Editing RPGA (section)

==Synopsium and Origins==
The RPGA started as a means to field-test official game modules, host official events, and even have several tournaments (yes, we're serious) regarding the "official" settings at the time, which meant [[Forgotten Realms]] and [[Greyhawk]]. [[d20 Modern]] was insanely rarely run in it, even though there was overpowering demand for it - the RPGA's core, after all, was organized by [[Wizards of the Coast]], so naturally they promoted the settings they wanted to do well a fuck of a lot more than the settings that players actually enjoyed (see also: WOTC's pathological inability to sell [[Ravenloft]] (after suing for the rights, winning the suit, then failing to actually do anything with them no less), [[Spelljammer]], [[Dark Sun]], three of the most popular settings in the history of PNP RPGS). On the plus side, the events of the RPGA led to some successful player groups down the line, and there was some cool prizes (mostly things iike points for discounts on books and shit), but the main reason the RPGA existed can be boiled down to three reasons:

* A potential way for WOTC to advance its products and advance the plot in its settings (which never happened, before or after the Edition jump, unless you count those depressing [[Forgotten Realms]] fans who probably need a pillow after that [[Butthurt|ass-fisting]]).

* An Interesting, half-decent way to meet new DMs/Players, all whilst potentially winning cool stuff. Of course, a lot of this was off-set by the fact that an overpowering number of the people /tg/'s neckbeards met in the RPGA joined the RPGA specifically ''because'' they didn't have the social skills to find a regular, consistent game, something that, even by the neckbeardy standards of /tg/, is not hard to do. Seriously, it was hit-and-miss. You'd meet a few cool people there, and the rest of the place was populated by people strongly resembling [[Chris-Chan]].

* Blatant E-Penis flogging. If you participated in official events, you would see utterly-humorless players and DMs who were ALL ABOUT their DCI score. Picture arguments over gamerscore on XBox Live. Now make it centered around D&D. You can now take pride in knowing that you will ''never'', even should you [[LARP]] from now till [[Exterminatus|Velocirapture]], ever be as soul-scarringly nerdy as the mental image you ''just imagined''.

Naturally, whilst reasons #1-2 are pretty valid reasons (flaming stupid aside) for RPGA membership, that last one basically guaranteed that for as long as the group existed, it would be mercilessly trolled by [[/tg/]], and left a burning pile of hilarious [[FAIL]]. Even if you didn't consider reason #1-2's failings (which were many).