Sydney New Players

The 63 Sydney pages are to provide information for potential, new and current members in regards to the the games and running of the Sydney Domain of Beyond the Sunset.

Joining the Club

Contacts

Membership

Participating in the Club

Prestige

Positions

Documents

This page is designed to provide new players with answers to any questions they might have in regards to the game.

New Member Guide

New to Roleplaying

If you're on this website, then we tend to make certain assumptions about your familiarity with role-playing as a hobby, and indeed some assumptions about your familiarity with Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) and of the games being run.

However, if you've made it this far and that's not the case, there are already significant resources that detail the hobby.

Role-playing Games at Wikipedia

Live Action Role-playing Games at Wikipedia

New to Shadowplay International

Shadowplay International is an international organization of clubs playing Onyx Path Publishing's Chronicles of Darkness™ games; it is an international network of LARP games that are designed to be set as a continuous global chronicle that runs in parallel with real world time. Games are set in one of the genres of the Chronicles of Darkness. In addition, Beyond the Sunset runs a national chronicle set in By Night Studio's version of Vampire the Masquerade™.

The chronicle is divided into two components. The first being the live game, which is the primary means of gaming as a LARP. These games typically happen at regular monthly intervals, though this varies from domain to domain. The live games are the primary means of exposition, character interaction, and plot progression. The periods between the live games is collectively known as downtime. During these periods, characters may submit reports of their character's activities (see below).

The global chronicle is divided into national affiliates, each of which has a significant amount of autonomy on their own national games, provided they comply with the requirements of the universal addendum (see below). The Main Page of this wiki can help you touch base with features of the organisation as a whole.

New to the Genres

Genres published by Onyx Path and sanctioned for play in the Camarilla Chronicle consist of the following core games:

Changeling: The Lost Second Edition

Mage: The Awakening Second Edition

Vampire: The Requiem Second Edition

Werewolf: The Forsaken Second Edition

Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition

Promethean: The Created Second Edition

Beast: The Primordial

Demon: The Descent

To find out the status of what games are available for play in Sydney and more information specific to those venues, please click on the navigation links at the top of this page.

New to the Rules

The game aspect of LARPing is governed by a series of rules that are designed to facilitate and simulate the imagined supernatural and dramatic action that occurs between players. The World of Darkness games use the Mind's Eye Theatre rules. These are published in book or electronic format. You can buy a copy yourself, or potentially borrow one from other players.

If you find you don't have a head for rules, you can still play in games. Rules related issues are overseen by the VST (Venue Storyteller), but you can generally ask for help from other players to explain things for you. However, a good grasp of the overall structure of the game will add to your enjoyment of the game, and having a basic read is thoroughly recommended.

Addenda

Due to the global nature of the game, addenda have been created to help VSTs ensure that published materials are treated within the local chapter with some consistency, and to help regulate the rarity of certain components of the game.

They are fairly long series of protocols, and it is primarily the responsibility of the VST to ensure that their game is compliant. However, for the sake of completion and transparency, they are presented here if you have a desire to check out the rules that govern our games.

The Global Addenda and Settings Documents detail rules that govern the organisation of Shadowplay International's global setting.

The Beyond the Sunset National Chronicles Addenda detail rules that govern the Australian national chronicle for Vampire the Masquerade.

The Beyond the Sunset Bylaws covers legal aspects of the affiliate's governance. It has some useful stuff for new players including the hierarchy of the organisation, and roles that club officers perform.

Individual Chapters

Each chapter is required to provide a VSS (Venue Style Sheet), to detail the setting, character, and other rules guidelines that are specified by them for their venue. It is strongly recommended that before participation in any local game, that a player read the VSS to get an understanding of what sorts of play style will be employed, and what themes the game touches upon. This may help players create characters suited better for the venue, and enhance their enjoyment of the game.

Due to the recent chronicle reset, a number of the VSSes are in various stages of revision. For the time being, please refer to the various wiki pages for details on those games.

The 63 Sydney pages are to provide information for potential, new and current members in regards to the the games and running of the Sydney Domain of Beyond the Sunset.

Downtime

The period in between game is called downtime. In this period, it is encouraged that players explore mysteries and conflicts that were not adequately given space during game.

Downtime Reports

Downtime Reports are to be sent to Sydney Reports. Please visit the Downtime Report template for full details.

The subject must use the following format "Character Name" "Genre" Report "mmm"-"yy"

"Character Name" - can be short or full name.

"Genre" - Must be Lost, Requiem or Forsaken only. Using Vampire, Werewolf or Changeling will not be accepted.

"mmm" - Short name only, first 3 letters. January = Jan, June = Jun, October = Oct.

"yy" - last 2 digits of the year, 2009 = 09.

Reports sent to this address with the correct subject heading will forward automatically to their respective VST's so there is no need to include your VST in the e-mail.

All downtime reports are due by the first Saturday of the month.