A Ref – short for Referee – is the LARP equivalent of a Game Master (GM), Storyteller, Dungeon Master (DM), or indeed, any other term you might already be familiar with in a tabletop game environment (some these might be less friendly than others). A Ref is an Event Organiser and there will be a small team of them (usually 6) on every Event. A Ref is someone who works to create the story and the setting that you will be roleplaying in.

Refs deliver the pre-game brief and will become the names and faces you become most familiar with in the run up to the event. Some Refs have different roles within a Ref Team, but from a player POV, all you need to know is the following:

• Refs create the event: Or, at least, they come up with the framework and the props. It’s ultimately up to the players to make an event what it is, but it’s the Refs who will be slaving away over hot latex and glue for the months preceding.  Not nearly as attractive as it sounds.
• Refs enforce the rules: It is Ref responsibility to ensure the System is followed and that everyone is playing safely and fairly. Refs are also there to listen to concerns from players and act as arbitrators in tricky circumstances. Ref decisions are final in any game dispute.
• Refs answer questions: Refs will be sufficiently informed to answer player questions or at least know who else on the Ref Team can. Players should not have to interrupt their game to find another Ref. Refs are there to relay information or provide feedback on actions and efforts made by players.
• Refs give instructions and descriptions: Sometimes a budget just won’t stretch to show a herd of Dark Young bursting from a nearby forest, so it will be up to Refs to give instructions and describe scenes which aren’t feasible to create. Refs will make judgements in situations where it might be unclear to players what is happening.
• Refs make calls: It might also be necessary for a Ref to make calls – mechanical and safety. See more on that under In-Game Calls.

The Crew will vary from event to event. The Ref team like to keep the Crew unadvertised as it’s a good way to keep players on their toes. It’s only natural for players to start tracking the movements of Refs and Crew (unconsciously or intentionally), so it’s a useful tool in the Ref arsenal to whip out more unexpected bodies when things start getting Interesting.

First Aiders

First Aiders may be members of the Ref Team, the Crew, or even Players. There will be a minimum of two First Aiders present at any event. First Aiders will be pointed out as part of the pre-game brief so all players know who they are. In situations where the call Man Down! is made, First Aiders take charge and all present – Refs, Crew and Players – should follow their instructions.

Out of Character Direction and Instruction

As part of the hands-off approach we work towards in Aeon Horror, we attempt to set up the event area in such a way that players/characters can explore with minimal Ref input.

Purple, when used on signage or when worn by Refs and Crew, indicates that what is being seen is Out of Character. To you as a player, purple is used to relay information about surroundings, conditions or other direction as needed. This is the equivalent of stage directions on a script: the actor sees it and must react to it, but the character is oblivious. The reason we use such an obvious colour as purple (and try to remain consistent with fonts), is so that in game-play it will be more obvious what is “there” and what is “not there”.

There is a variety of signs that you might encounter in game-play. These include, but are not restricted to, the ones listed below. Other signs may be created on an ad hoc basis over the period of a game to reflect changing circumstances:

“Out Of Character” Cards

Place these on luggage or on drawers which contain only OOC belongings. “Out of Character” cards clearly indicate to other players that the contents are not related to the game and are private. This means that if you are looking through someone’s belongings or if someone has cause to look through yours, it’s respected on a meta level that your designated OOC location is strictly out of bounds. No IC materials should be concealed in OOC locations.

Ref Area/Ref Bunker

Where the Refs will live and store props during an event. Strictly no access to players!

Locked

These cards will be placed on any IC item which is lockable (door, luggage, chest, et cetera) and which is Locked. As the information is delivered OOC, characters must still test the lock by attempting to open it in order to learn that information IC. If you own lockable luggage or containers, please ask a Ref for a sign. Refs will set the conditions under which the lock can be opened.

Barricaded

These cards will be placed on any door or window which has been barricaded. The conditions of breaking down the barrier will be known only by Refs and characters who have relevant skills for engineering or fortification (for example). As the information is delivered OOC, characters must test any door or obstacle where it is not immediately obvious that there is a barricade in place in order to learn that information IC.