You gain a bonus if you play a non-human character. In some cases the bonus depends on the quality of the costume. The more you put into roleplaying your race the better the game will be and Refs can award extra bonuses for those roleplaying extremely well. All races have pre-requisites (eg Elves must have pointy ears) but these are a minimum. If you make no attempt at a good costume (including fake ears / tusks) you will be considered a human. Note Paladin is a human only class and Shaman is a non-human class.
All Races (except Human) must check with Games Control that their costume is good enough for the bonuses or they automatically are thought of as dirty humans.
Elves
Minimum costume requirements: Ear tips (pointy ones) – we have these in stock at GC where you can buy them for a few pounds.
Characterisation (how do I act): All elves are poncy, high class race that look down upon the mortals of this world. They age from 200 to 40,000 but never really seem old. Elves do not like Dwarves and you cannot be friendly towards an Dwarf. You will tolerate them but everything they say will be mocked.
Bonus: Camouflage (Outside)
Camouflage (Outside) - Can Camouflage themselves to their environment for 3 mins – Signal “Both hands on head”. Cannot move, speak, attack, cast spells. Camo fails if observed going into camo. Must be hidden against something. Cannot use again for 5 minutes. Can only be used OUTSIDE against a NATURAL background. (e.g. can’t hide against a wall!)
Cannot use x-bows. Can use bows.
Dragon-Kin
Minimum costume requirements: Scaley costume / armour and face painted
Characterisation (how do I act): Phobia of water and ice, they are more like lizards than snakes, they hiss when they talk (not too exaggerated please), they tend to distrust everyone. They hide their faces under hoods if they can, sunlight is not good for their eyes.
Bonus: + 4 Global Hits ( +2 if quality of costume is poor)
All Dragon-Kin must check with Games Control that their costume is good enough or they automatically are thought of as Half dragon-Kin and get only +2 HP.
Restrictions: Can only play Warrior, Ranger or Assassin Classes
Orcs
Minimum costume requirements: Mask or green/brown face paint and suitable fake teeth. The Larger the costume the better.
Characterisation (how do I act): Big, brash, spill my beer and I'll have you type of nut job. If it moves hit it, if it don't say "ow" pick it up it might be valuable! Orcs do not like Goblins, they treat them as being beneath them.
Bonus: + 2 Global Hit Points
Goblins
Minimum costume requirements: Green face paint/prosthetics or mask.
Characterisation (how do I act): They steal everything they can, speak like a Chav on helium, really get in everyone's face, do not understand the concept of tact, take the mick out of everything, usually to the biggest monster around, never trust a gobbo, they don't trust themselves. Goblins do not like Orcs, they have a habit of hitting you and Elves really need to be made jokes out of.Must talk in a high pitched voice and have a tendency to steal anything not nailed down (when they nick the nails first)
Bonus: Immune to some low level poisons
Skaven
Minimum costume requirements: Rat like prosthetics and suitable costume
Characterisation (how do I act): Move by scuttling along, nosy little buggers, cheat at everything, tend to chew everything instead of look / touch it, hunched over shoulders, only like to fight in groups,don't do solo combat (unless they cheat). Skaven and Ogres do not get on. Roleplay this as you like.
Bonus: Immune to fear levels 1 – 3. Call “No effect”
Trolls
Minimum costume requirements: A huge appearance, prosthetics galore, stone like appearance
All trolls must check with Games Control that their costume is good enough or they automatically are thought of as Half-Trolls.
Characterisation (how do I act): Massive shoulders, very slow thinkers, they are unable to solve any puzzle, cannot read very well, are not called Cuddles, walk (amble) slowly, they cannot run ever, get confused a lot, Trolls think Half-Trolls are a lower race and deal with them as such.
Bonus: All Damage is reduced by 1 (i.e. fireball level 4 causes 3 points of damage and normal weapon hits do no damage) Any attack causing no damage must be followed by a “No effect” call
Trolls cannot cast Magic, although there are no class restrictions (except Paladin) but a Troll Mage would obviously be a mistake to play.
Half-Troll
Minimum costume requirements: Large appearance, prosthetics, stone like appearance
Characterisation (how do I act): Massive shoulders, very slow thinkers, they are unable to solve but the simplest of puzzles, cannot read much, are not called Cuddles, walk (amble) slowly, they cannot run ever, get confused a lot, Trolls think Half-Trolls are a lower race and deal with them as such.
Bonus: Double hits only do 1 point of damage and triple only do 2 points of damage. Standard hits do 1 point of damage. All other damage is as is it is called
Half-Trolls gain only half the number of rips a human would for a magic using class. They just aren't made to be magic users, but you can play one if you like. Even magic items that give bonus spell rips give only half.
All trolls must check with Games Control that their costume is good enough or they automatically are thought of as Half-Trolls.
Ogres
Minimum costume requirements: large appearance, prosthetics, brown and hairy appearance
Characterisation (how do I act): Hairy! Stupid, long arms, squat legs, they are unable to solve but the simplest of puzzles, cannot read much, amble instead of walk / run. Ogres and Skaven do not get on. Roleplay this as you like.
Bonus: All Poisons do half damage, All potions do not work. A potion / poison that would normally kill puts an ogre on 1 HP.
For example : A Potion that causes 4 damage causes only 2 HP damage.
A Potion of healing will not work
A potion of sleep will not work
Restrictions: Cannot play healers or assassins.
All Ogres must check with Games Control that their costume is good enough or they automatically are thought of as dirty big humans.
Tauren
Minimum costume requirements: large appearance, prosthetic horns / tusks, brown and hairy appearance.
Characterisation (how do I act): Mystical, deep voice, slow to anger, over large fighting style, scratch bum a lot.
Bonus: So in touch with the spirit world that they can remain in the area of ghosts without effect.
So all Fear and Terror Calls from Ghosts / Spirits do not affect them. Call "No Effect"
Restrictions: Cannot play clerics or sorcerers.
All Tauren must check with Games Control that their costume is good enough or they automatically are thought of as dirty big humans.
Gnomes
Minimum costume requirements: Must look like a gnome! (silly hats and rosy cheeks are essential)
Characterisation (how do I act): Naughty is the word! poking people, tickling them, tease, experimenting with things that obviously won't work, skip when they run, comedians (IC only)
Bonus: +3 spell rips per day (regardless of level)
Restrictions: Cannot play shaman classes
Dwarves
Minimum costume requirements: Male Dwarves must have a full beard. (Fake or real). – we have some “home-made” ones for sale at GC for a few pounds (easy to make your own or grow your own for free!)
Female Dwarves may have a full beard.
Characterisation (how do I act): You are know it alls! Back in my day we wouldn't have done that, I wouldn;t have done that, you are 400 years old (ish), you have seen it all and know the answer to everything (once it has been worked out that is), You think everything is made out of some form of Gold. You think you can't get lost in tunnels, Gold is the best thing in the world. Dwarves do not like elves and you cannot be friendly towards an elf. You will tolerate them but everything they say will be mocked, you think they are nancy ponces.
Bonus: +1 Global Hit Point
Camouflage (Underground) - Can Camouflage themselves to their environment for 3 mins – Signal “Both hands on head”. Cannot move, speak, attack, cast spells. Camo fails if observed going into camo. Must be hidden against something. Cannot use again for 5 minutes. Can only be used UNDERGROUND against a NATURAL background. (e.g. can’t hide against a wooden door!)
Cannot use bows. Can use x-bows
Fairy
Minimum costume requirements: Wings (the bigger the better) and make-up / costume that looks good. No wings at all means no bonuses at all.
Characterisation (how do I act): Forever think the world is good and everything will work out good in the end, you are so positive you make people sick with your attitude, you are a secretive bunch about your things, you are immortal like elves (but you can die in combat, just not of old age.) You are so pretty you must make sure everyone knows this, sigh when mortals make mistakes (obviously they are children compared to you). Ages range from 5,000 to 100,000.
Bonus: Have the skills of a magic user 1 level higher than they are (until they reach level 7).
For example a fairy is level 4 (but gains the skills of a level 5 mage) but plays levels 3 – 5 not 5 – 7 as her level is actually 4
Restrictions: Can only play Mages or Healers.
Cannot use Bows or x-bows.
Any Fairy turning up in huge wings that protrude the body and look cool will be given an extra bonus! Wings can be made from any suitable material (eg feathers, clouds, fly type, bat like)
Halfling
Minimum costume requirements: Must be small in stature and dress appropriately. Hairy feet are not essential!
Characterisation (how do I act): Not called Gamgee or Samwise, Pippin, Merry and NO FRODOS / BILBOS EVER, Must act as if 3 foot tall (you work out how to do it), small but pesky, nimble footed, traps are fun to work out, you love riddles. You have an affinity towards Dwarves (you just seem to get along), everything is fun to you, a bit of a laugh, but not in a yobbish manner. You are welcome anywhere and no one dislikes you.
Bonus: Can Dodge one weapon attack per day per level. (not magic as this always hits) Call “Dodge no effect”
Restrictions: No Shamans. Only wear leather or fur armour (class permitting)
Giant
Minimum costume requirements: A huge appearance, must be over 7 feet. (Stilts must be safe to fight and walk in, please see GC to check)
All Giants must check with Games Control that their costume is good enough or they automatically are thought of as dirty big humans.
Characterisation (how do I act): Slow to act, take care thinking (people might think Giants are stupid but you like to take time saying the right thing rather than rush it and be wrong), reading is not your strong point, things are passed down by stories, you don't have opinions but a slow careful way of life. People do not upset Giants mainly due to when they do get upset it takes a very, very long time for them to calm down. They always remember who owes them and more importantly who they don't like. They tend to be good people but bad ones do exist and they tend to be very cruel. Giants are shown respect by others (except Goblins of course).
Bonus: Regeneration - gain HP lost equivalent to level every 30 mins also bonus +2 Global Hit Points
Example: a level 4 Giant has lost 6 hp. Now in 30 mins of loosing the wounds he will gain 4 hp due to his level. Obviously he cannot gain more HP than he usually has.
He gains the hp 30 mins after being wounded so if he looses 3 hp at 1pm and another 2 hp lost at 1.15pm then he regens 3hp at 1.30 and regens 2hp at 1.45pm. But he is then wounded several times in a fight and looses a total of 6HP. After 30 mins he regens 4 HP. The other 2 HP will be regened in another 30 mins.
Restrictions: Can only be Warriors or Rangers. Cannot use small weapons. Cannot use shields. Cannot use bows. X-bows are permitted.
Human
Minimum costume requirements: None, although normal costume guidelines apply (at least a tabard with a belt round it).
Characterisation (how do I act): How ever you want to play them.
Bonus: None but can play Paladins!!
Half-things
If you want to create a half-fairy or half-orc then please speak to GC and we’ll see if we like the idea, but note that half-things get less of a bonus than the real thing and if you meet the real thing in game they won’t be too nice to you as they may consider you a freak and may well attack you rather than help you out.
If no additional prosthetics / make-up / or attempt at good costume are worn, you character is assumed to be human and all racial bonuses are not counted.
Undead
A player may have 1 undead character on file. Please note that most religious classes will attack you on sight, so we will organise Undead only Dungeons for people to play. You will be fighting against Humans etc (like a reversal of a normal game!!)
Undead Characters start at level 4 (no need to play leves 1 - 3), you can play any class except Paladin or Cleric and you cannot be an Elf or Fairy Undead.
Stats are as per the Race you were when alive with the following bonuses.
Cannibalism: Every 10 mins you may eat a fresh corpse and regain the number of HP for the level you are. Note: corpse must not be undead! This take 30 seconds of roleplay.
Breathing: Well you don't so anything that affects breathing doesn't affect you.
Fear: All undead can call "By my undeadness fear level 3" 10 times per day. (no rip required)
You are unable to comprehend a stable monetary economic system so you will have no need for Gold, and you won't find the desire to pick it up either. Undead cannot talk IC on the Forums or trade.
Restrictions: Potions of healing or magical healing items cause damage, you will need to find poisons and cursed magic items to "heal" you. A healer "reverse heals" you in order to regain lost HP
Communication without vocal cords is difficult so talking must be roleplayed. Undead cannot trade items with GC (GC runs away)
You must have good make-up and rotting costume etc to gain all of the above bonuses .
Costumes:
When you first attend a game you might not have a good costume or any at all. Don’t worry we will lend you some basic stuff, just come in plain non-logo stuff and we can lend you a tabard with a sash. But you will have to play a human as we don’t have any spare bits to make you look like other races.
Best to come in dark earth or black trousers and jumper / shirt.
We can even lend you a basic weapon (usually a sword) as well to get you started in our hobby.
Once you get hooked on the hobby there are loads of friendly people to ask advice on how to make or get cheap your own costume and even where you can buy new or second hand weapons from. While it can be an extremely expensive hobby it can also be a cheap one as well. Please note that ebay is an expensive place to buy stuff for roleplay and there are plenty of people who know where to get stuff cheap. A lot of stuff comes from charity shops for a few pounds; just have a look around for it.