Before Game
You have two options for your first (or any) game - play as a player character (PC) that you create or help out staff by playing as one or more non-player characters (NPCs) during the weekend. No matter which choice you make for your first game, you can do something different your next game if you want to.
What you need to prepare varies depending on which choice you make. However, there are some things you'll want to read and bring no matter what.
What to Read
Whether you play a PC or an NPC, there are some things you'll need to read before game.
1. Read the Code of Conduct. You are agreeing to this by playing.
2. Read the Basic Out of Game (OOG) Info page to get a baseline idea of game culture and how roleplaying and physical escalation works. You don't need to memorize all the OOG identifiers but you should recognize red wristband (no touch). Feel free to ask about the others if you see them in game and can't remember what they are.
3. Read the Safety Rules including General Safety Rules, Safety Calls, and Grievance Procedure. If you intend to fight at your first game, you should read the rest of the page; if not, you can ignore it for now.
4. If you intend to fight at your first game, you should familiarize yourself with the Combat Rules. If you don't want to fight, you can ignore these for now.
5. Check out who the Aeternia staff are so that you know who you can go to for major problems.
6. Join the Aeternia Discord, the place to get the most up-to-date information about when and where games will be taking place, as well as notifications about when ticket sales are live.
That's it! If you want to read more about the setting, the factions, and so forth, that's fantastic! But you don't need to know all of that before your first game as long as you get the basic gist of the setting.
Playing a PC
You will need to create your PC. Read the Character Creation page and follow the instructions there. You may want to read up on ancestries, locations, or factions to help you with your backstory, but don't worry too much about memorizing anything not directly relevant to your character.
You will need at least an attempt at medieval fantasy attire. You don't need to qualify for any of the physrep bonuses described on the character creation page, but you shouldn't be showing up in obviously modern (or sci-fi) clothes. A simple tunic over loose pants of a not-obviously-synthetic fabric and hiking boots or dark-colored sneakers is good enough to start with.
If you don't have anything like that, reach out via email or on the Discord to see if anyone has costuming you can borrow. Also feel free to reach out if you need any help with character creation or want to come into game with backstory ties to any existing characters.
If you intend to fight at your first game, it is helpful to bring weapons that meet the weapon safety rules but there are also weapons available for you to borrow.
You will need to buy a ticket for game. Different price tickets come with different lengths of NPC shifts, when you will temporarly stop playing your PC to go help staff run roleplaying scenarios and/or combats for everyone else.
Playing an NPC
You don't need to create anything! It will be helpful to read about Magic and Essence because PCs will probably be casting spells at you and you'll want to know how to respond.
You don't need to bring costuming since you'll be wearing things from NPC camp.
You do not need to buy a ticket if you are exclusively playing an NPC, but it is helpful if you email the Director or mention that you are coming in the Discord so that the staff knows to expect you.
What to Bring
Aeternia is a camping event at a scout camp! You will need anything you would normally need to go tent camping over the weekend. You can sleep in your car if you prefer.
There are plenty of guides for what to bring camping, so we don't need to replicate that here. That said, you are welcome to ask for advice on the Discord if you're really not sure where to start.
Having medieval fantasy camping supplies is encouraged but not at all required.
You can have a modern tent, camp stove, etc. The inside of your tent will always be an OOG area that no one but you should be entering; the only reason to have medieval fantasy things inside it is to create ambiance for yourself. Modern sleeping bags, etc., are perfectly fine.
The camp has a modern kitchen with an industrial stove, a refridgerator, freezer, sinks, etc., that you can have access to for food storage and cooking. There are fire pits that may be available depending on the current fire risk. Expect to bring and prepare all of your own food. It is possible that some players may be providing food for other players, but don't rely on that unless you've made prior arrangements.
There are fully functional bathrooms and showers. There are some places to plug in devices but don't rely on having one near your tent.
Expect to be in character (or NPCing) from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. You don't need to bring multiple medieval fantasy outfits to wear but you can. You will likely want comfortable modern clothes to set up and tear down in. If you are NPCing at all, you want comfortable, plain dark clothes to wear under the NPC costumes you will be borrowing. You absolutely want comfortable, sturdy footwear to wear both in and out of character. Expect it to get chilly at night and check the daytime temperature before packing.
Where to Go
Aeternia takes place at Camp Chesebrough Scout Reservation at 26005 Big Basin Way, Los Gatos, CA 95033. GPS will generally give you accurate directions but keep your eyes open when you get close, as the turn into the camp driveway is easy to miss!
We have the upper campsite and the main camp area. Park in the parking lot next to other cars and then come to the biggest building you see and tell the first person you see that you're new and need to know what to do.
What to Expect and When Things Happen
Site will be open to show up at 3pm Friday for setup and auths.
Logistics will open for Check-in at 5pm. Check-in will be a quick, near immediate process. It just involves coming to Ops and saying hi at the front desk pretty much! Tickets will also be available to buy on site as well if you miss buying them beforehand (cash or card on site!) Please check in at every game!
Listen up will typically be at 6pm Friday. Usually we won't have listen ups for anything aside from quick announcements about any hazards and what not, but since we are still a fairly new game, we want to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Game on will be at 7pm! If you show up after this, just say hi to a staff member so we know you're on site.
Game off will be 1pm on Sunday.
Quiet Hours (as far as mods go -- there's no enforced quiet time around the lodge and such, just be nice to your camping neighbors) is 2am. No mods should /start/ at 1am, but they should all be wrapped up by 2am at the latest. Quiet Hours end at 8am, but mods won't generally start till after breakfast window.
There are planned mod breaks for meals / player organized events at the following times: 8am-10am / noon-2pm / 8pm-9pm. These are great times to schedule player events you don't want interrupted! If you're planning something big though, loop in plot! That way we don't interrupt your cool stuff (unless you want us to! Then definitely let us know)
It is helpful for you to arrive as close to the game start time as possible so that people can give you a tour of site and help you figure out what you're doing. If you intend to fight at your first game, it is especially helpful to arrive promptly for fighter authorization. If you expect to arrive especially late, it is a good idea to give staff a heads-up so that someone can be ready to greet you when you do arrive.
Before game starts there is set-up time. You'll be able to drive your car to the upper campsite and unload your tent, etc., before driving your car back to the parking lot.
People generally don't leave site once game starts, though if you want or need to make a town run (or leave early) for any reason, you can. If you do leave site, please let someone know so that people aren't searching the woods for you.
Speaking of the woods, there is wildlife! There isn't anything especially dangerous in the area most of the time but it's good to be aware of the typical California hazards such as mountain lions, snakes, and ticks.
There is limited or no cell signal depending on what carrier you have.
Expect to spend most of the weekend in character as your PC or playing an NPC. When you are in game areas, try to stay in character. If you want to have an extended OOG conversation, try to do it away from other players who are trying to roleplay. If you want to take a break from game, you can always go back to your tent and relax until you're ready to re-enter game.
If you bought a ticket with NPC shifts, you should change from your PC's costume into comfortable dark clothes and go to NPC camp at the start of your shift. Once you're there, the staff will tell you what to do. If you have anything you're especially comfortable or uncomfortable with doing as an NPC, be sure to let them know.
Organized game activities will typically end at a reasonable sleeping hour and not resume until well past dawn. While some people may stay up roleplaying late into the night, you shouldn't worry that you're going to miss important plot if you go to sleep.
We are a friendly community! Don't worry if you occasionally get confused. Most people spend a portion of their first LARP confused. You can always use the OOG symbol (a closed fist on top of your head) and ask people what is going on.
After game on Sunday, people will often hang out and get dinner together. This is optional but is a great way to get to know people.Please give us feedback after game! This isn't mandatory on your part, but we want to give you the best game we can, and that means knowing what worked and what did not. There may be a formal feedback form, but if not, you can always email staff or post in the Discord.
NPC Shifts
By default, everyone is expected to do 4 hours of NPC time. This is a loose
term and can be done in a few ways. You can of course, NPC, which is the core
of these shifts, but we also will have opportunities to help with game setup
and things like washing dishes for the meal plan! The different ticket types allow you to opt in/out of NPC time for more or
less cost. You can go all the way down to 0 NPC time and up to 8 hours NPC
time! These tickets are limited. If you would like to perma-NPC the whole game, contact staff before buying
a ticket, you'll get to come have fun for free! Until we have our database setup, there will be a spreadsheet sent out on Discord to sign up for NPC time slots. It will also be at game if you don't
sign up before then.
Food
We have a meal plan! Price and details of that coming soon, but the goal is
cheap, tasty meals. This should hopefully be an option if you don't want to
worry about your own food, but snacks and water are always good. There is a full industrial kitchen on site. Meal Plan team has first
priority, but if you want to use it to make yourself some food, you are
welcome to. Just clean up!
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