Thread: Scenario Reffing Manual : The Safety Briefing

Scenario Reffing Manual : The Safety Briefing
Authors : Thumper & Aerion with contributions as noted.
April 1, 2009
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Copy under construction ..

Key Points :

If ALL the players have ALL of the rules well ahead of time there is less pressure and fewer questions at the briefing.

Once the games rules and safety rules are published, avoid changing them before the game and DO NOT change them during the game. Even is a particular idea is not working the way you thought, play it out. Don't manipulate the game rules to try and balance the score mid-game.

The Safety Rules are different from Game Rules. The games master should explain Game Rules - head ref should deliver the Safety Rules. Game Rules occasionally get "bent" - being a scenario game, this is expected. Safety Rules are not bendable.

Breaking a Safety Rule has a penalty.

Bending a Game Rule is sent to the games master / producer for review.

Liability for the event falls upon the host local field and their insurance carrier. The insurance carrier's safety rules should be considered the MINIMAL requirement when preparing a safety briefing.

Cossio requires the safety rules be posted at the counter.

Recommendation : "Letter of Understanding" explaining Safety Rules, Game Rules, and Code of Conduct expectations be required by everyone to read and sign as part of registration.

Recommendation : Game Rules, Safety Rules, and Code of Conduct should be posted on-line well in advance of event.

Recommendations : KISS with the safety rules.



Sample Player Briefing Format
* Make it mandatory * -- send refs into the parking lot, chrono line, and camp sites 15 minutes before the player briefing and tell the players what time the briefing starts and remind them to bring their player passes.

-- include a punch hole on the player's pass for "attended briefing" and during the briefing send a few refs through the crowd to punch passes.

When : 90 minutes before game starts:
Duration : 30 minutes:

Producer / Games Master : (5 minutes) Introduces self, welcome players, explains game format, share "story line"
Producer / Games Master : (10 minutes) Share game rules including : scoring, spawning, rate of fire & allowed firing modes, Medics, Engineer, Demo, Helicopters, Recon, Artillery, Tanks, Laws, Spies, Props, Night play specific rules - take questions.
Head Ref : (5 Minutes) introduce self, review safety rules - reinforce Goggle Safety, Barrel Sleeves, Barrel Tags, Bunker Tags, Tank Safety, discuss penalties, chrony velocity, player refs - take questions.
Producer / Games master : (5 minute : introduce generals, announce bases, announce any special game start, early insertion info)
Generals : 2 minutes each : get troops excited.
Producer / Games master : (1 minute : remind players re. chrono, game start time, early insertion details)

Good start, Thumper. I think we should also come up with a minimum set of safety rules for a scenario event as sort of a non-binding recommendation or even a requirement for the Brotherhood to sanction the event. I suspect most carrier's rules will cover Brotherhood rules. But it could be useful.

Producer / Games Master : (5 minutes) Introduces self, welcome players, explains game format, share "story line"

For MPP this might need to be 55 mins instead





On the serious side tho.

-- include a punch hole on the player's pass for "attended briefing" and during the briefing send a few refs through the crowd to punch passes.

^That is a logistical nightmare. While I see to benefit to such, getting such acomplished without it becomeing a major hassel to players and staff would be next to impossible.

Send people into the parking lot to round folks up, shutdown chrono/paint sales/proshop and you should have everything covered.

Originally Posted by Kurb

..^That is a logistical nightmare. While I see to benefit to such, getting such acomplished without it becomeing a major hassel to players and staff would be next to impossible. Send people into the parking lot to round folks up, shutdown chrono/paint sales/proshop and you should have everything covered.

agreed - but I still like the concept. What really needs to happen is to front load this were everyone gets the game rules / and safety briefing well before hand. I would guess at the average player briefing 90% of the players show up, and half of those hear what is said. -- everybody else just plays it by ear, follows the herd, or just follows the rules from the previous game until directed otherwise.