ow to Start Playing?

So now you know what a role-playing game is and how the Living Greyhawk (LG) campaign works. Adventures galore await you in the Archclericy of Veluna and it's easy to get in on the action. How can you start playing? You need to do just two things: create a character and find a game. (Preferably, but not necessarily, in that order.)

tep 1: Create a Character

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, you can play this whole, marvelous game with nothing more than a piece of paper, a pencil, a few dice, and a borrowed Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook. Believe us, it'll a lot easier if you also download and print out a character sheet and the Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook (LGCS). (They're free, of course.)

The LGCS will tell you how to use the Player's Handbook to create a character you can use in LG. Living Greyhawk maintains its flavor by carefully allowing only those character options that make sense in the World of Greyhawk and are compatible with a widespread living campaign. The LG basics: (a) use a point buy system for ability scores (28 points); (b) take maximum hit points at first level; (c) equip the character using maximum starting gold per the Player's Handbook to buy basic goods; and (d) no evil alignments. Be sure to consult the LGCS for details and updates – not every rules variant anyone has ever published is permitted in LG. In general, though, nearly everything in the Player's Handbook (v3.5 as of 2004) is fair game.

You can buy your own Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook (no endorsement implied) from your local hobby store (whom we heartily endorse for helping us play our game).

Where in Greyhawk does my character live? – Presently, your character is adventuring in Veluna, so Veluna is probably your character's homeland now, by birth, choice, or chance. You are free to make up almost any backstory you like for your character, so long as it does not attempt to grant a game advantage. Game advantages like noble title or riches must be gained through play. A good backstory explains how your character came to be in Veluna and his or her motivation for adventuring. Note that Veluna is a civilized land, so no barbarian is ever truly "native" to Veluna and those barbarians that come to Veluna from abroad are tolerated at best. It is possible (as of 2004) to declare your character's current homeland to be one of the other Living Greyhawk regions. For methods and consequences of doing this, see the Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook (LGCS).

Do I have to have a someone approve my character? – No. However, you must abide by the guidelines set out by the RPGA, the Circle of Six, and the regional Triad. If a DM you are playing with suspects you have made a mistake, he or she will help you correct it. If a DM you are playing with suspects you are cheating, there is a procedure under the Living Greyhawk Campaign Sourcebook (LGCS) and RPGA rules for resolving the discrepancy that can include sanctions if appropriate.

tep 2: Find a Game

Living Greyhawk games are played at events of all sizes, from national conventions to regional conventions to local game days to home games. Start with the Veluna conventions page. It lists all of Veluna's big conventions (there are about a half-dozen each year).

Next, look at the RPGA convention calendar for smaller gatherings near you. Many hobby shops host games monthly or more often. To use the calendar to find Living Veluna games, use the controls at the bottom of the calendar to limit your search by state and month. Click on any of the events listed, and look at their list of adventures. You want to find adventures that have the words "Living Greyhawk" under the "Rules" header in the listing. If the event is listed on the calendar, it's open to the public. Just email the coordinator for information. Then all you have to do is show up and start playing!

You can also learn about games on Veluna's many email lists.

If you can't find a game day close enough to your area, you can set one up yourself.

tep 3: There is no step three.

That's all it takes to get started. Have Fun!