RPGA
Encyclopedia
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
that organizes and sanctions role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s worldwide, principally under the d20 system
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
. The group was founded in November 1980 by Frank Mentzer
Frank Mentzer
Jacob Franklin "Frank" Mentzer III , is an American fantasy author and game designer best known for his work on early materials for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He was a performing folk musician from 1968 to 1975, and played one concert at the White House during the...
of TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, the original publishers of the Dungeons and Dragons game, to promote quality roleplaying and to allow fans of roleplaying games to meet and play games with each other. Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
acquired the RPGA when they purchased TSR in 1997.
Mission
The RPGA was originally formed to provide tournaments to conventions that would be both fun to play and fair to the players in the event. Each player was given a pre-generated character with a background, equipment, and some limited information about the other characters at the table, and a great deal of effort was spent trying to create balanced events. A game master and four to eight players would play a 4-hour adventure supplied by the RPGA. At the end of the adventure, the "winner" of the event was decided (on the basis of rules knowledge and role-playing ability) by tallying votes from the game master and the players (the game master's vote counted double and was used to break any ties). These events are now referred to as "Classic" events. Players were awarded experience points based on how well they did in competitive events, and over time they could advance to higher levels. The players also rated the game master, and the game masters similarly gained experience points and could achieve levels as judges.Initially, all RPGA events were for TSR products, primarily Advanced Dungeons & Dragons but also the Top Secret (espionage) and Gamma World (science fantasy) role-playing games. By the mid-1980s events based on games from other publishers were approved and distributed by the RPGA; the first such event was a Star Trek Role Playing game at Glathricon in Evansville, Indiana.
The RPGA later decided to allow gamers all around the country (and world) to play in a single campaign where everyone could create changes in a dynamic world. In essence it was to create the largest single RPG campaign(s). The first such campaign was Raven's Bluff
Ravens Bluff
Raven's Bluff is a fictional location in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
, the Living City.
The game(s) are set up as a series of "modules" (or adventures) where players play in groups of 5-7 people (one of whom is the Dungeon Master) at a time. Modules with story arc hooks have results sent to RPGA Headquarters for compilation - usually a certain percentage (a majority) is required for a specific result to occur. For example, if a world is cursed due to a cursed item and most people in a particular adventure succeed in removing the object, the curse could be lifted or altered for the world in all future story modules. Players who do not succeed still play in the world and gain experience and character growth as if they had succeeded since the "official" storyline dictates as such.
Membership
Membership was originally paid by yearly fee and included a subscription to PolyhedronPolyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
magazine. In the early years, membership was largely limited to North America, but in 1989, the RPGA Network branched out into Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the U.K., Israel, and Australia. In 2002, RPGA membership became free, but the subscription to Polyhedron was no longer included as a membership benefit—the magazine's association with RPGA ended the same year when it was bought by Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing
Paizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
, who then published it as a section of Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
.
The RPGA currently has members on all continents of the world, except Antarctica.
Campaigns
There have been many campaigns organized by RPGA, free to play for RPGA members (although some of the Living campaigns use or used retail books such as the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer and the Living Force Campaign Guide.) Below are some of the current and previous campaigns.- The Living City (1987–2004) A D&D campaign set in the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting, specifically the city of Ravens BluffRavens BluffRaven's Bluff is a fictional location in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
. The first adventure for this shared campaign appeared at Gen ConGen ConGen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
in 1987, primed by articles that had appeared in Polyhedron magazine over the previous two years. The first adventures were played using the rules for AD&D, but the campaign reached the height of its popularity using Second Edition rules. The campaign converted to Third Edition rules in 2000, but with the advent of the Living Greyhawk campaign the following year, RPGA support for Living City waned, and the campaign drew to a close in 2004. - Living GreyhawkLiving GreyhawkLiving Greyhawk was a massively shared Dungeons and Dragons living campaign administered by RPGA that ran from 2000 to 2008. The campaign setting and storyline were based on Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk setting, and used the Dungeons and Dragons Third Edition rules...
(2000–2008) A D&D campaign set in the original Dungeons and Dragons world of GreyhawkGreyhawkGreyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
, this campaign was introduced at Gen ConGen ConGen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
2000 in conjunction with the release of the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons.. The real world was divided into 30 administrative regions, each one keyed to a specific region of the Greyhawk world (that is, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
= EkbirEkbirEkbir, properly known as the Caliphate of Ekbir, is a political state of the Flanaess in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
= DullstrandDullstrandIn the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, The Dullstrand is a region on the eastern coast of the Flanaess, mainly known for the many colourful smugglers, pirates, and fugitives that use its coast and ports as a refuge from authorities.Although...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
= PerrenlandPerrenlandIn the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Perrenland, properly known as the Concatenated Cantons of Perrenland, is a political state of the Flanaess.-Geography:...
, etc). Players could either play "Core " adventures that were available to all players worldwide or adventures that had been specifically created for their home region, but they could not play adventures written for other regions. (In order to play adventures from another Greyhawk region, the player was required to physically travel to the real-world area associated with that region.) The campaign was less popular than Living City, but still had over 15,000 players and over 1,000 adventures, but with the advent of Fourth Edition rules, the campaign was drawn to a close in 2008 and replaced with the Living Forgotten Realms campaign. - Living Forgotten Realms Launched in August 2008 at Gen ConGen ConGen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
, this is currently RPGA's only active living campaign, a D&D campaign using WotC's 4th edition D&D rules set in the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
. This worldwide campaign divides the real world into twelve administrative regions, each linked to a specific region or city of the Forgotten Realms (the DalelandsDalelandsThe Dalelands is a region in the fictional setting of the Forgotten Realms, for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the setting, the Dalelands is set on the continent of Faerûn, somewhat influenced by rural England, and most famous for hosting the famous wizard and sage, Elminster...
, Baldurs Gate, etc.). However, unlike the regional play limitations of the Living Greyhawk campaign, players are free to play any adventure from any region at any time. Wizards does not advertise the number of players active in this campaign since it is ongoing and ever changing. - Legacy of the Green Regent (2003–2006) A D&D campaign using v3.5 rules, and set in the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign world centered on the northern city of Loudwater. Players took the role of defenders of Loudwater and supporters of the Green Regent. This was the first RPGA campaign to feature online tracking of characters and adventure outcomes. - Mark of Heroes (2004–2006) This D&D campaign, using v3.5 rules, was designed to introduce the new EberronEberronEberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...
campaign setting. Players portrayed members of the Diggers' Union, an archeology-and-adventure society, as they became involved in the ongoing story of the postwar turmoil that engulfs Eberron. - Xen'drik Expeditions (2006–2008) This D&D campaign using v3.5 rules was also set in the EberronEberronEberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...
campaign setting, and replaced the Mark of Heroes campaign starting at Gen Con 2006. Players had to join one of four factions, each of which had different (and often competing) goals. This campaign ended at Origins 2008. - Living Force (2002–2007) A d20 campaign using the Star Wars RPGStar Wars Roleplaying Game (Wizards of the Coast)On June 5, 2007, Wizards released the Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Saga Edition. The game was streamlined to be easier to play and a greater emphasis was placed on miniatures. Some of the major changes include:...
and following the then current movie story lineStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the ClonesStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. It is the fifth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the second in terms of the series' internal chronology...
. In 2006, the license agreement between WotC and LucasFilmLucasfilmLucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
ended, and the campaign was brought to a close in 2007. - Living Death (1997–2007) A D&D campaign, using Second Edition rules and the RavenloftRavenloftRavenloft is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a pocket dimension called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land pieces called domains brought together by a mysterious force known only as "The Dark...
expansion book, set in 1890s gothicGothic fictionGothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story"...
Earth. Also called "Masque of the Red Death". Players belonged to the "Society of the White Rose" and fought the evils of the world. It concluded its scheduled 10-year run in February of 2007.
There were also several other smaller or time-limited campaigns started by RPGA, some of which continued to be organized and played outside the auspices of RPGA when the original campaign was drawn to a close:
- Living Kalamar (set in Kenzer & Company's Kingdoms of KalamarKingdoms of KalamarThe Kingdoms of Kalamar is a fantasy role-playing game campaign setting created by Kenzer and Company and released in 1994. Shortly after Wizards of the Coast announced the 3rd Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, they announced jointly with Kenzer & Company that Kenzer had acquired a license to produce...
campaign world); - Living Jungle (a sister campaign to Living City, set in the jungles of Kara-tur that lie to the south of Ravens Bluff);
- Living Spycraft (a pulp spy action campaign using SpycraftSpycraftSpycraft is a d20 and OGL-based role-playing game dealing with superspies and modern action. Originally published by the Alderac Entertainment Group, it is currently published under licence by Crafty Games.-History:...
rules by Alderac Entertainment GroupAlderac Entertainment GroupAlderac Entertainment Group, or AEG, is a publisher of role-playing game and collectible card game products. AEG was formed by Jolly Blackburn in 1993 and is based in the city of Ontario, California...
); - Living ArcanisArcanisArcanis was originally a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons game, created and supported by Paradigm Concepts. It is also the name of the fictional world where the setting takes place...
(set in Paradigm ConceptsParadigm ConceptsParadigm Concepts, Inc. is a small-press game publishing company located in Miami, Florida.They published the award-winning Arcanis campaign setting and managed the Living Arcanis campaign independent of the RPGA....
' Shattered Empires RPG); - Living RokuganRokuganRokugan is the fictional empire which is the main power in the Legend of the Five Rings setting, the basis for the Legend of the Five Rings Collectible Card Game, Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game, the board game Art of War and the now out of print Clan War Miniatures game, all from...
(set in feudal Japan, using Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying GameLegend of the Five Rings Roleplaying GameThe Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game is a role-playing game originally written by John Wick and published by Alderac Entertainment Group, under license from Five Rings Publishing Group, in 1997...
rules by Alderac Entertainment GroupAlderac Entertainment GroupAlderac Entertainment Group, or AEG, is a publisher of role-playing game and collectible card game products. AEG was formed by Jolly Blackburn in 1993 and is based in the city of Ontario, California...
); - Virtual Seattle (an sf campaign using the 1st edition ShadowrunShadowrunShadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
rules)