Current crewing opportunities
Overview
Crewing can be an amazing experience - but it's not for everyone - and in particular, we have to make sure we have the right people who can work together and gel as a team. We're always keen to talk to anyone who is interested in crewing so that they can find out if it's something they want to do and we can see if there is a place for them on the team. So if you're interested in one of the roles below, do get in touch with our crew manager Kate Rogers - we'll give you a quick interview and see if we can offer you a place on the team.
All our crewing roles are for volunteers - but you won't need a ticket, we'll feed you throughout the event, and there is a big crew party on the last day for everyone who is helping take the event down. Ultimately the real benefit of crewing is that you'll be part of an amazing team of people and can take pride in your role in creating the Empire events that players love. You'll be part of the biggest LRP event crew in the country (there are over 300 of us!), working with incredibly talented people, and hopefully having an amazing time.
The crew roles described below are specific areas that we are actively looking to fill at this time, so if they sound interesting then it's definitely worth contacting us to discuss it. If you're interested in helping with something that isn't listed below then it may still be worth getting in touch, but bear in mind that we may already have enough people helping out in that area.
GOD Team
The Games Operation Desk (GOD) operates as the main contact point for players and crew throughout the event. We’re responsible for handling a wide variety of game administration, from handing out packs and recording rituals to recording lost property and helping new players create their first characters.
There are a variety of roles within the GOD team depending on your skills and interests. Some will be largely computer-based (our “front desk” crew), but not all. GOD crew handle large amounts of in-character resources and sometimes out-of-character cash, so it’s important that we’re known and seen to be trustworthy. Ideally, GOD crew will be around from Thursday to help with setting up GOD and handing out packs, but the key work is from Friday lunchtime to a few hours after time-out on Sunday.
How much of the event will you see?
- GOD operates throughout the event, although we have a rota to ensure everyone gets breaks and the chance for those who want to take some R&R
Requirements
- Good customer service skills
- Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
- If you have an R&R character, being confident you can keep the information you learn in GOD separate from your character’s knowledge
While it’s unnecessary for all our GOD crew, being comfortable using a radio and a computer are significant bonuses.
Referees
Our referees are one of the most visible roles we have, helping players engage with and enjoy the game, throughout time in. They offer friendly advice, carry out functional tasks recording in-game actions using our tablets, and step in to ask questions when it seems that someone might not be playing by the rules. These are full-time volunteer roles and whilst you will be able to take breaks when you need them, you will not be able to play a character taking part in the game alongside your role as a ref.
Many of our refs specialise either as a field ref - who build up an in-depth knowledge of the most commonly cast rituals, or commonly used items, particularly those that interact with plots in order to answer queries quickly and efficiently - or as a skirmish ref - who are experts in watching combat and being able to see whether players are abiding by the rules; make judgements about how hard they are hitting; decide whether they are fighting in a safe location, and know to de-escalate conflict between players (rather than characters) if it arises. You may either request to join the team as one or the other type of ref, or join as non-specialised and try out both. You will be given the opportunity to spend a good deal of your first event shadowing other referees to get used to reffing Profound Decisions style.
How much of the event will you see?
- You will be unlikely to play a character, but may enjoy the event facilities around the responsibilities of your volunteering role
Requirements
- Excellent customer service skills
- Have either a year's experience as an Empire player OR significant experience of reffing other systems and be prepared to learn the core Empire rules thoroughly before your first event
- Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
- Be comfortable wearing a radio and earpiece at all times and using a tablet to record entries in a database
- Be comfortable walking long distances over the course of the event to reach the players who need a referee in all different areas of the field
- Be on-site on Friday at 3 pm until the end of the event at 3 pm on Sunday afternoon
If you would love to ref, but can't meet the walking requirement do let us know. We may be able to find a place for you to referee from a static spot like the Imperial Regio.
Crew Welfare Driver/team member
We’re looking for someone who will be comfortable driving a large luton van and helping in crew welfare when needed.
The main focus of this position is to drive to the Local Booker wholesale with a list from various departments and the deputy head of crew welfare to restock the tavern, crew welfare and any other teams who request items. This may include multiple stops.
If you are not required to drive for the event you will be asked to help out generally in crew welfare making sure the crew is fed and looked after. expect some sweeping, mopping and occasional evicting of spiders/wasps. Help Check stock expiry dates and setting out the hut in a manner that makes everything easy to find. Help redistribute booker stock. Preparing and putting out a lunch buffet and keeping it stocked up.
You don't need any experience to join the crew welfare team, you just need to enjoy talking to people. The hut is a very small area and can get quite busy at times, so volunteers with small children will need to find an area away from the hut to keep them occupied due to health and safety concerns.
How much of the event will you see?
- As a driver and member of crew welfare there will be plenty of opportunity to see the game. When required to drive you will be busy for a solid 3 hours but will then be able to rotate with the rest of the crew members to play the game.
Requirements
- Be on-site on Friday morning until Sunday morning
- Be comfortable wearing a radio and earpiece when required
- A standard driving license
NPC
The NPCs are there to bring the Empire setting to life and try to make each event as dramatic and engaging as possible. To do that - we need good NPCs that are capable of playing a multitude of different parts throughout a weekend. This isn’t ‘easier’ than playing - it's much harder! We need you to have a solid grasp of all the nations of the Empire, and you’ll be working with detailed briefs that may involve magic, finance, diplomacy and foreign nations. It really helps to be an experienced roleplayer and is vital that you're familiar with the setting.
You only need to be on site shortly before the event starts, and while we ask that you help with the takedown of the monster tent before leaving, this usually only takes an hour or so after time out, so being an NPC is a great role for anyone who wants to be right in the heart of the game but cannot get to the event early or stay late.
All our plot crew are very busy throughout every event. This means that it is impossible to play an event and be a member of the plot crew. You will get a chance to take a few hours off each event to get out and socialize in-character if you want to, but you can't be an NPC and play the game. We also operate a permanent crew system, so while you're welcome to resume playing in the future if you want to, but you can't switch back and forth being playing and NPCing from one event to the next.
How much of the event will you see?
As an NPC, plenty of it, but as a player, you might only get a couple of hours over the whole weekend, if there’s time. We do try and allow for people to go and socialise, but your main focus should be on your NPC roles.
Requirements
- Be available from Friday afternoon – pre-event briefing is at 4pm
- Be available for an hour after time out for take down and packing
- Have a solid knowledge of the Imperial Nations, and preferably the magic and economy systems
- Be up for cycling through a variety of roles over the weekend, on your own and as part of groups
Synod Civil Service (Tribune)
The Civil Servants who support the Synod game are called the Tribune of the Synod, and it's their job to answer questions, accept new Judgements, advise players, and take their votes. We pride ourselves on having in-character Civil Servants who are a living, breathing part of the game world, and having a strong sense of camaraderie.
Primarily, you'd be helping player characters achieve their goals and ambitions by taking away the complicated bits of bureaucracy, enabling drama, intrigue and other gameplay. Frequently, this involves helping outside of the Synod as well - advising players on where to go, what options they have available, or who they might want to talk to.
Out of character experience with admin isn't necessary, but you'd need to be comfortable with helping out with the paperwork for much of the event, checking to make sure players have filled out Judgements correctly and recording their votes accurately. You'll be working alongside other experienced Civil Servants who will happily share their expertise and guide you through this.
You only need to be on site shortly before the event starts, but after that you'll be quite busy - Synod opens at time-in and apart from some small breaks, it closes at 10pm.
How much of the event will you see?
You'll be in your Field NPC role for most, if not all of the event, directly interacting with player characters as an immersive, in-character functionary. Although that'll be your main focus, you'll also get breaks to rest and relax, and freedom to head off and roleplay once Synod closes for the evening - though you won't be playing the game like a player would.
Requirements
- Excellent customer service skills
- Be available from 6pm Friday to 10pm in the evening
- Be available from 10am Saturday to 10pm in the evening
- Be available from 10am Sunday to 3pm in the afternoon
- Ideally have a good knowledge of the game world, such as the Imperial Nations (but you'll learn Synod-specific processes on the job)
Site Crew
We’re looking for more recruits for the site crew team, the ones generally referred to as “the Red Caps.”
This team is responsible for preparing the site before the event and for clearing the site afterwards. This includes erecting and dropping the PD tents that are deployed as well as numerous other jobs like collecting benches and rubbish bags. We also get called in when the going gets tough and the weather gets bad, helping out players and all the other PD teams to make the game happen, no matter what the conditions are. We are the face of PD in the field before and after the event.
We work hard before the event to set up and after the event too. However, while the event is running most of the site crew get to play a character and join in with the game.
Being part of the Red Cap Team means being able to make lots of fun out of hard work - but it isn’t for everyone. We have a lot of practically capable people - if that’s you, great - but you don’t have to be very strong (or a tent expert) to be useful. What you do need is a degree of emotional and physical stamina - we work through good and bad weather and everyone on the Red Hats team shares the job of being committed and focused.
How much of the event will you see?
- As site crew you are on-call for a lot of the event in case of emergency, you can also play a character and take a full part in the game around your shifts before and after the game
Requirements
- Be on-site on Thursday morning and until Monday (or longer if you can)
- Be prepared to carry out physical work in all weathers
- Be prepared to time in a little late on Friday and finish playing a little early on Sunday when necessary to get the job done
- Be prepared to walk away from role-play in an emergency in order to carry out your crew role.
- Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
- Be willing to learn new skills (or apply existing skills to new ways of working)
Security
Live roleplaying events are generally relaxed and friendly environments so we work with a small SIA registered security team. We supplement that team with volunteer marshals who work alongside security and help them keep a watchful eye on the site each night. We have spaces for both SIA registered security and volunteer marshals at present, in order to cover all our night shifts well and make it possible for each team member to have one night off.
The team covers Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 01:00 to 08.30 in the morning. Depending on your need for sleep, you can get quite a lot of play as a character in the game fitted in around your shifts, though you do need to make sure you save enough energy to do the job well. The team work closely with first aid, and with the conduct team and participant welfare, in order to make sure everyone stays safe whilst enjoying the event. In bad weather conditions, they are also responsible for securing tent structures that are at risk and dealing with other issues as they arrive.
How much of the event will you see?
- Whilst getting enough sleep to cover your shifts is a priority, you may spend time between shifts playing a character and enjoying the event"
Requirements
- Be able to work 1 am - 8.30 am shifts on security, either 2 (when we have enough cover) or 3 nights per event (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
- Be able to walk around the site as part of that shift
- Be sober for your shift in order to be a fully responsible team member
- Be able to do physical tasks such as assisting carrying a person
Litter Picking
We're looking for a few more recruits to join the site crew team to do the litter-picking of the site after the event. The huge majority of our players are really good at cleaning up after themselves - but we still need to sweep the site to try and pick up the missed tent pegs and the bits of rubbish that have been missed or blown. There is always some rubbish that has blown into the farm ditches, and they need to be picked clean.
It's not a difficult job, and it's not unpleasant for the most part, though it's not a job for the extremely squeamish as there is the odd piece of litter that is unsavoury in nature. There are litter pickers and gloves available for every member of the team. You do need to be able to walk long distances since you need to walk back and forth across the fields repeatedly.
You don't have to be on-site early unless you want to be, but you will need to stay an entire extra day after the event finishes. We can only litter pick the site properly once everyone has left, so we need the team to start Sunday evening but work through most of Monday to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
During the event, you're free to play a character and join in with the game as any other player would.
How much of the event will you see?
- As one of the litter pickers, you will be working after the game on Sunday and then Monday through to the afternoon. This will leave the weekend free to play a character.
Requirements
- Remain on site until Monday afternoon
- Be prepared to work in all weathers
- Be happy to walk long distances.
Hygiene Team member
We are looking for someone who will be comfortable walking to a designated Toilet Block during uptime and ensuring the stock level and inspecting the physical condition of the Toilet Block.
You will be expected to take part in at least one Morning cleaning run with the rest of the team, meeting at 0800, finishing by 0930 latest. These runs significantly reduce the effort required during uptime to maintain the Toilet Blocks, so it is in your best interests to help.
You do not require extensive physical capability, as you will mainly be moving small quantities of Toilet Roll and Hand Sanitiser from nearby boxes into the Toilet Blocks. It is not required to be on radio, or to clean up messes, though any help with that is always appreciated.
You will be provided with PPE, and expected to sweep, put toilet roll into holders, and occasionally wipe surfaces down with provided wipes. You will likely be assigned a Toilet Block as part of a Pair or Trio depending on crew numbers on any given event.
How much of the event will you see?
You should expect to see the majority of the event, taking 20-30 minutes out of your day at least 4 times during the time-in to check your assigned Toilet Block.
Requirements
- Be available during Time-In
- Be available between 0800-0930 on Saturday and Sunday morning
- Ideally be available 1200 Friday for a group briefing
- Nice to have: being comfortable wearing a radio and earpiece, to help respond to low-stock calls etc