RPGA Network Club Decathalon
History - To Enter - Scoring - 2001 Event List
In 1990, the RPGA Network began sponsoring a competition called the Clubs Decathlon. Over the years, this competition has encouraged members of Network clubs to show off their creative and roleplaying talents, as well as showcase their dedication to the Network. Although roleplaying in general is a cooperativehobby, there are certain areas in which an individual member can shine. Better yet, there are other areas that require the talents of the entire club working together.
Since 1995, Decathlon rules and event updates have appeared in the pages of Polyhedron
Newszine. The Decathlon is a year-long competition, culminating in an awards ceremony held
at the Network's annual convention, Winter Fantasy.
In the past year, we have done a lot of soul searching here at Network HQ. We've
reevaluated many of our programs and practices to reflect the changing needs of our
members and to better reflect the hobby of roleplaying. Since its inception, the Decathlon
has tried to offer options for just about everything a member could do. Going forward, the
ten events comprising this competition will evolve and change to meet the needs of our
membership as dictated by the membership. It is our goal to present the members with the
best quality play experience possible. So when your needs change, so do ours.
Realizing the incredible value the Decathlon and the Network Clubs Program as a whole
offers to our members, we have designed this year's competition to be as simple and
accessible to the membership as possible.
To enter, a group of members must form a club.
That's it. No, really, it is. On January 1, 2001, all sanctioned RPGA Network clubs will
be entered into the Decathlon. All a club need do to participate is play games at
conventions, gamedays, at home, or even on the moon (if you manage to pull this last one
off, please invite us to come and play with you).
But to win, a club needs to try a little harder. The ten events ("Decathlon"
means a contest consisting of ten different events) that follow include not just gameplay
but writing adventure scenarios, designing fantastic places and activities, and even
helping out in the community. Like the Olympic track and field Decathlon, each event
focuses on a different kind of club activity. Although some are very similar in focus,
each has its own challenge and flavor.
For events that require submissions to Network HQ, submit the entry
with a club Decathlon event entry form and standard disclosure form. (Both these forms are
available on the RPGA website, and copies can be mailed out as necessary.) If you submit
by email, attach the files and note the event you are entering. Submissions must be
received by the deadline noted, not postmarked by the deadline.
If entering an event by email, please adhere to the following format.
Email entries to HQ at decathlon@wizards.com.
One entry per email, please.
Subject line should read: Decathlon Entry, (name of event)
The main body of your message should contain the following information:
Club name
Name of event
Member(s) participating (with RPGA numbers)
Entry
Each event is worth between 1 and 4 points, and the club with the
most points at the end of the year will be declared the victor (maximum 40). Unless stated
otherwise in the event description, points will be awarded for first (4), second (3), and
third (2) places, with any remaining entrants earning one point for participation.
Please note that club members must participate in all events on behalf of their club. A
club member is defined as an RPGA member who is listed in the database as belonging to
that club. RPGA members who belong to more than one club can only participate in the
Decathlon on behalf of the club in which they are registered in the database. This is
because the database automatically tracks many aspects of the competition, and it only can
track a member as belonging to one club at a time.
So, without further rambling, we present the following events for the 11th annual Network
Clubs Decathlon. Good Luck, and we'll see you at the awards ceremony next year.
Event 1: Rounds Judged
Event 2: Rounds Played
Event 3: Participation in the Living Force Campaign
Event 4: Create a New Community
Event 5: Create a Company of Adventurers
Event 6: Write a Single Round Scenario
Event 7: Write a Multiround Scenario
Event 8: Team Play
Event 9: New Decathlon Event
Event 10: Clubs in the Community
Event 1: Rounds Judged
One of the most important functions of the Network is our Tournament play program. The
first three events in the Decathlon focus on different aspects of gameplay, the first
being the Game Master. For the 2001 calendar year, all rounds judged by members of a
Network club will be recorded by our database as they are processed. At the end of the
year, the club with the highest ratio of rounds judged to members judging will be the
overall winner of the event. The remaining clubs will fall into a grading curve, where the
top third of judging ratios will receive 3 points, the middle third 2 points, and the
bottom third 1 point for participation.
Back to
Decathlon Events List
Event 2: Rounds Played
At the same time, the database will track the play history of all members of Network
clubs. At the end of the year, the club with the highest ratio of 1st place finishes to
rounds played will be the overall winner. The remaining clubs will fall into a grading
curve, where the top third of play ratios will receive 3 points, the middle third 2
points, and the bottom third 1 point for participation.
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Decathlon Events List
Event 3: Participation in the Living Force Campaign
The year 2001 marks the beginning of our newest campaign, Living Force. Set on the
exciting stage of the Star Wars universe, the campaign is the perfect vehicle to record
participation in Living campaigns. From the campaign's inception at Winter Fantasy, to
November 30, 2001, thirteen scenarios will unfold our first big story arc. Be a part of
this great event, and your club can earn big in the Decathlon. We would like to have
members of sanctioned clubs support the campaign by playing as many of the 13 scenarios as
possible during that story arc. The club that has the highest percentage of members that
have played all 13 scenarios will be declared the overall winner.
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Decathlon Events List
Event 4: Create a New Community
Part of the fun of playing a roleplaying game is interacting with new people and places
created by the Game Master. Here's your chance to bring the whole Network into your gaming
group by creating a community of people to interact with.
Design a community for your favorite roleplaying game campaign. Detail its history and
describe the current state of affairs. Provide information on important NPCs, giving
accurate stat blocks where possible. Include some rumors and adventure hooks to involve
visiting player characters. Supply a basic map at the very least. The community may be as
large or small as you like, but it should be different and interesting.
Entries for this event should be submitted no later than February 28, 2001, and must be
accompanied by a standard disclosure form. Results will be posted by March 16, 2001.
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Decathlon Events List
Event 5: Create a Company of Adventurers
Everybody likes making characters, but what can you do with them? Here's a chance to show
off just how creative you can be. Design a company of six adventurers, their history, and
their reasons for adventuring together. Use the new Dungeons & Dragons rules, making
characters between 6th and 9th level. Equip them using the wealth per the level guidelines
presented in the Dungeon Master's Guide. Make characters that you would want to play,
because you'll be doing just that a little later in the competition.
Entries for this event should be submitted no later than March 31, 2001, and must be
accompanied by a standard disclosure form. Results will be posted by April 20, 2001.
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Decathlon Events List
Event 6: Write a Single Round Scenario
Having tried your hand at communities and characters, why not take the next step and write
a whole scenario? Write a single round scenario in any game system we use in the scenario
program. The scenario must include six or more well-developed encounters and necessary
maps. Player characters are required when applicable. It may be designated for a specific
convention.
Submit a disk copy of or email the submission in a format readable by Microsoft Word (we
recommend .rtf), a printout of the submission, and the necessary forms. All entries must
adhere to the RPGA Standards of Content as published in the Membership Handbook and on the
website. In lieu of a formal edit, at the very least run the file through a spelling and
grammar checker. All stat blocks must be correct. Entries should not exceed 15,000 words,
not including characters. When writing, try to strike a balance between including the
necessary information and being wordy.
Entries for this event should be submitted no later than April 30, 2001, and must be
accompanied by a standard disclosure form. Results will be posted by May 18, 2001.
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Decathlon Events List
Event 7: Write a Multiround Scenario
Next, try it twice. Using the guidelines from the single round event, write a multi-round
scenario.
There should be continuity of plot between the two rounds, but the content is up to you.
Apply the requirements of the single round tournament to each round of the submission.
Entries for this event should be submitted no later than June 30, 2001, and must be
accompanied by a standard disclosure form. Results will be posted by July 20, 2001.
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Decathlon Events List
Event 8: Team Play
At the Origins International Game Expo and Fair (July 5-8, 2001, Columbus Ohio), and at
other conventions around the world in July, the fun really begins. Using the characters
designed in Event 5, come and play in a very special tournament only available to Network
Clubs. The highest scoring team will have their characters permanently added to the
scenario. For those clubs that did not submit a company of adventurers in March, a default
set of characters will be provided. But only a team that plays characters designed by
their club is eligible for first place in this event.
Back to Decathlon Events List
Event 9: New Decathlon Event
Every year, we ask the members to design a piece of the competition for the next year.
Propose a Decathlon event of any kind, in the format shown in this article. It can be as
wild as you want, but it must be something a club can do, preferably something that takes
more than one person to accomplish. We'll make the best events part of next year's
competition.
Entries for this event should be submitted no later than August 31, 2001, and must be
accompanied by a standard disclosure form. Results will be posted by September 21, 2001.
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Decathlon Events List
Event 10: Clubs in the Community
Most of the competition so far has involved clubs competing against each other, but within
our own community of roleplayers. But there is a larger community in the world, a
community that occasionally needs a little help. You and your club are encouraged to get
out and do something for somebody that is not you. Sponsor or participate in some
community activity, and then let us know what you did.
Participation in this event is worth 4 points.
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Decathlon Events List
Questions or Comments please reply to: gaming-guild@cc.ysu.edu
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