Whether you’re a seasoned LARPer looking for a new game or new to LARP as a whole, we hope that this guide and these resources can help you get the most out of your first game with us.
Should you have any questions, please take a look at the Staff Directory for what questions to direct to each team.
If you haven’t joined already, we highly suggest you join both our Facebook Group and Discord Server. The Discord is the best place for rapid questions and answers and getting to know the staff, volunteers, and fellow players.
A huge thank you to Ophelia Sinclair, Xe Marriott, and Rachel Taylor for the creation of this guide!
We suggest that everyone read the Rulebook in its entirety first before taking any further steps to join our game. It contains not just game mechanics but also setting information, brief Lore summaries, and a step-by-step process for character creation. If you are new to LARPing, we suggest reading pages 12-14 of the Rulebook first. This is a good quick guide for what to expect from a LARP.
Please read our Policies before attending your first event. This is important because when you attend a Call of the Void game, you are agreeing to abide by all of our policies, especially our Code of Conduct, the rules set out in the Rulebook, and especially our Covid-19 Policies. For questions on these, please reach out to Game Runners.
The next step is to familiarize yourself with the world of the game by reading through the Lore Library. Not all of the lore must be read to play our game, but we suggest reading as much as possible to get a good understanding. The more lore you read, the more you will be able to get out of our game. At minimum, we suggest reading about the provinces, the factions, Hargrove, the Church and Religion, and whatever parts of the culture that you would like to be the most entrenched in.
Finally, we suggest looking at the Plot Portal in order to see not just how Plot functions, but also what to expect out of a game. Plot will be the team that provides most of the story and action of a game. All players at an event will interact with Plot in one way or another.
Once you have decided to attend a game, it's time to decide either on if you will PC or NPC. For information on NPCing, please visit the NPC Guide. Everyone who wants to NPC can only do so with Plot approval. Once approved, NPCs will also have special registration instructions that will be shared by Plot Team.
If you would like to PC, then it's time to start working on character creation and registration.
First, each player must submit a character backstory in order to play. A backstory is a recording of your character’s life up until the time they arrive at Hargrove, where the game takes place. For guidance through this process, please see the Character Guides page and their Backstory Guide. Character Guides are more than happy to collaborate with anyone who needs help with creating a character. Even if you just have an idea, please reach out to them through characterguides@cotvlarp.com.
Next, each player must have an approved character sheet. Logistics is the team that oversees the creation, approval, and updating of character sheets. Once your backstory is approved, send an email with what quirks and skills (as listed in the Rulebook) that you would like your character to have. All new players have 7 XP to spend for their first game. You can also purchase up to an additional 3 XP through the donations on the Donations Page.
Finally, each player must fulfill all the requirements for registration. You’ll see what is required and the important deadlines on the event page for the upcoming event. Several things will always be required:
A character backstory approved by CGs
A character sheet approved by Logistics
A ticket purchased at least 48 hours before the event
Your name on the bunk list to reserve where you are sleeping
A completed registration form
There will be a checklist that Logistics updates regularly that tracks registration completion of each attendee. When in doubt, please refer to this checklist or reach out to the Logistics Team.
We offer both medical accommodations for sleeping arrangements and financial assistance for tickets. To ask about either of these, reach out to Logistics through email.
If you would like to be fed at game, please look into partaking in the Player Meal Plan. This is not run by staff, but it is offered by members of the community. New players are able to be part of the meal plan for free their first game.
What a character wears while in game is important. If can show much of who the character is or wants to be. We strongly suggest that new players review the Aesthetics Guide for direction and inspiration for what to wear at game. There is also a Lore article briefly talking about the culture of fashion in Elan.
To help players build garb, we’ve created suggest the following. When selecting fabrics and styles for this game, think on what your character would wear to represent who they are and what their goal is in entering Hargrove. Keep in mind the type of labor they partake in, if any, and wear things that wouldn’t be out of place in the late 1800s.
Most of NPC garb has been sourced from second hand and thrift shops. We strongly suggest these places for people who want to create a character wardrobe on a budget. Both online and brick-and-mortar retail stores may have things you need as well. Additionally, there are numerous patterns for the 1890s era that can be found in fabric and craft stores.
In addition to what the Aesthetics guide states, we request that our players not conflate the late-1800s frontier aesthetic for the more modern “cowboy” aesthetic. We advise against denim jackets, ten-gallon hats, embroidered shirts, big belt buckles, and emblazoned boots.
Decorating the space you will be bunking in, while not required, can help add to the immersion and atmosphere of the game. As with clothing, please avoid anything that leans too much toward the steampunk aesthetic and anything that would be considered culturally appropriative. The Aesthetics Guide is also a great place to look for deco suggestions.
When in doubt, you can always reach out to the Aesthetics Team through the Discord to review any purchases or ideas. They're more than happy to help.
Before attending a game, it's best to review a few things before you get there
That all steps of your registration have been completed
Your character's backstory if you're PCing
The rules (for a quick reference sheet of the rules, click here)
The event page for any information about getting to site
That you've packed everything you need (for a suggested packing list, click here)
Call of the Void Policies (both in the rulebook and on this site)
For the safety of our community of players and staff, COTV’s policies, especially around player interactions, roleplay, and environmental navigation, are required reading for admission to game. Having an understanding of each pillar of COTV’s gameplay is amazingly important to your enjoyment of game and the enjoyment of everyone else playing.
The location of the event and instructions on getting there will always be included on the event page for the upcoming game.
It is required for all players to go immediately to Check-In as soon as they get to site (even before unpacking). Check-In will be open between 5 PM and 9 PM. If you will be late to Check-In, email Logistics at logistics@cotvlarp.com to make arrangements. Emails about late Check-In will not be accepted after 12:00 PM on the day of the event. For more information about Check-In (what to bring, process, and more requirements), please look at the Check-In page here.
There will be a new player orientation at 9 PM on the first day of the event. For more information on that, please reach out to the New Player Guide.
Opening announcements begin at 10 PM on the first day of game. Every player must attend opening announcements unless they have arranged with Logistics that they will be late to game.
Try your best to get involved with others.
"Bring downtime activities that can entertain you, give you IC activity, and open conversations! Crochet and knitting, card games, table games, all sorts of little things can give depth to your character, and give you a good activity to do in the moments of free time you can pick up. Or, get involved in a game of Crazy 8s. It'll get you." - K K.
When in doubt, go talk to Plot! They're here to help you tell your story.
"Plot Camp isn't an enemy of the players, and they won't punish you if you make choices NPCs don't like. They won't go after your character without a reason, and it'll be to advance your story. Plot is there to help support building your collaborative story, and you can talk to them, especially if you are at a loss as to what to do." - Nick R.
"That you can just meander down to plot like "hey I wanna get into some shit" is such valuable knowledge." - Leo F.
Bring something for if it gets slow between involvement in plots.
"Bring downtime activities that can entertain you, give you IC activity, and open conversations! Crochet and knitting, card games, table games, all sorts of little things can give depth to your character, and give you a good activity to do in the moments of free time you can pick up." - K K.
Pack properly for the weather.
"Do not think you can get away with not wearing base layers. If it says it's gonna be 50 degrees, dress for 30. Bring warm sleeping stuff and do not be afraid to ask around for extras if you're cold. Also PLEASE waterproof your gear and have a towel just in case you get mega wet." - Wren M.
"I definitely didn't realize when staff said "hey pack warm it's gonna be cold and wet" they meant "hey it's gonna be hella fucking cold and wet," so I spent a lot of time in front of the fire." - Leo F.
"Take a break for a drink or snack when you feel cold. Bring extra socks. Speak up if you can't warm up, we super don't want you to freeze. If you have room, pack a lil throw blanket to use in dry areas. Layers matter to keep cozy." - K K.
Our rules are meant for accessibility, not nitpicking.
"I notice people (even LARP veterans) stressing about their calls. So knowing "just do your best" when making your skill calls, and that people will do their best to interpret that information as it was intended, is good to know." - Nick R.
Game is over at 11 AM on the last day of game. Immediately after this is Closing Announcements, which we encourage everyone to attend. Between 11 AM and 2 PM is site clean-up and packing. All players must clean the spaces they've used according to the site directions. Additionally, staff will call for volunteers to clean other places at closing announcements.
For the week following game, staff will be on hiatus. They will not be answering requests or emails. This is to ensure that everyone has time to recover before once again taking up their duties. After this hiatus, there is usually a feedback form that goes out to ask the players how they felt about the recent game. Staff appreciates any and all feedback - whether it be through the form or through email. However, we ask that all players allow for the full week to pass before giving any to a staff team. This is to help mitigate both bleed and drop.
For more information on what LARP Bleed and LARP Drop are, please see our articles linked here:
After your first game is concluded, we hope that you will join us again!