Introduction to Rules

Greetings, Adventurers!

Welcome to the immersive world of Menhirs Fate, where your imagination comes to life and epic tales unfold. Whether you are a seasoned LARPer or embarking on your first adventure, this rulebook is your guide to the game’s mechanics, safety protocols, and the rich lore that shapes our shared universe.

Our Mission: At Menhirs Fate, our mission is to create a safe, inclusive, and exhilarating environment where players can explore new personas, engage in thrilling quests, and build lasting friendships. This rulebook ensures everyone understands the guidelines that keep our game fun and fair for all participants.

Getting Started: In the pages that follow, you will find everything you need to know to embark on your journey. From character creation and costume guidelines to combat rules and magic systems, each section is designed to help you navigate the complexities of the game. We encourage you to read through this rulebook thoroughly and refer back to it as needed throughout your adventures.

The World Awaits: Prepare to step into a realm of magic and mystery, where heroes are born, legends are made, and every decision shapes the world around you. As you don your costume and take on your character’s mantle, remember that the power of this game lies in your hands. Your choices, actions, and creativity will bring Menhirs Fate to life in ways that are uniquely yours.

Thank you for joining us on this adventure. Let’s make unforgettable memories together!

Introduction to the rules

Out of character (OOC)

In the world of live-action role-playing (LARP), participants embody characters within a fictional universe, interacting with each other and the environment according to the rules and lore of the game. However, there are times when players need to step outside their character roles for various reasons. This is referred to as being "Out of Character" (OOC).

Races

In Menhirs Fate all player characters are humans from 1 of the 9 nations in the mundane world. Humans can be influenced by the magical spheres which can produce physical changes and influences upon them but they still remain human.

Menhirs Fate Team

Referees and Crew Members

Referees and crew members are essential to ensuring a smooth, fair, and safe LARP experience. They enforce rules, resolve conflicts, and oversee player safety. Additionally, referees facilitate the storyline by introducing plot elements and NPCs (Non Player Characters), while managing the logistical aspects of the game, such as coordinating events and maintaining the immersive environment. Their guidance and support helps players engage fully in the adventure. If a referee gives you a direct instruction, please follow it immediately.

Medics/Event Support/Security

These people attend the events for the safety and well-being of all present. If you are given an instruction by a member of this team, please follow it immediately.

Dangerous Play

Menhirs Fate considers the following actions to be dangerous play. Please note this list is examples of dangerous play, there may be other actions that also fall under this bracket but are not listed:

Charging or Leaping at Shield Walls: Do not charge or leap at shields with the intention of colliding with body weight. This is dangerous for both the charger and the recipients. If you charge at a shield wall during combat, stop short of collision, similar to pulling back a weapon blow.
Parrying with non-padded objects: Parrying blows with non-padded objects and props, such as a bow, is forbidden.
Physical Combat: Kicking, punching, or any form of martial arts is strictly forbidden.
Thrusting: Only use suitable thrust-safe weapons for thrusting.
Combat Under Influence: Participating in combat while under the influence of any substance, including alcohol, is extremely dangerous. If a Ref deems a player to be under such influence, the player will be told to refrain from combat until sober.
Unpulled Blows: Always remember to pull your blows, meaning you should stop a weapon swing before it contacts an opponent. A light tap is enough to register a hit without causing injury. New players or those unsure how to do this should seek basic weapon training from a member of the Menhirs Fate team.

If you have any questions around dangerous play, please talk to a Volunteer who will be able to explain further. We ask all participants of Menhirs Fate events to be safety aware and conduct themselves in such a way to benefit everyone's safety and enjoyment.

Maintaining Safe Play

If a member of the Menhirs Fate team sees a person doing actions that they believe to be dangerous they will take the player aside and discuss the problem with them. This may result in a note being placed on their player record, the player being asked to remove themselves from the current encounter, or in more serious situations be restricted from participating in combat until a referee agrees they have sufficiently improved.

If the player continues to act in a dangerous fashion, they may be asked to leave site and their ability to return to the game will be considered by the relevant team after the event.

If there are any questions or queries about this process, then a Ref will be able to discuss with the player, at Ref HQ in the OC Customer Service tent, after the combat.

Safety in Menhirs Fate

In Menhirs Fate we have a multi levelled plot which means that encounters and fights are likely to come to your camp as well as you going out on adventures to find them.

Because of this when fighting it is key to remain aware of the following things (Our referee team will also be vigilant in upholding the safety of all participants but we cannot be everywhere all the time, so please assist with the following):

Fires/Fire pits - Please ensure you are not fighting near a real fire, or pushing people towards fires when fighting. If this situation does happen, please communicate with those involved and move the fighting away from the fires.
Tents - Do not fight inside tents - this may damage the tent, as well as participants. If a fight breaks out in a tent, move it immediately outside the tent (this also means that if you are in a combat situation, do not flee into a tent for any reason). There may be occasional combat during encounters in the dungeon tent area, which are specifically permitted to occur inside those specific tents.
Guy ropes - Try where possible to ensure that guy ropes are well lit and not likely to be in the way of the main area of play. If someone does have an accident involving a guyrope, stop fighting them and help them up, ensuring they are okay. If they are unhurt then continue your fighting away from the guy ropes.
Unsafe ground/Area - While fighting be aware of your general surroundings and ensure that you are not fighting in a location that is unsafe (bushes, cliffs, ditches, large puddles, lava).
Touching - In Menhirs Fate we ask that participants do not touch each other unless you have clear consent from them. Please instead use the ‘hover hands’ system. i.e putting your hands a few inches away from the person.

Closed Tents - It is assumed that a closed tent is always out of character. This means that there is no reason to open a tent that is not yours. This is a person's private area and we would ask all participants to respect that.

Red lights for Safety

Any participant can use a Red Light for Safety purposes. Our Refs may use these to be unobtrusive while maintaining safety and players may also do this. In situations where a participant is using a light in this way we will brief others to grant some leeway for things such as stealth encounters but you will not be undetectable and can still be interacted with.

Safety Calls in Menhirs Fate

Most commonly the following calls will be made by a member of Menhirs Fate Team and are purely out of character and are for use in safety situations only. As a player feel free to use them if a Ref member is not present in the area.

If you hear any of these calls, Immediately stop what you're doing and follow the instructions of the Ref or Menhirs team member present.

Player Down

This signal indicates a genuine injury has occurred. All activities in the immediate area must stop while the situation is assessed and first aid administered as needed. Anyone can make this call, but it should be done cautiously. Please refrain from calling "player down" across a battlefield or skirmish unless you are alerting Menhirs Fate Team to a dangerous situation that has not been noticed. Refs work diligently to localise incidents to minimise disruption to gameplay. If you are near a "player down" situation, kneel and stay in place until Menhirs Fate Refs instructs you to move or resume play. This call should never be used for in-character purposes.

Safety

This indicates that the area is unsafe for an out of character reason. All activities in the immediate area must stop while the situation is assessed. Refs work diligently to localise incidents to minimise disruption to gameplay. If you are near a ’Safety’ situation, stay in place until Menhirs Fate team instruct you to move or resume play. This call should never be used for in-character purposes.

Gameplay Calls

These calls will only be made by Refs to facilitate the game.

Time Freeze

This signal denotes a pause in the game world. Upon hearing this call, all participants must freeze in place, close their eyes, and hum or otherwise make a little noise to cover the noise of movement until ‘Time In’ is announced. When ‘Time In’ is called, players should resume exactly what they were doing before the pause, as if the event never occurred, until they learn of it in-character.

Time Out

This signals a suspension of play. During a Time Out, you may relax, sit down, or chat out-of-character (OOC). This call is also made at the end of each day of play and at the conclusion of an event.

Time In

This call initiates play at the start of each day of the event and resumes play after any of the previous calls.

Hand signals

All players must be aware of these hand signals and may be instructed by Refs to use them.

Finger in the air

This signals that the person isn’t there and cannot be seen. Please refrain from interacting or responding to any person with their hand in the air.

Thumb down in the air

This signals that the person is a non-combatant, and it is no longer safe to fight in their vicinity. Please move the fighting safely away from them.

Closed fist in the air

This signals that the person is currently invisible and cannot be seen. There are ways to detect or see invisible creatures and people (including one rite). Invisible creatures and people may still interact with others and be interacted with in other ways such as touch and can be heard.

Non-Combatant Rules

There is an array of reasons why a person may be a non-combatant (sometimes called non-com) in Menhirs Fate. It is a player's choice if they wish to follow the Non-Com rules. In some situations, Menhirs Fate team members will inform players that they must refrain from combat.

Players may judge for themselves according to their needs if they are currently a non-combatant. We ask that people do not change from non-combatant to combatant during an encounter so as to not risk any injuries or confusion.

While you are a non-combatant, when there is combat, remove yourself from the immediate area of the combat so that you are in a safe location (in character). If you are unable to remove yourself from the location for any reason, then please clearly do a thumbs down and communicate that you are a non-combatant. This indicates that although you are there (IC) you do not wish to be a combat target. After the fight, please lower your hand (signifying you are now happy for people to interact with you, and you are back in play). At this point the character will take at least one point of damage - look at the fight that has taken place, and take more damage if appropriate (up to being put in a critical state).

We ask that non-combatants do not carry any weapons on them while at our events. This will better allow us to identify people who are non-combatant. If there are any questions about what counts as a weapon, then please contact a referee and they will be able to offer clarity.

Non-Coms and Excursions

It is likely that many combat excursions will not be suitable for players using the non-com rules. They will need to discuss with the Nation Support volunteer team if it is suitable for them to participate based on the level of combat expected.

Cheating

Unfortunately, there are individuals who choose to bend or disregard rules when it benefits them. This not only disrupts fair play but also frustrates those who strive to play honestly.

Players should understand that Refs are sometimes instructed to inquire about characters' skills and items. This should not be taken personally; it's simply part of maintaining fairness. Additionally, it's impossible for any single referee to be aware of everything happening in the game at all times. If a player is observed cheating, a Ref will inform them directly about what they are doing wrong. Persistent cheating catches the attention of Refs, leading to a conversation with the player involved. Continued cheating may result in the player losing the right to participate in certain areas of the game or even to participate further at Menhirs Fate events.

Participants at Menhirs Fate are requested and required to uphold the spirit (not just the letter) of the rules of play.