The Rules Mountain

  There are probably too many rules at this game for any one person to know, remember, and enforce.  What I do, what the Rules Marshals do, and what the rest of the Staff of Knight Realms does is try to make that insurmountable mountain into several smaller hills that make everything run smoothly.  This post is being made to help you, the player, to make even those hills easy to work with.  The rules help make the game enjoyable and fair for everyone, and there are several systems in place that help enforce and facilitate those rules.  Contrary to popular belief every person at each event that attends and plays the game can help us make those rules easier to enforce.  

   The biggest way to do this is to mind your card.  A player’s card is who they are according to the rules, and should be treated as your own personal ‘license’.  Be proud of the way you mark off your abilities and keep track of your Career Points or Body totals, because when a card check is called the Marshals and Staff present does appreciate the diligence that a good player puts into it.  Whether it’s keeping your card from getting destroyed by the elements (which can be quite a task!) or making sure that everything that is written down is clear and concise, every bit does make a difference.

  What's on your card is just as important as how you take care of it.  The skills your character knows makes him/her who s/he is, and you as a Player should understand them just as well as your character does.  Players should trust that a Mage knows how much damage a Fireball inflicts, or how long it takes for a Smith to repair your armor.  Trusting each other and knowing your own abilities keeps the game moving which is an important part of making combat and role-playing fun.  Try to save any rules questions you have about an incident until after the encounter is over unless you think it's very relevant.

   Each of us can also make a difference by distinguishing the difference… the difference between In-Game and Out-of-Game.  This is probably the most difficult thing to become accustomed to and really does take practice.  Once Lay-On happens Knight Realms is in full swing and everyone is expected to conduct themselves properly.  This means that each player who is going to PC should immediately get into character, whether that means throwing on a costume or an accent after Opening Ceremonies, we all have our own way of blending into the atmosphere.  This can help keep the game moving, and keep your head in the persona you have created instead of being distracted by things going on outside of the game world, or outside of what the character you are currently playing may know.  Remember, knowledge is just as much of a skill at Knight Realms as Literacy, except the cost is slightly different  .

   Knight Realms is a community of people who share a common goal:  We all want the game to be fun and we all want to do our best to keep it that way.  The Rules Marshals are an important part of that process and I want to take a moment to say how important it is to not feel as if you are being singled out if you are approached by one.  Treat them with the same respect you believe is deserved to you and you will find that they truly are a benefit to everyone.  It’s easy to make a mistake, and those guys really are just there to make sure those mistakes are corrected and not left unknown.  After all, how can you correct a problem you don’t even know about?

   We all have our part to play, and my hope is that each of those parts can come together to continue to make Knight Realms a game we can all enjoy.