RPGA Tournament Handbook
Encyclopedia
The Official RPGA Handbook is an adventure module
for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy role-playing game
, set in that game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. TSR, Inc.
published the module in 1987 for the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. It is part of the "C" series of modules, a set of unrelated adventures originally designed for competition play ("C" representing the first letter in the word "competition").
AD&D tournaments. Twelve pages of this module are devoted to essays on how to design, run, and judge tournaments. The book also includes two sample tournament scenarios, titled "Honor Guard" and "The Long Way Home".
With the scenarios, 20 pages of pullout materials are provided, eight of which are devoted to predesigned player character
s, six PCs per scenario.
and Bruce Rabe, and was published by TSR in 1987 as a 64-page booklet with an outer folder. Design, development, and editing was done by Daniel Kramarsky, Jean and Bruce Rabe, Penny Petticord, and Harold Johnson
.
The module contains two short adventures either for one-evening sessions or incorporation into an on-going campaign, instructions and score sheets to run a role-playing tournament, and directions on how to design one's own tournament.
reviewed The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook for Dragon
magazine #133 (May 1988). He felt that while the text on running and judging tournaments is of little interest to most DMs, the five-page section on designing tournaments is "perhaps the finest guide to designing and refereeing AD&D game adventure sessions I've ever seen. The section "Tournament Design Goals" [...] offers excellent advice for all scenario designers. Many of us would instantly recognize the value of these goals, but just as many of us are likely to ignore them in the design of our adventures, often to the detriment of ourselves and our players." Rolston called the two adventure scenarios "first-rate, original, well-motivated and plausible, and tactically challenging", and said that they "represent a more modern approach to tournament scenarios" when compared to those designed in the "big dungeon" tradition, citing that they "both have minor dungeon-style sequences, but most of their action depends on wilderness and campaign-style settings and plot devices. Their themes are also more modest in scale, as contrasted to the epic, save-the-universe themes of Scourge of the Slavelords and Egg of the Phoenix
." Rolston felt that although this product warranted his unreserved enthusiasm, it may not be that pleasing for the average gamer: "Its small scale makes possible the fineness of its presentation, but less fussy tastes may prefer something with more "stuff" and epic grandeur".
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy 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...
, set in that game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting. 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....
published the module in 1987 for the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. It is part of the "C" series of modules, a set of unrelated adventures originally designed for competition play ("C" representing the first letter in the word "competition").
Plot summary
The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook is a supplement containing official rules for running Role-Playing Game AssociationRPGA
The RPGA , is part of the organized play arm of Wizards of the Coast that organizes and sanctions role-playing games worldwide, principally under the d20 system...
AD&D tournaments. Twelve pages of this module are devoted to essays on how to design, run, and judge tournaments. The book also includes two sample tournament scenarios, titled "Honor Guard" and "The Long Way Home".
- Honor Guard: This scenario is a two-session treatment which follows the progress of an important religious figure and his sacred relics from one town to another; the player characterPlayer characterA player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s are assigned to protect the prophet and his possessions. The PCs escort the exalted but irascible holy personality travelling from the city of Jesten to the city of Alm, with a brief stop in the town of Slapdash, as he transports the crytal of light. Little do they know that a wizard intends to steal the holy relic.
- The Long Way Home: In a remote part of the Desert of Ages, the player characterPlayer characterA player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s are forced to stop at a small, isolated, deserted town among rocky bluffs. There they encounter the restless spirit of dwarf Ottis, who demands that in exchange for water the party find a magic relic, the hammer Rocksplitter, and use it to drive out duegar invaders and free his people.
With the scenarios, 20 pages of pullout materials are provided, eight of which are devoted to predesigned player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s, six PCs per scenario.
Publication history
C6 The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook was written by Daniel Kramarsky, and JeanJean Rabe
Jean Rabe is a fantasy and sci-fi author and editor who has worked on the Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, and BattleTech series, as well as many others.-Career:...
and Bruce Rabe, and was published by TSR in 1987 as a 64-page booklet with an outer folder. Design, development, and editing was done by Daniel Kramarsky, Jean and Bruce Rabe, Penny Petticord, and Harold Johnson
Harold Johnson (game designer)
Harold Johnson is a game designer and editor, and an author of several products and articles for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR.-Early life and education:...
.
The module contains two short adventures either for one-evening sessions or incorporation into an on-going campaign, instructions and score sheets to run a role-playing tournament, and directions on how to design one's own tournament.
Reception
Ken RolstonKen Rolston
Ken Rolston is an American computer game and board game designer best known for his work with West End Games and the hit computer game series The Elder Scrolls...
reviewed The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook for Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine #133 (May 1988). He felt that while the text on running and judging tournaments is of little interest to most DMs, the five-page section on designing tournaments is "perhaps the finest guide to designing and refereeing AD&D game adventure sessions I've ever seen. The section "Tournament Design Goals" [...] offers excellent advice for all scenario designers. Many of us would instantly recognize the value of these goals, but just as many of us are likely to ignore them in the design of our adventures, often to the detriment of ourselves and our players." Rolston called the two adventure scenarios "first-rate, original, well-motivated and plausible, and tactically challenging", and said that they "represent a more modern approach to tournament scenarios" when compared to those designed in the "big dungeon" tradition, citing that they "both have minor dungeon-style sequences, but most of their action depends on wilderness and campaign-style settings and plot devices. Their themes are also more modest in scale, as contrasted to the epic, save-the-universe themes of Scourge of the Slavelords and Egg of the Phoenix
Egg of the Phoenix
Egg of the Phoenix is an adventure module published in 1987 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:...
." Rolston felt that although this product warranted his unreserved enthusiasm, it may not be that pleasing for the average gamer: "Its small scale makes possible the fineness of its presentation, but less fussy tastes may prefer something with more "stuff" and epic grandeur".
External links
- The Official RPGA Tournament Handbook at the TSR Archive
- Official RPGA Tournament Handbook at the Pen & Paper RPG Database
- Competition Series (C1 - C6) at the Acaeum.com