EPIC EMPIRES Event UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Version 1 from 30-Dec-2014

EPIC EMPIRES

- Rules & FAQ -

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1. About EPIC EMPIRES 3

1.1 What is EPIC EMPIRES 3 1.2 Maximum Immersion 3

2. General Rules 4 2.1 Rules 4 2.2 You can what you can present 4

2.2.1 Victim rule 4 2.2.2 Hollywood-style 5 2.2.3 No telling! 5

2.3 Alliances and diplomatic treaties vs. Conflict play 5

3. Fights 6

3.1 General Rules 6 3.2 Responsibility for your gear 6 3.3 No Debates! 7 3.4 Physicality in battle 7

3.4.1 Without arrangement 7 3.4.2 With arrangement 7

a) The EPIC-EMPIRES-AUFS-MAUL-CODEX (AMC) 8 b) Individual arrangements 9

3.4.4 Excessive physicality 9

3.5 In-game injuries and armor 10 3.5.1 Injuries 10 3.5.2 Armor 10 3.5.5 Armor, a pictured guide 10

3.6 Healing and death 12 3.6.1 Healing 12 3.6.2 Death and its effect 12

3.7 Siege 13

4. Magic 13

5. FAQ 14

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1. About EPIC EMPIRES 1.1 What is EPIC EMPIRES? Our main aim when starting EPIC EMPIRES, was to create a deep world everybody could completely plunge into. Everything else was subordinated to this idea. Apart from some small areas, the complete IT area is in time 24/7 as of the opening ritual. According to this it may come to any actions or fight anywhere at any time. In order to let the game run freely, the Refs are staying discreetly in the background. Play and game experience are central. Instead of counting points and make you work through paragraphs, we decided to create a highly simplified rule system basing on self-responsibility and human intellect/common sense. To ensure this EPIC EMPIRES is for adults (18+) only. To guarantee the best possible immersion we established some rules like the ban of OT-Tents or the prereq for costume guides for all different camps and city districts. Camps are being organized by their own internal crews (normal players) in a self-responsible way. These crews are managing the registration of their players, coordinate their constructions and build up own camp rules. To improve game play and constructions we set up some financial systems every camp can apply to.

1.2 Maximum Immersion To guarantee the best game play experience EPIC EMPIRES is based on the following fundamentals everybody has to follow.

Goodbye igloos: It is forbidden to bring any non IT usable tents. This includes plastic tents and pavilions, disaster protection tents as well as camping cloth tents from the sixties. To camouflage such tents with e.g. cloth is also not allowed. Explicitly excluded from this rule are NPC, as tents are located in a special OT area.

Goodbye waste: The ambiance of a camp has to be as high as possible. This is why leaving waste or anything else that impacts the quality of camp ambiance is strictly forbidden. Please remember we're not a festival and we're not at a barbeque. Our aim with EPIC EMPIRES is to create a world in which you and all others can immerse yourselves.

Goodbye pirate shirts: The costume standard of EPIC EMPIRES is one reason for its rising success. Every player follows the costume guide given by his camp or district. The aim is NOT to have some kind of elitist LARP but to keep the high standard of our players or even improve it.

Goodbye whining: EPIC EMPIRES fight philosophy is: No whining, no debates, no complaining. Fights on EPIC EMPIRES are usually a bit harder than you might be used to from other events. You should be aware of this, before engaging into a fight. More about fights can be found on our new rules under 3.4 Hardship in battle.

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2. General Rules

2.1 Rules EPIC EMPIRES is a 24/7 IT event. This means there can be IT actions and fights anytime and anywhere. Notwithstanding some special areas like the Orgaplex and the sanitary installations. What is not forbidden within the rule system falls under the rule of human intellect. This means, we are not telling you that you shouldn't throw 5 kilo stone blocks from the palisade or which armor level your opponent needs to have so you'd be allowed to charge him. Beside all existing rules there is always our absolute main rule:

“You are responsible for all your actions, as well as the consequences those might have.” This starts with burning holes in the ground, damage of property up to malicious wounding. Self-responsibility also includes to waive anything you can‘t assess. Is the palisade climbable? Does the guy in front of me have a problem when I charge him at full speed? Just because something is absolutely normal to you and just because this is not explicitly forbidden in the rules, doesn't make it to a good idea. It simply doesn't have to be the same for other participants. A hard strike on somebody's unprotected head might be as normal for you as to fondle a waitress in a tavern or climb an unsecured 5 meter palisade. Such behavior is not going to be tolerated either by us or your co-players. Especially when it is not okay for your co-players we feel in the responsibility the react which might end in fact with you being expelled from the event directly.

2.2 You can do what you can present This literal German translation actually describes another fundamental of EPIC EMPIRES. There are no points for abilities or skills, it’s all about presentation. This is complemented with something we call [2.2.1 victim rule]. Talking about presentation, please keep in mind that on EPIC EMPIRES the aspiration level of presentation is very high. So it’s not about presenting it somehow but [2.2.2 Hollywood-style] and [2.2.3 No Telling!].

2.2.1 Victim rule The victim rule actually means that you as the „victim“ of an action fully decide about the consequences this has for you and your character. So it’s up to the victim of an assassination if the character dies once and for all or (thanks to EE rules [3.6 Healing and death]) survives. However this is not a free ticket for cheating, as there has always to be suitable reaction. As victim of a spell you should at least have a grim look or fight against it with an eloquently speech to show the co-player that you recognized the spell but managed to resist. Then again you can never expect from your opponent to react as you'd like in any particular situation. So can't he, so the victim rules’ freedom is valid for everyone.

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2.2.2 Hollywood-style Our and your co-players expectations towards you are: Play the scene as if you are in a good movie. The focus of EPIC EMPIRES lies on the presentation and the acting in a scene. Loud bawling, groaning, staggering after being hit, screaming when being injured, all that makes a scene more intense and more real is part of this. Just try to give someone looking at the scene the impression as if he was watching a good movie (where heroes also suffer!). Try to put the presentation into the center. Of course it is inefficient to stagger around or reach for cover after being hit but your opponent, who is also playing Hollywood-style, might then take a big swing to give you time to catch up, instead of covering you with staccato hits to breach the defense line, which is efficient, but shabby.

2.2.3 No telling! Telling describes the verbal description of an effect to someone instead of presenting. I.e. shouting your weapons damage „2, 2, 2...“, magical spell „lightning bolt”, or the effect of a potion, like „poison“, „paralysis“ etc. The general rule here is: If an effect can’t be communicated in another way than verbally, then do not do it! If possible you can transfer the presentation to non-verbal communication. Instead of shouting „2“, you can wield the weapon accordingly. Instead of screaming „lightning bolt“, you could use a SAFE but nice pyrotechnical effect. If the reaction to this is not as expected, please keep in mind that according to [2.2.1 victims rule] this is still totally okay.

2.3 Alliances and diplomatic treaties vs. conflict play EPIC EMPIRES is an action driven battle event and will always be As nice as the creation of alliances and friendship treaties can be, as deadly are they for everyone’s fun. Two diplomats signing a ceasefire „for“ their camps, force hundreds of players to inactivity and boredom. Please keep in mind that absolute majority of player is coming to bash each other up. Doing this diplomatic stuff destroys the fun and play of all other players on the event. Use your creativity and your eloquence instead to raise old conflicts or open up new ones and move forward well thought to escalate the spiral of violence. In short: Don't do ceasefire or peace treaties. You’re on EPIC EMPIRES to fight big battles and hard fights, not to sit around and aim for Nobel Peace Prize.

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3. Fights

3.1 General Rules No static battle lines: There is nothing more boring than two battle lines fighting each

other at 1 or 2 meters distance. Try to avoid this whenever possible. This is absolutely misplaced on EPIC EMPIRES.

STOP Order: There is NO stop order announced by players or NPC's. STOP Orders are only given by the refs except there is a real treat to health or someone’s life! There is especially no STOP for any material lying around like swords arrows, glasses or any other gear.

Self-evaluation: If a fight becomes OT too dangerous for you, please fall back from the situation. It’s not a shame when wearing no armor, you do not want find yourself between two highly armored battle lines crushing into each other. You’re always responsible for your own security.

No debates: Debates about correct play with your opponent in battle are strictly forbidden. [See 3.3 No Debates ]

No gear check by the team: You are always responsible for the safety status of your gear, such as armor and weapons! [3.2 Responsibility for your gear]

Findings: The team doesn't take any lost property during a battle. Excessive violence in battle may lead to exclusion from the event. [3.4.3 excessive violence]

3.2 Responsibility for your gear As organizers of the event, we do not do any safety checks of your gear. As responsible player, you are responsible for your weapons and insuring they are safe to use. If we see you using any gear that we consider not to be safe, we'll take it out of the game. This concerns weapons as well as anything else like armory, shields, arrows and bolts. If you are endangering yourself and others, you are potentially not qualified for self-responsible play. In this case we reserve the right to expel you from the event.

3.3 No Debates! EPIC EMPIRES is an action driven battle event. Our battlefields are not a debating society. We try to enable a very high level of immersion to every participant. If you distract your co-players from this experience because you want to discuss with someone about the damage rate of two-handed weapons or his „armour count“, then the battlefield on EPIC EMPIRES is surely the wrong place for you to be. If your opponent is not behaving in an inadequate way, just pass over it. Leave the situation if necessary and try to speak OT with him after the situation is over, in order to not disturb any ongoing play. Responsible for the clearing of this situation are only you and the person in front of you. Anything not relevant to safety has time until the fight is over.

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If you’re stuck in your discussion you can get in contact with your camp management or a game master for mediation. However if his way to fight is too hard for you, leave the scene. If after a short break you still feel he acted too hard, please feel free to approach him off side. If there is no possibility to do this, memorize his appearance („he had a helmet and pointed ears” is not a really sufficient description). If really necessary we can find anyone later with the help of the camp management when having a good characterization.

3.4 Physicality in battle Fights on EPIC EMPIRES should be very dynamic and nice to look at – simply epic. This is why players are relatively free in how they want to fight. Everything is possible, if wanted by BOTH(!) Sides. So there needs to be an arrangement between the parties. If you and your opponent would like to beat yourselves on your helmets then an EPIC EMPIRES game master will totally accept this. This is why the event is for 18+ only. Reserving the event for adults and self-responsible players as unrestricted as possible, worked very well the last years. Nevertheless there have been some irritations from time to time. Especially for players being there the first time and making the conclusion from harder fights that anything was allowed. This is why we now decided to make absolutely clear, what is allowed without or with arrangement.

3.4.1 Without arrangement If there is no valid arrangement, because it is not possible in the situation or simply because it is not wanted, the following rules are in place:

Allowed Not allowed

You're allowed to strike with buffer weapons from all directions to arms, legs & torso.

You're not allowed to strike or thrust the head.

You're allowed to thrust arms, legs & torso, with a suitable buffer weapon with increased due diligence.

You're not allowed to strike or thrust genitals.

You're allowed to charge with increased due diligence as long as the charged person can prepare himself for the contact.

You're not allowed to hit with your shield unless it is completely made of foam.

You’re allowed to push the opponent with buffered shield parts.

You're not allowed to kick.

Your allowed to make in-fights (pushing / wrestle) with increased due diligence

3.4.2 With arrangement An exception is always in place, when players mutually agreed BEFORE, to change the above named general rules. If agreed before MUTUALLY you are allowed to kick each-others genitals. We assume that you are mature, know what with an unbuffered shield or pull each-others hair you do and want it exactly this way. A possible increased risk of injuries is then your

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own problem as a self-responsible player and not the one of game management, masters or other players.

CAUTION! Whoever departs from the general rules 3.4.1 without agreement of his opponent commits not only a severe breach of the rules but also is fully responsible for any possible injury of the opponent and this by both civil & penal law. You absolutely need to take care not to attack any non-participant who didn't agree in the heat of action with the same hardness as persons that agreed.

Previous agreements can be arranged with a small consultation before the according situation or also as general agreement for the complete event. Now it might be a bit complicated to consult in some situations in example on a loud battlefield or just before an ambush. This is why we set up a collection of some popular EPIC EMPIRES arrangements, that can now be arranged with a simple gesture or a short commando.

a) The EPIC-EMPIRES-AUFS-MAUL-CODEX (AMC) The agreement can be made in both a verbal and a non-verbal way:

Verbal: The person offering is making eye contact with his opponent and shouts „Aufs Maul?“. The other party has to agree by answering „Aufs Maul!“

Non-verbal: The person offering is making eye contact with his opponent, tipping his helmet several times with is weapon. The other party has to accept by also tipping his helmet several times with his weapon.

In both cases they agreed to fight following the AMC codex, knowing what is possible now. If AMC is agreed the following rules are in place:

Allowed Not allowed

All that is allowed in the basic rules. You're not allowed to hit the had from the side.

You're allowed to strike on a helmet from above.

You're not allowed to strike or thrust genitals.

You're allowed to kick in a pushing manner only with your foot sole against torso or shield.

You're not allowed to thrust heads.

You're allowed to hit with shield edge against torso or arms.

You're not allowed to kick arms or legs.

You're allowed to strike your shield against a head or a leg if it is not core less and completely made of foam.

You're not allowed to kick with span or shin-bone.

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b) Individual arrangements The AMC is for quick consultancy. If there is time enough for a detailed one, if the participants already know each other and already have a common fight style they can of course agree other things. If the aim is to enter an agreement for the complete event, the players are of course free to choose how they want to fight each other and what should be allowed or not. Prerequisite is of course the use of foam/buffer weapons and that the limits of common sense should be respected. If a third party is joining the battle it is always necessary to be able to switch back to the basic rules.

Caution! If you are joining battles being allied with other groups or camps i.e. as mercenaries, inform yourself before regarding potential agreements between the fighting parties. If you find out in the middle of a battle that the style is too hard for your liking, leave the fight immediately. If in reverse you see someone within the fight who obviously doesn't belong to both sides fighting, fight with him using the basic rules until something else agreed, i.e. he shows you that he'd prefer fighting a harder style.

3.4.4 Excessive physicality Every participant of a battle on EPIC EMPIRES should be aware of two things

1. The fights are tougher than on other usual LARP events! This means they are physically and mentally challenging. Especially it can come to unwanted physical contact, there may be hits in regions where you don't like them, like head or genitals, people are being accidentally charged, you can get an arrow into your eye, you can get injured, your gear might get broken. Please note that those things shouldn't happen. But they might happen in the heat of the moment, like everywhere else. 2. You may do a lot, but we await a lot from you as well! Due to a couple of complaints reg. interpretation of force level over the last years, we become more active. This means, people, that are behaving harmful to one's health and consciously provoke injuries or property damage, are being expelled from the running event with immediate effect. Additionally a life-long ban can be announced. This is particularly applicable to groups and people who already received a warning (letter) before.

We’re walking a thin line of „HEALTHY force“. Respecting these rules is absolutely indispensable for the continued existence of our event. Whoever thinks of leaving this thin line with exaggerated safety discussions on one side or excessive force on the other, is in both cases completely wrong on EPIC EMPIRES.

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3.5 In-game injuries and armor

3.5.1 Injuries Injuries: Every average human character falls after ONE (1) hit. This doesn't necessarily mean he's dead, but he's disabled to fight and lying on the ground, wailing, screaming or being unconscious. The absolute maximum (for characters with extreme constitution only) is taking three hits. Playing hits: We appeal to your self-responsibility and also refer again on the Hollywood rule concerning hits on armor. On one hand we await more from you than a small shrug, when you are hit by a two-handed sword. On the other hand we assume that you don't expect your opponent to go down with a huge scream, when you hit his chest armor with a small dagger.

3.5.2 Armor OT security in battle: Armor also provides you OT protection. We highly recommend to

wear a helmet in order to protect your head and face as well as something for the region between your legs.

Armor strength: We are not offering any detailed armor rankings and don’t want any discussions if heavy leather armor gives better protection than a gambeson.

Armor coverage: Armor is only protecting where it is worn.

Maintenance: Damaged Armor has to be repaired IT.

Magical armor: Those are not allowed. In our understanding they are not show-able in a way which would be suitable for EPIC EMPIRES. No colored naked torsos or blue sashes give you any armor. Sashes are falling under the NO Telling rule anyway and are therefore forbidden. If you really play a magician with LED and stagecraft your co-players will honor it and it won't be necessary for you to have any magical armor.

3.5.5 Armor, a pictured guide Basing on the rules you should play following rule 2.2 and 2.2.2 The idea behind this armor guide is just to give you some orientation as well as maximum and minimum values. Picture number 1 shows no armor at all, which means this character would be downed by the first hit. Picture 2 shows light leather armor which would grant 1 point. The buffered jerkin has an additional helmet (+1) which would give him 2 in total. Picture 4 is with an extra chain mail and metal gauntlets so we have 4 points in total here. No helmet but additional metal legs Armor provides also 4 points (pic. 5). The top is what you can see in pic. 6, where we have plate armor incl. helmet, chain mail, buffered jerkin which would give the character 6 points of armor.

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6 points of armor protection is the absolute maximum, no matter how much armor you wear. Armor strength is just an abstract value that should give you an orientation. However we await that you go down as well in a nice battle after the one epic hit, even if you should still have some “points“ left.

3.6 Healing and death

3.6.1 Healing Wounds need time to heal, no matter if they are surgical, magical or not treated at all. A wounded character is out of action at least until the end of the battle, no matter how he's healed. Spells and potions to heal like on an assembly line or to reduce the healing time are

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not allowed. (Exceptions are made due to the respawn rule during some special competitions, where warriors can get back to action during one battle. It’s up to you, if you simply want to respawn or play the healing with spells or potions. This doesn't have any impact on your downtime.)

3.6.2 Death and its effect Character only permanently die if the player wants this. If a character doesn't die permanently he wakes up at his camp sanctuary were he's not able to perform any bigger actions (mentally or physically) for at least 30 minutes. After his death a character is a nervous wreck, as he has been virtually confronted with is worst fears, which of course may differ for each character background. A medieval character would consider himself just to have seen the devil himself or one of his demonic henchmen while a Celt just escaped from the all scoffing mouth of Cromm Cruach. This impression exists for some minutes and then fades SLOWLY. In the subject Character Death we appeal to the player’s self-responsibility and therefore waive any detailed rules. Everybody plays what's suitable for his background or what he wants. If you like to play badly wounded and offer hours of play for healers, you’re absolutely free to do so as well. Also other experiences like enlightenment or near death experience are left to your self-responsibility. Normally every camp has an own concept suitable for the camp background how to deal with death. However, NOBODY can run from the effects of death and the included downtime.

CAUTION!

If you fall in battle, you have to be aware of the risk. Heavy armored people might step or fall on you. In a tough fight you should stand up shortly after you fell down and try to find a securer place to play heavy wounded or dead man. If you don't do that, you can't ask the people to take care of you when you lie between the battle lines. All you do is fully up to your own responsibility. Battlefield is there for fight. Healers play can perfectly be done on the sides of such a field. It might happen that a game master orders you to stand up and leave the battlefield. You have to follow this order immediately!

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3.7 Siege Climbing and destroying of palisades is forbidden if they are not explicitly made for this. If the palisade doesn't encircle the camp completely, a rope can mark the position of the missing palisade. Even if this is considered to be palisade as well, sieges and attacks should take place on the show side of the camp, where palisade really exists. (i.e. near the gates) and not against the rope. Even without rope borders, areal conditions like woods, trenches or hedges can build a natural camp border. We assume that basing on common sense you'll see were a camp is enclosed and were not. However there is no telling palisade. A free field is a free field even if there are five tents in a row. The structures building the camp boundaries may have a value between from 1 to 3, which is showing how hard it is to destroy them. This value is set during the camp inspection done by the round table just before game start.

4. Magic Magic is very rare on EPIC EMPIRES. For its presentation we strictly point on 2.2 and 2.2.2., as well as on 2.2.1. A wizard has to convince his opponent by gestures, appearance and mime. Technical gimmicks can improve the experience. The idea is that every spell should be a good show. The more extensive and impressive the presentation is, the more likely is a positive reaction by the other players. Telling-based spells („You see how green-blue ranks are coming out of the ground and... “) is totally NOT ALLOWED on EPIC EMPIRES. Also not allowed is the effect communication based on objects, like a soft or tennis ball for a fire ball. Also unwanted is the communication of the effect by so called "commando words" like "blablabla... FIRE BALL!“, "blablabla... Pain in the ass!” Acceptable is to communicate the effect with a description “Forces of the flames, burst these unworthy worms with your all-consuming fire!“ It’s most important, that you need additional ways to communicate the effect beside the verbal one. The fire spell i.e. would recommend a safe and harmless pyro-effect. [FAQ -5- Pyro]

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5. FAQ I. Arrival 15

1. Day of arrival 15 2. Gateway to the terrain 15 3. Loading & unloading 15 4. When is Time-In? 15 5. CHECK-IN 15 6. ID control 15 7. Parking 15 8. CON payers 16 9. Early arrival 16

II. Logistics/Ordering 16 1. No external suppliers 16 2. Bread roll delivery service 16 3. Other supplies 16 4. Straw ban! 16 6. Firewood 16 7. Beer garden tables 17 8. Waste and construction timber disposal 17 9. Digging holes / campfires 17

III. Security 17 1. Medics and first aid 17 2. Medicine 17 3. Making fire 17 4. Be aware of the giant hogweed! 17 5. Medical transports 18

IV. Miscellaneous 18 1. Lost property 18 2. Toilet paper 18 3. Glasses 18 4. OT Zones 18 5. Pyrotechnics 18

V. Organizational matters 19 1. EPIC EMPIRES TÜV 19 2. Bring your own competition 19 3. B score 19

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I. Arrival 1. Day of arrival. Regular day of arrival is Wednesday. Early arrival can be made from Friday until Tuesday (included). Each person has to pay additional 10€ per day for their early arrival. Please note that some camps do not allow early arrivals. Excepted from this rule are up to 25 participants of the camps construction crews. Those have to be named upfront by the camp management.

2. Gateway to the terrain The entry is made over the business park Saar-Pfalz-Park. Driving on the terrains ways and roads is only possible during the early arrival days, as well as the regular arrival, as well as the departure day (Wednesday AND Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm). If you arrive later or want to leave earlier, you have to carry your complete gear to the parking place in order to not disturb the other players.

3. Loading & unloading Please respect the one-way system, load and unload your cars as quickly as possible and move them to the indicated parking places. The obligatory „Hello everybody“ can be done once you have made place for the people waiting behind you. The roads and ways on UTOPION are very narrow and so you need to keep them free for emergency vehicles as well. Leaving your cars on the fields or driving over fields is strictly forbidden!

4. When is Time-In? Whenever you are ready and after you consulted you camp management. At the latest after the opening ritual on Wednesday around 9 pm.

5. CHECK-IN Check-in is possible on Wednesday from 10 am to 20 pm. If you come earlier you'll have to wait. The Check-In for newly arrived construction team members or early arrivals is made every day at noon and 6 pm at the Orgaplex.

6. ID control When entering the terrain age checks are made as well as during the event. For those, only driver licenses or ID cards and passports are accepted. As we are working with e-tickets, you imperatively need to bring the ID you used for your identification during your registration.

7. Parking Parking is only allowed on the indicated parking place ON the terrain. NOT in SAAR-PFALZ-PARK! NOT in the terrains GATEWAY! NOT in the surrounding housing areas. Please follow the signs. Cars not following these rules will be removed at the owner's expense.

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8. CON Payers There will be no con-payers at all as all character checks are finished before the event starts and the participants are known before. Every ticket needs to be personalized, has to be printed out and shown at the entrance.

9. Early arrival Every person who wants to come before Wednesday and doesn't participate in the construction team of a camp or city district, needs to inform their camp management upfront. Per day and person 10€ need to be paid. This fee has to be paid on the day of arrival during the Check-in at the Orgaplex. The idea behind the early arrival is, that you participate in building up the camp ambiance. People don't like to see you making some enlarged costumed vacation, while they work hard for the game. This is why most of the camp and district management teams are not allowing early arrival.

II. Logistics/Ordering

1. No external suppliers It is not allowed to get supplied by any externals if you do not have a written permission by the EPIC EMPIRES team. This concerns construction materials, groceries, drinks, hay, straw or any other contractors.

2. Bread roll delivery service To get daily fresh bread rolls on EPIC EMPIRES you have to order upfront on the web page of Trutzhavener Feldküche how many you need on which day. The conditions can be found here: http://www.trutzhavener-feldkueche.de/trutzhavener-colonialwaaren/index.php

3. Other supplies In Trutzhavener Colonialwaaren you can also buy OT stuff on place. You can find more details on their Homepage: http://www.trutzhavener-feldkueche.de/trutzhavener-colonialwaaren/index.php

4. Straw ban! Like every year straw is still banned on EPIC EMPIRES. It is strictly forbidden to bring or order straw in any form! For those of you who grew up in a city. Straw is this thick yellow stuff usually gained when cutting crops. What is still allowed is hay which is actually cut grass and herbs. (Looks a bit like the stuff lying around when the city maintenance passes by and cuts the green stuff on the traffic islands in front of your house. While for hay we don't pay any waste fee, straw is considered to be special waste which is extremely expensive and additionally destroys the green fields on UTOPION.

6. Firewood Your Firewood order from the online shop is ready to be taken on Sunday evening. Just go to the Orgaplex. Firewood you didn't burn can be returned the next Sunday at the Orgaplex. Please note that there is no refund for the unused firewood.

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7. Beer garden tables Here we are strongly depending on our supplier which wasn’t very reliable the last years. In a lack of alternatives in Saarland we'll have to deal with this. The furniture is always ordered for Monday, but in some years they arrived only Wednesday evening. Just go to the Orgaplex to get further information. Up-on receive you'll be informed where you can bring them back on Sunday.

8. Waste and construction timber disposal This year there will again be waste containers on the so called Panzerstrasse (tank street). For the disposal of your construction timber, there is going to be an own container. It will be clearly marked as „Bauholz-Container“. Please take care BEFORE you put your waste inside, that you chose the right container.

9. Digging holes / campfires It is strictly forbidden to dig any holes or camp fires. If you don't follow this rule a penalty fee will be announced over 100€ per hole. Exceptions can be made upfront the event by a written permission given by EPIC EMPIRES ORGA.

III. Security

1. Medics and first aid As of 2014 we will have a fix medical station. Therefore you can get back to any game master or team member in case of an emergency. In case there is no such around you can dial: XXXX-XXX XXX XXX The medical personal is on the terrain and will move out to you directly. Additionally you can find the medical station on the asphalt main road (Panzerstrasse). You can get there as well to get medical treatment.

2. Medicine Please note, that the medical station is not a free pharmacy. So you have to bring your household remedies like headache or hang over pills as usual.

3. Making fire Making fire is only allowed when you use flame bowls that do not have direct contact with the ground to avoid burning it. In case you do not follow this rule you have to pay a penalty fee of 100€. Open fire in the woods is strictly forbidden. You always have to keep a suitable extinguisher nearby.

4. Be aware of the giant hogweed ! On UTOPION, close to the stream between old mill and lower town of Neu Ostringen, grows some giant hogweed. As there are some trails near this position we want to inform you that any contact with this plant in combination with sun light may lead to skin irritation and even burnings.

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5. Medical transports It might happen that you have to be transported to a hospital nearby. In this case please note the following. In Germany it is not possible to accompany someone in an ambulance. This is why we highly recommend to take a cell phone with you and to make sure one of your friends is reachable. This might be necessary i.e. to organize your way back to UTIOPION after your medical treatment.

IV. Miscellaneous 1. Lost property Findings can be dropped off and retrieved up in an indicated box at the entrance to the Orgaplex. (Not in the tavern) 2. Toilet paper Since 2009 we don't offer any toilet paper on the sanitary installations. Please be aware and bring your own. 3. Glasses If you can’t – for whatever reason – spare wearing real glasses and contact lenses are not an option for you, please think if the first line in a battle on EPIC EMPIRES is the right place for you. Generally we recommend to secure your glasses with robust but inconspicuous band to avoid losing them. 4. OT Zones On EPIC EMPIRES we are 24/7 IT. Apart from the sanitary installations and the Orgaplex there are only very few OT Zones that are strictly reserved to full-scale makeup camps like OHL, HdC, NPC and the Elves. These camps do have an own indicated OT zone. All other areas are IT zones 24/7. Except of course the sleeping tents. 5. Pyrotechnics There is no rule generally prohibiting the usage of pyrotechnics on EPIC EMPIRES. However you have to be fully aware of the risks and the consequences. You are fully responsible for the consequences basing on your actions. Of course you need to inform yourself about the local rules and laws i.e. at the local fire department. We as organizers may use our right to completely prohibit any usage of pyrotechnics on place, i.e. after a long dry period with high risk of forest fires.

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V. Organizational matters 1. EPIC EMPIRES TÜV EPIC EMPIRES stands for ambiance, action and battles, self-responsible players and high quality in portrayal. To keep up atmosphere and game quality on a long term, we decided to make a yearly check of all camps, to make sure they still fit their initial ideas. What we absolutely do not want is that a once proud camp turns one day into a group of pink checkered magical cats on unicorns. 2. Bring your own competition --- 3. B score We recently changed the B scoring. As of EPIC EMPIRES 2014 every camp sends two official electors. Those electors vote in the name of their camp which camp they liked the best. Every elector has one vote. Both can vote for the same camp as well as for 2 different ones. It is depending on you how you get to a result within your camp. EPIC EMPIRES Team has also votes. By this rule we avoid that camps with a high vote rate minimize their own chances to win. We hope that the votes now become more fair and additionally we safe a lot of work around the votes, ballot cards etc.