1. General principles

1. Live-roleplaying is designed to be a fun, social past time and all participants have an equal right to enjoy themselves on the event unless this conflicts with any other clause

2. All participants should be friendly and helpful while out of character (OOC), and seek to create a welcoming environment.

3. Remember UK Law still applies. Anyone found breaking the law will be ejected and/or reported to relevant UK authorities.

4. Gathering around the campfire in the evening after Time Out to chat with new friends, while enjoying a drink or two(alcoholic or otherwise), is as much a part of Starlore events as searching for alien artifacts and running from Cybermen. We do ask that participants to exercise moderation as we will not allow those who we suspect are still drunk to participate. While we will certainly show compassion safety is a priority. The consumption of alcohol is also not permitted during or prior to a game session unless it is part of a carefully scripted IC situation that calls for specific In Character (IC) social interaction. The level of alcohol should not exceed more than 1 unit (estimated) and even then only with prior agreement by the organisers along with the person providing catering services. The content of any beverage (alcoholic or otherwise) should always be checked against known food intolerance's and like with any food that is served as part of the event, details of the contents should be available at all times.

5. Harassment of any kind is not tolerated and may be dealt with under clause 1.3 For the benefit of clarity harassment is defined as unwanted behaviour, which the person that it is directed towards finds offensive or which makes them feel intimidated or humiliated.

6.  Live Role-Playing games are open to all and discrimination of any kind against anyone is unacceptable and may be dealt with under clause 1.3. For the benefit of clarity, discrimination is defined as treating a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you would treat other people, because of their skin colour, sex,sexuality, etc.

7. A great deal of hard work is put into Live Action Role Play (LARP) events and many people will have given a significant amount of their time freely with the aim of making it a success. At the end of the event all participants are expected to assist as best they can with the cleaning and tidying f the site and buildings to ensure that they are left in the same state or better than they were found. Anyone failing to abide by the spirit of this understands that they may not be invited to future events.

8. Photography and other Audio-Visual recording is allowed on Starlore Adventures events. However with the advent of socia media and the sensitivities surrounding the sharing of images, you must ask permission of ALL subjects BEFORE taking photographs or making recordings. All participants will be given the option to ‘Opt Out’ of having images taken of them and where applicable, files should be deleted or images cropped before leaving the event. Where arrangements are made for specific photographers to take photos throughout the event, they must be identified to all participants at the start of the event and must be made aware of any participants that have expressed the wish to opt-out.

 

2. Simulated Combat

1. We utilise a non-contact system whereby infrared light emitted by a handheld or static device is detected at a sensor. Sensors are worn by each participant in the game (normally on the head but in some cases they can be located elsewhere on the upper body) and can also be placed on items. A ‘hit’ registered by a sensor during the course of the game indicates that a point of damage has been inflicted to that person or item. Once the number of hits on a sensor has reduced to zero, a siren and/or flashing lights will be triggered. This will signify that either the person has been rendered unconscious or the item has been disabled or destroyed. (NOTE some special items, NPCs and Monsters may employ damage regeneration, which will be explained by a referee or the NPC at that time).

2. There may be specific occasions when other weapon types may be employed that fall into one of the following below. These can ONLY be used by prior arrangement with the game organisers, must be unmodified (unless the modification is for the sole purpose of improving safety) and must be presented to and approved for use by a person nominated by the organisers: (A). Toys legally available from UK retail outlets that are designed for the purpose of simulated play combat. (B) A padded replica weapon that has been manufactured specifically for use on LARP events and is classified as ‘LARP-Safe’. For the purposes of Starlore games LARP-Safe weapons should only be used by ‘tapping’ the intended target and may not be heavily swung or used with undue force. This is due to the unique nature of games whereby someone with IR Equipment equipment is unable to parry or block a blow in a way that may be the norm in other LARP systems without potential damage to a person or equipment.

3. 3. Weapons classified under clause 2.2 must only be used in a way approved by the referee or nominated person. Anyone found to be using either non-approved weapons or an approved weapon in an unapproved or unsafe manner will be asked to lock them away or hand them to the game organisers for safe keeping until the end of the event at which point they will be returned.

4. 4. Weapons that fail to gain approval by the nominated person must be locked away or be handed to the game organisers for safe keeping until the end of the event at which point they will be returned (a written receipt will be given on request).

 

3. In Character and Out of Character situations

1. 1. LARP games may involve high adrenalin or tense situations. All players should remember that tensions and events within the game should remain in the game, and everyone should always avoid allowing them to extend into the real world.

2. Some participants may be uncomfortable with roleplaying around certain subjects. If someone asks you to stop roleplaying around a certain issue, then you should do so in order to maintain an environment in which all participants are comfortable.

3. We recognise that some people find staying IC to be difficult and at times may find some types of Replaying quite intimidating. While we encourage participants to stay in character we recognise that there may be times when you may drop out of character. If you find yourself dropping out of character we ask that you minimise your interaction with participants who are still IC.

4. While specific costume, makeup and other accoutrements are not compulsory, some type of appropriate clothing or costume should be worn in order to maintain the atmosphere of a game. Unless the setting is present day OR your everyday dress happens to be in keeping with the genre, then it is not acceptable to wear your normal clothes.

5. Removing or hiding OOC, any items that do not belong to you, even if the intention is to simply borrow them, could be considered theft and is covered under clause 1.3.

6. Theft of IC items is permitted under certain circumstances and only as long as these are returned on demand or at the end of the session or by prior agreement. In some cases props may be classed as being with the ‘thief’ but the Phys-Rep (Physical Representation), is retained by the owner or where it was found.

7. During time in, both players and fully scripted characters (often referred to as NPCs), should attempt to behave as far as possible in an appropriately IC manner and should try to keep OOC discussions to a minimum.

8. Costume, makeup and other accoutrements while not compulsory, can increase enjoyment of the game, and is thus encouraged. We do ask that participants make efforts to wear something appropriate to the game setting or contact the game organisers for assistance or advice.

9. It has to be stressed that IC actions can and will lead to IC consequences and players should remember that these consequences do not represent an OOC attack on either the player or their character.

10. Antagonising another character is an IC action, and may have the IC consequence of simulated violence, death, or worse.

11. Antagonising another character without good cause within the game is not acceptable behaviour.

12. Without risk there is no sense of IC danger and so character death must represent a potential outcome of some IC activities like combat, traps and other circumstances that simulate high risk situations.

13. Character death is an IC event, and should never lead to OOC recriminations.

4. Behaviour of organisers and NPCs

1. At no time should a Game Organiser (GO) create a situation where there is a ‘No Win’ situation that leads to certain death of a character or characters unless such a situation has been carefully scripted with the knowledge of those involved.

2. During time in, both players and fully scripted characters (often referred to as NPCs), should attempt to behave as far as possible in an appropriately IC manner and should try to keep OOC discussions to a minimum.

3. The NPC team should try to provide both immersion and reasonable challenges for the player party.

4. Falling unconscious as a player should not be an automatic death sentence. Unless you have been specifically briefed otherwise, you should never attack a PC who is unconscious and is deemed to be ‘bleeding out’.

5. NPCs should never prevent players from recovering unconscious PCs unless you have been specifically briefed to do so or if there is a specific rationale of the NPC or monster that would prompt you to behave in such a way.

6. Intelligent creatures should not hurl themselves into the line of fire where the outcome is obviously going to result is almost certain death without a clear rationale behind such behavior.

7. Searching NPCs or even players can be a key part of the game. To avoid having to physically pat someone down, the person doing the searching must describe how and where they search in detail. This means that you only ‘Find’ something where you have searched. Someone saying "I look everywhere" should be taken as you are only searching visually. If you don’t say that you look in the right hand top pocket then you don’t find what is located there. NOTE - Certain skills will negate the need to describe the search

5. GENERAL RULES

1. All players should carry a whistle and a torch for use in case of a real life emergency (see below).

2. All players must read and adhere to these regulations. For insurance and legal reasons you must be over eighteen years of age and must have completed a booking form before being able to take part in the event.

3. Be courteous and polite to neighbours and any members of public that may stray onto the event site. Go out of your way to allay any fears and never intimidate, alienate, threaten, be abusive or point any weapon towards them.

4. No props that could be mistaken for weapons are to be carried or displayed away from the event site and must be packed away out of sight during transit.

5. nce in costume, do not leave the event site.

6. Do not move, remove or damage any of the sites fixtures and fittings. Likewise never touch, loot or disable the property of other players without their permission. Lootable props may be included as part of any one scenario or an overall scenario.

7. Do not create barricades by moving furniture, or blocking doors and exits. These can put people at risk in an emergency situation.

8. Do not attempt to bar someone's entry into a room by slamming or holding a door (even if it’s a monster), this could cause a serious injury or result in damage to property.

9. When conducting AIMED fire, your sensor should be exposed to the target. Positioning your sensor in such a way that it is obstructed or obscured is considered cheating. Players (or staff) found to be cheating in such a way will be warned. Anyone receiving three warnings may be ejected from the event.

10. Sci-Fi Larp using an IR combat system is primarily a non-contact activity but due to the nature of games involving activities like running around, extra care should be taken. Some skills require you to touch another participant and should be done firmly and safely. DO NOT try to grab or physically block another participant.

11. There may be occasions when an ‘ALF’ (Aggressive Life Form) will use physical ‘touch’ as a weapon, ALFs that employ physical ‘touch’ attacks will have significant physical strength or an ability that is activated via contact. You will normally be instructed on what to do at the time, which for example may be “fall unconscious” or “you are stunned and can only stagger”. Please note ALFs are normally able to resist physical attacks from humans plus for safety reasons DO NOT try to return the favour.

12. You should never take off your sensor unless necessary while you are Time In unless reduced to zero hits. Any player’s sensor that is hit when not on their head constitutes a very lucky but critical shot and renders that player unconscious (i.e. straight to zero hits).

13. When you take an injury please role-play the fact, it adds to the game atmosphere and your opponent may not be able to hear your sensor siren go off.

14. A player who has been taken down to zero hits on their sensor, must as soon as possible and practical, ‘fall’ to the ground and lie still. Please note safety should always be taken into account, if it is not safe to move to the ground where you are at the time (either due to objects or ground conditions, due to the possibility of injury or where you could present a hazard to other players i.e. in the midst of the action), please hold your sensor in the air and re-locate to a position where it is safe to lie or sit down and wait for a medic. If you suffer from a medical condition or have physical difficulty lying on the ground please considerthe best alternative given your location or situation (for example you may appear to be slumped against a tree).

15. Upon taking the final hit the player may scream and stagger at the moment of the last hit to indicate a mortal injury. We all love a good death scene but you may not continue to wave or make further noise until you have received medical attention.

16. When you are down and ‘unconscious’ do not distract other players by letting them think that you are alive for longer than is really needed. If your sensor is still on and you are still getting incoming fire, remove the sensor from your head if feasible or hold your hand in the air. It is realistic to shoot at a corpse or dying person for only so long.

17. Sometimes due to real world reasons a player may need to leave the game. In this case please remove your sensor, hold your hand in the air and leave by a route that avoids the main focus of activity.

18. Hazard Spots – If you notice any hazards which could potentially cause an accident please do not ignore it. Please ensure that others are aware of it and if practical please make it safe or bring it to the attention of one of the referees.

19. Do not bring any real knives (unless specifically for use as tools), blank firing guns or starters pistols onto the game. It is requested that knives to be used as tools should be kept in an enclosed container or tool kit when not in use and not carried during the game.

20.  Please respect and obey the rulings of the game refs, abide by the rules of the game.

21. No illegal substances to be allowed on site.

22. Do not bring any replica guns, blank firing guns, starter pistols or any illegal knife to the event.11. No smoke bombs or other pyrotechnics will be allowed on site unless authorised by the event organisers.

23. Keep litter to a minimum and dispose of all litter (bins and bags will be provided).

24. No Campfires are allowed (even for cooking purposes) except at a designated fire pit or as per local site rules.

6. LOCAL RULES

For avoidance of doubt where local site rules are more stringent they will take precedence over the General Rules.

All participants must read the Starlore Adventures Social Charter & Rules and signify their
understanding of it by completing and submitting a booking form.