General Code of Conduct and Safety Regulations for Live Role-playing and Other External Club Activities

1. General

All participants of Live Role-playing Games (SRPG's) and other external club activities organised by The South London Warlords (hereinafter referred to as The Club) must read and adhere to these regulations and guidelines. For insurance and legal reasons, you must be either a full or an associate member of The Club. As a member you will be required to attend all events with the appropriate and approved equipment and documentation as specified below:

•  Your Club membership card or other proof of membership.
•  Any funds payable either to The Club in the form of membership fees and/or to the organiser(s) in the form of pre-determined fees payable for taking part in the event.

The Club also recommends that you carry necessary equipment such as a torch and a compass that will aid you in the event of you becoming lost in unfamiliar territory. This is only a guideline and does not constitute a regulation.
All events must be overseen by a club member nominated by the Committee of The South London Warlords.
No persons under the age of 16 years may take part in SRPG's.

2. Conduct

As a participant in The Club's activities you are responsible for your own good conduct and that of your fellow participants, during both transit to and from the event and during the event itself. If you are a group leader, or are deemed as such by the organisers, then you are especially responsible.

When dealing with the public at any club events be courteous and polite at all times. Go out of your way to explain what you are doing, so as to allay any fears or suspicions, and never intimidate, alienate, threaten or be abusive to them.

Remember also to treat you fellow players with respect and goodwill. In the case of SRPG's, many scenarios present two or more teams with hostile intent to each other. Remember that monsters, strange creatures and opposing forces are all other club members. Do not get carried away in trying to neutralise the threat. Have respect for other player's equipment and never touch, use or remove their personal equipment or effects without their express prior permission.

In the case of SRPG's, no weapon is to be displayed outside of the event site and all weapons must be packed away during transit.
When at the event site, have respect for the surroundings, whether they are a privately owned site or simply local woodland. Do not drop litter and always ensure that all of your gear and rubbish is taken away with you. Do not remove, damage or sabotage any of the site's fixtures and fittings or property, and in the case of woodland and open areas, do not cause damage or harm to the surrounding countryside.

Please respect and obey the requests and rulings of the officers of The Club and the organisers of the event. In the case of SRPG's, abide by the rules of the game and the law of the land.

These regulations are to be considered to be always in force, unless otherwise stated. Under no circumstances indulge in actions, which may bring The Club or the hobby into disrepute. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the person or persons concerned being either warned, asked to leave the event site or being temporarily or permanently banned from future events. Gross misconduct will be dealt with under the terms of the current Club Handbook and Constitution (section 6, subsection h, paragraph iv).

3. Safety and First Aid

Your personal fitness is your own responsibility. However, it would be appreciated if you would advise the organisers or qualified first aiders at each event, of any special needs or problems that you may have. In the case of SRPG's, please remember that they are physically demanding and potentially dangerous activities. If you have any up to date first aid qualifications we would appreciate you letting The Club know so that you can be called upon in an emergency.

A comprehensive first aid kit will be placed in an easily accessible location and all first aiders will be identified either in a game briefing or at the event site. Also, the location of the nearest phone or aid station will be indicated.

4. Responsibilities of an event organiser

As an event organiser nominated by the committee of The Club, you have overall responsibility for the group of people that are under your control. Examples of such responsibility would be at an event where The Club has a display team, a club social event or an SRPG. It is the responsibility of the event organiser to ensure that this code of conduct is adhered to by the other members in the group, to make himself known to all participants in the event so that he can be contacted in an emergency and to ensure the following:

a) Signs
That, where necessary, adequate direction signs are posted near the event to direct participants and ensure that other property is not mistakenly entered.

b) Disclaimers
In the case of events organised by The Club, that official club disclaimers are issued to all participants, completed and signed, and collected by the club member nominated by the committee as the organiser, in order to satisfy the requirements of The Club's insurance. Each participant signs a disclaimer once for the confirmed period of his or her membership.

•  Routes

That, where necessary, accurate route maps are supplied to all participants.

•  Emergencies
That, in the case of SRPG's, a first aid kit will be placed in an accessible location and that the club member nominated by the committee as the organiser ensures that any first aiders are made known to him and to the other participants and that the nearest phone and/or emergency services are known to him and to the other participants. It is also necessary for the organiser to have established and informed all participants of an assembly point in the event of the need to evacuate premises or event site.

•  That, in the case of SRPG's, all equipment such as mines, booby traps and other props are checked thoroughly for their operation and safety.

5. Prohibitions

In the case of SRPG's, alcohol and drugs are not permitted on site and anybody under the influence of either will not be allowed to take part in the event.

6. SRPG's Booby Traps

When using booby traps, always ensure that the device is safe and has been agreed for use by the event organiser. Booby traps must never contain projectiles of any kind or be constructed in such a way as to cause actual physical harm to participants, public or wildlife.

7. SRPG's Pyrotechnics

The club member nominated by the committee, as the organiser prior to the event must agree any pyrotechnics, such as smoke grenades, for use.

8. SRPG's Weapons

It is forbidden to carry or use any kind of missile weapon, i.e. crossbows, bows, catapults, air guns, soft air weapons ? including paintball guns ? firearms and shotguns. Melee weapons such as knives, daggers and other edged weapons are also forbidden at the event site. Utility knives, penknives and sharp tools must be securely packed away when not in use, must be checked with the club member nominated by the committee as the organiser and should never be used as a weapon, either as a joke or as intimidation during play.

On public sites, at all times, non-folding knives are prohibited.
Replica weapons that have been adapted for laser tag use may be used, but should be checked by the event organiser prior to use.

9. Emergency Procedures

As mentioned above, it is the responsibility of the event organiser to ensure that there are sufficient emergency procedures in operation.

In the event of physical injury to a participant, an ambulance should be called immediately. The first-aider at the event should be notified and should administer first-aid, as he deems necessary.

In the event of a fire, all participants should make their way by the quickest route possible and in an orderly and unhurried fashion, to the pre-determined assembly point, which will have been pointed out by the event organiser. Do not stop to collect your personal belongings.

10. Signals

The emergency signal to alert all other participants is continuous short blasts on a whistle.

The end of game signal from the event organiser will be three long blasts on a whistle.

11. SRPG's - Game Play

When you are taking part in an SRPG you are immersed in a totally active environment. Everywhere is ‘live'. There are no spectator points or places for the dead to sit and watch. If you are ‘killed' on a game, unless you have been told otherwise by the event organiser or are being carried along by the rest of your group, once the group you were with has moved on you should make your way out of the event site and wait until the game ends. When you leave the event site, for whatever reason, please do so without attracting too much attention. Do not pass through the middle of a fire fight or ‘tag along' behind the rest of the group. Finally, when you are dead and there are live participants in the area, you should not talk, sit-up and hold conversations with the other ‘corpses'.

If you decide to leave an outside event early, having come with a club-sponsored group (coach etc.), please let the event organiser (or one of the group whom you know to be returning the same way) know this. Your absence will not then delay or alarm the rest of the group.

12. Final Remarks

This code of conduct has been prepared by the Live Roleplaying team of The South London Warlords on behalf of the committee. They are a set of guidelines and regulations that make playing SRPG's and the attending of external club events safer and more enjoyable. They are written for your benefit and the benefit of those people who allow us to use their premises and property. Remember that the object of it all is to have fun. Enter into the spirit of roleplaying and don't spoil it for other people by cheating or losing control. Play safe and enjoy yourself.

The Club is insured for third party liability only and does not operate a personal risk policy. Copies of The Club's insurance policies are available on request from The Committee.

Many thanks to Dean Wayland at Battlegroup for the use of his original code of conduct which was of great use when compiling this edition.

The Committee
The South London Warlords
November 1990