Victoria Dungeons & Dragons 5e Organized Play Meetup

Past, present and future players & Dungeon Masters of the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons role playing game.

This group operates two alternative D&D 5e shared campaigns: Adventurers League (AL), which is the official shared campaign operated by Wizards of the Coast, and Explorers' Guild (EG), which is a 3rd party shared campaign designed to fix the many unpopular rule changes introduced in Season 8.

DMs who run tables for our group may choose which system to operate under: AL or EG.

Both EG and AL solve two of the biggest hurdles for many would-be players: they permit casual play on a drop-in basis, and it allow players to use their same character at any other table using the same set of shared campaign rules anywhere in the world. Busy schedules are no longer a barrier to playing D&D! Our group connects players with DMs who host both public and private games across southern Vancouver Island, promoting a variety of schedules and venues for players to choose from.

All our games require that play be conducted according to 100% RAW (Rules As Written) 5th edition with no homebrew changes to the rule set. This insures fair and consistent play for players and DMs alike.

Since skilled DMs are a valuable resource that is in high demand we also encourage that they be paid, to help induce advanced players to take on the DM mantle, and to compensate existing DMs for the considerable time and expense that goes into preparing to run a good campaign. Beginner DMs should start with a standard fee of $5/player per evening session, and more experienced DMs could potentially earn more. This group helps train and support a pool of skilled DMs in the Southern Vancouver Island region, thereby increasing the number of available play options for everyone!

Members who RSVP yes and no-show more than once will be placed on the bottom of the waitlist for all events for one week. For shame!!!

CONSTITUTION
Mission Statement:
The Victoria Dungeons & Dragons 5e Organized Play Meetup is devoted to establishing the highest quality 5th Edition D&D play experience in all sanctioned events.

"Participants must conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to the enjoyment of others."

Principles:
- Fun for all is the overriding first principle.
- Fairness under the rules should guide each and every DM decision: DMs and players must strictly follow 5th Edition rules at all times. House rules and home-brew is strictly forbidden.
- Only meetup group members may participate in group sanctioned events.
- Meetup group members, both players and DMs, must comply with group policy and the decision of the Administrator.
- Voluntary or deliberate player vs. player conflict (PvP) is strictly forbidden in our sanctioned group play. Violators will be warned, and if the behaviour continues will be banned from membership and participation in group sanctioned events.
- A prospective DM that wishes to run sanctioned sessions must be certified by the Group Administrator and must abide by the Group regulations at all times.
- House rules/homebrew is strictly forbidden. We are here to play 5e D&D. DMs must strictly follow 5th Edition rules at all times: DMs are not D&D game designers and are not qualified, entitled or empowered to make changes to the game.
- DM adjudication only applies in situations where the rules are ambiguous. Where a clear rule exists, a DM may never contravene that rule. Many rules explicitly invoke DM adjudication, in which case the DM decision is final.
- The 5e rules are complex and not always clearly explained. DMs and players should always be learning and welcome rule clarifications from players or others.
- If a DM ruling is found to be in error (in contravention of a clear 5e rule and not merely a case of DM adjudication) then the DM should seek to correct the situation with the minimum change possible. Often it is sufficient to acknowledge the mistake and state how the rule will be implemented in the future. Mistakes are bound to happen, both players and DMs should accept them and use them as tools to better hone the mutual knowledge of the complex 5e rule set.
- Rule disagreements should never interrupt play. If disagreements threaten to halt play then the DM should make their best judgement at the time and keep play moving along. Later investigation can resolve the question and take corrective action if necessary.
- Adventurers League Administration shall be the final authority on AL regulations.
- Jeremy Crawford, through the Sage Advice Compendium, shall be the definitive authority on what constitutes official 5e rules.
- The Group Administrator shall be the final authority for all decisions relating to Victoria Dungeons & Dragons 5e Organized Play Meetup Group sanctioned events.
- All sanctioned events shall utilize some form of 5e compatible map and miniature combat system.
- Theater of Mind disproportionately handicaps certain classes or character build styles and should be avoided for combat in sanctioned group events. It is only permitted for use in combat when the circumstances make map & miniature use impractical (for example: extreme range combat, mobile chases, etc.).

Player Policy:
- players are free and encouraged to correct DM rule errors if and only if they are able to quote an official rule source that contradicts the DM ruling, and only if correcting the error does not significantly slowdown play. In the interests of keeping play moving along the DM ruling will be final.

DM Policy:
- The purpose of a D&D session is fun, collaborative story-telling. DMs play with not against the players.
- DMs must maintain a positive, supportive and fun relationship with all players at all times. Under no circumstances are DMs permitted to cultivate an adversarial relationship with players.
- Previous editions of D&D fostered an attitude that DMs were gods and dictators, changing the game and even the rules at will by DM fiat. This sometimes created an attitude that DMs played against the players, not with the players. This attitude is strictly forbidden from our group.
- DMs should approach the job as guides and teachers who help shape and craft the collaboration with the players, not as a tool to massage their ego.

Group Administrator:
- The Administrator is responsible for setting policy, overseeing group activities and resolving all disputes.
- The Administrator may certify and decertify DMs for running group sanctioned events.
- The Administrator, in consultation with the venue hosts and DMs, sets the schedule and decides what AL adventures will be run.
- The Administrator regulates membership admission and enforces group policy and regulations.