Battle Safety

Battles can be intense situations, both physically and mentally, and there are a few additional considerations in addition to the usual Combat safety rules

• Our rules and referee team reduce the risks associated with combat in Empire, but they do not eliminate them
• You must follow all safety guidance given to you by our referees or other members of crew
• If you are at elevated risk from strenuous physical activity then follow any medical advice you have been given

Our skirmishes and battles are a contact sport and our rules serve to mitigate the risks, but cannot eliminate them. Participants who take the battlefield are exposed to a number of physical risks. These risks include the potential for heavy blows, physical crushes from other participants, accidental falls, and the trips and hazards of uneven ground. While our rules state all blows must be pulled, larp combat is unpredictable - and at Empire it happens on outdoor terrain, in all weathers.

It is the responsibility of everyone taking part in a battle to consider their own safety and that of the participants around them. All participants in battles should adhere to the instructions of referees and other members of crew, who have your safety and enjoyment as their primary consideration. You can practice good "self-care" by being aware of the trip hazards on the battlefield and preparing for them by wearing sensible supportive footwear; by ensuring you wear suncream if needed; and by bringing enough water to keep you hydrated throughout the battle.

If you consider yourself to be at an elevated risk of serious injury from these activities, then we ask that you take that into consideration when deciding whether to fight in battles. If you are recovering from an OC injury, are pregnant, or have any health issues that mean taking part in contact sports would put you at additional risk, then you may wish to consider seeking medical advice before participating. If a medical professional has advised you to avoid strenuous physical activity - for example, if you have an ongoing health condition that means you are at risk of permanent or even fatal injury if you participate in combat - then you should not participate in fighting.

Battle Referees

There will be a team of Referees for each battle who are there to monitor the safety of all participants and ensure the rules are being followed correctly. The referee team coordinate their activities by radio and often will be aware of issues that may not seem immediately obvious. Where needed they may intervene to avoid dangerous situations occurring or check participants are aware of the rules. Typical interventions are listed below:

• Giving direction - Referees may sometimes instruct you to avoid dangerous areas or scenarios e.g. 'do not fight in this area' or 'do not retreat any further', if you feel there is information the referee may not be aware of please pass this on but you must follow their instructions as long as it is safe to do so. Where they are warding off an area they may stand with arms outstretched, you must not seek to pass behind them into the area they are warding as it may contain a hazard or a First Aid situation
• Time Freeze and reposition - if a situation is at risk of becoming unsafe the Referees may call a time freeze and reposition participants, they will attempt to ensure this does not disadvantage either side but will favour players over monsters if there is no other option
• Step out of character - a Referee may ask you to step to the side or out of a combat to ask you some questions including your name and PID. This does not automatically mean you are in trouble and you should cooperate by providing all the information asked for plus anything else you feel is relevant. The referee will ensure you do not suffer any IC disadvantage when being returned to play

Crushes and crush lines

A crush is a situation where the participants become tightly packed and can occur in several different scenarios e.g. when fighting through a narrow opening such as a gap in the hedge line or when battle lines form in a large open space. Crushes are not inherently dangerous but are typically the most intense areas of combat and can cause safety issues if left unmanaged. Below are a few considerations on how to self manage these situations, plus what the Referee team may do

• Be aware - please be aware of your surroundings and your opponents surroundings and give them some space if they are trapped against a hazard e.g. a hedge or fence, pay attention to the ground in particular for any prone people near you
• Call a ref - if you are getting concerned the crush is becoming dangerous bring it to the attention of a Referee, they can help to de escalate the situation. Note you can always use the Non Contact rule to extract yourself from a situation you are uncomfortable with
• Crush Referee - for larger crushes Referees may need to position themselves in the combat itself to be able to see and react more effectively, please try and avoid striking them or using them as cover. Occasionally they may kneel to avoid blocking combat, this does not mean there is a First Aid situation
• Exit corridor - in some situations Referees may make a path for dead or dying characters to exit the crush, you must not seek to block this exit path or strike exiting characters that are following the Non Contact rules

Being safe on the ground

Be aware of your surroundings at all times when prone, retreating combatants may not see you on the ground and stand on you or fall over you.

• If you are prone in an area with combat or people moving past, you are recommended to keep your limbs close to your body
• If you are healing people on the ground be aware of retreating crush lines and move out of the way if possible, the retreating combatants may not be aware of you until it is too late
• Referees may instruct you to move out of an area - they will attempt ensure you do not suffer any IC disadvantage from being repositioned

First aid or mental health first aid

During battles there will be members of the First Aid and https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/empire-wiki/Participant_welfare teams working with the Referee team. If you feel you need the services of either team contact a Referee who will call them for you. Some participants, especially if new to battles, can find them a bit overwhelming and these 3 teams can work with you to provide immediate support whether that is a brief pause to regain your composure or to help you exit the battlefield

• Being impacted by a Health issue (medical or mental) will not disadvantage your character