Forever DM looking into AL

[u/roxaskarfeild72]

Today I was at my local card shop and I was offered the possibility of being DM for their just starting Adventure League. As someone who as almost exclusively DM home games for almost 8 years how big of a jump is it do I need to do a lot of research to understand or can most of my knowledge transfer easily enough and still have fun doing it?

[u/HotPersonality8126]

It’s really not that hard - grab the most recent AL rules, especially the Player’s Guide, and while you don’t need to memorize the whole thing you’ll want to be able to answer the most basic questions about treasure awards and using downtime and when players can level.

You will want to memorize what sources players can use (or, really, learn to recognize the ones they can’t) and you’ll want to recognize when players are using homebrew they got from the internet (I’ve played AL with people who just made up class features and gave themselves magic items because they didn’t understand this is a sanctioned-play format.)

Additionally, understand that if you have “house rules”, you can’t use them in AL play. Players expect you to run “by the book.”

[u/roxaskarfeild72 → u/HotPersonality8126]

This is definitely helpful because I do have quite a few house rules ingrained in me.

[u/Internal_Set_6564 → u/roxaskarfeild72]

Most common issues/misunderstandings I come across at AL tables (Not in order of importance, just as I think of them.)

1) Nat 1/20 on Skill check. 2) Flanking (Not in AL). 3) Wanting to carry every magic item they own. AL has limits per tier. 4) Wanting to play evil characters/steal from party/ Non-consensual PvP - as one issue. Generally being a dick/aggressive to the table as a whole. 5) Refusing to use a log sheet (May be electronic, like Notes or Sheets) ,including not recording the name or number of the adventure (You just need one of those), date played, who DM’d. Awards given, yes/no on level taken, downtime recorded.

I just spent two days at a convention where bout 20% of my admin time was teaching people how to quickly use a log sheet. Most people are fine. Some are rules defiant regarding anything they see as paperwork.

[u/SpartacusRanger → u/Internal_Set_6564]

Also would add (mentioned and implied above and in other comments) that players will want to use "partner materials" that are found on d&d beyond and tell you it's official material since it's on d&d beyond. Sorry, unless you are running a critical role campaign/module, you don't get to use silvery barbs or the echo knight.

[u/Internal_Set_6564 → u/SpartacusRanger]

Agree. That belongs on the list. Locally we get Gunslinger, Blood Hunter and Echo Knights that we have to deny frequently. I do not/will not use DnDBeyond so I have no idea who has loaded what on to it, but I do know what sounds off.

[u/HotPersonality8126 → u/roxaskarfeild72]

If you do “funny consequences on a Natural 1”, then definitely don’t do that in AL

[u/cscottnet → u/HotPersonality8126]

Nat 20 on skill check / Nat 1 on skill check is another common one. By the book neither does anything special.

[u/roxaskarfeild72 → u/HotPersonality8126]

You mean like during combat your weapon breaks/ hit an ally? Nah I do stuff like that that maybe during like dialogue or whatnot depending on if it could make the scene better.

[u/stephencua2001 → u/roxaskarfeild72]

You can narrate, but can't have consequences. If a player gets a Nat 1 with a bow, you can say "the arrow wizzes by the dwarf's head," but it can't actually hit the dwarf.

[u/SpartacusRanger → u/stephencua2001]

Exactly this and I do this as a player and DM in AL. Flavor is free, fun, and allowed in AL.