Post by Andrew on Apr 7, 2015 11:59:59 GMT -8
First of all, I want to thank everyone who has expressed interest in joining us for our first camping trip of the year.
The response has been enthusiastic and larger than expected, which is amazing. I've written this up so people know what they are getting into and how to sign up.
We have an ambitious event planned for those who want to throw themselves in to the roleplaying aspects of the event, and there will be a lot of fun and relaxing by the fire too.
The basics:
We will be at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. We have the group-camp site ranted for the nights of 6/12 and 6/13. There is plenty of parking and there are bathrooms with showers. There is a covered area with a central fire-pit, two small buildings with bunks and about half a dozen areas to set up tents, several of which also have fire-pits. There is also a lawn where people can pitch tents if we get a bit crowded.
Normally we just grab spots as we arrive and the buildings are claimed by the "packs" that are best organized and can make the best use of them. If everyone from Vampire who has shown interest ends up committing to go, I will probably step in and organize the space a bit just to make sure everything goes smoothly, but I'm only really running the gaming half of things. From that perspective I will do my best to see that everyone's need for private space are still met. Us extroverts may just need to pack a bit tighter
Money and supplies:
If you wish to attend please find myself or David Burke at game. David was nice enough to front the entire cost of the site: approximately $500. We are charging $20-per-person. So far David has recouped about half the money, maybe a bit more. In the event we exceed $500 in collected funds, the remainder will go toward group firewood and other supplies. We try to keep a central fire burning at all times and the cost does run up. I seriously doubt this will happen, but if we do end up with a surplus beyond that we will either put the money toward the cost of our next trip (usually in September) or discuss a small refund if appropriate. At that point I'll be so ecstatic at the turnout I'll probably want to buy everyone dinner anyway
As to group supplies, the only thing planned currently is firewood. Individuals in the past have done collections for food and/or drinks and you don't want to be the only one not eating a delicious bacon-wrapped atrocity, so check out the comments or come by Werewolf in the next few weeks if you are interested in finding one of these pools. Generally we have way too much food, so if you are broke you probably won't starve but you may be eating charred mystery-meat hot dogs with yellow mustard and grit (my favorite) Don't forget the "Rite of Cleansing" afterward.
Role Playing and Story:
To get set up to NPC or get involved with the game-related activities pay Mr. Burke then send an email to werewolf@emeraldchronicles.com. If you have preferences on the types of things you would like to do, or restrictions on the times you will be available please include them in your email.
In my experience the camping trips are a pretty intense role-playing experience. I know many of us are used to immersive RP, including most of the Vampire players who will be joining us, but just in case: If you have never been in character for most of a weekend be prepared for a new experience. A lot of the RP that happens at our camping trips is casual and there is definitely the opportunity to step away and be OOC, but in the central areas most people are in character most of the time. This isn't a rule, it just tends to happen. If you need a break, feel free to throw up a hand. It will be respected. I will also likely designate my own campsite as an OOC-only area.
We have a pretty ambitious schedule planned for the gaming part of the trip. This is going to be the culmination of a 9-month plot. For many characters it will be their crowning achievement, their legacy and probably their farewell. (If you die early you will still get to have fun the rest of the time. Can't say why, you are just going to have to trust me.)
I'm going to try to have a roster of NPCs ready soon. They will have basic stats, a bio, and some scenario info. My intention is to have a rotating cast, so if you are coming to NPC you will have the opportunity to play several characters throughout the weekend. I will also have some characters available that can be played the whole time if you would rather do that.
Without spoilers, the basic structure will be a series of closed scenes designed to be 1-3 hours in length though many may go longer. NPCs will be the central cast of separate realms/worlds/times as the case may be. If you want to have short bursts of RP and relax the rest of the time, this is for you.
(If you are a regular Werewolf player but your character would not be involved or is time-bubbled for some reason you may also come help with these scenes as long as your character is not directly involved)
Alternatively, there will be all sorts of opportunities to play NPCs that are around the central location most of the trip.
As an aside for my regular players who tend to use the camping trip as a relaxing weekend with a few story things thrown in for fun: I will do my best to make this possible for you. There will still be plenty of relaxing around the fire and there will be interesting stuff to see and do around the Caern that doesn't involve throwing yourself neck deep in plot.
For guests and regulars alike, feel free to come to any of the staff with questions. If you aren't having fun or something is wrong, please tell us BEFORE it gets worse. We really are nice people and can usually fix stuff if people let us.
In general, please be respectful of everyone around you. This is a big event and it can be intense even when you know everyone really well.
Conduct:
General advice: don't be a jerk. Beyond that you don't really have to listen to me except as relates to game.
The camping side of things isn't part of ECC or NOTR. We are a bunch of friends getting together to go camping. Most of us will be LARPing, but it is not required. (Non-larper S/O's totally welcome) I am running the gaming side of things. I will step in to help with organizing things like space or firewood when asked and if it is helpful. That is it. Beyond that we are all pitching in together to organize a group camping trip.
If a group of friends were playing monopoly around a campfire and one of the players got drunk and did something dumb, you wouldn't automatically look to the banker to take charge.
Think of me as the banker.
Come to me when you are out of $10's and need change. Don't come to me (except as a friend and willing helper) if something goes wrong outside of game.
I am not your mom or your boss or the cops. I am your friend and your HST who has an interest in this going smoothly because then my game will go smoothly and my friends will be healthy and safe.
I will enforce the ECC charter for gaming-related things (like cheating or boundaries while role-playing), but generally we are out in the wild and bound by regular old law and the social contract. Be nice to each other. Use the ECC charter and common sense as a guide.
Alcohol has been generally acceptable at previous events and I don't believe the site itself objects. Don't be stupid about it. This is all I will say about it. Each of you is responsible for your own behavior and policing you is, thankfully, not my job.
If intoxication gets bad enough that it makes you unable to RP your character, I encourage you to stop RPing your character. If RP gets intense enough that you cannot mediate your intake of intoxicants, I suggest you stop doing both. I don't like retconing things and I'll only pull so many punches. XD
TLDR: Give Burke money soon so we can get a head-count. Email staff with who you are and what you like to play. Bring yummy stuff to eat and drink or contact those who are planning on doing so and pitch in. Larp Larp Larp Larp Larp. Don't be a jerk
The response has been enthusiastic and larger than expected, which is amazing. I've written this up so people know what they are getting into and how to sign up.
We have an ambitious event planned for those who want to throw themselves in to the roleplaying aspects of the event, and there will be a lot of fun and relaxing by the fire too.
The basics:
We will be at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park. We have the group-camp site ranted for the nights of 6/12 and 6/13. There is plenty of parking and there are bathrooms with showers. There is a covered area with a central fire-pit, two small buildings with bunks and about half a dozen areas to set up tents, several of which also have fire-pits. There is also a lawn where people can pitch tents if we get a bit crowded.
Normally we just grab spots as we arrive and the buildings are claimed by the "packs" that are best organized and can make the best use of them. If everyone from Vampire who has shown interest ends up committing to go, I will probably step in and organize the space a bit just to make sure everything goes smoothly, but I'm only really running the gaming half of things. From that perspective I will do my best to see that everyone's need for private space are still met. Us extroverts may just need to pack a bit tighter
Money and supplies:
If you wish to attend please find myself or David Burke at game. David was nice enough to front the entire cost of the site: approximately $500. We are charging $20-per-person. So far David has recouped about half the money, maybe a bit more. In the event we exceed $500 in collected funds, the remainder will go toward group firewood and other supplies. We try to keep a central fire burning at all times and the cost does run up. I seriously doubt this will happen, but if we do end up with a surplus beyond that we will either put the money toward the cost of our next trip (usually in September) or discuss a small refund if appropriate. At that point I'll be so ecstatic at the turnout I'll probably want to buy everyone dinner anyway
As to group supplies, the only thing planned currently is firewood. Individuals in the past have done collections for food and/or drinks and you don't want to be the only one not eating a delicious bacon-wrapped atrocity, so check out the comments or come by Werewolf in the next few weeks if you are interested in finding one of these pools. Generally we have way too much food, so if you are broke you probably won't starve but you may be eating charred mystery-meat hot dogs with yellow mustard and grit (my favorite) Don't forget the "Rite of Cleansing" afterward.
Role Playing and Story:
To get set up to NPC or get involved with the game-related activities pay Mr. Burke then send an email to werewolf@emeraldchronicles.com. If you have preferences on the types of things you would like to do, or restrictions on the times you will be available please include them in your email.
In my experience the camping trips are a pretty intense role-playing experience. I know many of us are used to immersive RP, including most of the Vampire players who will be joining us, but just in case: If you have never been in character for most of a weekend be prepared for a new experience. A lot of the RP that happens at our camping trips is casual and there is definitely the opportunity to step away and be OOC, but in the central areas most people are in character most of the time. This isn't a rule, it just tends to happen. If you need a break, feel free to throw up a hand. It will be respected. I will also likely designate my own campsite as an OOC-only area.
We have a pretty ambitious schedule planned for the gaming part of the trip. This is going to be the culmination of a 9-month plot. For many characters it will be their crowning achievement, their legacy and probably their farewell. (If you die early you will still get to have fun the rest of the time. Can't say why, you are just going to have to trust me.)
I'm going to try to have a roster of NPCs ready soon. They will have basic stats, a bio, and some scenario info. My intention is to have a rotating cast, so if you are coming to NPC you will have the opportunity to play several characters throughout the weekend. I will also have some characters available that can be played the whole time if you would rather do that.
Without spoilers, the basic structure will be a series of closed scenes designed to be 1-3 hours in length though many may go longer. NPCs will be the central cast of separate realms/worlds/times as the case may be. If you want to have short bursts of RP and relax the rest of the time, this is for you.
(If you are a regular Werewolf player but your character would not be involved or is time-bubbled for some reason you may also come help with these scenes as long as your character is not directly involved)
Alternatively, there will be all sorts of opportunities to play NPCs that are around the central location most of the trip.
As an aside for my regular players who tend to use the camping trip as a relaxing weekend with a few story things thrown in for fun: I will do my best to make this possible for you. There will still be plenty of relaxing around the fire and there will be interesting stuff to see and do around the Caern that doesn't involve throwing yourself neck deep in plot.
For guests and regulars alike, feel free to come to any of the staff with questions. If you aren't having fun or something is wrong, please tell us BEFORE it gets worse. We really are nice people and can usually fix stuff if people let us.
In general, please be respectful of everyone around you. This is a big event and it can be intense even when you know everyone really well.
Conduct:
General advice: don't be a jerk. Beyond that you don't really have to listen to me except as relates to game.
The camping side of things isn't part of ECC or NOTR. We are a bunch of friends getting together to go camping. Most of us will be LARPing, but it is not required. (Non-larper S/O's totally welcome) I am running the gaming side of things. I will step in to help with organizing things like space or firewood when asked and if it is helpful. That is it. Beyond that we are all pitching in together to organize a group camping trip.
If a group of friends were playing monopoly around a campfire and one of the players got drunk and did something dumb, you wouldn't automatically look to the banker to take charge.
Think of me as the banker.
Come to me when you are out of $10's and need change. Don't come to me (except as a friend and willing helper) if something goes wrong outside of game.
I am not your mom or your boss or the cops. I am your friend and your HST who has an interest in this going smoothly because then my game will go smoothly and my friends will be healthy and safe.
I will enforce the ECC charter for gaming-related things (like cheating or boundaries while role-playing), but generally we are out in the wild and bound by regular old law and the social contract. Be nice to each other. Use the ECC charter and common sense as a guide.
Alcohol has been generally acceptable at previous events and I don't believe the site itself objects. Don't be stupid about it. This is all I will say about it. Each of you is responsible for your own behavior and policing you is, thankfully, not my job.
If intoxication gets bad enough that it makes you unable to RP your character, I encourage you to stop RPing your character. If RP gets intense enough that you cannot mediate your intake of intoxicants, I suggest you stop doing both. I don't like retconing things and I'll only pull so many punches. XD
TLDR: Give Burke money soon so we can get a head-count. Email staff with who you are and what you like to play. Bring yummy stuff to eat and drink or contact those who are planning on doing so and pitch in. Larp Larp Larp Larp Larp. Don't be a jerk
Also, there will be four of us at that site this year (Megan, Andy, Steven and myself).
