Current crewing opportunities

Overview

Crewing can be an amazing experience - but it's not for everyone - and in particular, we have to make sure we have the right people who can work together and gel as a team. We're always keen to talk to anyone who is interested in crewing so that they can find out if it's something they want to do and we can see if there is a place for them on the team. So if you're interested in one of the roles below, do get in touch with our crew manager Kate Rogers - we'll give you a quick interview and see if we can offer you a place on the team.

All our crewing roles are for volunteers - but you won't need a ticket, we'll feed you throughout the event, and there is a big crew party on the last day for everyone who is helping take the event down. Ultimately the real benefit of crewing is that you'll be part of an amazing team of people and can take pride in your role in creating the Empire events that players love. You'll be part of the biggest LRP event crew in the country (there are over 300 of us!), working with incredibly talented people, and hopefully having an amazing time.

The crew roles described below are specific areas that we are actively looking to fill at this time, so if they sound interesting then it's definitely worth contacting us to discuss it. If you're interested in helping with something that isn't listed below then it may still be worth getting in touch, but bear in mind that we may already have enough people helping out in that area.

Plot Tent Set-up

GOD Team

The Games Operation Desk (GOD) operates as the main contact point for players and crew throughout the event. We’re responsible for handling a wide variety of game administration, from handing out packs and recording rituals to recording lost property and helping new players create their first characters.

There are a variety of roles within the GOD team depending on your skills and interests. Some will be largely computer-based (our “front desk” crew), but not all. GOD crew handle large amounts of in-character resources and sometimes out-of-character cash, so it’s important that we’re known and seen to be trustworthy. Ideally, GOD crew will be around from Thursday to help with setting up GOD and handing out packs, but the key work is from Friday lunchtime to a few hours after time-out on Sunday.

How much of the event will you see?

• GOD operates throughout the event, although we have a rota to ensure everyone gets breaks and the chance for those who want to take some R&R

Requirements

• Good customer service skills
• Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
• If you have an R&R character, being confident you can keep the information you learn in GOD separate from your character’s knowledge

While it’s unnecessary for all our GOD crew, being comfortable using a radio and a computer are significant bonuses.

Referees

Our referees are one of the most visible roles we have, helping players engage with and enjoy the game, throughout time in. They offer friendly advice, carry out functional tasks recording in-game actions using our tablets, and step in to ask questions when it seems that someone might not be playing by the rules. These are full-time volunteer roles and whilst you will be able to take breaks when you need them, you will not be able to play a character taking part in the game alongside your role as a ref.

Many of our refs specialise either as a field ref - who build up an in-depth knowledge of the most commonly cast rituals, or commonly used items, particularly those that interact with plots in order to answer queries quickly and efficiently - or as a skirmish ref - who are experts in watching combat and being able to see whether players are abiding by the rules; make judgements about how hard they are hitting; decide whether they are fighting in a safe location, and know to de-escalate conflict between players (rather than characters) if it arises. You may either request to join the team as one or the other type of ref, or join as non-specialised and try out both. You will be given the opportunity to spend a good deal of your first event shadowing other referees to get used to reffing Profound Decisions style.

How much of the event will you see?

• You will be unlikely to play a character, but may enjoy the event facilities around the responsibilities of your volunteering role

Requirements

• Excellent customer service skills
• Have either a year's experience as an Empire player OR significant experience of reffing other systems and be prepared to learn the core Empire rules thoroughly before your first event
• Take instructions well, but be prepared to take your own initiative from one task to the next
• Be comfortable wearing a radio and earpiece at all times and using a tablet to record entries in a database
• Be comfortable walking long distances over the course of the event to reach the players who need a referee in all different areas of the field
• Be on-site on Friday at 3 pm until the end of the event at 3 pm on Sunday afternoon

If you would love to ref, but can't meet the walking requirement do let us know. We may be able to find a place for you to referee from a static spot like the Imperial Regio.

Crew Welfare Deputy Head

The crew welfare team is responsible for making sure the crew is fed and looked after. This includes curating and arranging Morrisons deliveries for the event. Empty the hut and comprehensively clean it in preparation for the week ahead. This includes sweeping, mopping and evicting spiders. Check previous stock expiry dates and set out the hut in a manner that makes everything easy to find. Take delivery of Booker order and redistribute. This can involve long hours of carrying, counting, and arranging. Take in Morrisons' delivery and put away. Ensure the hut and tent are clean, tidy and well-stocked during the event. This includes heavy lifting and carrying, food preparation, and providing information on which foods are gluten free, vegan, etc. Put out a lunch buffet and keep stocked up. Liase with other teams and travel to local Booker to replenish stock. Edit Morrisons order to reflect stock requirements. At the end of the event pack down any leftover stock and put away for use at the next event.

You don't need any experience to join the crew welfare team, you just need to enjoy talking to people. The hut is a very small area and can get quite busy at times, so volunteers with small children will need to find an area away from the hut to keep them occupied due to health and safety concerns.

How much of the event will you see?

• As deputy head you will be working for the full week and be kept very busy most days. There is the chance to socialize and play your character after 4pm.

Requirements

• Be confident managing people
• Be on-site on Tuesday morning until Monday
• Be comfortable wearing a radio and earpiece when required
• A standard driving license

NPC

The NPCs are there to bring the Empire setting to life and try to make each event as dramatic and engaging as possible. To do that - we need good NPCs that are capable of playing a multitude of different parts throughout a weekend. This isn’t ‘easier’ than playing - it's much harder! We need you to have a solid grasp of all the nations of the Empire, and you’ll be working with detailed briefs that may involve magic, finance, diplomacy and foreign nations. It really helps to be an experienced roleplayer and is vital that you're familiar with the setting.

You only need to be on site shortly before the event starts, and while we ask that you help with the takedown of the monster tent before leaving, this usually only takes an hour or so after time out, so being an NPC is a great role for anyone who wants to be right in the heart of the game but cannot get to the event early or stay late.

All our plot crew are very busy throughout every event. This means that it is impossible to play an event and be a member of the plot crew. You will get a chance to take a few hours off each event to get out and socialize in-character if you want to, but you can't be an NPC and play the game. We also operate a permanent crew system, so while you're welcome to resume playing in the future if you want to, but you can't switch back and forth being playing and NPCing from one event to the next.

How much of the event will you see?

As an NPC, plenty of it, but as a player, you might only get a couple of hours over the whole weekend, if there’s time. We do try and allow for people to go and socialise, but your main focus should be on your NPC roles.

Requirements

• Be available from Friday afternoon – pre-event briefing is at 4pm
• Be available for an hour after time out for take down and packing
• Have a solid knowledge of the Imperial Nations, and preferably the magic and economy systems
• Be up for cycling through a variety of roles over the weekend, on your own and as part of groups

Makeup

We're looking for more people to join our make-up team in the plot production department. The team are based in the monster tent and are essential for any roles that require make-up or prosthetics. These include orcs and characters with lineage, but they also include eternals and their heralds. The team plan complex make-up arrangements in advance of the event so that convincing effects can be created quickly in the field. They also help player volunteers don and remove make-up before and after the battles.

The make-up team work before the events helping to plan and arrange new make-up and prosthetic purchase in preparation for upcoming plots, but most of the work takes place during time-in of the event.

We need volunteers from an hour before time in on Friday up until an hour after Time out on Sunday. You'll be liasing with the rest of the make-up team to ensure we have appropriate cover during the event. While you may have some time on the field in character this role is not suitable for someone wishing to play the event.

How much of the event will you see?

• You will be unlikely to play a character other than the occasional NPC, but may enjoy the event facilities around the responsibilities of your volunteering role

Requirements

• Crew throughout the event rather than playing
• Bring enthusiasm and energy to producing good quality make-up and prosthetics to a tight time schedule
• Be ready to fit into an existing team and learn from their experiences

Crucially, you need to be confident that you will get more fun out of this backstage experience than your roleplaying experience is currently giving you. You will be joining the plot production department as a full-time member of the team so balancing both will not be possible.

Crew Links

• Crewing
  • Current Openings
  • Site Crew
  • Event Crew
  • Plot Crew
  • Credits (2019)
• Management Team