Plot crew

Overview

Plot is the biggest department in Empire, as it incorporates all our NPCs, our plot writers and runners as well as characters like the nation bards, egregores, civil servants and magistrates and back room operations crew who work in costume and make-up. We need lots of people to help us fill out all these roles, so if you're interested in getting involved in the IC side of Empire then we're keen to talk to you.

People sometimes assume that the plot crew is a good way for a brand new player to try Empire, but the truth is that everyone who works in the plot department is expected to have a good familiarity with the campaign setting. They need to know much more about the game than an average player and some basic experience with live roleplaying is usually valuable. Ultimately though the most important thing is enthusiasm so the plot crew welcome anyone who is keen to try out crewing.

Why Get Involved?

Being part of the right team on the plot crew can give you the opportunity to do the parts of LRP you like most. If you really enjoy fighting, then the skirmish team is perfect for you, if you like to play lots of different roles then the plot NPC team will suit you best. If you enjoy writing or running plot, making props or costume, or creating prosthetics of applying make-up then the plot crew includes specialized teams who do just that.

As one of the plot crew you'll be part of a great team that helps to create the event, but if you're playing an NPC then you also have a chance to roleplay and interact with the other characters in the game. Or as part of the back-room staff who run the monster tent and keep everything going you'll get a chance to be part of the plot being put together and sent out. If you enjoy creating plot, then writing for Empire gives you a chance to do work with some incredibly talented people and create plot on an epic scale.

Being part of the plot crew is pretty non-stop throughout the event. We'll try to give you a few hours off each event, so you can relax and socialize with friends, but it's not something you can easily combine with playing. It is hard work and you'll be challenged to constantly push yourself to try new things, but it's a fantastic team to be part of and a lot of fun.

Teams

Skirmish

Our skirmish team are the dedicated crew whose responsibility is to bring to life the battles and skirmishes that the players choose to fight. We will be running conflicts of various size throughout the weekend with the skirmish team portraying the enemies of the Empire. It is a great role for anyone who enjoys fighting and roleplaying a character on a battlefield.

We are aiming to recruit one hundred people to our skirmish team.

NPC Team

• Playing NPCs on the field
• Playing eternals and heralds in off-field encounters

Our 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.

We are looking for forty crew to play NPCs for us at the event!

Full time Roles

• In addition to our NPC team we have a number of crew who play a single NPC role throughout the weekend
• These roles perform a range of IC and OOC responsibilities.

We have a number of crew who play a single role throughout the weekend. These crew fall into one of several different teams, the bards, civil service, egregores and magistrates.

We are currently looking for more crew with musical or performing talents to play members of the bards team.

Plot Writers

• Write plot for events
• Run plot at events

It is the job of the plot writers to create the plot lines that alongside the politics of the setting will help make Empire an exciting game to play. Plot writers need to write the plot before the event. They also need to run the plot at the event, or else convince another plot writer to do it. Running plot includes briefing and debriefing NPCs and helping to get encounters ready by liaising with costume and make-up. Plot writers may choose to play roles or perform other responsibilities during the weekend.

Being an Empire plot writer is a great role if you enjoy creating plot and enjoy seeing players enjoy the game you have helped create. If you have ever wanted to create plot for a big game with over a thousand players, this is your chance!

Costume

• Work with the NPC and plot teams to equip and prepare any NPC encounters
• Plan new costume creation and purchase
• Sort and maintain PD's costume throughout the event
• Assist in preparing player volunteers for battles

The costume team are essential to dress NPCs and get them ready for encounters. Profound Decisions have two trucks full of costume and we are purchasing new costume all the time. The costume team use their knowledge of the costume 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 costume is put away. At the end of the event they help pack the plot room away and separate any costume that needs cleaning or repairing. The costume team also work before the events helping to plan and arrange new costume creation and purchase in preparation for upcoming plots.

Being a member of the costume team requires some skill with costume, since you need to be able to use the existing wardrobe to create an effective look for a character. It's a good role for people who enjoy working with costume and who want to help PD manage their costume wardrobe and acquire new costume.

We are looking for at least three crew to help us with the costume at events.

Make-up

• Work with the NPC and plot teams to prepare any NPCs that require make-up or prosthetics
• Plan new make-up and prosthetic creation and purchase
• Sort and maintain PD's make-up throughout the event
• Assist player volunteers before and after battles

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. At the end of the event they help pack the plot room away. The make-up team work before the events helping to plan and arrange new make-up and prosthetic purchase in preparation for upcoming plots.

Anyone can help with make-up, since some make-up requires only a basic colour application. More complex make-up arrangements require some skill and experience. An air-brush is available for make-up crew who know how to use it. It's a good role for people who enjoy working with make-up or prosthetics and who want to help PD produce some fantastic creatures.

We are looking for at least two more crew to help us with the makeup at events.