Events of Anomalous are responses to serious anomalous events that are not yet contained. They will take place “on site” at assorted locations where the Players will need to secure a base camp, identify areas of concern, and determine and enact plans to tackle the situation.
Events consist of a number of components, listed on this page, although some may differ in execution depending on the event itself.
Anomalous events are designed to be standalone so that anyone can attend any event without needing to have attended previous ones. There may be some metaplots ongoing but each event should be perfectly understandable without ever having attended one before.
Upon arriving on site for the event you must check in at the check-in desk. This will be situated at Ops and crewed during the time before the game. For safety reasons, it is not permitted to be on site without signing in there first.
Once you have signed in you should set up your tent or bed before returning to pick up any documents you might need from Ops.
Between the following times, everywhere on site except the crew hut, OC camping area, car park, toilets, showers, kitchens, bunkrooms and corridors are IN CHARACTER areas:
All camping and sleeping areas are always OUT OF CHARACTER areas.
Outside of these times, only the main base camp is In Character for those who wish to carry on roleplaying, but no plot or mechanics will be available.
If you need to drop out of character briefly (e.g. to clarify someone's pronouns, because you are a member of crew travelling across the site to an Encounter) you may indicate you are not present by putting two fingers in the air. If you need to drop out of character for a longer period of time, please leave the in-character area.
Base Camp will be established within the first hour of each event and will establish a perimeter during which combat cannot occur. Base Camp is always available to be IC if people wish to roleplay there, but no plot will be delivered after TIME OUT each day.
Most Field Mechanics will be available in one of the tents established in the Base Camp which anyone can go into at any time. There will be signage and at least one member of Crew available to assist with understanding and executing them.
The exceptions to this are Surgery, Conference, and Intercession all of which will occur in tents or rooms that cannot usually be accessed IC. These locations will be made clear.
Combat may occur at any IC location other than Base Camp. Unless otherwise indicated that an Incursion or Excursion is occurring, combat can only occur using “normal” combat abilities.
When an Incursion or Excursion is occurring, this will be made very clear to everyone who would be affected and any changes to abilities or stats will be communicated well before combat will occur.
Excursions – being trips outside of the normal bounds of the IC site – will be publicised at least an hour in advance and head into areas of the site that we mark as out of bounds for normal IC exploration.
All weapons and shields intended for use in LARP combat must be checked with a weapons ref before they can be used for combat. This must be done before TIME IN. If you arrive late then get your weapons checked by a Head Ref before you enter the game. Do not enter the game with unchecked weapons.
Weapons will also be checked before Excursions by a present weapons ref. Do not enter any of these without having had your weapon checked, and make sure to plan for this to ensure everyone's weapons can be checked in good time.
By default, attendees at Event 1 will be able to be sleep indoors in one of the bunkhouses. These rooms are shared and we will reserve certain rooms for non-male sleeping and accessible sleeping. Please let us know if you would require this on your booking form or by emailing contact@unlikelystories.co.uk. All rooms are Out Of Character spaces.
Camping is permitted but please let us know if you will be camping.
Bunks are fitted with mattresses and no bedding so you will need to bring your own.
As we will be moving site each event, we cannot guarantee that there will always be indoor sleeping space. Assume that the default expectation is that attendees need to camp and if there is indoor sleeping space it will be prioritised to those with accessibility requirements and Crew first.
We will always attempt to find a site with step-free access to accommodation, toilets, showers, and will never use an area without step-free access as an area Players are required to reach.
Some areas of the site outside of the main play area are rougher terrain and may not be suitable for those with limited mobility. We will never use one of these areas for our non-combat Encounters but may use them for combat Encounters. When this is the case we will always make sure this is notified in advance. If you want to go on one of these Excursions but have limited mobility please let a Ref know and we will make adaptions to our plan including relocating the Encounter.
See Next Events accessibility for specific points for our next event.
We will always have a room set aside to be a quiet space. This can be used however you need – meditation, emotional support, quiet out-of-character conversation – and is not otherwise meant for general use.
We will endeavour to ensure that all text on Props is of a reasonable size and where that is impractical we will make available an accessible version of the writing.
We may make use of Audio as part of our events. Where we do we will also provide a written version of the prop available on request to those who require it.
We may make use of Video as part of our events. Where we do, it is always acceptable to ask a member of Crew to describe what is being shown.
We may deliberately distort audio or doctor footage. Where we do, the description of what is being shown will not clarify the distortion, only state that it is there.
As part of the game it is entirely possible that NPCs and IC information will attempt to lie to you. This is for the effect of gameplay and it is never our intention to make you Out Of Character doubt your own memory. To this end, it is always acceptable to ask a Ref to clarify if something is an IC or OC perception.
We may make use of atmospheric lighting and sudden darkness to achieve specific effects. We will never use strobe lighting.
Throughout the game, a member of Core Team will be available through the Operation Management (Ops) desk. Any queries both OC and IC can be directed here at any time, and this is the best way to locate a Ref for a call to be made. The desk won't be accessible at night.
Catering for Anomalous E1 is provided by Kes Ward and a provisional menu as well as a booking form are available at https://www.unlikelystories.co.uk/anomalous-e1-catering. To purchase a Meal Ticket, please fill in this form where you will be able to specify dietary requirements.
Meal Tickets cost £30 full price, £20 concession, or £10 “just the carbs” (see end of menu below). Everything is halal and kosher-by-ingredient.
If you have any questions, please get in touch by email and we will pass your questions on.
If you prefer to self-cater there will be a kitchen available for doing so instead.
Self-catering facilities will be available at every event and will be kept as an Out Of Character space.