Crew organization

Overview

Welcome to the crew organisation section of the Wiki. Here you will find a list of teams for the Empire game system, listing what each team does, who is in charge and who the main crew in that team are. Don't hesitate to get in touch with a team leader if you are interested in volunteering for the work they do..

Site Crew

The set-up crew help us get the event ready by putting up tents, setting up the electrics, etc. Those who are helping with set-up need to be on site roughly two days before time-in. Those who are helping with take-down need to be on site until roughly one day after time-out. We aim to complete take-down by nightfall the day after the event.

If you are part of the set-up crew then you are encouraged to get involved and take part in crewing the rest of the event, but if you prefer to play then you are welcome to do that instead. Bear in mind though that you might be called on during the event to help with the set-up for the battles and so on.

Site Crew Management

Alison Pennington has overall responsibility for all the teams who are part of the site crew. If a member of the site crew has a serious problem, then they should escalate it immediately to Alison.

Site Set-up Crew

• Team Leader - Tom Butterworth
• Trader Liaison - Angela Tiernan

The site crew, or Red Caps as they are affectionately known, are responsible for overseeing all aspects of set up and take down, as well as site health and safety.

Gate

• Team Leader - Sarah Johnson

The Gate team are responsible for manning the gates before and after the event, receiving participants at the site entrance and directing them around the site.

Security

• Team Leader - Steve Tiernan

The security team are responsible for all aspects of site security and are on duty throughout the night.

Set Dressing

• Team Leaders - Terry Laverty and Lolly Rimmmer

Responsible for the set dressing for the Hall of Worlds and other communal areas like the tavern and the Senate.

Hygiene

• Team Leader - Zoe Houghton

The Hygiene team keep the toilets and showers clean during the event, usually aiming to clean and restock all the toilets once a day.

Sparkies

• Team Leaders - Dave 'Sparky' Wilson and Ara McBay

The electricians are responsible for the on site distribution of electrical power and the off site building of new projects as well as maintenance and periodic inspection.

Whichever team you're working with, it's important that you don't plug anything in without checking with the sparkies first - we have a limited quantity of power available on site, and a major part of what we do is making sure the phases are balanced, and that we can run everything we need to without tripping the breakers.

Event Crew

The event crew help us to run the event, handling the logistics, administration and refereeing of the event. Event crew are welcome on site from Thursday lunch, but most do not need to arrive much before the event begins.

Most event crew are busy throughout the event.

Event Crew Management

• Management - Matthew Pennington

Matthew Pennington is the member of the PD management team with overall responsibility for all the work done by the event crew. If a member of the event crew has a serious problem, then they should escalate it immediately to Matt.

Games Operation Desk

• Team Leaders - Mark 'Waz' Bretherick and Charlotte 'Charlie' Bretherick

The Games Operation Desk (GOD) is responsible for overseeing all player related administrative functions. This includes preparation of player packs, and dealing with lost property. They also often act as a point of contact between teams.

Crew: Erin Knott, Neal Fowler, David 'Jack' Horner, Cicely Zanelli, Jacqueline Hennessey, David Miller, Lesley Sweetman, Jane Warner, Jon Merrifield, Clare Moore, Beckie Hiorns, Frankie Buse, Stephanie Wood

Referee's

• Head Referee - Nicholas Taylor
• Head of Rules - Graeme Jamieson

The refs operate a desk in the GOD tent so that any player has a guaranteed point of contact. The desk is usually manned by Nicholas Taylor who is in charge of the referee team, while the rest of the team wander the Anvil field looking for players who need help. We operate a wireless network across the site providing our players with tablets so that they can access and update the game database from anywhere on site. There is always stuff to do, from simple things like helping players use magic items, to reffing plots or players carrying performing surgery, rituals, or even murders!

Weapon Check

• Team Leader - Paul 'Chalkie' White

We have a large team of approved weapon checkers who are needed to check the weapons and equipment that players and traders bring to every event as well as the weapons in PD's own armoury. Paul Chalkie White is the head of the team, and the final authority for any weapon. Weapon checking is available throughout the event but most of the work happens before the event starts and before the big battles each day. This means that event crew on this team are able to play the game with only minor disruption if they want to do that when they are not weapon checking rather than help out in other areas.

IT

• Team Leaders - Clive Evans and Nicholas 'Aquarion' Avenell

The IT team are there to set-up and maintain the servers, wireless network and resolve IT problems. The IT team are not responsible for setting up PCs and networking equipment - this is sufficiently straightforward that GOD and the plot support team are expected to manage this internally.

Crew Welfare

• Team Leader - Leanne Hoye

We have a small crew welfare hut which is usually positioned near the monster tent and is kept supplied with food, drinks and snacks for the crew. Ensuring the hut is kept clean and well-stocked is one of the responsibilities of the crew welfare team who are based out of here during the event. It is the team's responsibility to look after the welfare of the 350 crew we have at most Empire events, providing help and support for any member of crew who needs it. Any member of crew who has a problem can go to the crew welfare team for help and advice.

Tavern

• Team Leader - Ara McBay

We are lucky to have a large wooden tavern building for Empire and a team of dedicated crew to run it. Team members take money and serve drinks but all of them are in-character at all times, our tavern is an in-character environment that exists to support roleplaying in the game. We try to make sure we have enough crew so that they can work the bar in shifts allowing them to socialize and enjoy the event at other times. We try to arrange bards and performances as often as possible and encourage all the players to use the tavern for any entertainment or meetings they have planned.

Plot Crew

The plot crew are there to bring the IC setting to life and provide engaging encounters and challenges for the players. They include all our writers and NPCs, as well as the support team that help them get into character. The majority of the plot crew are busy throughout the event.

Head of campaign: Andy Rafferty

Plot Crew Management

• Management - Matthew Pennington

Matthew Pennington is the member of the PD management team with overall responsibility for everything the plot crew do. If a member of the plot crew has a serious problem, then they should escalate it immediately to Matt.

Skirmish

• Team Leaders - Richard Loveday, James Crollie, Emma Woods, and Andy Connell

Our skirmish team are the dedicated crew whose responsibility is to bring to life the battles, skirmishes and quests that the players choose to fight. There is a great team spirit among those who enjoy being part of what is effectively our monster faction. We aim to run all our fights using IC leadership and commands, so there are a range of roles for people.

Plot NPC Team

• Team Leader - Katie Rogers

Our plot NPC team play the roles that have been created and written by the plot writers that happen on the field and in the Hall of Worlds. Members of the team portray minor Imperial NPCs, eternals and their heralds and representatives of other foreign powers. It is a great role for anyone who enjoys working with writers to create enjoyable plot for players.

Field NPC Team

• Team Leaders - Clare Evans, Kate Forster, Jon Creek, Mark Chilvers

We have a number of crew who play a single recurring role based in Anvil throughout the weekend. These roles are highly specialized with a clear focus on providing support and assistance to the game and the players. The civil service support the main political structures of the Empire, providing logistical support to the players to run the Empire. The magistrates operate the Empire's legal system directing the player militia as they follow up crimes that have taken place. Our egregores and our bards are based in the nations themselves with a remit to support the feel of the nation and encourage the roleplaying in the camp.

Plot Writers

• Team Leader - Andy Rafferty

The plot writers create the plot lines that help make Empire such an exciting game to play. Writers at Empire are encouraged to brief and run their own plot, though we have a team on hand to help at every state. Running plot includes briefing and debriefing NPCs and helping to get encounters ready by liaising with costume and make-up. Some plot writers choose to play plot NPC roles or perform other responsibilities during the weekend when they are not briefing their plot.

Plot Support

• Team Leader - Ben Dixon

Plot writers are often very creative people who struggle with the organization needed to run plot in a big system. Our plot support team exist to help all the writers make sure that their plot runs on time and to brief. Writers may need help getting special item ribbons sorted, getting their plots timetabled or finding the right NPCs for the parts. The plot support team are also the first point of contact for the referees when they radio in for the response to player questions and actions involving plots we have put out.

Costume and Props

• Costume Team Leader - Lizzie Upton
• Props Team Leader - Rachel Durrant

The costume and props team is essential to dress NPCs and get them ready for encounters. The team use their knowledge of the PD costume and props inventory to dress NPCs for roles they are about to play, including the player volunteers for the battles. They also help them to change after an encounter and ensure used kit is put away. At the end of the event they help oversee packing away the plot room away and separate any kit that needs cleaning or repairing. The costume and props team also work before the events helping to plan and arrange new kit creation and purchase in preparation for upcoming plots.

Make-up

• Team Leader - Agnes Eklund

The makeup team are essential for any roles that require make-up or prosthetics. These include orcs and characters with lineage, but they also include Eternals and their heralds. The makeup team plan complex make-up arrangements in advance so that convincing effects can be created quickly in the field. They also help player volunteers don and remove make-up before and after battles. The make-up team work before the events helping to plan and arrange new make-up and prosthetic purchase in preparation for upcoming plots.