In character Camping guidelines

Tents

Key terms:

IC - In-Character
OoC - Out Of Character
RP - roleplay

Tent Guidelines

Any tent erected in the IC area must be appropriate to the setting and time period represented at the event. We aim to avoid visual anachronisms that could disrupt the experience for others.

Prohibited Tents :

Modern looking tents, including, but not limited to:

Brightly coloured nylon dome tents
Party tents with shiny or plastic looking materials
Any tent made from synthetic materials that reflect light or clearly appear out of place in a historical or fantastical setting
Plastic or synthetic gazebo coverings

Acceptable Tents:

The ideal tent is made from canvas which aligns with the aesthetic of the setting.

Impregnated fabric of some modern tents may be allowed if thick enough and lacking in a shiny or reflective surface
The core requirement is that the tent must look convincingly IC, like a tent you might see in a historical or fantasy film

By following these guidelines, you contribute to a more cohesive, immersive environment that benefits the whole player community. Thank you for taking the time to ensure your setup supports the shared world of Menhir’s Fate.

If you are unsure if your tent meets IC requirements, send a photo or link to Nation Support or to rules@ and we will let you know.

Guylines

Guylines should be kept short if requested by your nation’s camp planning team.

They should not interfere with access roads.

Bright colours are useful for accessibility reasons and should not be classed as immersion breaking.

Lighting such as fairy lights or solar lamps in keeping with the setting around guy lines help them to be identifiable in the dark.

Tent Support

An IC tent does not have to look IC on the inside provided that it is only being used as a private sleeping space. If RP is going to take place inside the canvas, then the inside must look in keeping with the setting.

(Photos provided by Kit)

Keeping Warm

The key to keeping warm at night involves layers for you, your bed, and the tent itself.

Things that can help:

Floor coverings - helps stop the cold from seeping in
Getting off the floor - camp bed, air mattress (with layers underneath)
Store OC items under a camp bed to help stop air movement
Blankets in the sleeping bag - helps to avoid compression and limiting of sleeping bag effectiveness
Hot water bottles can be useful, filled and placed in the sleeping bag 1-2 hours before going to bed
Have a snack before bed - helps to generate body heat
30 star jumps to get your blood moving around
A pair of clean, dry socks for sleeping in

Essentials

Being a Good IC neighbour

Volume - avoid loud late night conversations, tents do not block out any noise
After timeout, be mindful of how loud you might be speaking (and other things)
Be aware of your limits - if drinking, avoid hitting the point where you are likely to be unsteady on your feet and could fall into people’s tents/trip over guylines
Avoid dropping character in the IC field
- Have OC conversations away from the main field or away from moments of RP
Keep your space tidy and OC item free
- Helps keep immersion for all players and crew

Keeping the IC field looking like an IC space

All set dressing including lighting and storage should be in keeping with the setting’s aesthetics and time period:

Lighting:

Should be in-keeping with the setting
- Fake candles, lanterns, glow-stones, light-crystals (whatever you want to call them)
OC parts (battery packs/power sources) should be tucked out of sight
- Ensure you have enough power for charging these or enough batteries to last the weekend
Use lighting to mark out your guylines (you can hang lights on the lines or put lights over/on the pegs)

Storage:

All OC items should be hidden, covered or stored in an IC way
- This could be in an IC tent, under a setting appropriate blanket or in storage that looks IC
  - Wicker baskets/ottomans that fold down, wooden boxes or chests, even plastic boxes covered with a blanket
Have an easy to access IC box for OC items (should be labelled) that you may need regularly
- Suncream, pain killers, first aid kit, bug spray. Keep anything personally prescribed or more dangerous securely stored and well labelled

Seating:

Must be in keeping with the setting
Wooden and canvas chairs make great options
OC chairs can be used on site but MUST be covered with something large enough to hide it completely
- This could be a blanket or a bedsheet over a modern camping chair

Electronic Devices:

Time Out

Electronic devices can be used as normal

Time in

Electronic devices should not be used on the IC field to help maintain immersion
Photography and videography on the IC field is prohibited during time in unless you are one of the photographers with permission (See photography page for more info on rules and the code of conduct)
Electronic devices such as tablets and mobile phones may be used within the privacy of an enclosed IC tent or space
- if required for accessibility reasons, care must be taken to ensure that the device looks within keeping of the event (decorated, hidden in an IC manner to avoid immersion breaking)

Rubbish:

Make sure you have enough binbags to last the weekend
Use a hessian/burlap sack to hide the bag in or wrapping a pop-up bin in an IC cover
Please take your full bin bags to the skip as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary rubbish build up in IC spaces.

IC Cooking :

Cooking is encouraged on the IC field but should be in keeping with the setting where possible
Use of OC equipment like camping gas cookers is allowed provided safety measures are taken and they are stored out of sight when not in use
- Cooking equipment should not be left unattended and must always be turned off, flames extinguished, and fuel sources securely stored when finished with

Upgrades

IC Field Space - Upgrades to Consider

Storage:

Wooden Trunks and Chests
Jewellery boxes and small item storage

Set Dressing:

IC blankets and covers for surfaces
IC or period appropriate mirrors and lights
Clothes racks or stands, if you have space