calls you an enemy.
Your Tale is Over. In your last moments, you witnessed Dendar the Night Serpent consume the sun and crush the world in her coils. Even if there was some way to come back from that horrific death, there is no world to come back to. Your character is permanently retired. More information can be found in Player Handout 4.
Magic Items Potion of Flying, Potion of Supreme Healing, Scroll of Mass Heal, Scroll of Teleport, Scarab of Protection
If you played in this between Sept and now, the current rules apply. Which means all magic items duplicate at the end of the session if not use. Yes some of my players have abused this duplication. And my rule of thumb if time ran out, all magic is rewarded even if the PCS skipped the encounter.
So is this then up the DM or do any official AL rules apply? Just so you know we did not skip the encounter...time ran out before one side could be victorious.
Hello All.
I was curious if there is any official AL guidelines for events that are one session only and time running out?
This particular one that I was involved with was Tier 4 end of the world stuff and unfortunately midnight came and the store hosting the event had to close up.
However the last battle had not played out as the players and the baddie were both still alive.
I know you could use math and probability to guess where it would have ended up, but then again it is not 100% certain.
So are there any AL guidelines with regards to situations like this?
Thanks.
Yes. The DM and host are supposed to shorten the encounters. But if I remember correctly only one epic I read has an auto complete scene if time runs out. Do you have a name for the epic. I may have on file.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
DDAL 07-18 Turn Back the Endless Night
That is just a regular module not an epic. Epics are usually timed multi-table events though some of them have versions for single group play.
Unfortunately, if you are playing a module and you run out of time, it just ends. It can be challenging for a DM running a module for the first time to gauge how long a module will take but it is up to them to cut scenes from the module as necessary to fit into the time slot - especially if there is a fixed ending time like a store closing.
With 5 or 10 minutes to go and the battle clearly not able to be completed the DM should typically just narrate the conclusion to the module for the players at the table. However, the DM will also have learned a bit for the next time they run it so they will be able to better judge what to skip/change/narrate so that the last encounter has a chance to play out.
The only other option is to finish the module during a second session but that often doesn't work for games at a store which may not have a regular group playing.
Thanks for the info...it was like an epic in that it was for charity on a Saturday with many tables running...but it was individual modules.
One of the advantages in that context of actual epics is that there is one specific person in charge of running the event and they will often let the DMs know if they need to speed up. (The organizer can walk around and see if the various tier tables are at an appropriate point in the module). However, I played an epic at tier 3 where we were fighting a dragon in the last scene when time ran out. At that point the organizer had the tables start wrapping up the story and the combat just ended so even in an actual epic there is no guarantee that the final battle will play out.
In our case, the table was moving through the content slowly since the party was mostly martials - two barbarian/fighter multiclasses, a monk, can't recall the rest but my bard/warlock was the only caster in the party so I was playing healing and support. However, due to the party makeup they strongly preferred the combat option for resolution of any of the encounters or the combat path if there were multiple choices so the table was much slower than some of the others getting through content which could solve some of the encounters using social or skills interactions.
We did speed it up and even skipped a significant portion...time still ran out.
From my notes on 7-18
Story Awards
Friend of the Ageless. Through your efforts to thwart Dendar the Night Serpent, you inadvertently freed the lich Rhaugilath from his bondage to the archlich Larloch. While you have made one friend, another no doubt calls you an enemy.
Your Tale is Over. In your last moments, you witnessed Dendar the Night Serpent consume the sun and crush the world in her coils. Even if there was some way to come back from that horrific death, there is no world to come back to. Your character is permanently retired. More information can be found in Player Handout 4.
Magic Items Potion of Flying, Potion of Supreme Healing, Scroll of Mass Heal, Scroll of Teleport, Scarab of Protection
If you played in this between Sept and now, the current rules apply. Which means all magic items duplicate at the end of the session if not use. Yes some of my players have abused this duplication. And my rule of thumb if time ran out, all magic is rewarded even if the PCS skipped the encounter.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
Just curious - how does the "Your Tale is Over" story award work with the current AL rule that if you die it only applies for the current session? The world being "gone" doesn't really make much sense in AL and even less with Spelljammer FR and a potentially infinite number of worlds.
"During sessions of play, if you die, are subject to a lingering effect such as a disease or curse, or removed from the adventure, you deal with the consequences for the duration of the session of play. At that session’s conclusion, you may choose the following fate:
• You return your character to life or remove the negative effect. If you were removed from the adventure, you gain rewards earned until removed. You may gain a level."
Do you have the choice of returning them to play? or do they retire?
So is this then up the DM or do any official AL rules apply? Just so you know we did not skip the encounter...time ran out before one side could be victorious.
I would leave up to individual choice.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
I would take the good ending. Friend of the Ageless. I always default to good endings.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.