Module free AL games?

[ZorroGames]

Okay, I get that modules are a great boon to DMs (in Sacramento 1980s then Seattle 1980s I averaged 20-40 hours planning and setting up for monthly games in the 0D&D thru early 2nd AD&D homebrew days,) and I get they are considered “balanced” for AL players.

My question is, if you follow AL guidelines/rules, can players credit those games to their log sheets or must the games be considered not AL but “homebrew” instead?

I guess it is “What defines the line between AL legal free form gaming and non-AL homebrew gams?” That might be a better question.

[Unoriginal]

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure you can't do module-free AL stuff.

Well, unless you don't consider the supplementary adventures they publish for AL to be modules.

[PeteNutButter]

Only AL mods and published books are AL legal. This is for balance and magic item reasons. No one wants a level 5 Paladin showing up at a convention with a holy avenger.

[Ventruenox]

I am fairly sure that there are AL-legal non-module adventures available through conventions and then run by those creators only afterward. (Might be mistaken about the second part)

[Kyrinthic]

Lots of different options on what you can run for AL, but you must run something that is from the official content catalog for AL for a game to be AL legal. No freeform AL. On the other hand, some hardcovers (SKT and TOA for example) have large sections of fairly freeform adventure inside of them.

[Theodoxus]

Are you taking the character to a different AL locale or convention? If not, gameplay is less enforced. There are a couple tables at my FLGS that use the AL rules (PHB+1, PB only, etc) but there is a verbal contract that the characters aren't "AL legal" for other events. We still use the logs and track xp, gold and magic items, but mix tiers (there might be a level 5 character with a bunch of 2s and 3s, or a table of 3rd through 6th level characters), go off script from written modules or even grant instant level boons so a new character doesn't get insta-gibbed in the first fight.

We also have "pure" tables, where everything is strictly AL enforced and logged - for those who do enjoy convention and sanctioned play.

I would be shocked if most stores don't do something similar, since the whole AL thing is an honor system anyway.