D&D® ADVENTURERS LEAGUE

FORGOTTEN REALMS® DM’S GUIDE

Effective Date: October 12, 2021. Version PREVIEW NOT FINAL.

Official D&D Adventurers League Adventures. These adventures

WHAT IS THIS? usually coincide with the four tiers of play and typically take
between 2-8 hours to complete. Characters can only play this
This document is a guide to getting started Dungeon adventure if they’re within the adventure’s level band. Epic
Mastering games within the D&D Adventurers League, an adventures usually have multiple “tracks” that accommodate
official organized play program for Dungeons & Dragons. multiple tiers; a character must be within the tier prescribed by the
Companions to this document include the D&D track to play it.
Adventurers League Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide
and the D&D Adventurers League Forgotten Realms FAQ. OPTIONAL ITEMS

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Note that this document is not a comprehensive guide to all
These things aren’t required but are nice to have:
possible adjudications; see the FAQ for additional
Monster Manual. While the statistics for most monsters
information.
can be found here, special monsters created specifically for a
This document covers Dungeon Mastering D&D
given season’s published adventure are found in that
Adventurers League adventures set in the Forgotten Realms,
product. As a general rule, official D&D Adventurers League
which includes all Adventurers League adventures except
adventures contain the stat blocks for all monsters featured.
those from Eberron: Oracle of War (EB series) and Ravenloft:
Dungeon Master’s Guide. This book contains valuable
Mist Hunters (RMH series). Those storylines have their own
advice on preparing and running games. It also contains
rules for character creation and advancement.
descriptions of magic items that might be awarded during
the course of play, so it is suggested that you bring that
PREPARING TO DUNGEON information with you to the table if it is not provided in the
adventure.
MASTER Dungeon Master Screen. Helpful to hide the adventure

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and your notes and schemes from the players.
Being a D&D Adventurers League DM is easy and fun. Most Miniatures and Map Surfaces. If you and your players
of the adventures can be prepared in a short period of time, enjoy playing a more tactical game of D&D, you can use these
and you don’t have to create all sorts of background to help depict combats and detailed areas.
material. Virtual Tabletop. If you’re playing virtually, you might
want to use a virtual tabletop such as Roll20 or Fantasy
Grounds to run your game session.
WHAT YOU NEED TO RUN A GAME
In order to run a game as a DM in D&D Adventurers League ADVENTURES AVAILABLE
games, you’ll need the following:
D&D Basic Rules. This PDF document is free on the Many adventures are available for play as a part of the D&D
Wizards of the Coast website and contains all the basic rules Adventurers League, including official D&D book products,
of the game. For a more complete experience, we digital-only official D&D Adventurers League releases, and
recommend you use a fifth edition D&D Player’s Handbook. some community-created adventures compatible with the

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Adventures. Besides their players, the most important program. Most of the adventures listed below can be found
thing that a DM needs is an adventure to run. See the for purchase at the DM’s Guild.
“Adventures Available” section for more information. Official D&D Adventurers League. These include
If you’re running games at a public event, check with the adventures with the “official” logo on the cover or title page.
event’s organizer to see what adventures they have Older adventures use the codes “DDAL,” “DDEX,” or “DDEP.”
scheduled. Otherwise, adventures are available for purchase They are typically playable in two to four hours each (higher
at your local gaming store (official D&D products), though level adventures might be six or eight hours long).
digital partners, or online at the DM’s Guild. Official D&D Products. Most of the book and boxed set
Players. Play is designed for a table of five players but is adventure products have been adapted for play as a part of
easily adjusted to as few as three to as many as seven the D&D Adventurers League Forgotten Realms campaign. A
players. Tables smaller or larger than this might provide a complete list of available adapted products is available in the
suboptimal play experience and aren’t recommended. D&D Adventurers League Adventure Index.
Premier Organizer Adventures. A select number of
GROUP COMPOSITION premier event organizers have adventures available for play
There’s no general rule that requires members of a group be of a as a part of the D&D Adventurers League Forgotten Realms
like level. However, the adventure you’re running may have campaign. They have been assigned regions within the
limitations that your players must abide by. Forgotten Realms for their adventures. These are available
Official D&D Book and Boxed Adventures. These adventures on the DM’s Guild as community-created adventures.
usually have a wide level range that spans multiple tiers (levels 1- Dungeoncraft Adventures. These are adventures created
10, etc.). As long as a character is within the adventure’s level band by the community at-large and for sale on the DM’s Guild
when they begin the adventure, they can continue to play it if they through the Dungeoncraft program, using guidelines that are
advance outside of it. refreshed annually alongside a new storyline season.
© 2021 Wizards. All rights reserved. Not for resale.
SEASONS & CAMPAIGNS DEALING WITH DISRUPTIVE PLAYERS
D&D Adventurers League adventures are further divided into
storyline seasons. Each storyline season consists of some number
If a player is acting in a disruptive manner during a play
of official D&D Adventurers League adventures plus associated
session, attempt to address the issue as soon as it becomes
adapted official D&D products. clear that someone (including you) might be uncomfortable.
Take the player aside and explain why the behavior might be
Recent seasons include supporting adventures and adaptations causing others to feel uncomfortable. If the problem persists,
for Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus, Icewind Dale: Rime of the and your game is a part of an event or store play program,
Frostmaiden, and The Wild Beyond the Witchlight. contact the staff for help with resolution.
Disruptive Magic Items. There are a number of magic
Dreams of the Red Wizards. In addition to the storyline seasons items (and a few pieces of gear) within the context of play of
that are linked to specific book product, a sub-campaign called certain adventures that might become disruptive to the
Dreams of the Red Wizards offers its own storyline seasons. overall enjoyment of others at the table. If a magic item’s use
Dreams of the Red Wizards is optimized for public play such as in through play leads to an uncomfortable play experience,
stores or at conventions and integrates many official D&D take the player aside and explain the issue. You may wish to
products into a narrative that takes characters to 20th level. discuss temporarily removing the item from the character’s

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carried magic items and allowing them to choose another
A complete list of all adventures and their associated storyline item from their magic items to bring along instead. You may
seasons can be found in the D&D Adventurers League Adventure choose to review a character’s magic items prior to play to
Index, available on the official D&D Adventurers League website. help identify any potential issues, but you should not
mandate removal of magic items or gear solely on your
RUNNING ADVENTURES preferences. There are a small list of items that are banned
from D&D Adventurers League play found in the FAQ that
You Dungeon Master one group of players at a time. Each address broadly problematic rewards for public play.
player must have their own character within the adventure’s
level range. SAFETY TOOLS
Safety tools help ensure players aren’t pushed beyond their
FACILITATOR OF FUN comfort levels. These tools let your players know you want them to
have a positive experience. Some common safety tools are
You have the most important role. You guide the narrative provided below, each with a summary of how they work. An article

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and bring the words on the pages of the adventure to life. about one such safety kit is provided to help with further
While guiding the players, it is also your responsibility to information. Ensure that you discuss these tools with your players
make everyone feel welcomed at the table creating a fun and before the game:
fair environment. Here are some things to keep in mind. • Code of Conduct. This is a group agreement for play. It outlines
desired and prohibited behaviors, confidential reporting, and
YOU ARE EMPOWERED possible consequences.
Make decisions about how the group interacts with the • Pregame and Postgame Discussions. Use time before the game
adventure; adjust or improvise but maintain the adventure’s to explain content warnings, set boundaries, and collaborate on
spirit. The setting, general story, and prominent NPCs of the a safety plan. Then decompress and discuss improvements at
adventure should remain largely the same; if an adventure the end of the game.
introduces the characters to Cassyt, the plucky acolyte of • Be Welcoming. Welcome and encourage respectful and open
Kelemvor that resides in Phlan, your players should conversations about issues as they arise. Show that you’re
experience that as well. Less important details, such as the listening by avoiding defensive responses.
• Confidentiality. Provide contact information for private and

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time of year, minor NPCs, or the weather can be tailored to
your group. confidential conversations between players and DM. Only
disclose another player’s name if that player gave unpressured
permission for you to do so.
CHALLENGE YOUR PLAYERS • Safety Tools. Learn about the safety tools that TTRPG
Gauge the experience level of your players, as well as what community members have created and compiled. A broad range
they enjoy in a game and attempt to deliver what they’re of such safety tools are available for you and your players online,
after; everyone should be able to shine. or you can get more information by reaching out to your event
You can adjust an encounter’s difficulty by adding or organizer or [email protected].
removing thematically appropriate monsters but can’t create
new monsters or modify them in such a way that potentially KEEP THE GAME MOVING
modifies their challenge rating (aside from changing their hit If the game gets bogged down, provide hints and clues to
points within the range afforded by their hit dice). your players facing puzzles or engaging in combat and
Be careful of going too far, however. The intent is to have a roleplay interactions that get frustrating. This gives players
collaborative and challenging story-telling experience; it’s “little victories” for making good choices based on clues
not to do everything you can to kill your players’ characters. received. When playing within a given time constraint, such
Similarly, destroying equipment generally shouldn’t happen as at a convention, it is important to gauge the pacing of your
unless an encounter specifically directs you to. In fact, unless game. It’s okay to make adjustments when you get bogged
they have conditions detailing their destruction (such as an down to promote a play experience that feels complete.
ioun stone), permanent magic items can’t be destroyed.

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RUNNING THE GAME SPELLCASTING SERVICES AVAILABLE
Spellcasting Service Cost
As the DM, you are charged with not only guiding the story, Cure wounds 10 gp
but also fairly adjudicating the game’s rules and rewarding Identify 20 gp
your players’ characters for their accomplishments. Lesser restoration 40 gp
Prayer of healing 40 gp
THE RULES OF THE GAME Dispel magic 90 gp
Remove curse 90 gp
Adventurers League play uses fifth edition Dungeons & Speak with dead 90 gp
Dragons. You can issue rulings to your table when the rules
Divination 210 gp
of the game are ambiguous or vague, but you must otherwise
Greater Restoration 450 gp
adhere to the rules as they are provided in the core
Raise dead 1,000 gp
rulebooks and can’t change them or make up your own;
Resurrection 3,000 gp
“house-rules” aren’t permitted for use. You must always use
True resurrection 30,000 gp
the most current incarnation of a rule.
Further, the options and variant rules listed below from

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the Dungeon Master’s Guide are available for your use; others Shelter of the Faithful Background Feature. Characters
aren’t permitted without specific campaign documentation: with the Shelter of the Faithful background feature can
request NPC spellcasting services at a temple dedicated to
• Variant: Playing on a Grid their chosen deity. While the service of casting the spell is
• Variant: Skills with Different Abilities free, the characters must pay the cost of any material
component consumed by casting the spell. These characters
While they aren’t official rules that must be followed, the can’t procure free services for others; only themselves. You
Sage Advice column, tweets from the D&D Team on Twitter, determine, using the adventure as a guide, if a specific
or even discussions with other DMs on your favorite social temple devoted to that character’s deity exists within the
media platform can provide good insight on how others scope of the adventure.
adjudicated a particular issue. The rules as written in the
rulebooks always take precedence; exceptions are noted in CHARACTER REWARDS
official D&D Adventurers League resources, such as the FAQ.
You award the players rewards for their accomplishments in

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DOWNTIME ACTIVITIES the form of levels, gold, and magic items for their characters,
which they record on their logsheets before leaving the
As a general rule, characters can use downtime activities table.
between or during sessions. However, if you feel that no Advancement. Once the players successfully complete an
sufficient periods of inactivity exist to justify it, you can adventure, inform them that they’ve gained a level. If the
disallow a character using a downtime activity during a adventure has specific leveling instructions, follow those. If
session. For example, the journey from Phlan to Waterdeep it does not, award the opportunity to gain a level after
is very long, so it’s reasonable to assume that the characters completing a session of play that’s at least two hours long. A
can spend downtime days copying spells. But the trip from character can gain no more than one level per session.
one end of Waterdeep to the other is shorter—only hours. Players can always decline to have their character gain a
Be fair and consistent in exercising this discretion. level that is offered.
Magic Items. Characters can use and keep any magic item
DEATH, DISEASE, AND CURSES they find that is specifically mentioned in the encounter in
Adventuring is a risky job, and bad things often happen to which it’s found (items that the adventure describes as being

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adventurers. Diseases, poisons, and other similar effects lent to the characters or destroyed can’t be kept). At the end
persist until they’re removed or at the end of the adventure, of the session, each character can keep any of magic items
but characters can spend gold to receive spellcasting found during the session. They may only bring a limited
services during the adventure to remove negative effects. number of these magic items to an adventure as noted in the
NPC Spellcasting Services. Characters can receive D&D Adventurers League Forgotten Realms Player’s
spellcasting services from an NPC located anywhere that is Guide.
at least town-sized (1000 or more residents) or has a Some adventures direct you to roll on a Magic Item Table
specific NPC able to cast the spell(s) needed. In addition, the in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Please see the specific
characters must be able to travel there in order to receive guidance as presented in that adventure’s adaptation. Others
services during an adventure. Otherwise, characters follow direct you or the player to choose the magic item; these
the rules for post-adventure recovery as listed in the D&D items are selected from either the Dungeon Master’s Guide or
Adventurers League Player’s Guide. Spellcasting services the adventure itself. If the adventure does not specify the
provided by NPCs are limited to the spells on this list. rarity of the item, it must be appropriate to the tier of the
Characters can purchase spell scrolls during an adventure if character receiving it, as follows:
the NPC has access to the spell; lower-level (1st- and 2nd-
level) spell scrolls may have multiples available for purchase; UNSPECIFIED ITEM RARITY
higher-level spell scrolls (3rd-level and above) are limited to Tier Maximum Rarity Tier Maximum Rarity
one spell scroll maximum for each spell listed, subject to your 1 Uncommon 3 Very rare
discretion. 2 Rare 4 Legendary

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 Mundane Equipment and Treasure. Mundane equipment QUESTIONS AND MORE INFO
found during the adventure can be used and divided up as
The following resources are available to you to keep up with
the characters decide at the end of the adventure.
all the latest Adventurers League news and discussion!
Treasure (including items that have a monetary value but
are not equipment, such as art objects and gems) is awarded
• Official D&D Adventurers League website. Your source
as the adventure directs. It can be spent during the
for general information, as well as all of the campaign
adventure; any remaining treasure at the end of the
documents for play. The FAQ is also found here, which
adventure is converted to gold pieces and divided equally
gives more in-depth answers for specific questions.
among the characters. If the adventure does not have
treasure awarded in this fashion (such as some official D&D • Official D&D Adventurers League Discord. Join in the
Adventurers League adventures), you may add a treasure lively discussion with channels devoted to all sorts of
reward as appropriate either during play or at the end of the topics! All the latest news gets pushed here too.
adventure. Use the following table for guidance. • Official D&D Adventurers League Blog. The Yawning
Portal is the home for our blog! Learn all about new
adventure releases, dive into the whys and hows, and see
UNSPECIFIED TREASURE ALLOWANCE PER ADVENTURE

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what the staff is talking about.
Adventure Level Minimum Maximum
Levels 1-4 (Tier 1) 100 gp 500 gp
Levels 5-10 (Tier 2) 1000 gp 5000 gp DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon
Levels 11-16 (Tier 3) 10,000 gp 50,000 gp ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D
Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective
Levels 17-20 (Tier 4) 50,000 gp 100,000 gp
logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters
and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is
Story Awards. These items or effects—designated in the protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or
unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the
adventure or adaptation materials—are important to a
express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.
storyline and are only useable during sessions of the
storyline or book adventure in which they’re awarded. These ©2021 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured
by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4
items don’t count against a character’s carried magic item
The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.
limit, and in the case of items, may only be possessed by one
character in the party during play.

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REWARDS FOR OFFICIAL BOOK AND BOXED ADVENTURES
If you’re Dungeon Mastering a book adventure such as The Wild
Beyond the Witchlight or a boxed set adventure such as Dragon of
Icespire Peak in the D&D Essentials Kit, you’ll need to consult the
adaptation material for that particular product to see how to
handle rewards, including advancement. Some of the adaptations
also provide guidance in splitting up the adventure into two- or
four-hour sessions.
You can find the adaptations of official D&D product in the D&D
Adventurers League Adventure Adaptation Guide, located on the
official D&D Adventurers League website (see link below).

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