There are so many ways to play Dungeons & Dragons. For example, a lot of people like playing homebrew campaigns because they offer a great deal of flexibility and customization.
However, there's another way to play that's a ton of fun: Adventurers League (AL). If you haven't tried out D&D Adventurers League, you're missing out. It's one of the most fun ways to play Dungeons & Dragons!
What Is Adventurers League?
Adventurers League is Wizards of the Coast's standardized and regulated form of Dungeons & Dragons. It uses the rules as they're written in the official D&D books, so you don't need to worry about any crazy homebrew rules that'll make the game weird.
Character creation is limited to the Players Handbook and one other source, which means you don't have to worry about anyone making characters that are too game-breaking.
All games take place in the Forgotten Realms setting, which means you don't need to think too much about different characters from all over the place and you won't get lost in too much unfamiliar lore.
To put it simply, Adventurers League takes all of the guesswork out of D&D. The stories are already written, the rules are plainly outlined, and everything is structured. So, should you play Adventurers League?
Here are some reasons why Adventurers League might be right for you.
1. It's Easy to Find Games
Easily the biggest advantage of playing Adventurers League is how easy it is to find games.
In-person, you can usually find AL games at comic book shops, game stores, conventions, and just about anywhere else. Online, there are tons of Discord servers you play games on.
Rather than trying to find a homebrew game, Adventurers League makes the whole process easy and painless.
2. Your Characters Carry Over
If you're the kind of player who enjoys a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of progression, you're going to love AL.
Each time you play through an adventure, you gain a level, and that leveled up character carries over to any other Adventurers League game you play.
It's really satisfying to know that the time and effort you're putting in will travel with you from game to game.
3. You Get All the Loot
If you love getting loot, then you'll love AL. When a magic item drops, rather than bickering over who gets it, Season 9 of AL just has everyone who wants it gets a copy.
That means that you get all the loot—assuming you're not maxed out on magic items—and you won't miss out on the sweet item that'll really help you get your build going. Not only is this fun for everyone, but it just might save some friendships.
4. Rules Are Standardized
Rather than dealing with homebrew games, everything is standardized in AL. That means that there's no need to debate rules or leave things to the DM's discretion—whatever it says in the rulebook is what goes.
Whether you're a player or a DM, having standardized rules makes the games flow better, and it makes it easier for new players to learn because they only have to deal with what's written in the official rules.
5. AL Games Are Easy to DM
One of my personal favorite aspects of playing AL is how easy the games are to DM. The adventures are written as concisely as possible, so you don't need to spend hours preparing.
You just need to give the adventure a read through and you'll be ready to go. Compared to the amount of prep work that goes into running other campaigns or writing your own, AL is so easy.
Try D&D Adventurers League!
Next time you're in the mood to play some Dungeons & Dragons, give Adventurers League a shot. The structure might seem like an annoyance, but it's actually a benefit once you get used to it!
