Rules and Policies

Rules

The Spite Rulebook is available as a free download here. You can view our change log here. One of the primary focuses of the Spite rules system is to be as simple as possible to learn while still providing enough flexibility and variety to support the feeling of a science fiction game. There are 12 calls that every player will need to know and react to properly to play Spite. Other rules exist for safety, character creation, and other logistics of playing a live action game, but you won’t need to understand how other player’s abilities function in order to interact with them.

Spite is primarily a role playing game before anything else. While most of the rules exist for resolving combat interactions, the primary focus of Spite is on the role play interactions between your character and the other characters around you.

There is a great deal of setting and flavor information that appears in the rulebook as well as actual rules. Much of the setting information is also available on this website and more details can be found in supplemental packets for members of specific in-game groups. This information can be found in your groups’ forum section.

 

Policies

SAFETY

Safety should be the number one consideration when playing Spite. If an action seems as though it would be unsafe, you shouldn’t do it. You are responsible for your own safety and are encouraged to help keep those around you safe. If you feel that someone is acting in an unsafe manner, please let a member of staff know ASAP. Please don’t hesitate to call a “pause game!” to prevent or address a real life injury.

Spite is an active game with simulated combat, both melee and ranged. Accidental shots to illegal areas occasionally occur, so please wear any safety gear you feel is pertinent to protect yourself from harm. We encourage, but do not require, eye protection. Spite is set in a near­futuristic war zone, so protective equipment is entirely in­genre.

All players will be required to sign a legal release before playing Spite.

PAUSING THE GAME
If there is an emergency situation, someone is acting in an unsafe manner, an injury has occurred, or someone is about to be injured, please call a halt to game activity by placing your hand on your head and yelling, “Pause game!” If you hear a “pause game” called, and you feel those in the immediate area didn’t, you should echo the “pause game” call. When the call goes out, all players in the immediate area should stop what they are doing and place their hands on their heads to signal they are OOG and acknowledging the pause. Please stay as quiet as possible during the pause game unless you are directly involved in the situation. Do not pick up ammo or have IG discussions during a pause. If you see a paused scene, please avoid the area until the pause is resolved. The issue that caused the pause game should be resolved immediately. If medical attention is needed, do not hesitate to ask for assistance. Maintain the pause until the issue is resolved and then have someone loudly call, “3­2­1, game on!”

HARASSMENT
We want Spite to be a safe OOG environment for all our players to enjoy. We welcome players from all walks of life and backgrounds. Therefore, OOG harassment of any kind will not be tolerated. Racist, homophobic, and sexist language or behavior will not be taken lightly, and it will not be a theme in this game. Sexual assault is also a theme we don’t explore. Please don’t include it in your RP or backstories. Discrimination based purely on IG factors (like SIC, CG, or ranking within) is permitted. If you feel you are being harassed OOG don’t hesitate to bring it to the attention of staff. We take every report of harassment seriously and will take necessary steps in order to ensure the safety of our participants, including banning players from future events or involving local authorities.

PHYSICAL ROLE­-PLAYING
Physical role­playing is defined as making physical contact with another player besides weapon attacks and simple touch delivered effects. Unless you have permission, do not engage in physical role­play with another player. Wrestling, punching, kicking, or any other behavior that could cause injury is never acceptable physical role­play. Plot camp may stage stunts to heighten the realism of the game, but these will always be carried out between trained professionals. Please be smart and play safe. Note that touch effects should be delivered by briefly touching a non­offensive area on the recipient, like the shoulder or back.

FADE TO BLACK
If at any point a scene’s subject matter becomes too intense for someone involved they may call for a fade to black. When a fade to black is called the scene should stop and the players involved should discuss what happens. The detail in which the scene is discussed must be within in the comfort level of all involved. A fade to black cannot be called during combat or to save a character from getting dying. This mechanism is very rarely used and is only in place for scenes like torture, advance interrogation, IG intimacy, and other things the players aren’t comfortable acting out.. Please do not abuse this rule.

COSTUMING & PROPS
To create an immersive and believable near future science­fiction setting, we ask that all our players put some effort into their costuming and props. We encourage players to decorate their weapons and embellish to make themselves stand out. Players must represent what they are attempting to play through their costuming and props since there is no other IG method to convey that information.

TAGGED ITEMS

Certain items in Spite require tags to function, like weapons. Untagged weapons and props cannot be used to interact with the game world and aren’t functional until a tag is applied. Please keep untagged items, that require tags to function, out of public view when possible.

Tags are purchased at check­in or can occasionally be found, purchased, or earned by interacting with the game world. All tagged items must have the tags attached (unless otherwise specified) and they must be removable.

You’ll notice some tags and/or items will have a colored circular sticker on them. These items are put out by plot and are meant to be taken and interacted with by players. If (and only if) numbers are present on the dot they indicate the number of people needed to carry the item / the number of exims needed to carry the item. If there is no numbers, then the item’s weight is repped as­is. Example: You see a crate with a red sticker with “2/1” on it. This means it must be carried by two characters or 1 exim.

● Red Sticker: Red dot items can be taken but should be returned intact to UEF camp by the end of game.

● Yellow Sticker: Yellow dot items can be taken but could be interacted with in obvious ways that may involve assembly/disassembly but shouldn’t irreparably damage the prop. These should return to UEF camp with all intrinsic components at the end of game.

● Green Sticker: Yours to take and interact with however you see fit (within reason), including destroying the item.

We ask that players do not decorate their props with dot stickers to avoid confusion.

AD­LIBBING
Ad­libbing as your character is not only allowed but encouraged at Spite. Feel free to tell your character’s story however you chose. We only ask that you don’t alter the established canon or make up something that could greatly impact the game. For instance, you could talk about a skirmish that your squad participated in between games.

LIGHTS & FIRE
You may only build fires in designated fire pits and must obey any active burn bans. All fires must be tended until they are extinguished; the person who sets the fire is responsible for ensuring this. Spite disallows any open flame light sources and gas lanterns. We recommend the use of electric light sources.

THEFT
You may not take untagged items from other players or staff; this is stealing and is a real world crime. You may take the tag from a tagged item but must leave the prop where you found it. If the item is obviously lost, like you found it dropped on a trail, please turn the prop in to UEF camp’s lost and found at your earliest convenience; the tag is yours to keep. The only exception to this is ammunition, which is covered below. You may only use items that you have permission to use; for example a player may establish with their team that if their character falls that the team should use their gear.

AMMUNITION
Ammunition is difficult to keep track of and easily destroyed. Please do not expect to take any home with you. It is legal to reuse ammo, but it is difficult to identify. If there is any special ammunition you are attached to, please do not bring it. At the end of the game, try to take only the approximate equivalent of what you came with and leave anything else you pick up at UEF camp or place it in a public area to be picked up. To assist us in keeping the site clean, you are encouraged to pick up unclaimed ammo when you see it, especially in remote areas. Do not hoard ammo. You may not pick up ammo during a “pause game” or when your character is incapacitated in some way.

PARKING
Please only park in the designated areas. If you are uncertain where that is please ask a staff member. Please avoid combat in the parking area. If you must load your gear in, please do so before game starts and move your car to the parking area as soon as possible so others can do the same. If you arrive late please be courteous of those in play. Spite and its organizers accept no liability for vehicles parked on site.

HAVING FUN
As a faction-­based game not all of the game’s content and fun will come from the plot team. If you find yourself unengaged take action to get involved with the other players and the goings on of the game. We firmly believe that LARP is a hobby in which you should expect to enhance your own experience; please do not wait for the plot team to dump something in your lap. Much of the content that the Plot team and NPCs will be providing will be through other player characters, through Contracting Group representatives, through situations, locations, and encounters that require investigation, and through instigating inter-group conflict. Because of this you should never assume that content isn’t worthwhile simply because it isn’t being delivered by a staff member. It is entirely possible to be active throughout the event by engaging in stories that exist solely between players ­ the most important content at an event is the content that you enjoy.