I wanted to put together a list of FAQs to help you out when your trying to get some questions answered. If you have a question that is not listed here, please send me an E-mail- E-mail Brandon

What is AfterMath? -Answer-

So like the move Role Models? -Answer-

How old do I have to be to play AfterMath? -Answer-

How does combat work? -Answer-

What Nerf Guns are allowed? -Answer-

Can I mod (modify) them? -Answer-

But I want to use the super neat, multi shooting, death dealing dart gun of doom!? -Answer-

Does it cost to play? -Answer-

What is a NPC? -Answer-

Where did the Biohazard symbol come from? -Answer-

Where do you run this LARP? -Answer-

Are there other chapters? -Answer-

What is this "Metagaming" Rule? -Answer-

What is AfterMath? -back to top-
AfterMath is a mix between theater and roleplaying games. The best way to describe a LARP to someone who has never played one before is to think of it as a Choose your Own Adventure novel, were you are apart of a story that is unfolding and you get to make the decisions on what happens next. Another way is to think of it as a completely immersive improv theater, were the you are the true story, the heroes, and the ultimate writer.

AfterMath is more then just a game, it is a form of storytelling that will take you into a world that you never knew existed and allow you to build its future. Welcome to AfterMath, CAN YOU SURVIVE?

So like the movie Role Models? -back to top-
You know, I was finally able to see Role Models, it was a fairly good move though it seems to depict a game more centered around combat were our game is more centered around story.  Of course we do have our own fair share of combat its just not the focus of the game. Here is an article that seems to help with the comparison.
Role Models and LARPing Article

How old do I have to be to play AfterMath? -back to top-
AfterMath is a mature game that approaches several serious subjects such as religion and violence, as such we are a 18 or older game.  We do NOT allow alcohol or illegal drug use.  

How does combat work? -back to top-
We use a mix of boffer weapons and foam dart guns. Many of the approved foam dart guns are Nerf though there are other brands as well. Many players paint these weapons in various ways to help them fit in with their characters more. As a note, you should always use common sense with these. If you paint a foam dart gun to look like a real gun, understand that it could be mistaken as a real weapon. Because of that you should be cautions when and were you play with them at. My advise is to keep the orange colored on the end of the barrel.

Combat is hit point based and fairly lethal. There is a low amount of hit points, typically between 2 and 10 per player. Melee weapons do a base of 1 damage and guns do a base of 3. Also most weapon combat is quiet, so you are able to still roleplay and banter as you wish. The rulebook goes over combat in great length.

The one thing to remember in all of this is that AfterMath is NOT a combat centered game. It is a story centered game, that means that combat is a way to resolve conflict and there is a lot of it. But the story is vastly more important then the combat and the plot team focuses on story primarily. Combat will always have some sort of reason to it, even if its just roaming gangs or Cursed animals. You fight to resolve conflict but our story is not only about combat there is a world to explore and stories to be told!

What Nerf Guns are allowed? -back to top-
We have a list of weapons that are approved here-
AfterMath Rules Page

We primarily approve one pump and one shot safe foam dart guns. Usually ones that only have a hopper of 6-8. Others are available as special weapons that need a special skill.

If there is a safe dart gun that is not listed here and you would like to submit it for approval, you must donate one to AfterMath (you do gain Character Points still) for us to test. If we determine its safe and we are willing to allow it, we are good to go. If for some reason we feel it needs more testing we may temporarily allow it at an event and then will determine afterwards if it will be 'approved'.

Can I mod (modify) them? -back to top-
Mods are allowed though they can not be spring mods. In other words you can't change out the spring for a stronger one. This is for safety reasons. Also all mods have to be approved before being allowed into game. You are required to tell our Safety Staff of any mods you have on a weapon prior to them being tested.

Each event all guns are tested for safety before use. Using a gun that has not been tested is grounds for suspension from AfterMath. Also putting a Mod on a gun and not telling our Safety Staff is also grounds for suspension.

We take the safety of our players and staff very seriously. As such we have to be completely aware of any and all modifications on these foam guns to insure that no one is hurt.

To find modification you can easily search the internet and find hundreds of them. If you have any questions about a Mod please post on the AfterMath message board.

One final note, you do not need to mod your gun to play. Un-moded guns are very effective still.

But I want to use the super neat, multi shooting, death dealing dart gun of doom!? -back to top-
Ahhh I see, well then AfterMath might not be your cup of tea. The main reason we don't allow any and all foam guns into game is because of game balance. We want those to be special items and we want the general 'playing field' to be the same across the board. Soulless are allowed some automatic weapons (like the Vulcan) as a racial ability, but no other race is currently allowed to use these.

If you have a gun that you would like to see in AfterMath, feel free to donate one to the AfterMath staff and we will review them. If we deem them safe but needing a special skill to use, you will have to track down that skill before being able to utilize the weapon. No promises, these are not easy skills to achieve, some players will work for years to uncover them.

Does it cost to play? -back to top-
Yes there is a cost involved. AfterMath has several expenses, such as site costs, props, maintenance, insurance, ect. As such it does cost money to be involved. Our goal is to make the cost as low as possible without sacrificing quality. Events can cost around $60-$75 a weekend, adventure days and tavern nights usually cost around $20-$35. Saloon Nights usually run around $10. These costs will be displayed in the events calendar so you know what to expect.

There will also be a yearly membership cost, but this has yet to be determined or charged. When it is you will know about it, usually its around $25- $40 a year.

What is a NPC? -back to top-
NPC stands for Non-Player Character, these are the cast and crew of AfterMath. They take on the roles of monsters, minor extras, major villains, various heroes, and anything in between. Anyone who is not a PC (Player Character) is a NPC of some sort.

NPCing is typically free, these individuals work hard to entertain and help everyone who comes out have a good time. As such we are always looking for more. Some people will NPC one event and PC the next. Also AfterMath will allow permanent NPCs who are willing to NPC for several events in a row in exchange for certain benefits.

If you are interested in NPCing just let us know, send Brandon an E-mail - Brandon's E-mail

Where did the Biohazard symbol come from? -back to top-

Great question, so I did a little research for you. Where is what I found
Link to Biohazard Symbol History

Where do you run this LARP? -back to top-
We typically run in the Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas area. We run events at a campsite within the area or at least within a few hours drive.  Currently we are running at Camp Carter in North Fort Worth, TX.  The official home of AfterMath is in Irving, Texas.

Are there other chapters? -back to top-
No, AfterMath is the only chapter. There are other chapters that use the Accelerant rules system developed by Robert Ciccolini. You can find other games the use the same core rules and such here - Madrigal LARP

What is this "Metagaming" Rule? -back to top-
As stated in the Core Rules:
You are always in game, even if your character is unconscious, dead, or
affected by a game condition that incapacitates you. Your spirit still
remains with you, and it can experience the game world around you. You
do not need to pretend you did not experience the game even under these
conditions. If your eyes are closed then you might not see what is going
on, but you will remember everything you hear, smell, and feel. If you
are lying unconscious or dead, or affected by the Stun effect, you must
close your eyes.

There is no "out of game" except during emergencies. There are no out of
game indicators such as white headbands, and no people should be
wandering about unless they are there in the actual game. To keep the
game flowing as smoothly as possible, we have defined the following ways
to deal with problems and interruptions.

Therefore, there is no rule against "metagaming," or using knowledge of events that occurred while your character is unconscious, dead or otherwise incapacitated. Because of the Core rules, metagaming does not exist in AfterMath.

If you learn information pertinent to the game at a time when you are not in-character, such as when you are not at an event, there is no rule against using that knowledge in-character. It is up to you whether to use such information or not. NPCs and secondary/new characters are held to a stricter version of this rule.

When you are NPCing this rule is much stricter. Players should not allow their character to remember something because they saw it while they were NPCing. They should act as if that information was outside their realm of knowledge. When someone is playing an NPC part during the weekend they will come in contact with many confidential actions, as such when you NPC you should never talk about the specifics of what
happened during that time or what plot specific information you were given. As always a player should use common sense with this rule of etiquette.

Outside of NPCings the only other time this should be lifted is when a player is playing a different character. Just because a player has two characters doesn't mean both characters know everything the other knows. They should separate the knowledge from the two. For instance, if one character dies permanently then the new character does not instantly
know everything the old character knows.

This should be treated with common sense and in most cases, it is up to the player receiving the information to decide if they will take that information in character. All players should be mindful of this rule and should keep it in mind when talking out of character as those around them have the right to take that information in game.

Wording borrowed with much love from Atlas Adventure.