Greetings everyone,
I would like to address all of you today about some issues that many observed from this past event, not as a defense for myself as a plot writer, but as a request to you, the players, to understand how the Logistics of KR work in regards to NPCs.
Through a given weekend, we have eight four hour shifts of NPC duty that all players are required to fulfill. This is not a favor you are doing to the game, but a required service to aide the game in it's task of entertaining the masses. At the beginning of the weekend, at Sign In, you are required to sign up for one of these eight shifts. If you arrive late to the game, it is your responsibility to sign up for a shift. If you do not have a NPC shift, you will not receive a signature for your service, and you will receive a rules violation.
These seem to be well understood concepts, but deserved repeating for new players and veterans alike who think they can shirk this duty. We need you to NPC a full four hour shift to help entertain your fellow players so that you will be entertained in turn. This means being awake, alert, and willing to help in what ways you can. To that end, let me explain the difference between NPC roles...
Combat and Non-Combat NPC Roles
As I mentioned before, there are 8 shifts spread throughout the weekend. These shifts are carefully spaced to maximize the entertainment value of our NPCs throughout different parts of the weekend. This extends to the need for Combat and Non-Combat roles.
Combat NPCs: These are by far the majority of NPC roles. LARPing is an active game system in which people physically engage in melee with monsters and foes, and without NPCs to play those roles, we would all be sitting around swinging at the air. If you are a player with a willingness to fight, then you should sign up for shifts that need fighters: Friday nights, Saturday afternoon and Main Mod. These shifts are prime time for fighter roles, and as you may have seen this past month, are hurt when there are few to no combat experienced folks playing.
Non Combat NPCs: Understand that these roles exist, but are not common. Non Combat NPC roles are not guaranteed to all players who want them. If you are combat capable, the Monster Marshal will ask you to fight. Do not request a non-combat role. If the Marshal wants you to have a roleplay part, they will ask you. If you are not combat capable (either a Non-Combat player, or physically incapable) then it is your responsibility to sign up for shifts that have non-combat roleplay opportunities: Friday first shift, Saturday Morning and Mid Day. It does no one any favors if you show up for the shift Main Mod is running on and say "I need a non-combat roll" because odds are, there aren't any.
I hope that this helps people understand NPC logistics a little bit better and will allow us to better entertain you in the future.
Matt V.
Logistics Officer
Matt V.
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome"
