The FCS Gaming League

How does this "play a whole team / adventuring party at once" concept work?

The FCS Gaming League is based on three key concepts: 1. Allow players to play a diverse array of characters. One of the down-sides to a standard campaign is that a player is confined to a single character. Since parties are usually small, players are usually forced to enhance that character to help it, and the party, survive. Players move from character to character as one dies or gets phased out, but you can still only explore one character experience at a time. The result can be super strength characters that make little sense from a role-playing perspective. Or a game that eventually dies because the players get bored. To allow players to play a diverse array of characters, the League promotes the concept of a player fielding a "team" rather than just a single character. This allows a player to explore a variety of character types without having to create a single uber strength character merely so it can survive. A "team" is one to several characters who have agreed to adventure together. A team may be controlled by one or more players. Two people could field a single team for example. In addition, a player may have several teams, though they may only field one at a time. EXAMPLE: Allison decides that she would like to create a new team. She decides to spread her allotted 105,000XP over three characters: a high level bard, a fighter, a rogue. She likes to sing and feels the bard will be fun to play. It will help her express her personality through the character. In addition, bards can lend support to multiple team members. She also believes that a rogue would be helpful for recon and getting into places. And you always need some brute strength in a party. One of the hardest ideas for new members to get their minds around is the concept of adventuring with a party of teams; essentially a party of parties. But that's exactly what you end up doing. And the interplay between those teams and the individual characters keeps things interesting.

2. Allow members to both play and GM. Everyone likes to play. But occasionally, players get ideas for games they would like to run. Do they start their own campaign? If they don't have the time, do they need to give up playing in order to run the campaign? By allowing a freestyle gaming schedule, members can both GM and play in a common setting. This keeps people interested longer.

3. Promote GM Participation. A problem faced by every region is a lack of game masters. This is for several reasons. In addition to people liking to play, being a GM requires a large commitment of time and effort. A player may spend a few hours updating their character and playing in the game, but a GM does that for each adventure and each NPC within it. The League provides a setting in which you may GM games without committing to a long term campaign or to a regular schedule. This makes it ideal for parents that have changing schedules, students whose schedules change each semester, and gamers who like to play in multiple genres and systems. Team creation info is at: http://www.firstduty.com/add/league/dd_league_rules_players_nltnp.html

When a member decides that they would like to GM a game, they schedule it through the coordinator (me). Once we've finalized the details, the event is posted on the web site. IF A GAME IS ON THE WEB SITE, IT HAPPENS. All events must be posted at least 14 days prior to the event (no exceptions). Since it's creation in December 2001, the League has hosted more than 130 games. We are averaging about 2 - 3 games a month now. If one or more players want a game, and they see a gap in the schedule, they can ask the coordinator to schedule a game. He'll check with the GMs to see who is available. For a full listing of games played previously, go to The Bards Archive on the FCS League page.

We sponsor games at conventions around the area, at individual players homes, at several stores around the area (Flights of Fantasy, Zombie Planet, Gamers Guild), and at SWA events.

All of the above. The interplay between the teams run the field. Some adventures are cooperative and some are competitive. In addition, some teams have formed alliances. Others have declared war against each other. This isn't abused as much as you might think. Remember, there are other players and teams at the table. They have no intention of being next on one player's hit list. Championship games have actual prizes and regular games might have prizes. And characters have opportunities to acquire additional money, items, and XP.

League Membership is free and available to anyone that plays in a game. Donations are accepted, but not required.

Christopher J. Ford
FCS Gaming League Coordinator
gaming@firstduty.com There is also a lot of information on the FCS Gaming League homepage. A lot of questions get answered on the FCS Gaming League FAQ page, too.

Not at this time.  We tried it for awhile, but we found that we met enough for it to be redundant.  If there is a future need, we will set one up.