Kelly Berger’s Gaming Contract for Players

Group Gatherings

• Speak Up: If there is something you need addressed, or you are uncomfortable with, let the group know. Le the GM know ahead of time if there are sensitive personal subjects, but realize this IS roleplaying and a game. The realities of more brutal milieus may be unsettling, but that’s part of the challenge.
• Communication/Discussions: There is a designated online group (page or messenger) to handle each campaign. Use it.
• Commitment: The group will meet every 2 weeks. The online group will have posted calendar events, but in your own calendar, you should assume every 2 weeks. This commitment must be matched to have a permanent character in the campaign.
• # Players: No more than 7 active players (prefer 5, 6 max) at any given session; exceptions may be made at GM discretion. Do not bring friends without 1) asking other players, and 2) asking GM. Post it in the online Group. If you can play a whole session vs. part of one is the first consideration in determining who gets a seat; Seniority in group is next.
• Be presentable: Do not just roll out of bed after a 2 day binge partying and show up; be clean and affable.
• No Drinking: Respect the time and effort put in by the GM and other players – this is not drinking time, its gaming time.
• Respond: Confirm to whatever online calendar event is there so the host and GM can plan appropriately – If you do not and show up, the GM can force you to play an alternate character or NPC for the game session. Please call, message, and email if its last minute and you will not be able to make it though you have responded ‘yes’ – we want to know you’re safe and not have to waste time waiting.
• Absenteeism: Players who fail to show up for more than three consecutive sessions will have characters removed from the game in any way the GM sees fit – generally the tendency is to write spectacular deaths for characters who have ended their game-time.

The Gaming Space

• The ONLY use for electronic devices is to manage a character sheet, make checks, and look up rules. Anything else is clutters the space and is a distraction and disrespectful to everyone else. Try to use paper.
• Gathering: All parties shall gather around a single central area to participate as a group; exceptions can be made with space limitations but if there is space in a single place, use it.
• Sit with the group so that making checks can be observed and its easy for the GM to address the group. If its not possible (see gathering), make sure you can show those nearest the results of making checks if needed with a minimum of movement – i.e. roll on a book you can pass to the nearest player to witness.
• Clean Up: Help whoever hosts to clean up dishes, trash, recycle and anything else before you leave.
• Pets: If the gathering is at a place with pets and you have strong allergies, skip on it if you can’t get meds or bear it out.

Making checks: You must have clearly marked indicators. If digital, the display must be viewable from all angles or be approved by GM. All “dice” must have a high contrast between the numbers and background – i.e. white dice with black numbers. All resolution checks for players are to be made only on a character’s turn or when GM specifies, where people can see them. The spirit of this is to avoid questions of integrity and confusion in order of action, and make sure the GM and Party are all aware of each party members and opponents actions.

• For % dice rolls, there must be a distinct tens (with double digits) and ones (single digit) dice or be declared ahead of the roll.
• If you have multiple attacks or multiple checks for the same thing done in one roll, specify which dice is first. A fumble generally precludes any more actions so you must be able to determine which order they resolve in.

Player Roles

1. Caller: A group representative who will answer to the GM as the voice of authority when the GM needs to know what the party is going to do.
2. Initiative Tracker: One player of the gaming group will be designated to track the initiative of the PCs and the NPCs (as determined by the GM).
3. Time Tracker: One player will be designated to tack the passage of time and turn it in to the GM a the send of the session.

Character Actions In-Game

Determination of Intent: The GM’s determination of a characters/players intent will stand unless it was specifically spelled out by a player, so long as the GM can explain it within the context of the characters code(s) or outlook. Its not the GM’s job to second guess the players.

End of Character Turn: After a character has ended their turn and the next character’s (PC or NPC) has begun to resolve there is no going back and applying effects or changing outcomes.

Track Character Supplies: As your character uses equipment and resources, be fair and mark off what is used. Just as you do not have a endless free supply of items, neither does your character. This includes mundane supplies and special ones (magical, etc.) If the GM catches an abuse of this, they are free to impose penalties such as automatic failures or equipment breakage.

Character Creation

Players are responsible for creating their own characters using the rules DnD 5th edition, filtered by the general Incarna limits and adjustments. NOTE: “My character would do that” is no excuse for creating unwanted chaos inside the PC party, or for dragging the party into volatile situations unwanted. Comedic effect is one thing, forcing the party into fights and confrontations that threaten to get them killed repeatedly is unacceptable.

• Generating Stats: Point Buy for 5e. Human variant = OK
• Steel Realms Setting Characters: Players must accept there are setting limits on race and class availability, and race/class combinations. This is part of the challenge of RPing – the cultural constraints on free expression. This is not a free-for-all, each setting has its own unique options and configurations. The limits reflect the world setting’s unique evolution. Part of your RP challenge is to work within the framework to make a character envisioned a reality. The emphasis should be on active character traits and play as RP, not passive race and class as RP.
  • Races options are limited by the setting; ask the GM for parameters but only the major humanoid races are represented. Races constrain some class options. The Human variant is available.
  • Class options are limited by the setting; Race, locations, and background/culture. Assume nothing about availability, ask the GM.
  • Feats: = No sharpshooter or +10 on damage feats to start, that level of newby not reflected
  • Knowledge is sometimes worth more than combat power in resolving conflict. Assume an emphasis on proficiency (skills, tools, weapons, armor) that may not be part of a more traditional game. Assume 5th edition skills can be creatively applied in principle to solve more situations than is listed – ask your GM.
  • History: A well done and approved character history may grant additional starting elements (skills, languages, feats, modification to powers or gaining them ahead of their normal level, lores [skill bonuses] ) – especially if the players work these out as a group that incorporates them all.
• Group Review: Please consider the many things that affect group cohesion. CONFLICTS ARE TYPICALLY FOUND IN:
  • Alignment/Code of Conduct
  • Race/Species Relations
  • Character Motivations
  • Social/Cultural Issues
• GM Character Review: The GM will approve them outside of game time, before they get used in game. The GM will disallow or may penalize obvious min/maxing and attempts at taking minor disadvantages to get a few more perks. Negative traits creating unfair vulnerabilities for the entire group and will be painfully exploited by the GM.
• NPCs: GM controlled characters WILL NOT COUNT IN ASSESSING GROUP REWARDS.

Creating new/Replacing dead Characters in an Existing party

Replacing Characters: I prefer to script character ends and not leave characters “hanging around” unless there is a plan for them long term. This generally means the character demise unless a good reason is provided. IF you are voluntarily giving up a character of 6th level or higher, the new character will get +1 on their primary attribute, and an extra Character Weave.

• Starting Level: The character level will be 1st, or whatever the rest of the party is, less 1, or 3rd level.
• Power Boost: The 3rd level characters will get to take a Feat that a single class character would normally get at 4th, regardless of their multiclass or single class status. These advanced characters will get 2 Character Weaves, and 2 Lores at level 1 (+1 bonus) to represent their experience.

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