Traveling Players and Visitors
What to Expect What to Bring NPCing Costs and Fees NERO Pre-Registration Form
Here's what to expect at your first NERO event:
You check in at logistics on Friday night. They have given you a small amount of starting money and a card that lists your character's skills and other pertinent information, such as level and body points. You will get a new card at the beginning of each event in order to keep this information accurate and up to date. This helps you, other characters, and Marshals to keep track of vital information should any disputes arise. You will also be given a ring on which to keep your temporary tags, such as spells or critical attacks, and another ring to keep armor and body points. The amount of armor points you have depends on the type of armor you are wearing. Your body points are based on your level and class. After a battle, you must remove points from the tags to keep track of how many points of damage you can still take.
You go to seek out the cabin you have been assigned to or pitch your tent. As you are not a part of an established group, you have been assigned to the Inn. Upon your arrival there, you must negotiate a price for your room with the Innkeeper. He charges you a silver. You'd better get out and find some money, or you'll be trying to arrange for credit tomorrow night! The game begins. You hear the Duke make some pronouncements about visitors from Volta due into town, and see some other Nobles returning from trips to Evandarr City. It all seems less important than the lightness of your purse.
You start over to the Tavern, thinking about methods for making more money. Your thoughts are interrupted by a low growl in the darkness to your right. You pull your short sword and back up, peering into the darkness. Orcs! Three of them. You start to back peddle, screaming for help. Answering shouts come to you, but you are unsure they will be in time, as the Orcs advance quickly. You lunge at the one on your left and as he falls back, you dart between them, taking a hit on the back as you go. The Orc calls "Three Normal!". There goes some of your armor.
Your character is a Templar, and you have spells as well as weapon skills. As you take your stance again, you ready the little cloth bag filled with bird seed that represents spells in NERO. "With Mystic Force I Pin you!", you scream as you hurl your spell packet at the Orc on the left. It hits him full in the chest, and he jerks to a stop as his right foot sticks to the ground. You grab the hilt of your sword again while the packet is still in the air. You don't have many spells, but that one took one of the Orcs out of the fight, at least. You cut at the nearest Orc, calling "Two Normal!". This is the number of points of damage you do with a swing of a short sword. As you gain levels, you will be able to raise that number, or you could invest the points in spells. The Orc blocks your swing with his long sword, and calls "Three Normal!" You duck under his swing and hit him with a flurry of blows, and he falls. You turn to look for the other Orc. You find he is laying on his back, a figure in long robes standing over him. A third person, a sneaky looking woman, has just slaughtered the Orc you had Pinned. You look around quickly. Other townspeople, attracted by the fighting, turn away to go back to their business.
You approach the man in the black robes. He is searching the body of the Orc he took down. He takes a small pouch out of the furs the Orc is wearing and looks at you warily. You realize he is wondering if you will challenge his right to spoils, but you are so relieved that he assisted you that you say "Welcome, friend. And many thanks for your assistance."
He looks at the woman and back at you. "No problem. But we'd better get out of here. It's not safe."
The three of you head over to the Tavern. The Tavern is bustling: members of groups are greeting each other boisterously, and the gypsies are starting to play and dance over by the fireplace. Even the Countess is sitting in the corner listening intently to her Seneschal as those around them try to look as if they aren't trying to eavesdrop. After being seated, introductions are made. The man in robes is named Marak, and the woman is called Cerrill. You find a seat and begin talking. They are new in town, too, and you decide to form an adventuring group.
Marak pulls out the pouch he took from the Orc, and, after glancing about to make certain you are unwatched, you look through the contents. Inside are three silver, a Formal Magic component, and a map. Suddenly you hear a huge ruckus from outside, and the cry goes up that undead are attacking. You hear the sounds of the Barons assembling their Knights, and decide to stay inside and let them handle it. You turn back to look more closely at your spoils. There are strange runes on the map, and you set out to decipher them. After discussion, you decide to follow the map the next day.
Thus begins a NERO weekend. What you do, where you go, and when you do it are all up to you. The choices are all yours.
At NERO Ohio and West Virginia, we use camp sites that are rented for an entire weekend of gaming in a relatively secluded environment. Some of these sites are more rustic than others. For more information on the sites, please visit our Event Sites page, or contact us directly. Our staff will be more than happy to assist you by answering any questions that you may have concerning the facilities at a camp site.
Here is a list of useful items to bring to your first (and subsequent) NERO events. Remember that items such as clothing will differ depending on the time of year. Of course you don't have to bring everything listed below.
Costuming - Cloaks, dresses, skirts, shirts, period-looking jewelry, pants, belts.
Armor - Chain, leather, arm/leg guards, coifs, etc.
Weapons - NERO-safe weapons, extra duct tape and parts to make weapons - many break!
Spell packets - Cloth (orange for gasses), birdseed, elastics, extra packets for NPC camp.
Clothes - Warm undergarments, sleepwear, waterproof socks, sturdy boots, extra clothes for those rainy events, long underwear, extra socks, scarves, gloves.
Toiletries - Sinks and bathrooms are always available, while the availability of showers depends on the site. Bring cosmetics, towels, shower shoes, medicines, inhalers, makeup remover, mirror, first aid kit, bug repellant.
Racial Items - Makeup, ears, horns, feathers, fur, claws, tails, teeth, Spirit Gum.
In-Game Items - Money, journals, spell books, personal tokens/items, magic items (and tags), components.
Bedding - Sleeping bags, blankets, pillows.
Money - For any trips off-site if you forget anything, for food in the Tavern, for registrations.
Resources - Rule book, players guides, website information, newsletters.
Extras - Firewood, food, space heaters, props, items your character might use, traps, gifts, garbage bags.
Event Fees:
All WAR sponsored NERO Events will cost twenty-five US dollars per game day in order to PC. NPCs will get into the event at a reduced rate of ten dollars per game day. By maintaining a good NPC Ratio, players can receive regular event discounts when they PC. Players who pre-register will also receive an additional five dollar per game day discount. Module Days require proper Event Pre-Registration in order to PC, and every PC is also required to assist with NPCing. Full-time NPCs play for free at a module day, while those that PC/NPC pay ten dollars in order to PC a module. WAR offers many discounts and specials, and for updates on these you should visit our Event Discounts page. Here is a breakdown of fees:
PC with a good NPC Ratio (33% or higher): $15 / game day
PC with a bad NPC Ratio (lower than 33%): $25 / game day
NPC: $10 / game day
How to Pre-register:
There are currently two types of pre-registration - the pre-registration of Event Fees, and the pre-registration of production. Both of these can be accomplished quickly and easily by visiting our on-line pre-registration form!
If you prefer, you can pre-register by sending a check or money order to us at the address listed below. Make all checks payable to the Wheeling Association of Roleplaying. Pre-registration must include your player name, character name, and the appropriate event costs. Production can also be included when sending in your pre-registration in this way or can be e-mailed to us separately, whichever you prefer.
Wheeling Association of Roleplaying
132 Browns Run Rd Lot 7
Wheeling, WV 26003
In either case, the deadline for pre-registration is always the last Monday before the start of the event, and correspondence MUST BE RECEIVED IN OUR OFFICE BY THIS DATE IN ORDER TO BE PROPERLY PROCESSED. Visiting Players that send a valid copy of their NERO character record sheet along with their pre-registration will also greatly aid us in this area. NPCs are never required to pre-register.
Check-in times will be listed for each event on our Event Schedule, and if you cannot arrive to the event during this time you are encouraged to pre-register your production via our on-line pre-registration form. There are penalties for both turning in late production as well as pre-registering production for an event that you do not attend, and these are listed above. You do not need to pre-register for the event in order to pre-register your production.
Insurance Fees:
Our NERO games are endorsed and insured by the Boy Scouts of America. Players who are not members of WAR will need to pay this fee in order to play at either NERO Ohio or NERO West Virginia. This fee is mandatory, and you cannot play without it. This cost will cover the current calendar year, and must be renewed on January 1 each year. Every player must also fill out a Legal Release, and persons under the age of 18 must have it signed by a parent or legal guardian.
Returned Check Policy:
Checks returned to us for any reason will require the check writer to pay a fifty dollar service fee in addition to the original amount of the check. Until this balance is paid in full, the player will not be allowed to attend any WAR sanctioned event. A second incident of a returned check within a one-year time period will effectively revoke the player's ability to pay us by check.