NPC stands for Non-player character and they’re what makes
this game work. NPCs are all the miscellaneous towns people and monsters that players encounter during an
event.
Staff and Volunteer Guidelines:
In support of our mission, the following policies define the manner in which
those providing the entertainment at NERO events, the Staff an dVolunteers who play non-player characters (NPCs) are to conduct themselves.
If you have any problems with anyone, at any time, contact a Staff member of
the local chapter immediately and they will address the issues. If Staff does
not satisfy your dilemma, contact the General Manager of the Chapter. Finally,
contact Joseph Valenti, the president of NERO, if
your situation has not been addressed.
1. Report to the Monster Marshal There is usually at least one Staff member
in Monster Camp to keep the Monster Camp and NPCs organized.
He/she is called the Monster Marshal and usually runs Monster Desk. This is the
person to whom you should report for duty and who must be informed when you
retire for the night or leave site for any reason. NPCs
who fail to do this may not receive their XP blankets for the event.
2. Know the NERO Rules As an NPC it is important
that you understand the NERO rules. If you aren’t familiar with the NERO rules
contact a staff member or the monster marshal and they’ll review the rules with
you thoroughly.
3. Know the NERO Staff As an NPC it is important
for you to know whom the Staff members are. It is equally important for our
Staff to meet and know you. Some chapters list their staff on their web site
while many place a list of their staff members on the wall at Logistics &
Monster camp at each event or introduce their staff members at opening and
closing ceremonies.
4. Have fun and ensure others do as well Staff and Volunteers (NPCs) are here to entertain the event players while
enjoying themselves. We are all NERO members and we all deserve to enjoy
ourselves. Staff and Volunteers (NPCs) are not to oppress, abuse or bully the event players, the staff or
fellow volunteers (NPCs). The quickest way to loose
your membership is to be rude, obnoxious, oppressive or disrespectful to
another NERO member.
5. Be civil It is important that NERO NPCs act appropriately while NPC’ing.
Always treat other members with respect and courtesy. If there is any dispute,
remain calm, allowing the player leeway and bring the matter to the attention
of a marshal as appropriate.
6. Help other players The quickest way to make
friends in NERO is to help anther person excel in a skill that you are advanced
in. Do not belittle or make fun of another player’s actions. As a NERO member,
when you notice another player having difficulty in a role-playing or combat
situation, take the time to introduce yourself and offer them help in mastering
their skills.
7. Make encounters fun Try to consider it your goal as Staff or Volunteer to
challenge any particular player at that player’s skill level and make the
encounter fun for them. This may mean that there are times when you should play
down your own better abilities. There are also times when plot will require you
to make an encounter hard regardless of the consequences to the players. If you
have any doubts of what should be done, ask the plot people running the event
or one of the responsible encounter leaders.
8.Help keep players calm NERO is a very high
adrenaline game. On occasion the game becomes very stressful and the players,
both PC and NPC, become excited. This is our goal, to get the players to ‘be’
their character, to ‘live’ the moment in our world. If a player gets so excited
that they begin to yell and scream out of game, it is up to the Staff, and the NPCs to calm that person down and keep the game going. If
we work together we will have great game flow and excellent role-play.
9. Be trustworthy Two of the most important aspects
of NPC’ing is Trust and Silence. The PC’s trust the NPCs to entertain them and to keep information attained
about them a secret. It is very important that staff and NPCs
do not discuss anything about other players with other NPCs
or PCs and even more important to keep the information acquired through NPC’ing out of game when you play your personal character.
Never speak out of game with other players concerning in-game topics.
10. Act fairly and honestly Never use out of game
knowledge to target a player. This includes looting them to take special items
that you know they possess through out of game knowledge, targeting them for
death or attack because you do not personally like them, or bringing an
encounter to them because there is good treasure on it and they are your
friend. Such things are unfair, hurt the game and constitute cheating.
11. Avoid public arguments and control your temper Do
not argue with anyone. NPCs should never raise their
voice aove conversation level when discussing things
with other players. Arguing with other players, NPCs or
staff members will detract from the game, the morale f NERO members, and is
detrimental to the reputation of NERO NPCs and staff.
If you get into a confrontation with an individual for any reason, politely ask
their name, introduce yourself and tell them you will go find a marshal and
catch back up with them afterward.
12. Carry documentation. Volunteers (NPCs) should
never enter game without proper documentation of their abilities and a
Volunteer (NPC) can never modify their documentation regardless of whether they
think it will be more challenging or fun for players. If a group of NPCs enter game with a lead Volunteer it is acceptable for
the lead Volunteer to have all the documentation for the group. Some players
may want to carry their own documentation for reference.
13. Be thorough in your documentation. Always
document the specific spells and equipment (gases included) you are carrying on
an appropriate skill sheet, with tags or on a piece of paper. Documenting
spells and equipment will decrease or eliminate the perception that NPCs always conveniently have the counter spell or
equipment for any PC action taken. If using the Cast on the fly (COTF) system,
please be sure that you are permitted to cast all spells (ie
- no death spells, awaken, dispel magic, etc) as many chapters using COTF limit
the spells usable by NPCs.
14. Observe the cabin rules NPCs who are not
designated search or steal active (written on NPC documentation) should never
enter a PCs cabin to search. Furthermore, NPCs may
not enter the cabin of any PC and search through their belongings without a
marshal present to observe your actions. This is done to protect people’s
personal belongings and their privacy, and protect you from possible legal
implications. A marshal must be present should there be any concern that
out-of-game items were taken and/or the proper rules were followed for taking
in-game items.
15. Don’t make encounters more deadly than intended Death is part of the
game but it is not the mission of each and every NPC to deliver. If you are not
killing blow active, you must not take extraordinary measures to ensure a
player dies. This includes sending them into the woods as a raised undead until
their death count is over, placing virtually untouchable and deadly to guard
over their body until they die an/or resurrect or putting them in a circle of
power or warded building to ensure that they die. Deaths like this are simply
not cool or fun. Most PCs want to be afraid but want the chance to be snatched
from the jaws of death by heroic action or ingenuity or at worst, to die a
glorious death worthy of telling. Giving people such chances makes the game
more fun and makes it seem fairer.
16. Observe established controls on your power and motivations. You may not play a monster that has the ability to deliver
killing blows or search and steal from PCs without permission of the staff
members running plot for the event. In general, Killing Blow, Search and/or
Steal active NPCs must be accompanied by a
responsible encounter leader. If you have any doubts about the monster you have
been handed to play, ask the proper staff member what you are and are not
permitted to do.
17. Manage your treasure properly In general there
is an established amount of treasure for particular monsters to carry. When you
leave monster camp, be sure you have enough treasure for each of your
lives/resets. In a hectic battle where you need to reset in a hurry, if no one
loots you do not drop the money on the ground unless instructed to by the
encounter leader (never at night).
18. Never steal treasure. Never take treasure from
NPC camp to keep for you character. This is considered cheating and when caught
you will be banned from NPC’ing as well as suffer
losses to your character for doing this.
19. Help preserve the in-game atmosphere. We prefer
that you travel in-game anywhere and everywhere. At least grab a tabard and go
out as a farmer when going to the bathrooms, or walking to the tavern for some
food. If we all stay in-game, all the time, the atmosphere of the game will
always be in-game, and fewer people will interrupt with out of game statements.
If you have to go out of game, you must have a white headband on. Failure to
abide by this rule could result in your removal from the camp, perhaps an
extreme action, but worth it to keep our in-game atmosphere from being
destroyed.
20. Help clean and care for Monster Camp and props Replace the lids on
make-up tubes and pancake containers. Every event there will be some lids
missing, some caps that have rolled off the table, or pancake make-up that fell
to the floor. These things contribute most to the use and loss of our make-up.
If we are all careful with applying and removing make-up, we’ll keep it in good
condition and waste very little. Throw garbage in the trashcans. People often
leave their trash on the table or on the floor for other people to throw away.
When you are finished with a particular item and it becomes trash, please place
it in the garbage can. In Monster Camp - If you knock something over or drop
something, pick it up. If you see someone else knock something over, politely inform
him or her that they knocked it over and ask him or her to pick it up, and then
go over and help them to pick it up. During an opportune time, be sure to
introduce yourself to the other person with your name and asking him/hers. If
we all work together, Monster Camp can stay clean. Return weapons, tabards,
masks and other props to the appropriate person or place. Do NOT throw these
things on the floor, on a table, lean them up against the wall or toss them
‘anywhere’ you want. The quickest way to be banned from NPC’ing
is to treat the costumes, masks, weapons and other props with less than
appropriate care.
Any player who NPC for an event will receive an automatic
max out and 100 Goblins, which can be spent on coin/production, blankets or to
buy back character deaths. Check out: our goblin page for more information!
NPCs get into events for only $5/game day. So, it
is an easier on the budget way to still get to play.
The automatic max out is a great way to gain build/levels for your character
and not worry about the dangers of PC'ing like
deaths, thefts, etc.
You get expanded roleplay experience from the
variety of playing different types of characters. So, it's a great way to learn
the game from fighting to accents!
It is also great way to get to know the other players and staff!
So, try NPCing to get to know the game and your
chapter better!
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