What we do - Revision history

Twiggy at 21:26, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T21:26:42Z

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	I also try to come up with some stuff out of whole cloth, taking ideas from sinecure and ministry descriptions, fluff-text off the wiki, and by less creative methods like saying, "Nobody's put Dawn and the Freeborn in conflict recently; what do they each value that we can make them fight over?"		I also try to come up with some stuff out of whole cloth, taking ideas from sinecure and ministry descriptions, fluff-text off the wiki, and by less creative methods like saying, "Nobody's put Dawn and the Freeborn in conflict recently; what do they each value that we can make them fight over?"

	As these ideas are coming, collaboration is key. We have a number of backstage Facebook groups where I might post "Is anyone running anything with the Faraden/the Hercynia ~~Vallorn~~/the Shattered Tower?" or "Hey makey-people, how would you make an NPC crew-member into a gryphon?" People reply with ideas and budgets, and I adjust my ideas and expectations accordingly. Usually upwards: I'm constantly being surprised by the talent and open-handedness of our makey-people.		As these ideas are coming, collaboration is key. We have a number of backstage Facebook groups where I might post "Is anyone running anything with the Faraden/the Hercynia vallorn/the Shattered Tower?" or "Hey makey-people, how would you make an NPC crew-member into a gryphon?" People reply with ideas and budgets, and I adjust my ideas and expectations accordingly. Usually upwards: I'm constantly being surprised by the talent and open-handedness of our makey-people.

	In addition to ongoing plots, I try to come up with ten suggestions for either entirely new plotlines or engaging the levers that PCs have pulled. I've found this leads to about 14-15 things to run in an event, which, along with other duties I have at events, is about the right amount for my blood pressure.		In addition to ongoing plots, I try to come up with ten suggestions for either entirely new plotlines or engaging the levers that PCs have pulled. I've found this leads to about 14-15 things to run in an event, which, along with other duties I have at events, is about the right amount for my blood pressure.

Twiggy at 16:15, 3 October 2025

2025-10-03T16:15:21Z

Show changes

Dre at 11:58, 30 September 2025

2025-09-30T11:58:06Z

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	==The Secret Life of Bog Otters==		==The Secret Life of Bog Otters==
	* ''Ben Stevens heads up the hygiene team at Empire. As he says... no toilets means no event.''		* ''Ben Stevens heads up the hygiene team at Empire. As he says... no toilets means no event.''
	The Bog Otter, in ~~it's~~ native habitat, can be frequently observed utilising tools, such as the plunger...okay enough of that. The hygiene team is one of the less desirable yet critically important jobs on the field.		The Bog Otter, in its native habitat, can be frequently observed utilising tools, such as the plunger...okay enough of that. The hygiene team is one of the less desirable yet critically important jobs on the field.

	As no toilets of course, means no event.		As no toilets of course, means no event.
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	'''Behind the Desk'''<br>		'''Behind the Desk'''<br>
	Partly a nerve centre, partly somewhere to put your feet up after getting that high score, the desk acts as second line support for GOD and a way for refs who are out of tablet battery or connectivity to get player actions processed while out in the field. During quiet periods it's also where we dream up new and unusual ~~trama~~ to add to the decks.		Partly a nerve centre, partly somewhere to put your feet up after getting that high score, the desk acts as second line support for GOD and a way for refs who are out of tablet battery or connectivity to get player actions processed while out in the field. During quiet periods it's also where we dream up new and unusual trauma to add to the decks.

	'''Supporting Plot'''<br>		'''Supporting Plot'''<br>
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	The biggest part of our job, arguably, is re-enforcing the national brief. We make sure that there is an IC presence nudging people to stay within the confines of the brief without it coming across as OC chiding or preaching. In my case, it’s a lot of glaring at people if I suspect they’re telling lies or loudly proclaiming my hatred of the colour black. It’s about embodying the nation and leading by example. There’s a clear line between interpreting the brief in an unusual fashion and simply ignoring it. Guess which one we don’t like.		The biggest part of our job, arguably, is re-enforcing the national brief. We make sure that there is an IC presence nudging people to stay within the confines of the brief without it coming across as OC chiding or preaching. In my case, it’s a lot of glaring at people if I suspect they’re telling lies or loudly proclaiming my hatred of the colour black. It’s about embodying the nation and leading by example. There’s a clear line between interpreting the brief in an unusual fashion and simply ignoring it. Guess which one we don’t like.

	So, that’s pretty much it, though I’m sure I’ve left out something crucial. We’re fundamentally here to help (to sound ~~cliche~~) and the drama, meddling, advice and tears is just a free, exciting bonus.		So, that’s pretty much it, though I’m sure I’ve left out something crucial. We’re fundamentally here to help (to sound cliché) and the drama, meddling, advice and tears is just a free, exciting bonus.

	==Six Step Process==		==Six Step Process==

Twiggy at 01:33, 7 August 2025

2025-08-07T01:33:32Z

Twiggy at 20:31, 31 July 2025

2025-07-31T20:31:48Z

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	I'd have done some writing, but it's more fun helping citizens navigate their way round our procedures to get shit done... and managing their expectations, so when they do get excited about doing something, it's less likely to fail for some logistical reason beyond their control.		I'd have done some writing, but it's more fun helping citizens navigate their way round our procedures to get shit done... and managing their expectations, so when they do get excited about doing something, it's less likely to fail for some logistical reason beyond their control.

	I'd have done mine, but my "characterisation" is just a minimum ~~facade~~ to cover what's really a purely logistical role - most of the time, anyway. I mean, I've been known to take unscheduled breaks to play foot-the-ball, and you can't play foot-the-ball and do paperwork at the same time - not even when you're on wide ~~defense~~ - unless the ball has got in the tavern somehow. In which case it's dead until removed, which only happens by mutual agreement of both team captains and at least one priest.		I'd have done mine, but my "characterisation" is just a minimum façade to cover what's really a purely logistical role - most of the time, anyway. I mean, I've been known to take unscheduled breaks to play foot-the-ball, and you can't play foot-the-ball and do paperwork at the same time - not even when you're on wide defence - unless the ball has got in the tavern somehow. In which case it's dead until removed, which only happens by mutual agreement of both team captains and at least one priest.

	I'd have done mine but I was on my way to or from the Senate building. I'm very happy with the current site layout, which puts the Academy, the Hub and decent toilets within 50 metres of each other. With five trips to the Senate, that's pretty much my weekend sorted.		I'd have done mine but I was on my way to or from the Senate building. I'm very happy with the current site layout, which puts the Academy, the Hub and decent toilets within 50 metres of each other. With five trips to the Senate, that's pretty much my weekend sorted.

Twiggy at 01:20, 18 July 2025

2025-07-18T01:20:58Z

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	The first of those challenges was logistics! There are 5-600 more players per event this year than there were last year. That's a lot of people and the first thing they need is a lot of space. Of course you don't just have to plan for the players you have - you have to try and ensure there's enough room no matter what happens - the last thing we'd ever do is turn people away on the gate because we're full. I've done that once before at an LRP event I was involved with decades ago and I swore I'd never do it again.		The first of those challenges was logistics! There are 5-600 more players per event this year than there were last year. That's a lot of people and the first thing they need is a lot of space. Of course you don't just have to plan for the players you have - you have to try and ensure there's enough room no matter what happens - the last thing we'd ever do is turn people away on the gate because we're full. I've done that once before at an LRP event I was involved with decades ago and I swore I'd never do it again.
	{{CaptionedImage\|file=Matthew Pennington.jpg\|caption=Matthew Pennington.\|title=Unprecedented...\|width=250\|align=right}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=Matthew Pennington.jpg\|caption=Matthew Pennington.\|title=Unprecedented...\|width=250\|align=right}}
	As the bookings started pouring in for the first event, it became pretty obvious that we couldn't carry on just using one field. It's always preferable to have Anvil in one field if we can - but the game is just too big now to ~~accomodate~~ that on our current site. We'd already outlined some plans with the farmer, but once it became clear that it was definitely going to happen, there was some pretty hasty work needed to get the gates put in between the two fields.		As the bookings started pouring in for the first event, it became pretty obvious that we couldn't carry on just using one field. It's always preferable to have Anvil in one field if we can - but the game is just too big now to accommodate that on our current site. We'd already outlined some plans with the farmer, but once it became clear that it was definitely going to happen, there was some pretty hasty work needed to get the gates put in between the two fields.

	Of course it's not just space - you have to get everyone in and out of the site. That meant laying even more new woodchip roads - this time through the woods - and that meant creating new bridges and yet more gates - to get over the streams and ditches. That's when we hit our first hitch - it was one of the wettest winter's on record. It basically started raining in October and didn't really stop all winter. Once the ground became utterly waterlogged that made any ground work incredibly difficult. And the longer we waited for it to dry out so we could get to work... the more it just kept on raining.		Of course it's not just space - you have to get everyone in and out of the site. That meant laying even more new woodchip roads - this time through the woods - and that meant creating new bridges and yet more gates - to get over the streams and ditches. That's when we hit our first hitch - it was one of the wettest winter's on record. It basically started raining in October and didn't really stop all winter. Once the ground became utterly waterlogged that made any ground work incredibly difficult. And the longer we waited for it to dry out so we could get to work... the more it just kept on raining.

Twiggy at 05:46, 14 July 2025

2025-07-14T05:46:07Z

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	In the end we chose the latter option - and I'm really pleased we did. We simply could not have afforded to buy enough toilet units to support the event properly. We'd have managed... but there wouldn't have been enough. Renting large numbers of units meant we could get better quality toilets - and more of them. It's expensive of course - the rental is £30,000 a year - but it meant that we could put a toilet in the crew area for the first time ever.... One day we'll have the money to invest in our own toilets - but not until we've got on our site to build them on. Until then we'll stick with renting - and that means we'll always be able to stay on top of the numbers - as more people come to the event, we can just rent more units.		In the end we chose the latter option - and I'm really pleased we did. We simply could not have afforded to buy enough toilet units to support the event properly. We'd have managed... but there wouldn't have been enough. Renting large numbers of units meant we could get better quality toilets - and more of them. It's expensive of course - the rental is £30,000 a year - but it meant that we could put a toilet in the crew area for the first time ever.... One day we'll have the money to invest in our own toilets - but not until we've got on our site to build them on. Until then we'll stick with renting - and that means we'll always be able to stay on top of the numbers - as more people come to the event, we can just rent more units.

	There were lots of other challenges that I could talk about. We had to upgrade every electrical cable we owned so that we could get power into the new field. That wasn't straightforward by any means. And rearranging the entire site meant a lot of work for everyone - not least the camp planners. They are a hard working bunch and they cope incredibly well with all the demands put on them by us and the players. In gratitude we switched them all to complimentary tickets this year onwards - it's only fair given how much they put in to ~~organize~~ the camps for everyone's benefit.		There were lots of other challenges that I could talk about. We had to upgrade every electrical cable we owned so that we could get power into the new field. That wasn't straightforward by any means. And rearranging the entire site meant a lot of work for everyone - not least the camp planners. They are a hard working bunch and they cope incredibly well with all the demands put on them by us and the players. In gratitude we switched them all to complimentary tickets this year onwards - it's only fair given how much they put in to organise the camps for everyone's benefit.

	Logistically the year culminated with the extraordinary third event. After non-stop rain all winter, we were now faced with running an event in record temperatures after 6 weeks with no rain. The site was dry as a bone and the fire risks were sky high - so that meant putting a whole raft of new fire restrictions in for the event. I'm delighted to say that we put our trust in the players - told them what we needed them to do - and everyone was incredibly mature and responsible and we had no problems. But it was an interesting challenge for us as I spent days reviewing all our fire planning, looking at evacuations plans and the like. Such work is never really wasted... although in this case I rather hope it's never actually needed.		Logistically the year culminated with the extraordinary third event. After non-stop rain all winter, we were now faced with running an event in record temperatures after 6 weeks with no rain. The site was dry as a bone and the fire risks were sky high - so that meant putting a whole raft of new fire restrictions in for the event. I'm delighted to say that we put our trust in the players - told them what we needed them to do - and everyone was incredibly mature and responsible and we had no problems. But it was an interesting challenge for us as I spent days reviewing all our fire planning, looking at evacuations plans and the like. Such work is never really wasted... although in this case I rather hope it's never actually needed.
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	My team is most accurately described as the Tent team; if it’s canvas and it’s PD’s, we’re responsible for it. This means we’re visibly out on the IC field and tend to handle lots of other things as well, from deploying benches and emptying bins to helping players with problems. We have anything to do with the running of the electrics team or toilets, or provide running water to the site - separate teams that handle those areas. While we’re all part of site (under our glorious leader, Ali Pennington) our team is the one people usually mean when they refer to the ‘Red Hats’.		My team is most accurately described as the Tent team; if it’s canvas and it’s PD’s, we’re responsible for it. This means we’re visibly out on the IC field and tend to handle lots of other things as well, from deploying benches and emptying bins to helping players with problems. We have anything to do with the running of the electrics team or toilets, or provide running water to the site - separate teams that handle those areas. While we’re all part of site (under our glorious leader, Ali Pennington) our team is the one people usually mean when they refer to the ‘Red Hats’.

	I have a measure of responsibility for the Traffic Team (also part of site) who ~~organizes~~ everyone’s OC camping and parking, but in reality that is entirely handled by the ever-adept Wayne Newton and his capable team, I’m rarely more than a backstop for any tricky decisions he has to make.		I have a measure of responsibility for the Traffic Team (also part of site) who organises everyone’s OC camping and parking, but in reality that is entirely handled by the ever-adept Wayne Newton and his capable team, I’m rarely more than a backstop for any tricky decisions he has to make.

	I contribute to my team’s efforts in two significant ways: I arrive with a plan of action and I co-ordinate efforts on the field.		I contribute to my team’s efforts in two significant ways: I arrive with a plan of action and I co-ordinate efforts on the field.

Twiggy at 17:45, 12 July 2025

2025-07-12T17:45:22Z

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	These get white drawing-pins, for "Not Approved Yet".		These get white drawing-pins, for "Not Approved Yet".

	A digression: my plots often aren't the big things you'll have heard of from the WoF. I'm known as a "bijou" plot-writer: my stuff is usually meant to only directly influence a small number of people, but in such a way as that influence can ripple out into the world. I love reifying the fantastic elements of the setting, making them more relatable by portraying human reactions to the inhuman: ghosts and curses, immortal ~~sorceror~~-dragons and cruel Sovereigns, Eternals and Sydanjaa.		A digression: my plots often aren't the big things you'll have heard of from the WoF. I'm known as a "bijou" plot-writer: my stuff is usually meant to only directly influence a small number of people, but in such a way as that influence can ripple out into the world. I love reifying the fantastic elements of the setting, making them more relatable by portraying human reactions to the inhuman: ghosts and curses, immortal sorcerer-dragons and cruel Sovereigns, Eternals and Sydanjaa.

	The upside to this is that these plots can be great game. If they touch the right character, they can change the course of a nation, or become the next accepted truth about a historical matter. The downside is that they aren't DESIGNED to do this, and in a game that's centred around various kinds of macro-scale politics, this can mean their signal gets lost in noise.		The upside to this is that these plots can be great game. If they touch the right character, they can change the course of a nation, or become the next accepted truth about a historical matter. The downside is that they aren't DESIGNED to do this, and in a game that's centred around various kinds of macro-scale politics, this can mean their signal gets lost in noise.

Spoondog: /* Three-thousand, six-hundred Freddos */

2024-11-18T11:02:01Z

Three-thousand, six-hundred Freddos

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	We do what we do so that everyone else has the energy and executive function to do their jobs. This also includes providing a warm and welcoming environment.		We do what we do so that everyone else has the energy and executive function to do their jobs. This also includes providing a warm and welcoming environment.

			Updated 19/11/2024

	==Gin, Sweat, and Tents==		==Gin, Sweat, and Tents==

Spoondog: /* Three-thousand, six-hundred Freddos */

2024-11-18T10:58:30Z

Three-thousand, six-hundred Freddos

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	==Three-thousand, six-hundred Freddos==		==Three-thousand, six-hundred Freddos==
	* ''Lou Ardent is the head of the crew welfare team who make sure that PD crew are fed and watered throughout the weekend.''		* ''Lou Ardent is the head of the crew welfare team who make sure that PD crew are fed and watered throughout the weekend.''
	~~Lou Ardent is the head of the crew welfare team who make sure that PD crew are fed and watered throughout the weekend.~~

	Hi, my name’s Lou, I'm non-binary, queer and utterly amazing (at least that’s what people tell me whilst I'm doing my job and I tend to believe them). My very first encounter with any of the crew was during Odyssey, One of the crew members came over to the camp looking for help building parts of the fighting arena. I got chatting to some people whilst there and found out that you could get your event ticket, meals and even a drink for free. Being a poor student at the time, this seemed like a great way to attend the event and give back to the community. I came for the food, I stuck around for the camaraderie, community and fulfilling emotions of it all. I actually started out as a redcap but went looking for other things to do and found myself in the crew hut cleaning up. From there it didn't take The previous HoD, Maria, long to snap me up and make me an official member of the Crew Welfare team. Since then my events have seen me take on more responsibilities.		Hi, my name’s Lou, I'm non-binary, queer and utterly amazing (at least that’s what people tell me whilst I'm doing my job and I tend to believe them). My very first encounter with any of the crew was during Odyssey, One of the crew members came over to the camp looking for help building parts of the fighting arena. I got chatting to some people whilst there and found out that you could get your event ticket, meals and even a drink for free. Being a poor student at the time, this seemed like a great way to attend the event and give back to the community. I came for the food, I stuck around for the camaraderie, community and fulfilling emotions of it all. I actually started out as a redcap but went looking for other things to do and found myself in the crew hut cleaning up. From there it didn't take The previous HoD, Maria, long to snap me up and make me an official member of the Crew Welfare team. Since then my events have seen me take on more responsibilities.

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	I contribute to my team’s efforts in two significant ways: I arrive with a plan of action and I co-ordinate efforts on the field.		I contribute to my team’s efforts in two significant ways: I arrive with a plan of action and I co-ordinate efforts on the field.
	{{CaptionedImage\|file=Tommy-B.jpg\|caption=Tom Butterworth\|title=You can tell this picture is old because of the pristine look of the red hat.\|width=250\|align=right}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=Tommy-B.jpg\|caption=Tom Butterworth\|title=You can tell this picture is old because of the pristine look of the red hat.\|width=250\|align=right}}
	Everything I do is about ~~minimizing~~ effort to maximize productivity. Many PD players and crew have great memories of Red Hats stepping into the breach, hurling themselves at physically strenuous tasks in terrible weather, with few resources other than their muscles, improvisational skill and determination.		Everything I do is about minimising effort to maximize productivity. Many PD players and crew have great memories of Red Hats stepping into the breach, hurling themselves at physically strenuous tasks in terrible weather, with few resources other than their muscles, improvisational skill and determination.

	The times when we have to do those things are often great examples of a dedicated team of volunteers pulling together to overcome adversity. They are also an indication that something has gone wrong which could perhaps have been thought about days or weeks before and thus been prevented. So I try and plan to do things the easiest, most efficient way and save our proverbial spoons for the storm winds, the emergency repairs, the mad panic as we look for a tent to replace something that won’t do the job and so on.		The times when we have to do those things are often great examples of a dedicated team of volunteers pulling together to overcome adversity. They are also an indication that something has gone wrong which could perhaps have been thought about days or weeks before and thus been prevented. So I try and plan to do things the easiest, most efficient way and save our proverbial spoons for the storm winds, the emergency repairs, the mad panic as we look for a tent to replace something that won’t do the job and so on.
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	After the event, once I’ve got home and readjusted to life inside a building, I record everything I can onto a spreadsheet for next time.		After the event, once I’ve got home and readjusted to life inside a building, I record everything I can onto a spreadsheet for next time.

	Essentially my job is to make sure that whether its setup or takedown, the Red Hats can do their jobs with a minimum of too-ing and fro-ing. Again, a certain amount of frustration is inevitable - there’s going to be something that wasn’t put back somewhere sensible - but I try and ~~minimize~~ that as much as possible. I am hopeful that now we finally have a storage container with shelves (lovely shelves!) and ~~labeled~~ storage crates, those issues will continue to improve.		Essentially my job is to make sure that whether its setup or takedown, the Red Hats can do their jobs with a minimum of too-ing and fro-ing. Again, a certain amount of frustration is inevitable - there’s going to be something that wasn’t put back somewhere sensible - but I try and minimise that as much as possible. I am hopeful that now we finally have a storage container with shelves (lovely shelves!) and labelled storage crates, those issues will continue to improve.

	Being crew at a PD event is, much like the hobby of LRP itself, an entirely co-operative game; the more you do to help everyone else do what they’re doing, the easier things will be when it’s your turn. While PD has by necessity had to expand and have more specialized teams, this remains the core philosophy of the Red Hats and I think it’s still a vital part of how we run games. I hope we can continue to deliver that attitude and support the teams who do the really cool stuff.		Being crew at a PD event is, much like the hobby of LRP itself, an entirely co-operative game; the more you do to help everyone else do what they’re doing, the easier things will be when it’s your turn. While PD has by necessity had to expand and have more specialized teams, this remains the core philosophy of the Red Hats and I think it’s still a vital part of how we run games. I hope we can continue to deliver that attitude and support the teams who do the really cool stuff.
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	==I'd Have Done Mine But==		==I'd Have Done Mine But==
	* ''Harry Harrold has been doing Profound Decision games since before it was popular. You may remember him from a number of roles including spending all his time in an arena asking if the gods were entertained at the top of his voice. Right now he plays John of Meade, who along with Amy Woodhead ~~fulfills~~ the complex role of [[Speaker for the Senate]]. In response to repeated requests to write something, he instead provided a list of excuses as to why he couldn't do them.''		* ''Harry Harrold has been doing Profound Decision games since before it was popular. You may remember him from a number of roles including spending all his time in an arena asking if the gods were entertained at the top of his voice. Right now he plays John of Meade, who along with Amy Woodhead fulfils the complex role of [[Speaker for the Senate]]. In response to repeated requests to write something, he instead provided a list of excuses as to why he couldn't do them.''
	I'd have done mine, but I had to drink cocktails instead.		I'd have done mine, but I had to drink cocktails instead.

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	==The Secret Life of Bog Otters==		==The Secret Life of Bog Otters==
	* ''Ben Stevens heads up the ~~hygeine~~ team at Empire. As he says... no toilets means no event.''		* ''Ben Stevens heads up the hygiene team at Empire. As he says... no toilets means no event.''
	The Bog Otter, in it's native habitat, can be frequently observed utilising tools, such as the plunger...okay enough of that. The hygiene team is one of the less desirable yet critically important jobs on the field.		The Bog Otter, in it's native habitat, can be frequently observed utilising tools, such as the plunger...okay enough of that. The hygiene team is one of the less desirable yet critically important jobs on the field.