Fractured Thrones Chronicle
A Vampire:  The Masquerade LARP

LARP Guidelines

The Fractured Thrones Chronicle (FTC) is a Vampire: the Masquerade Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) Game hosted in Virginia Beach, VA.  The game setting is in New Orleans, Louisiana in current time.  FTC is a Dark Infinity Studios production, run by our Head Storyteller (HST), Stefan Rhoads.  We play on alternating Sundays at HobbyTown USA in Virginia Beach.  FTC is based on the old World of Darkness setting by White Wolf.  We are still a small community, but always welcome new players that want to have fun role-playing.

Rules of Conduct:
(This is not an all inclusive list.  If the HST says not to do something, then don't do it...)
-Do not interfere with the enjoyment of other players or the smooth execution of the game.
-Do not break the law.  This includes any consumption of alcohol, use of illicit substances, arriving under the influence, etc.
-Do not endanger our relationship with HobbyTown USA.  It is a priviledge to be able to play at this facility.
-Do not harass the HST, other players, or innocent bystanders.
-Do not endanger the safety of other players.

Rules of LARP:
-No weapon props (not even squirt/NERF guns).  All items on characters will be on a 3x5 card and stamped for approval by HST and staff.
-No physical confrontations of any kind.  This includes physical stunts.  All physical actions will be role-played and tested under approval of HST and staff using the Mod-Dot system and Rock-Paper-Scissors.
-Do not touch another person in any way without permission.  Social contact is permissible with consent of all involved parties.  If consent is not explicitly given, then contact must be role-played and verbally described.
-No one is a mind reader.  Especially the HST and staff.  The point is to role-play and have fun.  Please verbalize all actions.
-This is ONLY a game.  Please leave out of character personal baggage at home.  Please keep in character at all possible times during the game.  If you must go out of character, please cross your fingers with your hand at chest height and step out of the way of those still in character.  Keep in character moments...well, in character.  And if your out of character, do not bring anything you hear OOC into character.
-Be mindful of others.  We do play in a place of business.  Do not interfere with the customers in the store or the employees.  The HST does work at HobbyTown and is allowed to use the space for gaming.  At any time the HST may be called away by the employees for aid within the store.  Do not interfere with that.  Do not approach customers about the game or try and "recruit".  Not everyone is a role-player and they are not your cattle to "feed" on.  Customers are invisible to the World of Stefan's Darkness.  If any customer approaches the game, continue to behave in character and allow the HST to deal with any questions that customers may ask.  This is the HST's job, in and out of game.  Let him do it.
-HAVE FUN!  This is the most important rule.  There is no end to the game, there is no goal to "win."  It's all about how you play the game and what happens along the way.  It's about socializing and making friends and some fantastic role-playing along the way.

Rock-Paper-Scissors and other Hand Signals
Most of us have played variations of this simple game and therefore basically familiar with it.  This is the system we use for testing for actions and combat, with some other hand signals explained.  We use these for the Mod-Dot system which is explained below.

Rock
Standing your ground.  Becoming as unmovable as a giant boulder.  Unfortunately can be blown to bits by THE Bomb! or covered up by Paper.

Paper
The pen might be mighter than the Paper, but the Paper is mighter than the Rock.  Beware of sharks as Scissors are mighty sharp like teeth.

Scissors
A Scissors favorite snack is the Paper.  Also fond of cutting the fuse of the Bomb before the BOOM!  But Rock is heavy and is prone to breaking your favorite toy.

The Bomb!
A rare delight, usually in the arsenal of the HST and staff.  If ever in play, it will be called out prior to the test as the Bomb is the best.  The Bomb's fuse is it's only vulnerability if cut by a pair of freshly sharpened scissors prior to the kaboom.

Crossed Fingers
Cross your fingers for luck that you don't get messed with if you need an out of character moment.  With your fingers crossed and held about chest height to be visible, you temporarily step out of the game.  If you and another player must have an OOC moment, please throw up this sign and step to the side, to minimize interference with other players that are still in character.  Also please minimize these OOC moments as the point is to have fun and role-play...In Character.

As we develop and grow as a LARP, we may introduce other hand signals, such as for Obfuscate, Heightened Senses, speaking other languages, etc.  We