PD Crew Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Time off

2026-03-09T10:45:54Z

Steve: /* Additional Restrictions for Game Crew */

<table style="width:450px; float: left; margin-right:10px;"><tr><th>Event Crew</th><th>Game Crew</th></tr>
<tr><td>Camp Planner</td><td>Academy</td></tr>
<tr><td>Crew Welfare</td><td>Bard</td></tr>
<tr><td>Driver</td><td>Battle Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>First Aid</td><td>Civil Service</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gate Crew</td><td>Costume</td></tr>
<tr><td>Infrastructure</td><td>Egregore</td></tr>
<tr><td>IT</td><td>Encounter Tents</td></tr>
<tr><td>Moderator</td><td>GOD</td></tr>
<tr><td>Participant Welfare</td><td>Magistrate</td></tr>
<tr><td>Photography</td><td>Makeup</td></tr>
<tr><td>Player Ref</td><td>NPC</td></tr>
<tr><td>Security</td><td>Plot Production</td></tr>
<tr><td>Set Dressing</td><td>Plot Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>Site Crew</td><td>Props</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sparky</td><td>Ref - Field</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tavern</td><td>Ref - Skirmish</td></tr>
<tr><td>Toilet Team</td><td>SFX</td></tr>
<tr><td>Traffic Management</td><td>Skirmish Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weapons Check</td><td>Workshop</td></tr>
</table>
{{CaptionedImage|file=DeadEgregore.jpg|align=right|width=300px}}
==Overview==
All crew will receive some time-off during the event to allow them to relax and take a break. You are welcome to use this time to play a character, but we ask all crew who are playing the game to follow the simple guidelines laid out below. These principles are designed to ensure that you can roleplay without worrying that anything you are doing might undermine the event for other participants. If you think anything you are doing is likely to be a concern, then check the issue with Matt Pennington for further guidance.

We really want all our crew to enjoy the event. Crewing is hard work - and precisely because of that fact - you have more right to enjoy the event than any player. But that enjoyment comes from the satisfaction of delivering a really great event for our players. We can't enjoy the event in the same way that players do - doing that risks us getting into situations where we're taking something away from a game which is all about player choice and player agency. So there are limits on what you can do when you're roleplaying at Empire during your time-off.

==Hours==
The amount of time-off that crew get is primarily determined by the area they are working in. Each member of crew is assigned to a team, as laid out in the [[crew organization]] - your team leader will be able to let you know what hours they will need you and what time-off you can expect.
__TOC__
In general, if you're carrying out your crew responsibilities during the event, such as a member of the NPC team or the GOD team then there will be only limited opportunities for you to take time-off while the game is running. Where possible we employ a planned rota of shifts for people who are working logistical jobs during the event - like the refs and the god team - so that you can have a break every day and potentially enjoy a little of the event. There is less time-off for those who are working in the plot department - but most crew can take an evening off to see friends.

If your job entails work before and after the event, such as the site set-up team, or the traffic or gate team, then you are welcome to join in with other crewing activities once the site work is complete, but you are also welcome to play most of the event if you wish to. However please do not assume you will be able to begin playing as soon as the event begins, site work is often not complete until a few hours after time-in. And bear in mind that we might need to call on you at any point if there is an emergency.

==Differentiation==
One of the goals is - as far as possible - to operate a standard setting of crewing guidelines across our crew. The ideal is to have the same rules for everyone. However in drawing up the rules, it is very clear that all our crew fall in to one of two categories. To try and keep things as simple as possible - we have created a single page to cover the guidelines but the first section on the basic restrictions applies to all crew. The second section describes additional restrictions just if you're a member of the game crew.

===Game Crew===
The first category are those crew who spend large amounts of time crewing ''during'' the event - doing very visible roles involved with '''managing''' and '''running''' the game. We call these crew the '''game crew''' - because they run the game itself. The game crew can take time-off and roleplay during the event, but they can't play a prominent role in the game because that is incompatible with be part of the team who are running the game.

===Event Crew===
The second category are those who often do most of the work before time-in or after time-out - mostly doing roles involved with the logistics of the event, handling things like electrics, site set-up, and so on. This includes the weapon check team dealing with weapon safety. We call these crew the '''event crew''' - because their role is focussed on the physical logistics of the event - rather than anything to do with the in-character side of Empire. The crew working in this department are playing their character through-out the majority of time-in - they have no backstage access to plot or character information - as such they are playing the game just as any other player might.

==Restrictions For All Crew==
* No spoilers
* Crewing comes first
* Check in and out with your team leader
* Support the Game
* Play One, Monster One

<div style="float:right;"><ic>An event is like a magicians trick - '''never''' pull back the curtain to show them how the trick is done</ic></div>
===No Spoilers===
As a member of crew, you may well be privy to information some or all of the players do not have. It is vital that you firewall this information appropriately and do not mention it to other players at any time. Doing so spoils the event for the players and leads to accusations that damage the reputation of all the crew. We appreciate that this rule is very obvious to most people who have been crewing for any length of time, but as the most vital rule of crewing, it is important to spell it out explicitly. Spoiling the plot is more than just leaking plot details - it can includes simple things like warning players that a particular battle will be harder or that it contains a lot of a specific monster or call for example.

In fact no spoilers is ''so important'' that you should bear this mind in rule at all times. Sensitive game information that you learn while crewing should never be divulged to players - before, during or after an event.

In practice, this rule isn't really that different for players. It's bad form generally to spill important in-character information to other players unless you're in-character and roleplaying. But it's important for our crew to be responsible Empire participants and obviously you're much more likely to know important information than many players are.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>The real difference between crewing and playing is that crew put the event first</ic></div>
===Crewing Comes First===
We’d like to avoid any situations where we are short on crew – we depend on everyone to be available when they are needed if they have come to Empire on a crew ticket. What we’re asking here is that you always put your responsibilities as crew first, rather than your character’s development or goals. If there is a specific IC event that you wish to attend, then we will accommodate this if we can, but ultimately if you are crewing then you are expected to be available to crew at the times you are needed. Sometimes that is going to mean that you miss out on bits of the game because we need you to help run it.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>We have given you a place on the crew because we need you</ic></div>
===Check In/Out===
Each department will manage this differently, but the basic expectation is that people will check verbally with their team leader before taking time-off. The goal is to allow team leaders to manage their teams, without having to annoy everyone with the hassle of formally signing in and out. Most event crew or plot crew will be asked to take a break of a few hours before returning to crewing; the site crew are more likely to be asked to be on call if they are needed or to check back in at a certain time.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition</ic></div>
===Support the Game===
* Play the brief
* Avoid comedy characters
* Don't play a stab-monkey
* Treat money and materials as if they were valuable
It is important that our crew are seen to be responsible participants in the game, many players will look at how crew play the game as an example of how it should be done. As such it is important that when you play a character, that character conforms to the brief. Obviously every character should be an individual, but don't play a Dawnish yeoman who despises the nobility - or a League citizen who wants to return to an agrarian lifestyle. Our characters should embody and personify the brief in a way that enriches and deepens the setting for everyone.

Empire is designed to be a very serious political game in which there is a large amount of PvP politics, but murder is the last resort of the truly desperate. As such we discourage players from playing comedy characters with stupid names, and also encourage them not to play stab-monkeys who just want to hang round at night and murder people. There are great games that allow for both these styles of play - they're just not something we want in Empire. Consequently it's ''really'' important for our crew to avoid both of these play-styles.

Finally, it is really important for crew who are taking in-character resources for their character to treat them as valuable. Much like a battle, the economy is a finely balanced thing - throwing money around as if it has no value damages that subtle balance in the same way that a monster taking too many hits damages the play balance of a fight. So please treat your resources as if they have real value to you. If you have money, spend it - but spend it carefully and don't flash your money around. If you have items to sell, spend some time roleplaying to extract the best price you can for them. If you don't want to be bothered haggling, don't take items to sell! You can get by perfectly adequately in Anvil with a dozen rings in your pocket for an evening's roleplay.

===Play One, Monster One===
It's fine for crew to play the battle if you want to do so as your character, but if you do then you must monster the other battle. This is the same restriction that applies to all players who attend Empire - if you play one of the battles then you must monster the other one. It exists so that we can have roughly equal numbers of participants on all sides of the battle. Your normal crewing responsibilities, whether before or during the event, are not an alterantive that you can do ''instead'' of monstering. You must not play one battle and then work a shift as a weapon checker or part of the toilet or bar team or similar, because if you do that then you're affecting the balance of combatants of the battle in a way that makes the battles less enjoyable for all participants.

If you want to take the battlefield then check with your team leader to make sure that your crew responsibilities will include enough time-off that you can be free during both battles so that you can monster the other one. If an emergency situation develops - and you're called on unexpectedly - then that's a perfectly valid reason to miss monstering. But don't plan to play one and then be crewing during the other one please.

<ic>It's a player-led game</ic>
==Additional Restrictions for Game Crew==
<box>We've laid out six specific restrictions for game crew, but it's important to appreciate that the general principle here is that you are free to play Empire provided that you take a minor role in the game and don't become an active player in the politics or the economics of the game. You can take ritual magic and support your group doing rituals - but don't be the go-to character for people looking to parley the ritual ability for influence. You can vote for a senator - but don't stand for the position yourself. You can buy crafting resources to make items for your character or your group - but don't buy and sell bourse resources for profit - all of these things are activities that push your character into the foreground of the story - they're things for the players to do.</box>
* '''Don’t accept an Imperial title'''
* '''Don't get rich'''
* '''Don't take player spaces'''
* '''Don't grab the plot'''
* '''Don’t break the law'''
* '''Don’t take a congregation'''

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Abraham Lincoln">If you want to test a man's character, give him power.</quote></div>
===Don’t Accept an Imperial Title===
We very publicly promote Empire that as a player-led game. The players portray all the most important characters of the Empire, the senators, the generals, the archmages, etc. This is fundamental to the design of the game and is also one of its big selling points. If crew accept an Imperial title it undermines one of the selling points of the game and can lead to the same questions about fairness that affect in-character crimes. It is also undeniable that characters with titled positions have significant duties attached to them in the setting. Characters with an Imperial title have commitments on their time that are incompatible with the need for crew to be available when we need them.

It's ok to support characters with an Imperial titles. Provided you're not trying to be the power behind the throne, it's fine to help and support any other character - but the position and the lead decision-making role that comes with it should go to a player.

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Mason Cooley">Money: power at it's most liquid</quote></div>
===Don't Get Rich===
Wealth is just another form of power so it follows the same restrictions that Imperial titles do because the same philosophy applies - this is another area set aside for the players to lead the game in. If crew get rich it undermines the essential player-led nature of the game and it can also lead them to question how trustworthy the game crew are if the people with access to the money out-of-character play rich characters. We want to avoid these pitfalls - so members of the game crew should avoid getting involved in buying and selling bourse resources for profit, or being part of the bourse syndicates that do. It's fine to buy and sell basic resources like herbs, mana, and even realm vis, but avoid trade in precious, rare, or illegal resources like true liao, ilium, rakshasa's tears, or bite.

It's ok to buy crafting materials to make items if your character is a crafter - or even to buy a few wains to upgrade your personal resource, but please don't upgrade your personal resource beyond level three.

===Don't Take Player Spaces===
Empire has quite a few areas of the game that strictly limit the number of players who can partake in them. Quests, skirmishes, and tent encounters all specifiy how many players can take part. If your character goes on on one of these, whether it's a past life vision involving just two characters or a large skirmish for 75, then you're taking a spot that was meant for a player. If you're playing an NPC, either a plot NPC, or a field NPC like an egregore or a magistrate, and you think you need to go on an encounter, then please talk to the plot team about that before you go and we'll give you guidance.

It's ok to go on a battle - or to take part in any encounter that allows every member of a nation to go if you qualify - since those encounters don't limit the player numbers.

===Don't Grab the Plot===
Empire is designed to be a game of politcal and social rivalries between player characters and most of the things that happen just involve the players. However we do run plot at the events and occasionally you'll encounter npcs with an agenda or an exotic magic item or similar. We have only very limited resources for running out plots at events, and the stuff we create is intended to be taken up by the players. It's meant for their characters to get involved with and to take the lead role.

It's fine for your character to have opinions on the political and plot issues of the day, it's fine to encourage other players to your point of view, but please avoid situations where you're left holding the plot item or determining what will happen with an ongoing plot.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>You can't do the time - so don't do the crime!</ic></div>
===Don’t Break the Law===
The Anvil setting in Empire is designed to be a law-abiding location - at least compared to most LRP settings. We work hard to encourage the majority of players that this is a game about political interaction, it's not about murdering people outside toilets or turning their tents over for their stuff. By not breaking the law, you are helping to reinforce the setting for everyone. Crew are allowed to play controversial characters, you are welcome to have a strong political agenda - provided you stay legal when pursuing your goals.

Following the laws isn't just about sticking to the setting, there are issues involving ''perceptions'' of fairness; regardless of the actual facts it is hard for players to maintain trust in the game organizers if their characters have been done over by the people running the game. There are also genuine play-balance problems, with potential issues of crew characters getting away scott-free by leaving the field and returning to crew roles for the rest of the weekend- while players struggle in vain to hunt down the thief/murderer/arsonist/conclave streaker. That creates an element of disparity between players committing crimes and crew characters committing crimes – and we need to avoid these situations.

===Don't Take a Congregation===
Because of how Synod voting works, if you're not on the field for a considerable amount of the event, you're likely to mess up the voting game for people trying to get a Greater Majority - your votes will count against the motion even though you couldn't have cast them, and people will get upset trying to find you when you're not around.

For this reason, unless you can expect to be on the field for the majority of the event, we'd rather you didn't take the Congregation resource with your character.

Time off

2026-03-09T10:41:54Z

Steve:

<table style="width:450px; float: left; margin-right:10px;"><tr><th>Event Crew</th><th>Game Crew</th></tr>
<tr><td>Camp Planner</td><td>Academy</td></tr>
<tr><td>Crew Welfare</td><td>Bard</td></tr>
<tr><td>Driver</td><td>Battle Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>First Aid</td><td>Civil Service</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gate Crew</td><td>Costume</td></tr>
<tr><td>Infrastructure</td><td>Egregore</td></tr>
<tr><td>IT</td><td>Encounter Tents</td></tr>
<tr><td>Moderator</td><td>GOD</td></tr>
<tr><td>Participant Welfare</td><td>Magistrate</td></tr>
<tr><td>Photography</td><td>Makeup</td></tr>
<tr><td>Player Ref</td><td>NPC</td></tr>
<tr><td>Security</td><td>Plot Production</td></tr>
<tr><td>Set Dressing</td><td>Plot Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>Site Crew</td><td>Props</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sparky</td><td>Ref - Field</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tavern</td><td>Ref - Skirmish</td></tr>
<tr><td>Toilet Team</td><td>SFX</td></tr>
<tr><td>Traffic Management</td><td>Skirmish Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weapons Check</td><td>Workshop</td></tr>
</table>
{{CaptionedImage|file=DeadEgregore.jpg|align=right|width=300px}}
==Overview==
All crew will receive some time-off during the event to allow them to relax and take a break. You are welcome to use this time to play a character, but we ask all crew who are playing the game to follow the simple guidelines laid out below. These principles are designed to ensure that you can roleplay without worrying that anything you are doing might undermine the event for other participants. If you think anything you are doing is likely to be a concern, then check the issue with Matt Pennington for further guidance.

We really want all our crew to enjoy the event. Crewing is hard work - and precisely because of that fact - you have more right to enjoy the event than any player. But that enjoyment comes from the satisfaction of delivering a really great event for our players. We can't enjoy the event in the same way that players do - doing that risks us getting into situations where we're taking something away from a game which is all about player choice and player agency. So there are limits on what you can do when you're roleplaying at Empire during your time-off.

==Hours==
The amount of time-off that crew get is primarily determined by the area they are working in. Each member of crew is assigned to a team, as laid out in the [[crew organization]] - your team leader will be able to let you know what hours they will need you and what time-off you can expect.
__TOC__
In general, if you're carrying out your crew responsibilities during the event, such as a member of the NPC team or the GOD team then there will be only limited opportunities for you to take time-off while the game is running. Where possible we employ a planned rota of shifts for people who are working logistical jobs during the event - like the refs and the god team - so that you can have a break every day and potentially enjoy a little of the event. There is less time-off for those who are working in the plot department - but most crew can take an evening off to see friends.

If your job entails work before and after the event, such as the site set-up team, or the traffic or gate team, then you are welcome to join in with other crewing activities once the site work is complete, but you are also welcome to play most of the event if you wish to. However please do not assume you will be able to begin playing as soon as the event begins, site work is often not complete until a few hours after time-in. And bear in mind that we might need to call on you at any point if there is an emergency.

==Differentiation==
One of the goals is - as far as possible - to operate a standard setting of crewing guidelines across our crew. The ideal is to have the same rules for everyone. However in drawing up the rules, it is very clear that all our crew fall in to one of two categories. To try and keep things as simple as possible - we have created a single page to cover the guidelines but the first section on the basic restrictions applies to all crew. The second section describes additional restrictions just if you're a member of the game crew.

===Game Crew===
The first category are those crew who spend large amounts of time crewing ''during'' the event - doing very visible roles involved with '''managing''' and '''running''' the game. We call these crew the '''game crew''' - because they run the game itself. The game crew can take time-off and roleplay during the event, but they can't play a prominent role in the game because that is incompatible with be part of the team who are running the game.

===Event Crew===
The second category are those who often do most of the work before time-in or after time-out - mostly doing roles involved with the logistics of the event, handling things like electrics, site set-up, and so on. This includes the weapon check team dealing with weapon safety. We call these crew the '''event crew''' - because their role is focussed on the physical logistics of the event - rather than anything to do with the in-character side of Empire. The crew working in this department are playing their character through-out the majority of time-in - they have no backstage access to plot or character information - as such they are playing the game just as any other player might.

==Restrictions For All Crew==
* No spoilers
* Crewing comes first
* Check in and out with your team leader
* Support the Game
* Play One, Monster One

<div style="float:right;"><ic>An event is like a magicians trick - '''never''' pull back the curtain to show them how the trick is done</ic></div>
===No Spoilers===
As a member of crew, you may well be privy to information some or all of the players do not have. It is vital that you firewall this information appropriately and do not mention it to other players at any time. Doing so spoils the event for the players and leads to accusations that damage the reputation of all the crew. We appreciate that this rule is very obvious to most people who have been crewing for any length of time, but as the most vital rule of crewing, it is important to spell it out explicitly. Spoiling the plot is more than just leaking plot details - it can includes simple things like warning players that a particular battle will be harder or that it contains a lot of a specific monster or call for example.

In fact no spoilers is ''so important'' that you should bear this mind in rule at all times. Sensitive game information that you learn while crewing should never be divulged to players - before, during or after an event.

In practice, this rule isn't really that different for players. It's bad form generally to spill important in-character information to other players unless you're in-character and roleplaying. But it's important for our crew to be responsible Empire participants and obviously you're much more likely to know important information than many players are.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>The real difference between crewing and playing is that crew put the event first</ic></div>
===Crewing Comes First===
We’d like to avoid any situations where we are short on crew – we depend on everyone to be available when they are needed if they have come to Empire on a crew ticket. What we’re asking here is that you always put your responsibilities as crew first, rather than your character’s development or goals. If there is a specific IC event that you wish to attend, then we will accommodate this if we can, but ultimately if you are crewing then you are expected to be available to crew at the times you are needed. Sometimes that is going to mean that you miss out on bits of the game because we need you to help run it.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>We have given you a place on the crew because we need you</ic></div>
===Check In/Out===
Each department will manage this differently, but the basic expectation is that people will check verbally with their team leader before taking time-off. The goal is to allow team leaders to manage their teams, without having to annoy everyone with the hassle of formally signing in and out. Most event crew or plot crew will be asked to take a break of a few hours before returning to crewing; the site crew are more likely to be asked to be on call if they are needed or to check back in at a certain time.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition</ic></div>
===Support the Game===
* Play the brief
* Avoid comedy characters
* Don't play a stab-monkey
* Treat money and materials as if they were valuable
It is important that our crew are seen to be responsible participants in the game, many players will look at how crew play the game as an example of how it should be done. As such it is important that when you play a character, that character conforms to the brief. Obviously every character should be an individual, but don't play a Dawnish yeoman who despises the nobility - or a League citizen who wants to return to an agrarian lifestyle. Our characters should embody and personify the brief in a way that enriches and deepens the setting for everyone.

Empire is designed to be a very serious political game in which there is a large amount of PvP politics, but murder is the last resort of the truly desperate. As such we discourage players from playing comedy characters with stupid names, and also encourage them not to play stab-monkeys who just want to hang round at night and murder people. There are great games that allow for both these styles of play - they're just not something we want in Empire. Consequently it's ''really'' important for our crew to avoid both of these play-styles.

Finally, it is really important for crew who are taking in-character resources for their character to treat them as valuable. Much like a battle, the economy is a finely balanced thing - throwing money around as if it has no value damages that subtle balance in the same way that a monster taking too many hits damages the play balance of a fight. So please treat your resources as if they have real value to you. If you have money, spend it - but spend it carefully and don't flash your money around. If you have items to sell, spend some time roleplaying to extract the best price you can for them. If you don't want to be bothered haggling, don't take items to sell! You can get by perfectly adequately in Anvil with a dozen rings in your pocket for an evening's roleplay.

===Play One, Monster One===
It's fine for crew to play the battle if you want to do so as your character, but if you do then you must monster the other battle. This is the same restriction that applies to all players who attend Empire - if you play one of the battles then you must monster the other one. It exists so that we can have roughly equal numbers of participants on all sides of the battle. Your normal crewing responsibilities, whether before or during the event, are not an alterantive that you can do ''instead'' of monstering. You must not play one battle and then work a shift as a weapon checker or part of the toilet or bar team or similar, because if you do that then you're affecting the balance of combatants of the battle in a way that makes the battles less enjoyable for all participants.

If you want to take the battlefield then check with your team leader to make sure that your crew responsibilities will include enough time-off that you can be free during both battles so that you can monster the other one. If an emergency situation develops - and you're called on unexpectedly - then that's a perfectly valid reason to miss monstering. But don't plan to play one and then be crewing during the other one please.

<ic>It's a player-led game</ic>
==Additional Restrictions for Game Crew==
<box>We've laid our five specific restrictions for game crew, but it's important to appreciate that the general principle here is that you are free to play Empire provided that you take a minor role in the game and don't become an active player in the politics or the economics of the game. You can take ritual magic and support your group doing rituals - but don't be the go-to character for people looking to parley the ritual ability for influence. You can vote for a senator - but don't stand for the position yourself. You can buy crafting resources to make items for your character or your group - but don't buy and sell bourse resources for profit - all of these things are activities that push your character into the foreground of the story - they're things for the players to do.</box>
* '''Don’t accept an Imperial title'''
* '''Don't get rich'''
* '''Don't take player spaces'''
* '''Don't grab the plot'''
* '''Don’t break the law'''
* '''Don’t take a congregation'''

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Abraham Lincoln">If you want to test a man's character, give him power.</quote></div>
===Don’t Accept an Imperial Title===
We very publicly promote Empire that as a player-led game. The players portray all the most important characters of the Empire, the senators, the generals, the archmages, etc. This is fundamental to the design of the game and is also one of its big selling points. If crew accept an Imperial title it undermines one of the selling points of the game and can lead to the same questions about fairness that affect in-character crimes. It is also undeniable that characters with titled positions have significant duties attached to them in the setting. Characters with an Imperial title have commitments on their time that are incompatible with the need for crew to be available when we need them.

It's ok to support characters with an Imperial titles. Provided you're not trying to be the power behind the throne, it's fine to help and support any other character - but the position and the lead decision-making role that comes with it should go to a player.

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Mason Cooley">Money: power at it's most liquid</quote></div>
===Don't Get Rich===
Wealth is just another form of power so it follows the same restrictions that Imperial titles do because the same philosophy applies - this is another area set aside for the players to lead the game in. If crew get rich it undermines the essential player-led nature of the game and it can also lead them to question how trustworthy the game crew are if the people with access to the money out-of-character play rich characters. We want to avoid these pitfalls - so members of the game crew should avoid getting involved in buying and selling bourse resources for profit, or being part of the bourse syndicates that do. It's fine to buy and sell basic resources like herbs, mana, and even realm vis, but avoid trade in precious, rare, or illegal resources like true liao, ilium, rakshasa's tears, or bite.

It's ok to buy crafting materials to make items if your character is a crafter - or even to buy a few wains to upgrade your personal resource, but please don't upgrade your personal resource beyond level three.

===Don't Take Player Spaces===
Empire has quite a few areas of the game that strictly limit the number of players who can partake in them. Quests, skirmishes, and tent encounters all specifiy how many players can take part. If your character goes on on one of these, whether it's a past life vision involving just two characters or a large skirmish for 75, then you're taking a spot that was meant for a player. If you're playing an NPC, either a plot NPC, or a field NPC like an egregore or a magistrate, and you think you need to go on an encounter, then please talk to the plot team about that before you go and we'll give you guidance.

It's ok to go on a battle - or to take part in any encounter that allows every member of a nation to go if you qualify - since those encounters don't limit the player numbers.

===Don't Grab the Plot===
Empire is designed to be a game of politcal and social rivalries between player characters and most of the things that happen just involve the players. However we do run plot at the events and occasionally you'll encounter npcs with an agenda or an exotic magic item or similar. We have only very limited resources for running out plots at events, and the stuff we create is intended to be taken up by the players. It's meant for their characters to get involved with and to take the lead role.

It's fine for your character to have opinions on the political and plot issues of the day, it's fine to encourage other players to your point of view, but please avoid situations where you're left holding the plot item or determining what will happen with an ongoing plot.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>You can't do the time - so don't do the crime!</ic></div>
===Don’t Break the Law===
The Anvil setting in Empire is designed to be a law-abiding location - at least compared to most LRP settings. We work hard to encourage the majority of players that this is a game about political interaction, it's not about murdering people outside toilets or turning their tents over for their stuff. By not breaking the law, you are helping to reinforce the setting for everyone. Crew are allowed to play controversial characters, you are welcome to have a strong political agenda - provided you stay legal when pursuing your goals.

Following the laws isn't just about sticking to the setting, there are issues involving ''perceptions'' of fairness; regardless of the actual facts it is hard for players to maintain trust in the game organizers if their characters have been done over by the people running the game. There are also genuine play-balance problems, with potential issues of crew characters getting away scott-free by leaving the field and returning to crew roles for the rest of the weekend- while players struggle in vain to hunt down the thief/murderer/arsonist/conclave streaker. That creates an element of disparity between players committing crimes and crew characters committing crimes – and we need to avoid these situations.

===Don't Take a Congregation===
Because of how Synod voting works, if you're not on the field for a considerable amount of the event, you're likely to mess up the voting game for people trying to get a Greater Majority - your votes will count against the motion even though you couldn't have cast them, and people will get upset trying to find you when you're not around.

For this reason, unless you can expect to be on the field for the majority of the event, we'd rather you didn't take the Congregation resource with your character.

Time off

2026-03-09T10:41:12Z

Steve:

<table style="width:450px; float: left; margin-right:10px;"><tr><th>Event Crew</th><th>Game Crew</th></tr>
<tr><td>Camp Planner</td><td>Academy</td></tr>
<tr><td>Crew Welfare</td><td>Bard</td></tr>
<tr><td>Driver</td><td>Battle Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>First Aid</td><td>Civil Service</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gate Crew</td><td>Costume</td></tr>
<tr><td>Infrastructure</td><td>Egregore</td></tr>
<tr><td>IT</td><td>Encounter Tents</td></tr>
<tr><td>Moderator</td><td>GOD</td></tr>
<tr><td>Participant Welfare</td><td>Magistrate</td></tr>
<tr><td>Photography</td><td>Makeup</td></tr>
<tr><td>Player Ref</td><td>NPC</td></tr>
<tr><td>Security</td><td>Plot Production</td></tr>
<tr><td>Set Dressing</td><td>Plot Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>Site Crew</td><td>Props</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sparky</td><td>Ref - Field</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tavern</td><td>Ref - Skirmish</td></tr>
<tr><td>Toilet Team</td><td>SFX</td></tr>
<tr><td>Traffic Management</td><td>Skirmish Team</td></tr>
<tr><td>Weapons Check</td><td>Workshop</td></tr>
</table>
{{CaptionedImage|file=DeadEgregore.jpg|align=right|width=300px}}
==Overview==
All crew will receive some time-off during the event to allow them to relax and take a break. You are welcome to use use this time to play a character, but we ask all crew who are playing the game to follow the simple guidelines laid out below. These principles are designed to ensure that you can roleplay without worrying that anything you are doing might undermine the event for other participants. If you think anything you are doing is likely to be a concern, then check the issue with Matt Pennington for further guidance.

We really want all our crew to enjoy the event . Crewing is hard work - and precisely because of that fact - you have more right to enjoy the event than any player. But that enjoyment comes from the satisfaction of delivering a really great event for our players. We can't enjoy the event in the same way that players do - doing that risks us getting into situations where we're taking something away from a game which is all about player choice and player agency. So there are limits on what you can do when you're roleplaying at Empire during your time-off.

==Hours==
The amount of time-off that crew get is primarily determined by the area they are working in. Each member of crew is assigned to a team, as laid out in the [[crew organization]] - your team leader will be able to let you know what hours they will need you and what time-off you can expect.
__TOC__
In general, if you're carrying out your crew responsibilities during the event, such as a member of the NPC team or the GOD team then there will be only limited opportunities for you to take time-off while the game is running. Where possible we employ a planned rota of shifts for people who are working logistical jobs during the event - like the refs and the god team - so that you can have a break every day and potentially enjoy a little of the event. There is less time-off for those who are working in the plot department - but most crew can take an evening off to see friends.

If your job entails work before and after the event, such as the site set-up team, or the traffic or gate team, then you are welcome to join in with other crewing activities once the site work is complete, but you are also welcome to play most of the event if you wish to. However please do not assume you will be able to begin playing as soon as the event begins, site work is often not complete until a few hours after time-in. And bear in mind that we might need to call on you at any point if there is an emergency.

==Differentiation==
One of the goals is - as far as possible - to operate a standard setting of crewing guidelines across our crew. The ideal is to have the same rules for everyone. However in drawing up the rules, it is very clear that all our crew fall in to one of two categories. To try and keep things as simple as possible - we have created a single page to cover the guidelines but the first section on the basic restrictions applies to all crew. The second section describes additional restrictions just if you're a member of the game crew.

===Game Crew===
The first category are those crew who spend large amounts of time crewing ''during'' the event - doing very visible roles involved with '''managing''' and '''running''' the game. We call these crew the '''game crew''' - because they run the game itself. The game crew can take time-off and roleplay during the event, but they can't play a prominent role in the game because that is incompatible with be part of the team who are running the game.

===Event Crew===
The second category are those who often do most of the work before time-in or after time-out - mostly doing roles involved with the logistics of the event, handling things like electrics, site set-up, and so on. This includes the weapon check team dealing with weapon safety. We call these crew the '''event crew''' - because their role is focussed on the physical logistics of the event - rather than anything to do with the in-character side of Empire. The crew working in this department are playing their character through-out the majority of time-in - they have no backstage access to plot or character information - as such they are playing the game just as any other player might.

==Restrictions For All Crew==
* No spoilers
* Crewing comes first
* Check in and out with your team leader
* Support the Game
* Play One, Monster One

<div style="float:right;"><ic>An event is like a magicians trick - '''never''' pull back the curtain to show them how the trick is done</ic></div>
===No Spoilers===
As a member of crew, you may well be privy to information some or all of the players do not have. It is vital that you firewall this information appropriately and do not mention it to other players at any time. Doing so spoils the event for the players and leads to accusations that damage the reputation of all the crew. We appreciate that this rule is very obvious to most people who have been crewing for any length of time, but as the most vital rule of crewing, it is important to spell it out explicitly. Spoiling the plot is more than just leaking plot details - it can includes simple things like warning players that a particular battle will be harder or that it contains a lot of a specific monster or call for example.

In fact no spoilers is ''so important'' that you should bear this mind in rule at all times. Sensitive game information that you learn while crewing should never be divulged to players - before, during or after an event.

In practice, this rule isn't really that different for players. It's bad form generally to spill important in-character information to other players unless you're in-character and roleplaying. But it's important for our crew to be responsible Empire participants and obviously you're much more likely to know important information than many players are.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>The real difference between crewing and playing is that crew put the event first</ic></div>
===Crewing Comes First===
We’d like to avoid any situations where we are short on crew – we depend on everyone to be available when they are needed if they have come to Empire on a crew ticket. What we’re asking here is that you always put your responsibilities as crew first, rather than your character’s development or goals. If there is a specific IC event that you wish to attend, then we will accommodate this if we can, but ultimately if you are crewing then you are expected to be available to crew at the times you are needed. Sometimes that is going to mean that you miss out on bits of the game because we need you to help run it.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>We have given you a place on the crew because we need you</ic></div>
===Check In/Out===
Each department will manage this differently, but the basic expectation is that people will check verbally with their team leader before taking time-off. The goal is to allow team leaders to manage their teams, without having to annoy everyone with the hassle of formally signing in and out. Most event crew or plot crew will be asked to take a break of a few hours before returning to crewing; the site crew are more likely to be asked to be on call if they are needed or to check back in at a certain time.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition</ic></div>
===Support the Game===
* Play the brief
* Avoid comedy characters
* Don't play a stab-monkey
* Treat money and materials as if they were valuable
It is important that our crew are seen to be responsible participants in the game, many players will look at how crew play the game as an example of how it should be done. As such it is important that when you play a character, that character conforms to the brief. Obviously every character should be an individual, but don't play a Dawnish yeoman who despises the nobility - or a League citizen who wants to return to an agrarian lifestyle. Our characters should embody and personify the brief in a way that enriches and deepens the setting for everyone.

Empire is designed to be a very serious political game in which there is a large amount of PvP politics, but murder is the last resort of the truly desperate. As such we discourage players from playing comedy characters with stupid names, and also encourage them not to play stab-monkeys who just want to hang round at night and murder people. There are great games that allow for both these styles of play - they're just not something we want in Empire. Consequently it's ''really'' important for our crew to avoid both of these play-styles.

Finally, it is really important for crew who are taking in-character resources for their character to treat them as valuable. Much like a battle, the economy is a finely balanced thing - throwing money around as if it has no value damages that subtle balance in the same way that a monster taking too many hits damages the play balance of a fight. So please treat your resources as if they have real value to you. If you have money, spend it - but spend it carefully and don't flash your money around. If you have items to sell, spend some time roleplaying to extract the best price you can for them. If you don't want to be bothered haggling, don't take items to sell! You can get by perfectly adequately in Anvil with a dozen rings in your pocket for an evening's roleplay.

===Play One, Monster One===
It's fine for crew to play the battle if you want to do so as your character, but if you do then you must monster the other battle. This is the same restriction that applies to all players who attend Empire - if you play one of the battles then you must monster the other one. It exists so that we can have roughly equal numbers of participants on all sides of the battle. Your normal crewing responsibilities, whether before or during the event, are not an alterantive that you can do ''instead'' of monstering. You must not play one battle and then work a shift as a weapon checker or part of the toilet or bar team or similar, because if you do that then you're affecting the balance of combatants of the battle in a way that makes the battles less enjoyable for all participants.

If you want to take the battlefield then check with your team leader to make sure that your crew responsibilities will include enough time-off that you can be free during both battles so that you can monster the other one. If an emergency situation develops - and you're called on unexpectedly - then that's a perfectly valid reason to miss monstering. But don't plan to play one and then be crewing during the other one please.

<ic>It's a player-led game</ic>
==Additional Restrictions for Game Crew==
<box>We've laid our five specific restrictions for game crew, but it's important to appreciate that the general principle here is that you are free to play Empire provided that you take a minor role in the game and don't become an active player in the politics or the economics of the game. You can take ritual magic and support your group doing rituals - but don't be the go-to character for people looking to parley the ritual ability for influence. You can vote for a senator - but don't stand for the position yourself. You can buy crafting resources to make items for your character or your group - but don't buy and sell bourse resources for profit - all of these things are activities that push your character into the foreground of the story - they're things for the players to do.</box>
* '''Don’t accept an Imperial title'''
* '''Don't get rich'''
* '''Don't take player spaces'''
* '''Don't grab the plot'''
* '''Don’t break the law'''
* '''Don’t take a congregation'''

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Abraham Lincoln">If you want to test a man's character, give him power.</quote></div>
===Don’t Accept an Imperial Title===
We very publicly promote Empire that as a player-led game. The players portray all the most important characters of the Empire, the senators, the generals, the archmages, etc. This is fundamental to the design of the game and is also one of its big selling points. If crew accept an Imperial title it undermines one of the selling points of the game and can lead to the same questions about fairness that affect in-character crimes. It is also undeniable that characters with titled positions have significant duties attached to them in the setting. Characters with an Imperial title have commitments on their time that are incompatible with the need for crew to be available when we need them.

It's ok to support characters with an Imperial titles. Provided you're not trying to be the power behind the throne, it's fine to help and support any other character - but the position and the lead decision-making role that comes with it should go to a player.

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Mason Cooley">Money: power at it's most liquid</quote></div>
===Don't Get Rich===
Wealth is just another form of power so it follows the same restrictions that Imperial titles do because the same philosophy applies - this is another area set aside for the players to lead the game in. If crew get rich it undermines the essential player-led nature of the game and it can also lead them to question how trustworthy the game crew are if the people with access to the money out-of-character play rich characters. We want to avoid these pitfalls - so members of the game crew should avoid getting involved in buying and selling bourse resources for profit, or being part of the bourse syndicates that do. It's fine to buy and sell basic resources like herbs, mana, and even realm vis, but avoid trade in precious, rare, or illegal resources like true liao, ilium, rakshasa's tears, or bite.

It's ok to buy crafting materials to make items if your character is a crafter - or even to buy a few wains to upgrade your personal resource, but please don't upgrade your personal resource beyond level three.

===Don't Take Player Spaces===
Empire has quite a few areas of the game that strictly limit the number of players who can partake in them. Quests, skirmishes, and tent encounters all specifiy how many players can take part. If your character goes on on one of these, whether it's a past life vision involving just two characters or a large skirmish for 75, then you're taking a spot that was meant for a player. If you're playing an NPC, either a plot NPC, or a field NPC like an egregore or a magistrate, and you think you need to go on an encounter, then please talk to the plot team about that before you go and we'll give you guidance.

It's ok to go on a battle - or to take part in any encounter that allows every member of a nation to go if you qualify - since those encounters don't limit the player numbers.

===Don't Grab the Plot===
Empire is designed to be a game of politcal and social rivalries between player characters and most of the things that happen just involve the players. However we do run plot at the events and occasionally you'll encounter npcs with an agenda or an exotic magic item or similar. We have only very limited resources for running out plots at events, and the stuff we create is intended to be taken up by the players. It's meant for their characters to get involved with and to take the lead role.

It's fine for your character to have opinions on the political and plot issues of the day, it's fine to encourage other players to your point of view, but please avoid situations where you're left holding the plot item or determining what will happen with an ongoing plot.

<div style="float:right;"><ic>You can't do the time - so don't do the crime!</ic></div>
===Don’t Break the Law===
The Anvil setting in Empire is designed to be a law-abiding location - at least compared to most LRP settings. We work hard to encourage the majority of players that this is a game about political interaction, it's not about murdering people outside toilets or turning their tents over for their stuff. By not breaking the law, you are helping to reinforce the setting for everyone. Crew are allowed to play controversial characters, you are welcome to have a strong political agenda - provided you stay legal when pursuing your goals.

Following the laws isn't just about sticking to the setting, there are issues involving ''perceptions'' of fairness; regardless of the actual facts it is hard for players to maintain trust in the game organizers if their characters have been done over by the people running the game. There are also genuine play-balance problems, with potential issues of crew characters getting away scott-free by leaving the field and returning to crew roles for the rest of the weekend- while players struggle in vain to hunt down the thief/murderer/arsonist/conclave streaker. That creates an element of disparity between players committing crimes and crew characters committing crimes – and we need to avoid these situations.

===Don't Take a Congregation===
Because of how Synod voting works, if you're not on the field for a considerable amount of the event, you're likely to mess up the voting game for people trying to get a Greater Majority - your votes will count against the motion even though you couldn't have cast them, and people will get upset trying to find you when you're not around.

For this reason, unless you can expect to be on the field for the majority of the event, we'd rather you didn't take the Congregation resource with your character.

Downtime

2025-04-29T15:45:40Z

Steve: /* Post Downtime */

DOWNTIME REVERSE IS NOT AUDIT TRAILING THE REMOVAL OF INVENTORY ENTRIES!!! SORT THIS SHIT OUT!

=Pre-Downtime=
A summary of the processes needed to get downtime live - in no particular order.

==Pre-Processor==
* '''Run this even if Steve has already done the Guerdon shit - it is needed for the Bourse'''
* Run the Downtime preprocessor to remove all guerdon from all entites, remove treasure from armies, forts and spy networks and move bourse titles to Marta.

==Guerdon==
* Set the Guerdon for all areas based on announcement by Quartermaster General.

==Imperial Army Orders==
* Get the list of Imperial Army orders from Graeme and enter onto the system.

==Mandates==
* Check all mandates that passed.
* Remove the liao from the character's inventory.
* Apply any downtime effects as appropriate.

==Plot Team==
* Check with plot team for any new downtime plot effects.

==Existing Plot Effects==
* Check the existing report of Active Plot Effects in the database reports.
* Remove any that are no longer valid.

==Rituals==
* Check ''region'', ''territory'' '''and''' ''nation'' and ''imperial'' level rituals on the ritual processor

==Military Actions==
* Remove any expired military unit actions, fleet actions - check data report '''Downtime - Military Resource Options'''
* Add any new military unit actions
* Add any new fleet actions
* Add any new forts
* Add any new spy networks
* Add any new armies

==Ports==
* Remove any expired trading ports - check '''Downtime - Ports Available'''
* Add any new trading ports

==Treasure Types==
* Set new treasure type for any spy networks, armies and forts and military actions

==Great Works==
* Check that great works completed before the event are activated
==Wiki Pages==
* Check '''Archive:Civil_Service_Reports''' and update all post-event pages

==Rituals==
* Check for any old style Arcane Projections submitted - look for rituals cast last event named "Arcane Projction"

==Territories==
* Check all conquered territories with Graeme/Andy - check '''Downtime - Conquered Territories'''

==Admin Update==
* Let Cordie know of any free resource change options arising
* Let Cordie know of any other downtime/campaign plots that will affect emails to admin

==Imperial Lore/Urizen Lore/Wintermark Lore==
* Update rituals put into Imperial/Urizen Lore
* Update items put into Wintermark Lore

=Post Downtime=

==Artifacts==
* Process all artifacts

==Constructions==
* Process title creation and wiki pages

=Pre Event=

==Check New Structures==
* Check any commissions have been completed

The League look and feel

2025-03-27T03:58:21Z

Steve:

==Overview==
<big>'''Lavish, opulent, mercantile, urbane, swaggering, flamboyant, ostentatious'''</big>

The League look takes inspiration from European renaissance fashion. Garments and accessories from the Italian Renaissance, the German Renaissance, and early Tudor England can form a solid foundation provided they [[The_League_look_and_feel#Silhouette|achieve the right silhouette]]. The League is a nation of city-states, where citizens love to compete for acclaim, social status and power. League fashions reflect this bustling urban world where ‘everything is on show’ and where citizens aim to experience ‘the best of everything’.

This desire for ostentatious displays of wealth creates one of the most distinctive recurring elements of all League clothing - the practice of [https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/slashing/ slashing]. This involves regular spaced cuts or openings in a garment to allow the fabric underneath to show through. Almost everything in the League can be slashed, even shoes! The garment underneath might be a bright contrasting colour with the outer garment, but a slashed doublet can be worn over a white shirt or blouse just as easily. Several items of clothing worn by League citizens are found elsewhere in the Empire, especially the Marches and Dawn, but in these cases it is often the decorative slashing that creates a uniquely League look and feel.

'''No garments are gendered in Empire'''. Citizens of any gender wear dresses, hose, doublets, skirts and other garments as they please, in any combination they prefer.

==Aspirational==
This is a long and detailed page with a lot of content because we want to be thorough and clear about what the ideal costume for the League looks like. It is important to remember that all costume is [[Costume#Aspirational_Game|aspirational]] in Empire, we don't want anyone to worry that their costume is not perfect. This page is a resource you can use to help you identify what the perfect costume looks like when you are buying or making a new piece of kit for a League character. It is to show you what to aim for as you improve your costume over time.

The brief includes a number of technical terms, for materials and garments. Where possible, we've tried to explain what those terms mean, and link to an external website that provides more information. While some of these terms will be unfamiliar, using the historical terms allows us to be precise, helps you search online for garments of that kind and can be helpful if you go to any costume maker who is familiar with the terms.

==Silhouette==
* '''Achieving the right silhouette is the key to a great League costume'''

The League silhouette is about creating a contrast. An outfit with close fitting hose could be larger on the upper body, with puffy sleeves or a dramatic duelling cape. Dresses with a smaller bodice and a higher waist might have a wide, flowing skirt. Or you can create the contrast with extravagant slashing to show off different layers of fabric and contrasting colours. Below are some illustrated examples by [https://www.facebook.com/p/Lampblack-Art-100092300352138/ Lampblack Art] of archetypal League silhouettes.
<div class="fourpicture" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette0.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette1.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette2.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette3.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette4.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette5.jpeg}}
</div>

==Shoulders and Sleeves==
Sleeves are one of the most instantly recognisable aspects of League clothing. Sleeves of base layers such as shirts, blouses or chemises are puffed and voluminous, gathered at the cuff rather than open, loose or trailing. The outer sleeves on doublets, dresses and waffenrocks are often decorated with slashing. Sleeves are often detachable and designed to be tied on at the shoulder. There are a number of key styles. Sleeves can be identical, or can be 'mixed and matched' for an asymmetrical look.

'''Segmented Sleeves:''' These feature an outer sleeve tied on at the shoulder that has gaps at the elbow for the shirt or chemise beneath to peek through in ‘puffs’. You can also choose to wear only the upper segments or lower segments.

'''Slashed Sleeves:''' These can have a series of slashes or slits cut into the sleeve in patterns, or one long slit running down it, again to show off the layer underneath. Slashes can be edged in decorative trim and or beading, or other showy embellishments.

'''Paned Sleeves:''' Paned sleeves use strips of fabric to create a slotted look through which either another contrasting fabric or the shirt underneath is visible.

'''Shoulder Rolls:''' When the weather is warm, some Leaguers remove their outer sleeves altogether. Dresses or doublets can have padded rolls on the shoulders, so that even sleeveless, there is still plenty of decoration.

<div class="fourpicture" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;" class="imagegrid">
{{CaptionedImage|file=segmentedsleeve.jpeg|caption=Segmented Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=slashedsleeve.jpeg|caption=Slashed Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=tieonsleeve.jpg|caption=Slashed Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=panedsleeve.jpg|caption=Paned Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Shoulderroll.jpeg|caption=Shoulder Roll}}
</div>

==Garments and Accessories==
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Shirt 1.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League shirt 2.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=HazelKing.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
</div>
'''Shirt, Blouse or Chemise:''' League outfits are designed to be worn over shirts, blouses or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemise chemises]. These base layers can be any colour. They tend to be loose and have baggy sleeves gathered at the wrist or elbow or be puffed down the arm at intervals. They can have lacing at the neck, or a gathered neckline.

The garment may have a higher neckline to keep out the cold, but it is less appropriate to have a pointed collar, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapel lapels] or buttons all the way down in the way a modern formal shirt would. Likewise it is less appropriate for the sleeves to trail or flare at the wrist in a ‘trumpet’ style, or be straight like the sleeves of a t-shirt or tight to the arm like a fitted shirt. League shirts are not worn with cravats and do not have cascading lace at the throat in a ‘highwayman’ or Regency style.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=bodice.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=bodice}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=wams.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=wams}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=doublet2.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=doublet}}
</div>
'''Doublet, Wams or Bodice:''' A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublet_(clothing) doublet] is a short upper body garment, usually fastened at the front with lacing or buttons and worn over a shirt or blouse. Most doublets come down to the waist or hips. Some have short skirting or tabs at the bottom.

League wams are a style of doublet that is often lower necked, and square or v-necked, inspired by the wams worn by landsknechts. They typically close at the side rather than the centre, or have a big detachable panel on the front (called a brustfleck) which often features a pattern of decorative slashing, like this [https://reconstructinghistory.com/products/rh502-landsknecht-wams-und-hosen?srsltid=AfmBOoojwm7IzQcBHcnSK56y6asx6MLl9ggqQkN_hR1VqWEnliErrUfo example here].

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodice bodice] is a good alternative to a doublet, as most off-the-peg doublets are designed for someone with a flat chest. Avoid stays, and anything with thin straps or heavy boning is less appropriate. The ideal League bodice covers the back and shoulders and resembles a doublet that laces together at the front. A bodice usually has no sleeves, but a League bodice can have sleeves that tie-on.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=hose.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=trousers.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=BaggyTrousers.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
</div>
'''Trousers or Hose:''' League trousers, also known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hose_(clothing) hose], often feature slashed decorations, or legs in contrasting colours. They may be baggy or close fitting but are often made in heavier fabrics such as wool or canvas for warmth. You can also use leggings or jodhpurs but if you use modern garments, it is best to cover belt loops and pockets with your upper body layers.

Wider trousers should have gathering at the hems or a wide band at the ankle or lower leg so that the legs form a puffy shape. Close fitting trousers may have a flap at the front which is tied on; this is sometimes lightly padded to form a discreet codpiece. Short hose, which ends above the knee, can be slashed, or have panes of fabric with a contrast fabric puffing out in a style known as ‘pumpkin hose’, owing to their shape.

'''Dress, Skirt or Waffenrock:''' The ideal League dress has a seam at the waistline and a skirt that flares out below. The waistlines can be high with fabric gathered underneath the bust or can sit lower down. A split-front overdress can also be worn over a contrasting skirt. League skirts can be either full length or come to the knee and are often gathered or pleated into the waistband. Dresses can have a decorative front panel, often featuring lacing across the torso, like those featured in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Cranach_the_Elder#Paintings the paintings by Cranach the Elder].

League dresses and skirts are not worn with any hoop or cage shaped structures underneath to give skirts an exaggerated bell or cylinder shape. Hoop skirts, farthingales, bum rolls, bustles, and crinolines should all be avoided.

{{anchor|Waffenrock}}
The League waffenrock is a full skirted tunic or short dress, often made in two or more brightly contrasting colours based on the waffenrocks worn by landsknechts. The skirt is usually full and falls to around the knee area. They sometimes feature wider, open sleeves without a gathered cuff, usually elbow length, to allow them to be worn over armour or another garment. Be careful if you search for waffenrock online as the word refers to a wide range of garments, including many more modern garments - this is the kind of [https://www.armorarena.com/landsknecht-waffenrock-16-th-century waffenrock] that is right for the League.

<div class="fourpicture" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=HighWaist.jpg|width=100%|caption=High Waist}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=LowWaist.jpg|width=100%|caption=Low Waist}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=SplitDress.jpg|width=100%|caption=Split-front overdress}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=CrannachDress.jpg|width=100%|caption='Cranach' dress}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=dress.jpg|width=100%|caption=Waffenrock}}
</div>

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League coat.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=Coat}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League robe.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=Robe}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OpenRobes.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=Open Robe}}
</div>
'''Coats or Robes:''' League robes and coats are generally long - either to the ankle or knee. They can be worn open at the front or closed with a belt or other fastenings. They are often trimmed with fur.

League coats do not have lapels and the fastenings do not extend down the length of the garment like a modern coat. They should fasten with a belt or a few buttons or similar, at the waist or chest. Epaulettes are not appropriate. If they have [[#sleeves|sleeves]], they do not have wide turned-back cuffs like a frock coat.

{{anchor|capes}}
'''Capes, Cloaks or Partlets''' League cloaks are usually decorated with trim, either applique, embroidery or fur. Short capes, that hang to the waist, are particularly popular with bravos. They can be worn over both shoulders, or over just one by tying under the opposite arm.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=cape2.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=cape}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=capelet.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=capelet}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=partlet.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=partlet}}
</div>
A capelet is a small cape, clasping at the neck, which comes down no further than the elbow. Fur, or faux fur, is a common material for capelets, though wool or velvet edged with fur is also seen.

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partlet partlet] is a small upper body garment designed primarily to be worn over dresses. They come down to the bust and fasten at the front. They are often secured with underarm ties. Partlets are generally made from heavier, warmer, fabrics such as wool, thick brocade, velvet or suede.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Lucien.jpg|width=180|align=left}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Roz2.jpg|width=180|align=left}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Chainofoffice.jpg|width=180|align=left}}
</div>
'''Jewellery:''' Rings are an important part of [[The_League_hearth_magic|League hearth magic]] but ornate jewellery is commonplace across the nation - often with a ‘more is more’ mindset. Several strings of pearls worn together, or chokers worn at the same time as lower-slung necklaces, are a frequent sight. Chains of office are often worn by merchant princes and bishops to signal status and authority. Brooches are worn as often on hats as they are on garments, sometimes to pin up one side of a wide brim.

'''Hats, Headdresses, and Hairnets:''' Wearing something on your head is one of the ''best'' ways to complete a great League costume. A simple felt hat with a round crown and a wide brim is fine, but long, plumed feathers can be used to add flourish to any hat. A tellerbarett is a flat hat with an enormous plate-like brim that can be festooned with feathers or jewellery and worn at a jaunty angle. A dockenbarett, or landsknecht star-fish hat, has a large brim made from wide folded tabs. Both are popular with bravos and free companies and often feature slashing with contrasting colours. Coifs or headwraps can be worn under either.

Cylindrical taller hats in bright colours, similar to the capitanesca worn by the Italian Renaissance prince Cosimo de Medici in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosimo_de'_Medici#/media/File:Cosimo_di_Medici_(Bronzino).jpg this portrait], suit the League. These tend not to have a wide brim - anything like a top hat is not appropriate. Loose, floppy berets - sometimes referred to as ‘muffin’ hats owing to their shape - are another iconic League hat. These can be very large, and might be pleated into the band. Others might have a short brim, like a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_bonnet Tudor bonnet].

Beaded snoods and hairnets are also worn in the League. These can be as simple as a crochet-style net pinned or held onto the hair. Headdresses that resemble Flemish hoods, German steuchlein and wulsthaube headdresses, or the Italian renaissance balzo headdress, all of which feature a padded roll that sits on or behind the head, are also popular.
<div class="fourpicture" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League hat 1.jpg|caption=Tellerbarett}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Dockenbarett.jpg|caption=Dockenbarett}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Muffinhat.jpg|caption=Muffin hat}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=TudorBonnet.jpg|caption=Tudor Bonnet}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=EmmaDay.jpg|caption=Capitanesca}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League hat 4.jpg|caption=Beaded snood}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League hat 5.jpg|caption=Flemish hood}}
</div>

==Colours and Materials==
'''Colours:''' Every colour is found in the cosmopolitan League; bright, strong colours, dark, sombre tones and delicate pastels are all common. Two or three contrasting colours are often used to accentuate key features of the League silhouette, for example in slashed decorations on garments. Capes and cloaks may be lined in a contrasting colour, and underskirts worn beneath split-front dresses are often a different colour to the overdress worn on top.

'''Materials:''' The ideal League costume uses wool cloth (rather than things knitted using wool yarn), velvet, silk, and brocade. Satin is also ideal - heavier satins can be used for doublets, dresses and skirts, with thinner satins providing a pop of colour as the lining to a cape or as puffs between slashed sleeves. Linen and cotton are ideal for base layers and acceptable for outer garments. You can use leather, canvas and suede, especially for characters who want hard-wearing garments. You can always use synthetic versions of any of these materials, or mixed fabrics such as wool blends and cotton velvet.

'''Brocade and Jacquard:''' These patterned fabrics are great for the League. They are not printed - decoration is woven in as a raised, textured pattern. Flamboyant, busy patterns are common, often using metallic threads so the pattern stands out against the background colour. Popular motifs include curling foliage, stylised flowers, and diamond and lattice patterns. Brocades with obvious East Asian motifs such as Chinese imagery are less appropriate.

'''Fur:''' Full garments made from fur or faux fur are less appropriate, with the exception of [[#capes|capelets]], but fur is a good material to trim garments with.

==Gallery==
<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 1.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League senator.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 5.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=DoubletAndSkirt.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 7.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 8.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 9.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 10.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 12.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 13.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 11.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Masks2.jpg}}
</fourpicture>

==Battle==
The ideal League armaments are inspired by the aesthetics of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht the German Landsknechts], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_mercenaries Swiss Reisläufer], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condottiero Italian condottieri]. Even in battle, the goal is to be flamboyant. Maille may be hidden under garments such as a waffenrock in order to prioritise looking good. Alternatively, pieces of armour may be decorated with elaborate, ostentatious designs such as stylised, curling foliage like the work of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Negroli Filippo Negroli] or painted with bold patterns such as harlequin-style diamonds or stripes.

'''Armour:''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambeson Padded jacks], often shaped like a doublet, but thicker, are common in the League. They may be made in the colours of a [[guild]] or [[free company]] or be decorated with a guild badge to show affiliation. A [http://germanrenaissance.net/lederwamsleder-goller-the-leather-vestjerkindoublet-jacket-of-coolness/ ledergollar], a jerkin made from comfortable, flexible leather, can be the basis for light armour, or worn over heavier armour simply for the look.

Plate and chain are also popular, but full coverage is rare, as League soldiers tend to favour mobility and gaps in the armour allow slashed sleeves or hose to spill through. A [https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60507&viewType=detailView bishop's mantle] - a chain collar that covers the chest and shoulders which can go down to the elbow like a poncho - can be worn with other armour. A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigandine brigandine] - overlapping metal plates covered in fabric such as suede or velvet - is an ideal option for being fashionable and heavily armoured at the same time.

'''Helm:''' Some League citizens wear a brimmed helmet - a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettle_hat kettle helm], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morion_(helmet) morion], or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgonet burgonet] - while fighting. These are often dressed up with ribbons or plumes of feathers. Late medieval helmet styles like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallet sallets] are ideal for the League, but it is also possible to conceal a metal skullcap called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrete_(helmet) a secrete] inside a hat to combine protection with fashion.

'''Shield:''' Many professional free companies prefer to use [[Weapons_%26_armour#Polearms|pole-arms]] or [[Weapons_%26_armour#Great_weapons|great swords]], rather than employ a [[Weapons_%26_armour#Shields|shield]]. Those who do use a shield often use them to advertise the services of a guild or free company, or to display religious iconography. An impressive shield can be a work of art, either painted, or dressed with an intricate shield cover.

'''Weapons:''' Great weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the tool of choice for free company soldiers. Rapiers, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spada_da_lato side-swords] and other one-handed swords usually have complex hilts to protect the hand, like the distinctive figure-8 guard of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katzbalger katzbalger]. Crossbows have been enthusiastically adopted by free companies, and are always preferable to bows which are ''less appropriate'' in the League.

'''Bravos:''' [[Bravo|Bravos]] and street fighters usually favour a rapier or other light sword and pair it with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_dagger#Main-gauche main gauche], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiletto stiletto] or buckler for the off-hand. They may wear no armour, or protect only the most vital areas, such as a single shoulder piece to protect the weapon arm. Many wear a duelling cape, even when taking the battlefield.

<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Battle 1.jpg|caption=Brigandine}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Painted_armour.jpg|caption=Painted armour}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Battle 3.jpg|caption=Clothing showing through}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Battle 4.jpg|caption=Bishop's mantle}}
</fourpicture>

==Religion==
The iconic look for a League bishop involves an impressive hat, a stole, and a set of vestments. Together, these three elements help to project power and status. There is no requirement for a League priest to dress like a bishop, but people in the League understand the power of appearance. Those who adopt the garments of [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|the Bishop]] find it easier to command the respect of others for their calling. Thus any League priest may choose to don any one or more of the following when they feel the need.

'''Hat:''' The ideal hat is tall and imposing. A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitre traditional Christian mitre] is less appropriate; rather than curving to a single point, the ideal League mitre has several peaks to echo a crown, like the wave-shaped mitre shown below. A boxy Capitanesca hat, or something like the [https://zeughaus-armoury.com/en-uk/products/magician-hat-adis-red?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8Lu9BhA8EiwAag16b9Dgk1QSnqQcEWDMMz37TTTOOhRxx8CfdXq5H5Z3_xWCmBuGqjiERBoC4bsQAvD_BwE magician's hat] sold by Burgschneider is also great. The hat is often made of lavish fabric and may be decorated with gems or tablet embroidery.

'''Stole: ''' A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stole_(vestment) stole] is a long narrow strip of fabric worn around the neck which hangs down the body. League bishops often wear them in a lavish fabric such as jacquard or satin, and they may be richly embroidered with symbols of their church, guild or chosen virtue. The simplest ones have the labyrinth, the universal symbol of [[the Way]] on the ends.

'''Vestments:''' Vestments are fine over-robes a priest can throw over their normal clothing when they need to convey their status, such as when preaching or performing ceremonies. These vestments can be shaped like a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasuble chasuble], a loose, poncho-like garment featuring opulent trimmings and decorations, or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cope a cope], a heavier outer vestment, open at the front and more like a cloak. Ideally, vestments are decorated with symbols of the virtue the bishop is dedicated to, such as chains for Loyalty. The simplest vestment is a cassock, a full-length, long-sleeved, high-collared gown which usually fastens at the front. Unlike the subdued or plainer cassocks worn by Highborn citizens or Marcher friars, a League cassock is ideally made of richly decorated fabric such as brocade. It is best worn with a tall bishop's hat and stole to convey the wearer's importance.

<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=TemeschwarBishop.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Oberon-narrow.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Mim - Priest.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Bishop Severin.jpg}}
</fourpicture>

==Magic==
League magicians commonly wear the same clothing as other citizens, but dramaturgical magicians often carry the accoutrements of their profession on their person, so as to be ready to perform at a moment’s notice. This could be a mask permanently pushed up on their forehead or tied around their arm, a puppet carried with them wherever they go, or a bag overflowing with dramaturgy props for their troupe. Some magicians choose to have separate outfits for the different dramaturgical personae, and usually will have a mask for each, either individually or as a troupe. The magical tradition of [[dramaturgy]] infuses every part of the League, so even those who have made no formal study of magic may dress as the persona they wish to embody when it will advantage them.

Masks are a crucial part of [[The_League_hearth_magic#Masks|League hearth magic]] and fashionable for everyone. League masks take influence from real world Venetian carnival masks, and typically cover the upper half of the face or all of it. People often match their masks to their outfits, and free companies or gangs of mountebanks often wear matching masks. Masks are made from a variety of materials: papier maché, ceramics, metal, leather or fabric. Plastic and resin are acceptable if painted to look like an appropriate material. Citizens who uses glasses often wear them over a fabric mask and many people use a mask mounted on a stick and held up in front of the face for comfort.

A mask is the iconic piece of mage armour in the League, often paired with pauldrons and vambraces. A magical partlet is also common, providing the same protection that a pectoral would cover. The ideal mage armour is richly embossed with stylised designs. These might be similar to the filigree seen on decorated League plate armour or be images of runes, constellations, or dramaturgical symbols like the cup, mirror or blade, picked out in gemstones or pearls. Metal is often painted a vibrant colour, or dyed if leather, so that mage armour can contrast with or complement the outfit underneath. Like a bravo's armour, League mage armour will often employ a single exaggerated piece where a pair might otherwise be worn, such as one ornate pauldron or vambrace.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Magic 2.jpg|width=100%}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Masks1.jpg|width=100%}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=LeagueMageArmour.jpg|width=100%}}
</div>

==The Five Cities==
None of the League cities hold a monopoly on warm or heavier fabrics or garments, regardless of their climate. Whilst the southern cities of Tassato and Sarvos may experience warmer, Mediterranean temperatures, there are plenty of cold days there too, and citizens dress accordingly when they come to Anvil. Likewise, during warmer events, characters from Holberg and Temeschwar are just as likely to ditch their wools and furs for thinner, breezier clothing as players from any other city.

Each city does have leanings towards colours or certain accessories, but League citizens are free to adopt elements of any city's fashions if they choose.

'''Apulian:''' Oranges and purples are fashionable in Apulian, as are fabrics with an iridescent sheen. Jewellery is often chunkier and makes heavy use of polished, bright gold. It's popular to wear multiple necklaces or stacks of bracelets going partway up the arm.

'''Holberg:''' Many Holberg citizens prefer luxurious fabrics in an earthier, more sombre colour palette - popular colours include browns, dark greens, olive, wine red, and greys. Leather is more fashionable for garments and armour here than elsewhere in the League, and heavier fabrics and fur trims are prized.

'''Sarvos:''' Sarvos fashions prioritise brighter colours that evoke the city's coastal region. Blues, teal, turquoise, silver and yellows are popular, as are nautical themes such as metal jewellery twisted to look like rope, strings of pearls, and pearl edging on garments. In a nod to the [[Sarvos#Recent_History|city's history]], many citizens incorporate tiny mirrors into the trim of their garments, add pieces of mirror to their masks, or use mirror motifs in their accessories.

'''Tassato:''' Tassatans are known for their extravagance and love of showing off. Bright reds, pinks and gold are more common here, with red and gold a classic Tassatan colour combination. Tassatans are also more likely to choose outfits in vibrant clashing colours, and they enjoy wearing ribbons and bows, both on garment fastenings and in the hair.

'''Temeschwar:''' Temeschwar's fashions favour darker colours, like Holberg but starker. Black is more popular here than elsewhere along with bright reds and greys. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwork Redwork] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwork blackwork] embroidery is a popular way to decorate shirts and chemises. Fur is more common in Temeschwar, especially on hats, capes and cloaks, reflecting the city’s [[Temeschwar#Overview|Varushkan history]]. Where other League citizens might add fur trim to a cape, a citizen of Temeschwar might just as readily make the whole cape out of fur.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ApulianOrc.jpg|width=500|align=right}}
==League Orcs==
We recommend gloves rather than painting the hands for League orcs, but you can do either. If that makes it difficult to wear [[Rings in the League|rings]] on your fingers, it is fine to wear them on a ribbon or chain around the neck or hanging off the wrist or belt. You could even pin a ring to your costume to wear as a brooch if you prefer. It is helpful to hide the joins where your orc mask and/or gloves meet your skin. Gaudy chokers or thick necklaces are ideal, but a bright [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/infinity_scarf infinity scarf], worn up or down, is a good alternative.

If you are not comfortable wearing a League [[The_League_hearth_magic#Masks|mask]] over an orc mask, you can use a mask held in front of the face with a stick.

==Outside The Brief==
{{OffBrief|nation=The League}}

===Less Appropriate===
The look and feel of the League is heavily inspired by the historical costumes worn during the European renaissance and the early Tudor period. The brief does ''not'' stick to a tight historical period because we want to ensure there is a good range of costume that people can feel comfortable wearing and still be on brief, but some of the distinctive looks of clothing from later periods is outside the brief and should be avoided where possible. When choosing a bodice or dress, it is helpful to read the guidance on [[Costume#Inappropriate_Costume|corsets]] on the main costume page.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Shakespeare.jpg|width=300|align=right|caption=Avoid ruffs and oversized colars that flare out around the head}}
Leagueish shirts are not worn with cravats and do not have cascading lace at the throat in a ‘highwayman’ or Regency style. They can have a higher neckline to keep out the cold but tend not to have pointed collars, lapels or buttons all the way down in the way a modern formal shirt would. The ideal sleeves are not tight to the arm, and long trailing sleeves that flare to a trumpet or bell shape at the wrist or dagged sleeves are less appropriate in the League, as they are iconic for Dawn.

The 'robin hood' style, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bycocket bycocket], along with long-tailed hats like a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liripipe liripipe] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaperon_(headgear) chaperon] are ideal for [[the Marches]] and [[Dawn]] but less appropriate in the League. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capotain Pilgrm hats], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_hat cavalier hats] and the kind of tabards worn by Dumas' musketeers are also less appropriate as they are outside the brief for Empire.

The ideal League skirts or dresses do not have any artificial support, so a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farthingale farthingale], (often referred to as a bum roll), is less appropriate, as are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bustle bustles], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinoline crinolines], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoop_skirt hooped skirts]. Ruffs at the neck and wrists are less appropriate for Empire, and the famously large [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruff_(clothing) ruffs] and huge upright collars of the Elizabethan era are inappropriate and should be avoided.

A classic Regency dress is less appropriate in the League. They can be improved by replacing the arms with iconic sleeves that are slashed or puffed and by wearing a shirt or chemise underneath.

===Inappropriate===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Y-shape.png|width=150|align=left|caption=Inappropriate Y-shape cross}}
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frock_coat Frock coats], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatcoat greatcoats], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailcoat tailcoats] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_(clothing) Spencer jackets] are all from a much later period than the inspiration for the League. They are not appropriate for use in Empire. Likewise, military jackets such as the ones worn by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussar hussars] with elaborate gold braid or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epaulette epaulettes]. Elaborate powdered wigs like a [https://www.britannica.com/topic/peruke peruke] that were made popular by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIII Louis XIII] are not appropriate.

Our look and feel for League priests draws inspiration from the garments worn by European clergy, but you should avoid anything with uniquely Christian symbolism. Please ensure your costume does not feature Christian or Celtic crosses, christograms such as ‘IHS’, or decorative strips on the body of the chasuble that form a Y-shape, which resembles a Christian cross when the arms are held open.

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codpiece codpiece], a triangular piece of material covering the fly attached to the front of hose, is acceptable, provided it conceals rather than emphasizes the shape. The ideal codpiece is streamlined and discreet, not protruding. Codpieces must not violate our conduct rules on [[Conduct#Sexual_Activity_and_Performances|sexualising the environment]].

The League look and feel

2025-03-22T15:56:37Z

Steve:

==Overview==
<big>'''Lavish, opulent, mercantile, urbane, swaggering, flamboyant, ostentatious'''</big>

The League look takes inspiration from European renaissance fashion. Garments and accessories from the Italian Renaissance, the German Renaissance, and early Tudor England can form a solid foundation provided they [[The_League_look_and_feel#Silhouette|achieve the right silhouette]]. The League is a nation of city-states, where citizens love to compete for acclaim, social status and power. League fashions reflect this bustling urban world where ‘everything is on show’ and where citizens aim to experience ‘the best of everything’.

This desire for ostentatious displays of wealth creates one of the most distinctive recurring elements of all League clothing - the practice of [https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/slashing/ slashing]. This involves regular spaced cuts or openings in a garment to allow the fabric underneath to show through. Almost everything in the League can be slashed, even shoes! The garment underneath might be a bright contrasting colour with the outer garment, but a slashed doublet can be worn over a white shirt or blouse just as easily. Several items of clothing worn by League citizens are found elsewhere in the Empire, especially the Marches and Dawn, but in these cases it is often the decorative slashing that creates a uniquely League look and feel.

'''No garments are gendered in the League'''. Citizens of any gender wear dresses, hose, doublets, skirts and other garments as they please, in any combination they prefer.

==Silhouette==
* '''Achieving the right silhouette is the key to a great League costume'''

The League silhouette is about creating a contrast. An outfit with close fitting hose could be larger on the upper body, with puffy sleeves or a dramatic duelling cape. Dresses with a smaller bodice and a higher waist might have a wide, flowing skirt. Or you can create the contrast with extravagant slashing to show off different layers of fabric and contrasting colours. Below are some illustrated examples by [https://www.facebook.com/p/Lampblack-Art-100092300352138/ Lampblack Art] of archetypal League silhouettes.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette0.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette1.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette2.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette3.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette4.jpeg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Silhouette5.jpeg}}
</div>

==Garments and Accessories==
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Shirt 1.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League shirt 2.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=HazelKing.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
</div>
'''Shirt, Blouse or Chemise:''' League outfits are designed to be worn over shirts, blouses or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemise chemises]. These base layers can be any colour. They tend to be loose and have baggy sleeves gathered at the wrist or elbow or be puffed down the arm at intervals. They can have lacing at the neck, or a gathered neckline.

The garment may have a higher neckline to keep out the cold, but it is less appropriate to have a pointed collar, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapel lapels] or buttons all the way down in the way a modern formal shirt would. Likewise it is less appropriate for the sleeves to trail or flare at the wrist in a ‘trumpet’ style, or be straight like the sleeves of a t-shirt or tight to the arm like a fitted shirt. League shirts are not worn with cravats and do not have cascading lace at the throat in a ‘highwayman’ or Regency style.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=bodice.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=bodice}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=wams.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=wams}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=doublet2.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=doublet}}
</div>
'''Doublet, Wams or Bodice:''' A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublet_(clothing) doublet] is a short upper body garment, usually fastened at the front with lacing or buttons and worn over a shirt or blouse. Most doublets come down to the waist or hips. Some have short skirting or tabs at the bottom.

League wams are a style of doublet that is often lower necked, and square or v-necked, inspired by the wams worn by landsknechts. They typically close at the side rather than the centre, or have a big detachable panel on the front (called a brustfleck) which often features a pattern of decorative slashing, like this [https://reconstructinghistory.com/products/rh502-landsknecht-wams-und-hosen?srsltid=AfmBOoojwm7IzQcBHcnSK56y6asx6MLl9ggqQkN_hR1VqWEnliErrUfo example here].

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodice bodice] is a good alternative to a doublet, as most off-the-peg doublets are designed for someone with a flat chest. Avoid stays, and anything with thin straps or heavy boning is less appropriate. The ideal League bodice covers the back and shoulders and resembles a doublet that laces together at the front. A bodice usually has no sleeves, but a League bodice can have sleeves that tie-on.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=hose.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=trousers.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=BaggyTrousers.jpg|width=180|align=right}}
</div>
'''Trousers or Hose:''' League trousers, also known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hose_(clothing) hose], often feature slashed decorations, or legs in contrasting colours. They may be baggy or close fitting but are often made in heavier fabrics such as wool or canvas for warmth. You can also use leggings or jodhpurs but if you use modern garments, it is best to cover belt loops and pockets with your upper body layers.

Wider trousers should have gathering at the hems or a wide band at the ankle or lower leg so that the legs form a puffy shape. Close fitting trousers may have a flap at the front which is tied on; this is sometimes lightly padded to form a discreet codpiece. Short hose, which ends above the knee, can be slashed, or have panes of fabric with a contrast fabric puffing out in a style known as ‘pumpkin hose’, owing to their shape.

'''Dress, Skirt or Waffenrock:''' The ideal League dress has a seam at the waistline and a skirt that flares out below. The waistlines can be high with fabric gathered underneath the bust or can sit lower down. A split-front overdress can also be worn over a contrasting skirt. League skirts can be either full length or come to the knee and are often gathered or pleated into the waistband. Dresses can have a decorative front panel, often featuring lacing across the torso, like those featured in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Cranach_the_Elder#Paintings the paintings by Cranach the Elder].

League dresses and skirts are not worn with any hoop or cage shaped structures underneath to give skirts an exaggerated bell or cylinder shape. Hoop skirts, farthingales, bum rolls, bustles, and crinolines should all be avoided.

{{anchor|Waffenrock}}
The League waffenrock is a full skirted tunic or short dress, often made in two or more brightly contrasting colours based on the waffenrocks worn by landsknechts. The skirt is usually full and falls to around the knee area. They sometimes feature wider, open sleeves without a gathered cuff, usually elbow length, to allow them to be worn over armour or another garment. Be careful if you search for waffenrock online as the word refers to a wide range of garments, including many more modern garments - this is the kind of [https://www.armorarena.com/landsknecht-waffenrock-16-th-century waffenrock] that is right for the League.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=HighWaist.jpg|width=100%|caption=High Waist}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=LowWaist.jpg|width=100%|caption=Low Waist}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=SplitDress.jpg|width=100%|caption=Split-front overdress}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=CrannachDress.jpg|width=100%|caption='Cranach' dress}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=dress.jpg|width=100%|caption=Waffenrock}}
</div>

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League coat.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=Coat}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League robe.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=Robe}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=OpenRobes.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=Open Robe}}
</div>
'''Coats or Robes:''' League robes and coats are generally long - either to the ankle or knee. They can be worn open at the front or closed with a belt or other fastenings. They are often trimmed with fur.

League coats do not have lapels and the fastenings do not extend down the length of the garment like a modern coat. They should fasten with a belt or a few buttons or similar, at the waist or chest. Epaulettes are not appropriate. If they have [[#sleeves|sleeves]], they do not have wide turned-back cuffs like a frock coat.

{{anchor|capes}}
'''Capes, Cloaks or Partlets''' League cloaks are usually decorated with trim, either applique, embroidery or fur. Short capes, that hang to the waist, are particularly popular with bravos. They can be worn over both shoulders, or over just one by tying under the opposite arm.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=cape2.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=cape}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=capelet.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=capelet}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=partlet.jpg|width=180|align=right|caption=partlet}}
</div>
A capelet is a small cape, clasping at the neck, which comes down no further than the elbow. Fur, or faux fur, is a common material for capelets, though wool or velvet edged with fur is also seen.

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partlet partlet] is a small upper body garment designed primarily to be worn over dresses. They come down to the bust and fasten at the front. They are often secured with underarm ties. Partlets are generally made from heavier, warmer, fabrics such as wool, thick brocade, velvet or suede.
<div style="float: right; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Lucien.jpg|width=180|align=left}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Roz2.jpg|width=180|align=left}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Chainofoffice.jpg|width=180|align=left}}
</div>
'''Jewellery:''' Rings are an important part of [[The_League_hearth_magic|League hearth magic]] but ornate jewellery is commonplace across the nation - often with a ‘more is more’ mindset. Several strings of pearls worn together, or chokers worn at the same time as lower-slung necklaces, are a frequent sight. Chains of office are often worn by merchant princes and bishops to signal status and authority. Brooches are worn as often on hats as they are on garments, sometimes to pin up one side of a wide brim.

'''Hats, Headdresses, and Hairnets:''' Wearing something on your head is one of the ''best'' ways to complete a great League costume. A simple felt hat with a round crown and a wide brim is fine, but long, plumed feathers can be used to add flourish to any hat. A tellerbarett is a flat hat with an enormous plate-like brim that can be festooned with feathers or jewellery and worn at a jaunty angle. A dockenbarett, or landsknecht star-fish hat, has a large brim made from wide folded tabs. Both are popular with bravos and free companies and often feature slashing with contrasting colours. Coifs or headwraps can be worn under either.

Cylindrical taller hats in bright colours, similar to the capitanesca worn by the Italian Renaissance prince Cosimo de Medici in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosimo_de'_Medici#/media/File:Cosimo_di_Medici_(Bronzino).jpg this portrait], suit the League. These tend not to have a wide brim - anything like a top hat is not appropriate. Loose, floppy berets - sometimes referred to as ‘muffin’ hats owing to their shape - are another iconic League hat. These can be very large, and might be pleated into the band. Others might have a short brim, like a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_bonnet Tudor bonnet].

Beaded snoods and hairnets are also worn in the League. These can be as simple as a crochet-style net pinned or held onto the hair. Headdresses that resemble Flemish hoods, German steuchlein and wulsthaube headdresses, or the Italian renaissance balzo headdress, all of which feature a padded roll that sits on or behind the head, are also popular.
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League hat 1.jpg|caption=Tellerbarett}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Dockenbarett.jpg|caption=Dockenbarett}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Muffinhat.jpg|caption=Muffin hat}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=TudorBonnet.jpg|caption=Tudor Bonnet}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=EmmaDay.jpg|caption=Capitanesca}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League hat 4.jpg|caption=Beaded snood}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League hat 5.jpg|caption=Flemish hood}}
</div>

==Shoulders and Sleeves==
Sleeves are one of the most instantly recognisable aspects of League clothing. Sleeves of base layers such as shirts, blouses or chemises are puffed and voluminous, gathered at the cuff rather than open, loose or trailing. The outer sleeves on doublets, dresses and waffenrocks are often decorated with slashing. Sleeves are often detachable and designed to be tied on at the shoulder. There are a number of key styles. Sleeves can be identical, or can be 'mixed and matched' for an asymmetrical look.

'''Segmented Sleeves:''' These feature an outer sleeve tied on at the shoulder that has gaps at the elbow for the shirt or chemise beneath to peek through in ‘puffs’. You can also choose to wear only the upper segments or lower segments.

'''Slashed Sleeves:''' These can have a series of slashes or slits cut into the sleeve in patterns, or one long slit running down it, again to show off the layer underneath. Slashes can be edged in decorative trim and or beading, or other showy embellishments.

'''Paned Sleeves:''' Paned sleeves use strips of fabric to create a slotted look through which either another contrasting fabric or the shirt underneath is visible.

'''Shoulder Rolls:''' When the weather is warm, some Leaguers remove their outer sleeves altogether. Dresses or doublets can have padded rolls on the shoulders, so that even sleeveless, there is still plenty of decoration.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr 1fr;" class="imagegrid">
{{CaptionedImage|file=segmentedsleeve.jpeg|caption=Segmented Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=slashedsleeve.jpeg|caption=Slashed Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=tieonsleeve.jpg|caption=Slashed Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=panedsleeve.jpg|caption=Paned Sleeve}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Shoulderroll.jpeg|caption=Shoulder Roll}}
</div>

==Colours and Materials==
'''Colours:''' Every colour is found in the cosmopolitan League; bright, strong colours, dark, sombre tones and delicate pastels are all common. Two or three contrasting colours are often used to accentuate key features of the League silhouette, for example in slashed decorations on garments. Capes and cloaks may be lined in a contrasting colour, and underskirts worn beneath split-front dresses are often a different colour to the overdress worn on top.

'''Materials:''' The ideal League costume uses wool cloth (rather than things knitted using wool yarn), velvet, silk, and brocade. Satin is also ideal - heavier satins can be used for doublets, dresses and skirts, with thinner satins providing a pop of colour as the lining to a cape or as puffs between slashed sleeves. Linen and cotton are ideal for base layers and acceptable for outer garments. You can use leather, canvas and suede, especially for characters who want hard-wearing garments. You can always use synthetic versions of any of these materials, or mixed fabrics such as wool blends and cotton velvet.

'''Brocade and Jacquard:''' These patterned fabrics are great for the League. They are not printed - decoration is woven in as a raised, textured pattern. Flamboyant, busy patterns are common, often using metallic threads so the pattern stands out against the background colour. Popular motifs include curling foliage, stylised flowers, and diamond and lattice patterns. Brocades with obvious East Asian motifs such as Chinese imagery are less appropriate.

'''Fur:''' Full garments made from fur or faux fur are less appropriate, with the exception of [[#capes|capelets]], but fur is a good material to trim garments with.

==Gallery==
<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 1.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League senator.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 5.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=DoubletAndSkirt.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 7.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 8.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 9.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 10.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 12.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 13.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League 11.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Masks2.jpg}}
</fourpicture>

==Battle==
The ideal League armaments are inspired by the aesthetics of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht the German Landsknechts], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_mercenaries Swiss Reisläufer], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condottiero Italian condottieri]. Even in battle, the goal is to be flamboyant. Maille may be hidden under garments such as a waffenrock in order to prioritise looking good. Alternatively, pieces of armour may be decorated with elaborate, ostentatious designs such as stylised, curling foliage like the work of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Negroli Filippo Negroli] or painted with bold patterns such as harlequin-style diamonds or stripes.

'''Armour:''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambeson Padded jacks], often shaped like a doublet, but thicker, are common in the League. They may be made in the colours of a [[guild]] or [[free company]] or be decorated with a guild badge to show affiliation. A [http://germanrenaissance.net/lederwamsleder-goller-the-leather-vestjerkindoublet-jacket-of-coolness/ ledergollar], a jerkin made from comfortable, flexible leather, can be the basis for light armour, or worn over heavier armour simply for the look.

Plate and chain are also popular, but full coverage is rare, as League soldiers tend to favour mobility and gaps in the armour allow slashed sleeves or hose to spill through. A [https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60507&viewType=detailView bishop's mantle] - a chain collar that covers the chest and shoulders which can go down to the elbow like a poncho - can be worn with other armour. A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigandine brigandine] - overlapping metal plates covered in fabric such as suede or velvet - is an ideal option for being fashionable and heavily armoured at the same time.

'''Helm:''' Some League citizens wear a brimmed helmet - a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kettle_hat kettle helm], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morion_(helmet) morion], or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgonet burgonet] - while fighting. These are often dressed up with ribbons or plumes of feathers. Late medieval helmet styles like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallet sallets] are ideal for the League, but it is also possible to conceal a metal skullcap called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrete_(helmet) a secrete] inside a hat to combine protection with fashion.

'''Shield:''' Many professional free companies prefer to use [[Weapons_%26_armour#Polearms|pole-arms]] or [[Weapons_%26_armour#Great_weapons|great swords]], rather than employ a [[Weapons_%26_armour#Shields|shield]]. Those who do use a shield often use them to advertise the services of a guild or free company, or to display religious iconography. An impressive shield can be a work of art, either painted, or dressed with an intricate shield cover.

'''Weapons:''' Great weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the tool of choice for free company soldiers. Rapiers, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spada_da_lato side-swords] and other one-handed swords usually have complex hilts to protect the hand, like the distinctive figure-8 guard of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katzbalger katzbalger]. Crossbows have been enthusiastically adopted by free companies, and are always preferable to bows which are ''less appropriate'' in the League.

'''Bravos:''' [[Bravo|Bravos]] and street fighters usually favour a rapier or other light sword and pair it with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_dagger#Main-gauche main gauche], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiletto stiletto] or buckler for the off-hand. They may wear no armour, or protect only the most vital areas, such as a single shoulder piece to protect the weapon arm. Many wear a duelling cape, even when taking the battlefield.

<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Battle 1.jpg|caption=Brigandine}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Painted_armour.jpg|caption=Painted armour}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Battle 3.jpg|caption=Clothing showing through}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Battle 4.jpg|caption=Bishop's mantle}}
</fourpicture>

==Religion==
The iconic look for a League bishop involves an impressive hat, a stole, and a set of vestments. Together these three elements help to project power and status. There is no requirement for a League priest to dress like a bishop, but people in the League understand the power of appearance. Those who adopt the garments of [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|the Bishop]] find it easier to command the respect of others for their calling. Thus any League priest may choose to don any one or more of the following when they feel the need.

'''Hat:''' The ideal hat is tall and imposing. A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitre traditional Christian mitre] is less appropriate; rather than curving to a single point, the ideal League mitre has several peaks to echo a crown, like the wave-shaped mitre shown below. A boxy Capitanesca hat, or something like the [https://zeughaus-armoury.com/en-uk/products/magician-hat-adis-red?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8Lu9BhA8EiwAag16b9Dgk1QSnqQcEWDMMz37TTTOOhRxx8CfdXq5H5Z3_xWCmBuGqjiERBoC4bsQAvD_BwE magician's hat] sold by Burgschneider is also great. The hat is often made of lavish fabric and may be decorated with gems or tablet embroidery.

'''Stole: ''' A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stole_(vestment) stole] is a long narrow strip of fabric worn around the neck which hangs down the body. League bishops often wear them in a lavish fabric such as jacquard or satin, and they may be richly embroidered with symbols of their church, guild or chosen virtue. The simplest ones have the labyrinth, the universal symbol of [[the Way]] on the ends.

'''Vestments:''' Vestments are fine over-robes a priest can throw over their normal clothing when they need to convey their status, such as when preaching or performing ceremonies. These vestments can be shaped like a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasuble chasuble], a loose, poncho-like garment featuring opulent trimmings and decorations, or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cope a cope], a heavier outer vestment, open at the front and more like a cloak. Ideally, vestments are decorated with symbols of the virtue the bishop is dedicated to, such as chains for Loyalty. The simplest vestment is a cassock, a full-length, long-sleeved, high-collared gown which usually fastens at the front. Unlike the subdued or plainer cassocks worn by Highborn citizens or Marcher friars, a League cassock is ideally made of richly decorated fabric such as brocade. It is best worn with a tall bishop's hat and stole to convey the wearer's importance.

<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=TemeschwarBishop.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Oberon-narrow.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Mim - Priest.jpg}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Bishop Severin.jpg}}
</fourpicture>

==Magic==
League magicians commonly wear the same clothing as other citizens, but dramaturgical magicians often carry the accoutrements of their profession on their person, so as to be ready to perform at a moment’s notice. This could be a mask permanently pushed up on their forehead or tied around their arm, a puppet carried with them wherever they go, or a bag overflowing with dramaturgy props for their troupe. Some magicians choose to have separate outfits for the different dramaturgical personae, and usually will have a mask for each, either individually or as a troupe. The magical tradition of [[dramaturgy]] infuses every part of the League, so even those who have made no formal study of magic may dress as the persona they wish to embody when it will advantage them.

Masks are a crucial part of [[The_League_hearth_magic#Masks|League hearth magic]] and fashionable for everyone. League masks take influence from real world Venetian carnival masks, and typically cover the upper half of the face or all of it. People often match their masks to their outfits, and free companies or gangs of mountebanks often wear matching masks. Masks are made from a variety of materials: papier maché, ceramics, metal, leather or fabric. Plastic and resin are acceptable if painted to look like an appropriate material. Citizens who uses glasses often wear them over a fabric mask and many people use a mask mounted on a stick and held up in front of the face for comfort.

A mask is the iconic piece of mage armour in the League, often paired with pauldrons and vambraces. A magical partlet is also common, providing the same protection that a pectoral would cover. The ideal mage armour is richly embossed with stylised designs. These might be similar to the filigree seen on decorated League plate armour or be images of runes, constellations, or dramaturgical symbols like the cup, mirror or blade, picked out in gemstones or pearls. Metal is often painted a vibrant colour, or dyed if leather, so that mage armour can contrast with or complement the outfit underneath. Like a bravo's armour, League mage armour will often employ a single exaggerated piece where a pair might otherwise be worn, such as one ornate pauldron or vambrace.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 2fr 3fr 3fr; grid-gap: 10px;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=League Magic 2.jpg|width=100%}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Masks1.jpg|width=100%}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=LeagueMageArmour.jpg|width=100%}}
</div>

==The Five Cities==
None of the League cities hold a monopoly on warm or heavier fabrics or garments, regardless of their climate. Whilst the Southern cities of Tassato and Sarvos may experience warmer, Mediterranean temperatures, there are plenty of cold days there too, and citizens dress accordingly when they come to Anvil. Likewise, during warmer events, characters from Holberg and Temeschwar are just as likely to ditch their wools and furs for thinner, breezier clothing as players from any other city.

Each city does have leanings towards colours or certain accessories, but League citizens are free to adopt elements of any city's fashions if they choose.

'''Apulian:''' Oranges and purples are fashionable in Apulian, as are fabrics with an iridescent sheen. Jewellery is often chunkier and makes heavy use of polished, bright gold. It's popular to wear multiple necklaces or stacks of bracelets going partway up the arm.

'''Holberg:''' Many Holberg citizens prefer luxurious fabrics in an earthier, more sombre colour palette - popular colours include browns, dark greens, olive, wine red, and greys. Leather is more fashionable for garments and armour here elsewhere in the League, and heavier fabrics and fur trims are prized.

'''Sarvos:''' Sarvos fashions prioritise brighter colours that evoke the city's coastal region. Blues, teal, turquoise, silver and yellows are popular, as are nautical themes such as metal jewellery twisted to look like rope, strings of pearls, and pearl edging on garments. In a nod to the [[Sarvos#Recent_History|city's history]], many citizens incorporate tiny mirrors into the trim of their garments, add pieces of mirror to their masks, or use mirror motifs in their accessories.

'''Tassato:''' Tassatans are known for their extravagance and love of showing off. Bright reds, pinks and gold are more common here, with red and gold a classic Tassatan colour combination. Tassatans are also more likely to choose outfits in vibrant clashing colours, and they enjoy wearing ribbons and bows, both on garment fastenings and in the hair.

'''Temeschwar:''' Temeschwar's fashions favour darker colours, like Holberg but starker. Black is more popular here than elsewhere along with bright reds and greys. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwork Redwork] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwork blackwork] embroidery is a popular way to decorate shirts and chemises. Fur is more common in Temeschwar, especially on hats, capes and cloaks, reflecting the city’s [[Temeschwar#Overview|Varushkan history]]. Where other League citizens might be add fur trim to a cape, a citizen of Temeschwar might just as readily make the whole cape out of fur.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ApulianOrc.jpg|width=500|align=right}}
==League Orcs==
We recomend gloves rather than painting the hands for League orcs, but you can do either. If that makes it difficult to wear [[Rings in the League|rings]] on your fingers, it is fine to wear them on a ribbon or chain around the neck or hanging off the wrist or belt. You could even pin a ring to your costume to wear as a brooch if you prefer. It is helpful to hide the joins where your orc mask and/or gloves meet your skin. Gaudy chokers or thick necklaces are ideal, but a bright [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/infinity_scarf infinity scarf], worn up or down is a good alternative.

If you are not comfortable wearing a League [[The_League_hearth_magic#Masks|mask]] over an orc mask, you can use a mask held in front of the face with a stick.

==Outside The Brief==
{{OffBrief|nation=The League}}

===Less Appropriate===
The look and feel of the League is heavily inspired by the historical costumes worn during the European renaissance and the early Tudor period. The brief does ''not'' stick to a tight historical period because we want to ensure there is a good range of costume people can feel comfortable wearing and still be on brief, but some of the distinctive looks of clothing from later periods is outside the brief and should be avoided where possible. When choosing a bodice or dress, it is helpful to read the guidance on [[Costume#Inappropriate_Costume|corsets]] on the main costume page.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Shakespeare.jpg|width=300|align=right|caption=Avoid ruffs and oversized colars that flare out around the head}}
Leagueish shirts are not worn with cravats and do not have cascading lace at the throat in a ‘highwayman’ or Regency style. They can have a higher neckline to keep out the cold but tend not to have pointed collars, lapels or buttons all the way down in the way a modern formal shirt would. The ideal sleeves are not tight to the arm and long trailing sleeves that flare to a trumpet or bell shape at the wrist or dagged sleeves are less appropriate in the League, as they are iconic for Dawn.

The 'robin hood' style, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bycocket bycocket], along with long-tailed hats like a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liripipe liripipe] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaperon_(headgear) chaperon] are ideal for [[the Marches]] and [[Dawn]] but less appropriate in the League. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capotain Pilgrm hats], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_hat cavalier hats] and the kind of tabards worn by Dumas' musketeers are also less appropriate as they are outside the brief for Empire.

The ideal League skirts or dresses do not have any artificial support, so a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farthingale farthingale], (often referred to as a bum roll), is less appropriate, as are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bustle bustles], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinoline crinolines], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoop_skirt hooped skirts]. Ruffs at the neck and wrists are less appropriate for Empire, and the famously large [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruff_(clothing) ruffs] and huge upright collars of the Elizabethan era are inappropriate and should be avoided.

A classic Regency dress is less appropriate in the League. They can be improved by replacing the arms with iconic sleeves that are slashed or puffed and by wearing a shirt or chemise underneath.

===Inappropriate===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Y-shape.png|width=150|align=left|caption=Inappropriate Y-shape cross}}
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frock_coat Frock coats], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatcoat greatcoats], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailcoat tailcoats] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_(clothing) Spencer jackets] are all from a much later period than the inspiration for the League. They are not appropriate for use in Empire. Likewise, military jackets such as the ones worn by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussar hussars] with elaborate gold braid or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epaulette epaulettes]. Elaborate powdered wigs like a [https://www.britannica.com/topic/peruke peruke] that were made popular by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIII Louis XIII] are not appropriate.

Our look and feel for League priests is inspired by the garments worn by European clergy, but you should avoid anything with uniquely Christian symbolism. Please ensure your costume does not feature Christian or Celtic crosses, christograms such as ‘IHS’, or decorative strips on the body of the chasuble that form a Y-shape, which resembles a Christian cross when the arms are held open.

A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codpiece codpiece], a triangular piece of material covering the fly attached to the front of hose, is acceptable, provided it conceals rather than emphasizes the shape. The ideal codpiece is streamlined and discreet, not protruding. Codpieces must not violate of our conduct rules on [[Conduct#Sexual_Activity_and_Performances|sexualising the environment]].

Crew facebook groups

2025-03-09T20:20:06Z

Steve:

==Introduction==
Most of the crew stay in touch using Facebook. If you are a member of crew and you use Facebook, then you should be invited to the relevant groups - it helps everyone to get to know each other and makes organizing and preparing the events easier.

If you are not invited to a group that you believe you should be in, please contact either your team leader or crew@profounddecisions.co.uk for an invite.

There are different groups for the different teams and groups who work together to put on an event.

==Groups==

*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/587756707906940/ Crew Intro] - this group is for people who are thinking of joining Empire Crew.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/771228252958737/ Current Crew] - this group is for actual current crew (generally, 'booked for at least one event this year'). Please remember that some crew (especially red hats!) play characters during the event and do not appreciate plot spoilers!

==God and Refs==
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/137348119763758/ Referees] - anyone refereeing Empire events.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/610320108984528/ God Crew] - anyone who works in GOD at events.

==Red Hats==
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/435220503210044/ Red Hats] - everyone who is part of the site set-up and take down team.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/522138431174817/ Traffic Crew] - everyone who works directing traffic at the event.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/530992573609331/ Set Dressing] - the set dressing team.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/400252680068525/ Set Building] - the set building team (includes players).
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/EmpirePlanners Camp Planners] - everyone who organises where the tents on the IC field go

==NPCs==
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/122250651259196/ Tavern] - anyone who works in the tavern or behind the bar.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/199829610159523/ Academy] - crew who operate the Academy and work with children at events.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/116155758579607/ Civil Servants] - anyone who plays a civil servant at events.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/447792855289348/ Egregores] - this group is for the NPCs who play egregores - and those who work with them.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/161719330667810/ Skirmish Crew] - for the Hundred, our dedicated skirmish crew.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/794726573910124/ NPC Crew] - this group is for crew who play NPC roles at events.

==Plot==
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/EmpirePlot/ Plot] - this group is for crew interested in creating plot for events.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/268473413298974/ Battle Team] - the crew who organize and manage the battles.
*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/243111769153902/ Costume Team] - crew and players making costume for PD.

[[Category:General]]