Young Players at Curious Pastimes
Players aged 16 or over are regarded as full participants in the Renewal campaign, with the freedom to take part in any part of the game without restriction or supervision, from combat to rituals to alchemy (while conforming to UK law in terms of e.g. alcohol use). Players under that age – known as young players – are invited to participate in the game under certain reasonable constraints and with safeguarding rules in place, laid out here.
Aside from these rules, all young players (and their responsible adults) are subject to the relevant codes of conduct, spelled out on our Polices page.
Resources and Information
Before the game starts on a Friday, Curious Pastimes holds a young players briefing, where we outline activities and encounters for young people to get involved in over the weekend. The time and location of this will be advertised before each event on our Facebook page and Discord server.
There is also a Facebook group called Curious Pastimes Parents (Unofficial). This is a place for parents/guardians to share advice, meet each other, or ask questions about bringing young people to the game.
The Basics
All characters must carry a character card with them that lists who they are, their real-world information, their faction, and information about their character (including their name and skills). This card will be collected from the game organisation desk (GOD) once you have arrived on site. If you have pre-booked through the Curious Pastimes website, these cards will have been prepared and should be ready to collect when you go to GOD. If you are paying on the gate, you will need to create a character at GOD.
Responsible Adults at Curious Pastimes (RAACP)
A young player’s responsible adult at Curious Pastimes (RAACP) is the person who is responsible as a parent, carer or guardian for that young player at an event. RAACPs must be over the age of 18 and nominated by the young person’s legally responsible adult (LRA) before they attend an event, if the LRA is not the person bringing the young person to the event. (For example, a player might be the RAACP for both their daughter and their nephew, but only the LRA for their daughter). RAACPs may make decisions for that young person whilst they are attending Curious Pastimes and are responsible for their wellbeing.
Young people aged 16-17 do not require an RAACP, since they are seen as responsible for themselves at events.
Every young player at Curious Pastimes must have a responsible adult at Curious Pastimes card, which they must have with them at all times. RAACP cards carry all the contact information for the young player’s RAACP (and their LRA, if they are not the same person). A member of the Curious Pastimes team will check this card if the young player is seen by the on-site medics, or if they are separated and the RAACP needs to be contacted to reunite them.
A copy of this card can be collected from the front gate tent or GOD at an event.
Nominated Responsible Adults at Curious Pastimes (Co-Parenting)
At Curious Pastimes, RAACPs can choose who is responsible for their young players at any time. That person must be over 18 and must agree to being the RAACP for that young player for a pre-agreed set amount of time. A young player should know who is responsible for them at any time, and a nominated RAACP should know which young people they are responsible for.
Young Player Supervision
Supervision rules at Curious Pastimes depend on the young player’s age:
| Age | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 0 to 10 years old | Must always be in line of sight of their RAACP at the event (i.e. the young player and the RAACP should both always be able to see each other.) |
| 11 to 15 years old | Must always know where their RAACP is and their RAACP must know where they are, however at this age they are free to go where they want on site with their RAACP’s permission. |
Sleeping
All young players must sleep in the same area as their RAACPs (i.e. in the in character or out of character camping areas). Be warned that if you choose to sleep in the in character area, there will likely be noise until past 2am, while out of character camping is generally quiet at all hours.
If the young player is sleeping in an in character area, their RAACP can sit outside their tent or within close line of sight of the tent’s opening and continue to interact with the game. When a young player comes out of their tent, they should be able to find their RAACP immediately. If they choose our sleep out of character, their RAACP should stay in or very near the tent.
Who Can I Go to for Help?
There are lots of staff at Curious Pastimes who will all be happy to help any young player or RAACP who needs assistance. If a young player gets lost, a staff member should be informed as soon as possible. The team has a protocol for finding young people on site and an incident like this takes priority over game activities. Young players should be encouraged to find and stay with the nearest member of staff in the event they lose sight of their RAACP.
There are different staff who can help with different things. If any member of staff doesn’t think that they can help you, they will direct and help you find the person who can.
- Faction Command: There are 3 faction command members in every faction and every camp. They will be wearing normal costume and look like any other player, but they are staff and are there to lead the game and help their own faction with any issues. Before you attend your first event, find out who the 3 members of your chosen faction’s command team are, so that if you need them, you can recognise them. Command team members can help you if you have any general question about your faction, or if you need help in any way.
- Referees: Referees wear a white tabard with a big black R on the front and back. They can help you if you have a question about the rules, or you feel unsafe, or if you have any other general concerns.
- Event Team: The Event Team can be found in Event HQ, which will be on the site map and labelled on the building in the OOC area. They wear yellow hi visibility vests and have a radio. They can help you with anything related to the real world (for example, a problem with your tent, a vehicle, safety, you are lost or your young player is missing, etc.) The Event Team is accessible 24 hours a day, (emergencies only between 2am and 9am via the on-site Medical Team).
- Medics: The Medical Team can be found in the Medical Tent near to Event HQ, which is on the site map and labelled on the tent. You can go to the Medics if you have a physical or mental medical concern.
- Game Organisation Desk (GOD): The GOD Team are found in a building called GOD which will be marked on the map in the OOC area, and labelled on the building that they are based in. GOD staff can help with character related questions such as character generation and some in game activities such as Scrounging or Foraging.
Alcohol
As per UK law, alcohol should not be bought or consumed by anyone under the age of 18 except at home or in private premises – and no part of a LARP campsite is considered private premises. At Curious Pastimes events, there is a tavern that operates under the same licensing rules as any real-world pub, and will challenge age and ask for real-world ID.
Costume Expectations
As far as possible, young players have the same kit expectations as adults. Obvious modern clothing e.g. bright trainers or t-shirts with logos or characters on them should be avoided. Any weapons, shields or armour that a young player uses must pass a weapons check by a member of Curious Pastimes staff.
Young Players in the Game
What can young players actually do at Curious Pastimes events? There are a range of opportunities and activities open to players, some of them specifically aimed at catering to young players:
- Young Player Plot: Curious Pastimes runs a variety of plot and encounters aimed at Young Players. More information about what may be running at each event is usually shared at the Young Players Briefing at the start of each event. Any young people taking part in these encounters must follow the supervision rules outlined above.
- The Wider Game: Curious Pastimes runs many different story lines that each faction or the entire game world work together to solve. Young players can engage with any of these stories, if they and their RAACP feel that they can.
- Learning In Game: The Bastion is an in-game learning place where young players can go to learn more about the game, talk to other players and NPCs about the wider world of Curious Pastimes, and (from 13 years of age) learn skills. The Bastion runs some sessions specifically aimed at young players; see the board posted outside the tent for times.:
- Scouting: Young players can take part in some of the scouting activities at Curious Pastimes events. Generally scouting encounters that take place during the day will be okay for young players to join in with. Rules relating to young players must be followed, for example combat and skill use, below. Ultimately, the decision of the referee in charge of scouting regarding suitability is final. Should young players decide that they want to do a scouting mission during an event, they can speak to the scouts in their faction and see if there are any suitable missions available.
Young Player Skills
Simply put, if a young player can do what is required for a skill, then they can have it. For example, if a young player can remember and say spell vocals, then they can have spellcasting skills. If they can work out the intricacies behind alchemy and crafting, then they can have those skills. If a young player can speak loudly and take part in rituals, then they can either lead or contribute to them.
As with any player of any age, a young player must pass a bow safety test and be issued a licence before they can use a bow or crossbow at any Curious Pastimes event. These tests happen multiple times per event, and times and locations are signposted in GOD.
What About Fighting?
Any combat must be done using a LARP-safe weapon that has been checked at that event by a Curious Pastimes weapons checker. Bows must also be checked and issued a bow poundage card. Weapons checking takes place at the start of each event, and then throughout the event, such as before skirmishes or battles. If you are using a bow or crossbow, you must do your own checks on arrows before firing.
Young players can join in with fighting around camp areas if they have permission and as supervised by their RAACP whilst they are playing their characters. Some attacks/encounters may not be suitable for every young person and RAACPs must make individual decisions about the safety of camp-based scenarios for their own young players.
For safety reasons, young players cannot take part in (or be on the field to watch) largescale combat such as battles or skirmishes.
Although young players cannot go on the main battles/skirmishes, there is usually an opportunity to fight in a young players’ encounter that happens at each event – details will be shared during the young player briefing.
Monstering
Until 8pm or nightfall (whichever is earlier), all young players are welcome to participate in volunteer monster slots with their faction provided they are accompanied by their RAACP. Young players must inform faction referees that they intend to come while mustering for the slot, so that they can radio ahead to the Game Team and check if there is something suitable for them to do. There is often a wide range of roleplaying and non-combat focused monster encounters, and some are specifically designed with young players in mind.
Note that players under the age of 14 cannot take part in combat-focused monstering encounters (known as “camp attacks”). Players aged 14 and 15 can take part in combat focused monster encounters during the day (before 8pm), when directly accompanied by their RAACP and at the ultimate discretion of the referees running the encounters (some encounters may not be suitable).
Young Player Rules by Age
| Age | Rules |
|---|---|
| All ages |
|
| 0 to 6 years old |
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| 7 to 10 years old |
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| 11 to 12 years old |
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| 13 years old |
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| 14 to 15 years old |
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