Patron Handbook

version 5.0

Underground Theater Patrons Handbook

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Welcome 1

Chapter Two: Getting Started 2

Chapter Three: Patrons of the Underground 3

Chapter Four: Troupes 10

Chapter Five: The Organization 18

Chapter Six: Underground Theater Administration 26

Chapter Seven: By Night Studios’ Rules Errata 32

Appendix A: Independent Alliance Venue Rules 56

Appendix B: Facebook 58

Appendix C: Contacting Underground Theater 60

Appendix D: Record of Patron Bans 64

Underground Theater, Inc.

Patron Handbook Version 5.0;

Jan.1,2018

UndergroundTheater.org

Exceptions, changes and deviations may be made to this handbook at any time by vote of the board of directors.

Underground Theater is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a global network of interactive Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP) troupes and an administrative presence to our patrons. While the world of LARPing has grown to encompass a great number of amazing, immersive and interactive game settings, Underground Theater bears a single-minded devotion to the World of Darkness series of games. Titles such as Vampire: the Masquerade, Werewolf: the Apocalypse and Changeling: the Dreaming have captivated the imaginations of thousands of gamers from all across the world in a way that no other setting has.

For this reason, we have chosen to dedicate ourselves to the advancement of the Mind’s Eye Theatre editions of the

Classic World of Darkness games, as presented in the current rules published by By Night Studios.

Patrons of the Underground use Mind’s Eye Theatre: Vampire: The Masquerade and Mind’s Eye Theatre: Werewolf: The Apocalypse from By Night Studios to create characters which they will then portray in their local troupes. Patrons will also have an opportunity to portray their characters on the regional, national and global stage as they interact with other patrons from around the world, weaving a rich and unique story alongside one another. Interactions outside of the local troupe take place by means of online communication forums, travel to nearby troupes or by attending one of Underground Theater’s official national event games.

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Chapter One

Welcome

Underground Theater’s Mission Statement

Underground Theater is a 501c7 nonprofit LARPing organization connecting World of Darkness troupes in a worldwide network of games. Our focus is on building a community of friendly, like-minded gamers within fun, welcoming and safe games using a minimalist approach to administration, a uniform set of rules and a player-focused storytelling mentality.

Participation in Underground Theater in any capacity requires a person to be 18 years of age, or the age of majority in their state, whichever is greater. We recommend beginning your Underground Theater participation with the following steps:

I. Read the book.

You can find the rulebook used by Underground Theater online for purchase at DriveThruRPG. Mind's Eye Theatre: Vampire: The Masquerade and Mind’s Eye Theatre :Werewolf: The Apocalypse are published by By Night Studios.

II. Find the game nearest to you.

Use the Underground Theater website to find the troupe located closest to you. Go to UndergroundTheater.org and click on the Find A Game link.

III. Sign up to be a Patron.

Our organization asks for a yearly membership fee of $20 to become a full patron. While playing in our organization does not require this, advancing your

character through earning and spending experience points does. This fee pays for administration costs and other expenses. Visit Patron.UndergroundTheater.org to become a patron.

IV. Reach out to your local game.

If you haven’t been in touch with your local troupe, send an email to the storyteller or leave a Facebook message on their game’s page. Let them know you’re coming, ask for tips on what kind of character would be a best fit and get a rundown of the local scene.

V. Create your character.

Using the rules found in the Mind's Eye Theatre books, create your character on Yorick, the online character database located at Patron.UndergroundTheater.org. Your storyteller will go over it with you to make sure it fits in your local game.

VI. Costume up and get to game.

Find a suitable costume for your character and come to game!

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Chapter Two

Getting Started

Patrons of Underground Theater are individuals who have registered online and made their yearly $20 contribution to the organization. Patrons receive benefits and privileges within the organization that non-patrons do not. Non-patron players in Underground Theater may

• Join an Underground Theater troupe.

• Create characters and play them ingames with any Underground Theatertroupe worldwide.

• Attend national event games open tothe public.

• Access online tools created andmaintained by Underground Theater asthey become available, such as Yorick –the Underground Theater onlinecharacter database – and other futureapps and utilities.

• Bring any issues they have with otherplayers, Storytellers or Administratorsto the Ombudsman’s office forresolution after first addressing themwith local staff.

Patron players in Underground Theater share all of the above advantages and may also:

• Be issued an official patronmembership number (coming soon).

• Have a single Primary character in eachgenre and an unlimited number ofSecondary characters.

• Receive Floor XP on all characters.

• Earn up to 10 experience points eachmonth on Primary characters.

• Earn 4 experience points each month onSecondary characters.

• Apply to create a new UndergroundTheater troupe.

• Apply for any elected or appointedoffice administrative office, subject tominimum qualifications established.

• Engage in discussion and vote in therare instances that the Board ofDirectors call for an all-patron vote on aspecific topic.

Becoming a Patron

Any person who is 18 years of age or the age of majority in their state –

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Chapter Three

Patrons of the Underground

whichever is greater – may make or play a character to participate in Underground Theater on a trial basis. However, that person’s character(s) will not benefit from earning or spending experience points or any other patron privilege. Should that person become a patron, they will then gain Floor XP (effective the date of patronage purchase) on that character and may receive up to 10 XP for games they attended during their trial period at the discretion of their Lead ST in their home troupe.

To be a patron in Underground Theater, individuals must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• Patrons must fulfill the $20 annualpatron membership contribution.

• All patrons must be 18 years of age orthe legal age of majority in their state,whichever is greater.

• Patrons must use their legal first nameand at least the first initial of their legalsurname in all official UndergroundTheater correspondence.

• Individuals suspended, banned orexpelled from Underground Theater bythe Board of Directors may not bepatrons.

Renewing Patronage

When a patronage expires, the patron will need to use Yorick to renew their yearly $20 annual patron membership contribution. If the patronage is renewed without interruption, there is no change to characters or patron benefits.

If there is an interruption in patronage or the patron does not renew, the patron’s characters will immediately stop earning experience points and cannot spend any experience points already earned. Once the patronage is renewed, experience point earning and spending will begin again, but no backdated XP will be awarded.

Ending Patronage

Any patron who no longer desires to participate in Underground Theater may resign their patronage by giving notice by email to the Board of Directors at: BoD@UndergroundTheater.org.

The notice must clearly state the person’s intention to cease participation in Underground Theater games. Upon resignation, that individual’s Underground Theater characters are considered permanently retired. Refunds for resigned patronage will only be issued if the resignation date is within 60 days of the date the patronage was paid.

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Underground Theater reserves the right to prevent, deny or terminate the patronage or its benefits of any individual who has been expelled, suspended or banned from Underground Theater, who is a member of a hate group or hate organization, or who has been convicted of a violent felony, any sex crime or any crime against a child.

In addition, the Board of Directors may remove any patron from Underground Theater for any reason. In most cases, removal of patronage in this manner will not grant the patron a refund of their $20 patronage contribution.

Creating Characters

All characters created for play in Underground Theater must be based in an Underground Theater troupe with a Lead Storyteller (LST) for the purpose of oversight. It is highly encouraged (and some LSTs will require) that the online character database Yorick is used to create

characters. Yorick can be found at Patron.UndergroundTheater.org.

Regardless of patronage, all characters receive 30 XP at character creation, per the Mind’s Eye Theatre rulebooks. If you are not a paid patron, you do not receive Floor XP. Once your character is finished, you will need to have your Lead Storyteller (LST) approve your sheet before entering play.

If you are a paid patron, when your LST approves your Underground Theater character, you will also be given an amount of XP equal to the current Floor XP. Additionally, the LST may reward up to 10 XP for attendance if the character was played at previously attended games before the player became a patron. Finally, you will need to designate your character as Primary or Secondary for the purposes of earning XP.

Players may not create a character that is, or is connected to, any character that appears in any Classic World of Darkness or Mind’s Eye Theatre book.

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Inigo Montoya Rule

No player will be allowed to portray a character related to their previous character in any way, nor may they play a character that pursues the cause or perpetrator(s) of, or in anyway shows interest or initiative in, the death or life of their previous character.

The exception to this is that players may make a character that is the childer or descendant of a character found in the books with the approval and input of the appropriate Canon and Continuity Storyteller and the player’s local LST. Any direct interaction with the notable NPC after character creation and character approval will be handled by administrators in the office of the Vice President.

Connection to historical figures or other fictional characters not of the player’s own creation are only allowed with the approval and input of the Canon and Continuity Storyteller and the player’s local LST.

Floor XP

Floor XP is not the same as character creation XP, and it does not include the 30 XP all characters receive during character creation per the Mind’s Eye Theatre rulebooks.

Floor XP is a lump sum of experience points that all paid patron’s characters receive. This XP acts as a buffer to allow new characters to be able to interact on similar power levels with long-term characters.

The Floor XP is 4 XP per month for every month since the beginning of the

chronicle, awarded on the first of the month for the month that just ended. No character belonging to a paid patron should ever have less XP than the current Floor XP found at UndergroundTheater.org.

With the character’s LST’s approval, a player may purchase additional common out-of-clan Disciplines with Floor XP beyond those allowed during character creation. No single out-of-clan Discipline may be purchased to above level three (three dots) with Floor XP at creation.

Primary Character

If you are a paid patron, you may designate one character as your Primary character in each setting. Your Primary character should be the character you intend to play the most, as it can never be converted to a Secondary character once it is designated as your Primary character.

Once your Primary character is approved by your storytellers and awarded Floor XP, you may begin earning experience points:

• Your primary character gains 5 XP pergame you play or are storyteller for.

• The monthly maximum a Primarycharacter can gain is 10 XP per month.

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• Characters may be awarded up to themonthly maximum of XP by a game’sLST for any reason.

Secondary Characters

A paid patron may have as many Secondary characters as they wish. Secondary characters also receive Floor XP upon approval, and thereafter earn and apply the 4 XP each month to remain at the increasing Floor XP level.

Secondary characters are not allowed any extra XP beyond the 4 XP each month. All additional XP rewards given to a Secondary PC (such as RP awards, downtime awards, etc.) are lost. They may not be applied or transferred to the player’s Primary PC.

Secondary characters have the following restrictions:

• Secondary characters gain Floor XP atthe time of creation.

• They earn 4 XP per month to remainequal to the current Floor XP level.

• They may not teach any discipline.

• They may not gain any additional XPfor storytelling or for any other reason.

• They may only take downtime actionsafter game sessions in which they havebeen actively played in person.

• Secondary characters may be convertedto a Primary character on the death orpermanent retirement of the existingPrimary character in the same setting.

Revising A Character

Creating a character on paper is not the same as portraying them in a game. Characters often “feel” different than how they were first envisioned and players discover some things don’t work how they thought. As such, players are allowed to make reasonable and moderate alterations to their character by moving points around or swapping Merits and Flaws, etc. These changes must be made within the first three games the character is played at (regardless of location) or within 90 days of being approved, whichever is shorter.

Character Homes

All characters in Underground Theater must be based in an Underground Theater troupe with a Lead Storyteller for the purpose of oversight. It is strongly encouraged that characters be based in the troupe they are played in the most. Characters may only have XP expenditures approved by their home troupe.

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Transferring a Character

Transferring a character from one troupe to another happens from time to time, usually because a player moves from one city to another. To transfer a character from one troupe to another, the player must submit the request in writing to the LST of the game they are transferring from, and to the LST of the game they would like to transfer to.

In the event the local LST of the game being transferred from is unavailable or unwilling to allow the character to be transferred, the Vice President of Underground Theater may choose to intervene. After investigating the situation, the Vice President has the authority to approve the transfer, but may not always do so. No transfer to avoid local disciplinary actions will be allowed.

There may be situations in which a character’s home troupe no longer exists in Underground Theater, such as when a troupe folds or leaves the organization. In such instances, the patron has 60 days to relocate/transfer the character to another Underground Theater troupe. When unclear, the Vice President will determine when the 60 day period begins and ends.

During this time, the character is considered to be out of play and may not attend any game, play online, earn

experience or spend experience. If the character is not relocated and based out of an active Underground Theater troupe at the end of the 60 days, the character will be considered Retired and permanently removed from play at the determination of the Vice President.

Playing By Proxy

Underground Theater allows “proxying” a character between games with LSTs’ approval. As a general definition, proxying means a character is at a game that the character’s player is unable to actually physically attend. An online scene is not proxying, and is governed by Underground Theater online scene policies.

There are two types of proxy: hard and soft:

Soft Proxy: A Soft Proxy occurs when a player would like his or her character to be at a game the player is unable to physically attend and is only approved for a simple scene or event that is social in nature. A Soft Proxy is often a narrated note, such as a storyteller announcing, “The Prince of Jonestown is also here in attendance, just watching,” and never involves in depth role-play or any combat. No character can be killed by Soft Proxy.

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Hard Proxy: A Hard Proxy occurs when a player would like his or her character to be at a game the player is unable to physically attend and is approving the storytellers of that game to role-play their character. A Hard Proxy often involves the storyteller running the character’s sheet in combat and fully participating with the character in the events of the game. Hard Proxy is consent for anything to happen to the character, including death.

All proxying of characters requires approval from BOTH the LST of the game the character is based in and the LST of the troupe that the character is proxying to.

Organization-Wide Communications

Underground Theater maintains a variety of IC and OOC Facebook pages and groups. Most of these are utilized for in-character interaction of larger-than-local groups, such as entire clans, Princes, the Anarch Movement and others. A list of these groups, as well as specific policies concerning them, can be found at

UndergroundTheater.org and in Appendix B: Facebook.

Questions About the Patron’s Handbook

Questions about the Patron’s Handbook should be directed to the Board of Directors (see Appendix C: Contact Information).

Player Issues

When a player has an issue with another player, storyteller or administrator, the first step that player should take is to speak with their Lead Storyteller and attempt to resolve the issue locally. Do not escalate any concerns until this has occurred.

Should the player feel that they were unable to work the issue out at the local level, they are then encouraged to contact the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman is an appointed office of the Board of Directors that acts as a third party to resolve issues. The Ombudsman is the Board Member who is charged with representing the interests of patrons by investigating and addressing

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Custom Powers

Custom created Disciplines, Techniques, player- or character-created rituals, nonstandard combat items and the like are forbidden in Underground Theater.

complaints of maladministration or violations of rules, including the Code of Conduct.

The Ombudsman has direct contact with the Board, should resolution require it, and is empowered to resolve issues throughout the organization.

The Ombudsman can be reached at: Ombudsman@UndergroundTheater.org

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What Can Be Expected From the Ombudsman Process?

I don’t like that guy is not a valid concern.

We are not the social police.

If you wish for the org to deal with it, understand they must investigate it.

You may not get your way.

I didn’t win is not a valid concern.

All threats will immediately result in disciplinary action up to and including

removal from the organization.

An Underground Theater “troupe” is the local game made up of patrons and storytellers. The Underground Theater “chronicle” is the current overall story and universe that all of the UT troupes combine to produce. All characters must be based out of a troupe.

Underground Theater strives to create a safe and inclusive gaming environment and we encourage everyone who is a part of UT to help us build a gaming community exemplified by kindness and respect.

Troupe Staff

All troupes in Underground Theater are required to have a Lead Storyteller (LST). They are one part creative, one part teacher, one part leader and one part servant. They balance what’s best for their game with what will give their players a fun time, while also ensuring their vision for the game still shines through.

The following positions and definitions are suggested for troupes:

• Lead Storyteller (LST): The LST isthe person who is ultimately

responsible for overseeing the entire local troupe. The LST is responsible for a troupe’s storylines, interaction with the org at large, local discipline and rules arbitration on a local level. In addition, the LST is responsible for overseeing their local storyteller staff and narrators, as well as ensuring the local troupe is complying with all Underground Theater requirements. The LST is also the primary point of contact for interacting with Underground Theater and is responsible for submitting reports to the Content Team as needed and maintaining a current Venue Style Sheet.

• Assistant Storyteller (AST):Assistant Storytellers areempowered by their LST to helpmanage the local troupe. ASTs maybe responsible for creating orrunning storylines, managingcharacters, rules arbitration,overseeing narrators and helping toensure the local troupe is complyingwith all UT requirements. Localtroupe’s AST’s powers andresponsibilities are determined by

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Chapter Four

Troupes

responsibilities are determined by the local LST.

• Narrator: Narrators are notconsidered part of the officialstoryteller staff of a troupe.Narrators are primarily playerswho have been given very limitedauthority by the LST to performspecific, minor duties to help thelocal troupe. These duties mayinclude minor challenge and rulesadjudication, self-contained minornon-plot scenes such as feedingscenes, simple administrationduties or any other minor role theLST deems necessary.

In addition to running their games, storytellers create their game’s history and NPCs, care for players, manage characters in a database and share reports to the Underground Theater storyteller list so that their fellow LSTs and the Content Team know what’s going on in their local game.

LSTs and ASTs may not run or moderate any scene in which they are playing their own PC, nor may they play their PC in any plot of which they are aware the details. In addition, Lead Storytellers’ characters may not hold larger-than-local positions as defined by the Content Team. Assistant Storyteller

characters may hold some larger-than-local positions as determined on a case-by-case basis by the Content Team.

Game Site and Player Recruitment

For a game to happen, two things are necessary: players and a place to play. When searching for a good site to hold your game, it is important to consider cost, safety, security, privacy, amount of space needed and weather/temperature considerations (does the site have air conditioning or is it outdoors?).

Great places to look for game sites include apartment complex community rooms, warehouses or band practice spaces, local parks and universities. While some of the best spaces can be found at universities, you’ll typically have better luck with community colleges and state universities than you will with private schools. Some other possible game sites include comic and game stores, theater practice spaces and dance studios that finish their last classes in the early evening. Remember, some players may be uncomfortable playing blood-sucking monsters while in a church, so be certain your players and your site owners fully understand what the game is and are all comfortable with your relationship playing in those spaces.

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Any space you can have good access to in which you won’t bother or confuse the neighbors is a good space. Some spaces will charge, and if you need to charge something like a $5 fee for each player to play as a site fee, that’s acceptable.

You will also want to consider player recruitment. If your game is going to thrive, you will need a strong player base. Game and comic stores, universities, coffee shops, live music venues, community centers, libraries,

local pizza shops, community theaters, fraternity and sorority houses and the like are all excellent examples of places to advertise.

Troupes are welcome to create their own flyers, but if you aren’t able to, our Director of Communications can assist you with marketing ideas and materials to suit your needs. The Director of Communications can be contacted at: Communications@UndergroundTheater.org

Game Map

The events of a troupe game must physically occur within the Game Map the LST provided in their Troupe Style Sheet. No troupe will be admitted to Underground Theater without providing a Game Map. If a troupe has claimed

Nowheresville and the surrounding counties of Larry, Moe and Curly, then that troupe’s storytelling staff can write plots and story elements taking place in those areas. They may also fill them with NPCs. Areas not currently part of your Game Map, or that are not on any other troupe’s Game Map, are considered “Dark Places,” and fall under the authority of the Content Team.

This does not mean that STs can’t use those places – it just means that they need to contact the appropriate Canon and Continuity Storyteller first.

Explain to the CCST what you are planning for that geographic area and the CCST will work with you to make it work. The CCST will also keep a record of what has happened there in case another troupe should meed to utilize that area one day.

Frequency of Game

A troupe may run as many games each month as they would like, but it is important to remember that characters can only earn a maximum of 10 experience points each month. Characters will automatically earn 5 experience points per game session they attend, meaning that attending more than two games in a single month will

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than two games in a single month will not earn a character additional XP.

House Rules

Underground Theater does not allow troupes to have house rules. While there may be some minor setting modifications made so as to facilitate gameplay in a large gaming organization, UT strives towards a fully consistent and uniform use of the rules as written in Mind’s Eye Theatre: Vampire: The Masquerade and Mind’s Eye Theatre: Werewolf: The Apocalypse published by By Night Studios, or as corrected by their official errata.

By Night Studios’ errata can be found on their website.

Character Approval

Outside of the restrictions printed in the Mind’s Eye Theatre rulebooks and the organizational restrictions noted in

Chapter 3: Characters, character approval is entirely the purview of the local Lead Storyteller. LSTs may approve or deny a character for any reason, including upholding the local history or the local feel of their city. Denial of any character (or character type) for any reason is not a House Rule.

Some characters, such as childer or descendants of canon NPCs, as well as concepts that are “larger than local” in scope, may also require discussion with the appropriate Organizational Storyteller and content team (see Chapter 3: Characters).

Clan Limitations

Underground Theater has no rare character-type limitations beyond those provided in Mind’s Eye Theatre: Vampire: The Masquerade or Mind’s Eye Theatre: Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Local limitations on clans are left up to each

Rule Addendums

Underground Theater concedes that no book is perfect. The Board of Directors holds the right to implement any rules addendum as needed if the content team determines that the change is necessary to create the best possible gaming experience. These rule addenda can be found on the Underground Theater OOC Facebook group or upon request from the Content Team at: VicePresident@UndergroundTheater.org.

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troupe’s LST as long as these limitations do not alter rarity Merit costs.

LSTs may choose to deny approval of a character, or to limit the number of characters allowed from any given clan, to accurately represent the history, politics or situation in their local game’s story. Once again, this is not considered a House Rule.

The Merit costs to play any rare clan are dictated by the Mind’s Eye Theatre: Vampire rulebooks based on the sect or clan the character would belong to, with the exception of Independent Alliance characters. Independent Alliance costs can be found in the Patron’s Handbook (see Appendix A).

NPCs

LSTs are in charge of all local non-player characters (NPCs).

Signature and canon NPCs, NPCs of 4th generation or lower, as well as clan and sect leadership and those NPCs with larger than local-level authority are controlled by the Canon and Continuity Storytellers, who will approve such NPCs for use when requested by LSTs.

No NPCs may teach PCs any disciplines to maintain the organizations focus on players’ characters.

Before any canon or named NPCs from any White Wolf source are to be used, the LST must first contact the appropriate CCST or Vice President. Players may not create a character that appears in any By Night Studios, White Wolf or Onyx Path book. They may also not create a character that is a historical figure or that is otherwise a fictional character not of their own creation.

All questions or requests for these NPCs should be sent to the appropriate CCST and the appropriate Organizational Storyteller.

For Camarilla/Anarch/IA national NPCs:

CCST@UndergroundTheater.org and CamAnarch-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

For Sabbat national NPCs:

CCST@UndergroundTheater.org and Sabbat-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

For all Werewolf and Changing Breed national NPCs:

Werewolf-CCST@UndergroundTheater.org and

Werewolf-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

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Storytellers’ Characters

Storytellers may not run any scene nor moderate any challenges in which their personal Primary or Secondary characters are involved or playing in. They also may not play their characters in any plot they are familiar with.

In addition, Lead Storytellers’ characters may not hold larger-than-local positions as defined by the Content Team. Assistant Storyteller characters may hold some larger-than-local positions as determined on a case-by-case basis by the Content Team.

Storyteller Issues

In the event a storyteller has an issue with a player, the LST is empowered to issue local disciplinary actions as he or she sees fit, up to and including a local ban of a patron from their local troupe.

In the event a patron receives a local ban from a troupe, the LST is required to notify the Ombudsman of the name of the patron and the reason for the ban. This allows the Board of Directors to make sure the local ban does not need to be made an organization-wide ban.

Storytellers should be aware that players may contact the Ombudsman if they disagree with local discipline or if

they feel they were unable to resolve issues with their local storytelling staff. The Ombudsman will mediate and help resolve any issues, though the final decision for local discipline still remains the local LST’s.

In the event a storyteller has a major issue with a player, they are also encouraged to bring it to the Ombudsman to ensure that any discipline that needs to be handled at the organizational level can be dealt with by the board.

When a storyteller has an issue with another storyteller, they may either contact the Vice President or the Ombudsman. If necessary, the grievance or issue will be handled by the Board of Directors should the Ombudsman feel that it is warranted or is unable to come to a reasonable resolution for all parties.

The Vice President and Ombudsman can be reached at:

VicePresident@UndergroundTheater.org

Ombusdman@UndergroundTheater.org

Creating a New Troupe

Troupes may be created by any patron of Underground Theater. To create a troupe, simply visit UndergroundTheater.org and select Start A Troupe from the top bar menu. Non-

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Patrons may also submit questions to the Admissions Team at: admissions@UndergroundTheater.org.

The following requirements must be met when applying for a new troupe:

• There must be one person willing to fillthe role of Lead Storyteller (LST) foryour troupe.

• You must have a minimum of 10players who are, or are willing tobecome, Underground Theater patronswho intend to play in your game.

• The in-game map of your troupe isdefined by the boundaries of your cityor local area. Patrons who resideoutside of that area, but who live closerto your troupe area than to any other,may join your troupe.

• All new troupes should be in differentmetropolitan areas from otherUnderground Theater troupe of thesame setting. As a guideline, wesuggest a minimum distance of 30miles between troupes, but we alsounderstand not all cities are createdequal, and a hard distance cap will notbe used. The Admission Team willmake any final determinations.

New Troupe XP Levels

When a new troupe that has existed prior to joining and has

characters that have already been awarded XP is admitted into Underground Theater, they will be required to reconcile their characters' experience point levels with the organization’s.

The applying troupe must first notify the Admissions Team of what their troupe’s average XP level is for all characters currently in the troupe, as well as the date of that troupe’s first held LARP game.

Working with the applying troupe’s LST, the Admissions Team will then determine a maximum experience point level allowed for the characters in the applying troupe. This number will be based on multiple considerations, including the current UT Floor XP level, the current UT Maximum XP level and the amount of time the applying troupe has been actively holding games.

All characters in the troupe with less experience points on their sheets than the current Floor XP that belong to paid patrons will be given experience points to level the sheet to the current Floor XP level.

All characters in the troupe with more experience points on their sheets than the applying troupe’s allowed maximum experience point level as determined by the Admissions Team will

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be required to remove experience points until they are equal to or less than said determined maximum XP.

Characters falling between the UT Floor XP level and the applying troupe’s allowed maximum XP level will not have their XP levels altered in any way. The 30 XP at character creation from the rulebooks are not included in Floor or Maximum XP calculation.

Props and Supplies

There are lot of little items that can help make a troupe game run more smoothly. Some items, like copies of Mind’s Eye Theatre: Vampire: The Masquerade or Mind’s Eye Theatre: Werewolf: The Apocalypse are practically required, but other things can add to the feeling and mood of a game.

Blood, Gnosis and Willpower tokens – To help players track spending Blood, Gnosis and Willpower, consider supplying tokens for them to carry and turn in when they expend those traits. Raffle tickets, colored beads or poker chips work great for this.

Rule book – Have at least one copy of Mind’s Eye Theatre: Vampire: The Masquerade at game for rules reference and to help new players make characters.

Status and Renown – Some games have created cards that list the status or renown trait and what it does, so that these cards can be carried by players and handed in when expended.

Item cards – Weapons and armor are represented by item cards. It’s always smart to keep a stack of index cards at the storyteller desk to use for these.

Game stamp and ink pad – To help ensure weapons, supplies and rare or unique items are approved for play, many games require item cards to be stamped, dated and initialed by a storyteller. This is helpful since players may travel to other troupes.

Pens or pencils – Players will need to mark things on their sheets.

Paper – New players will need paper to create their characters on, and other players or storytellers may need to make notes.

Music – Background music can really set the mood for a game. Be careful to not pick something too distracting or to play it too loud, though.

Props – Important items that show up in a story are always great to have a physical representation for. If the story involves an old, creepy, possessed candlestick, go to a thrift store and

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buy one. These little touches will thrill your players and emphasize the importance of the item.

Costumes – Recurring NPCs are common in games. Pick an item that represents each one and wear or carry it when you play that NPC. Maybe it’s a scarf, a hat, a glove or even an old T-shirt you pull over your own clothes. It helps players quickly tell who they are seeing in the scene.

Setting pieces – Candles, dim lighting, tablecloths and other items that add mood and character to make your game site feel more like an Elysium or a caern are wonderful for helping set the tone of a game.

Blank name badge stickers – Some traits, Flaws or costuming necessities are just not physically possible for some players. Blank stickers for players to write things like, “Stone skin” or “Eerie Presence” and then stick to their shirts are great to have.

Underground Theater is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a global network of interactive Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP) troupes that work together to form one universe and story, along with an administrative presence to our patrons. UT is dedicated to the advancement of the Mind’s Eye Theatre editions of the Classic World of Darkness games, as presented in the current rules published by By Night Studios.

The overarching, continuous story that the troupes in Underground Theater collectively participate in is called the chronicle. Each chronicle will run for five years before the process begins for a reset – a start-over point where all stories,Floor XP and characters will end and anew chronicle will begin. This allows theplay experience to remain fresh, asplayers are able to create new characters,tell new stories and forge all newrelationships with each other. This alsoprevents administrative issues such ascharacters becoming too large in terms ofXP. Lastly, this length of time will giveour plot teams the time they need todeliver a truly spectacular reset year and

will allow storytellers to wrap up any plots they have running with full notice and expectation of the end.

Settings

Currently, there are three possible settings playable in Underground Theater. The first is Camarilla/Anarch/Independent Alliance. The second is Sabbat. The third is Werewolf. These three settings will be held in separate “universes,” which means that there cannot be any cross over character interaction between these worlds. It also means that events that happen in one setting have no impact on the others.

International Structure

Underground Theater welcomes any game from anywhere in the world that wishes to join the organization. The official language of UT is American English. All of our resources are in English and we have no method to translate any of those materials. Worldwide interactions should occur using the common language of English.

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Chapter Five

The Organization

Local Stories in an International Chronicle

It’s recommended that storytellers avoid plots or events in their games that would dominate the national or international news, as it could be damaging to the continuity of the chronicle. Storytellers should strive to avoid themes like martial law, aliens, egregious use of demons, angels, wacky science fiction elements or other setting-inappropriate concepts. Varied and multifaceted themes are enticing and fun to explore in role-playing games, but troupes should stay true to the source materials of Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse.

In addition, Underground Theater recommends that storytellers work in conjunction with their players to build local clan and tribe hierarchies without relying on NPCs. The administration of Underground Theater has no desire to micromanage local hierarchies or local politics and strives to create an atmosphere where the player is empowered to claim as much authority as they can hold within established genre.

National Plot

Patrons are the driving force of Underground Theater plot, and we encourage players to be active, take

action and cause effects that create national plots. For this to happen often requires national-scale NPCs to become involved. To facilitate this, the office of the Vice President has the authority and responsibility to create and support interesting plots without using a heavy hand through the combined efforts of the Content Team.

For Camarilla, Independent Alliance and Anarch national NPCs/Plots:

CCST@UndergroundTheater.org and CamAnarch-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

For Sabbat national NPCs/Plots:

CCST@UndergroundTheater.org and Sabbat-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

For Werewolf national NPCs/Plots:

Werewolf-CCST@UndergroundTheater.org andWerewolf-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

Most plots occurring above the troupe level will be the result of an Organizational Storyteller setting up story that leads to national event games or taking notice of a local plot which has organically gained traction on a regional or national level. Elevation of local plots will be handled as delicately as possible, and every attempt will be made to involve the LST from the troupe of the plot’s origin to make it as streamlined

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and satisfactory as possible. It is our desire to make such plots as organic and viral as possible.

Any LST with an idea for a national or regional plot should post to the Underground Theater storyteller list or contact the office of the Vice President.

Events

Underground Theater is dedicated to providing quality and entertaining event games to its patrons. Some events will be at a relatively fixed location and time every year, while others may rotate geographically to ensure that patrons across the organization will have the ability to access them. Major events will be sponsored by Underground Theater and the event space will be paid for from its funds. Minor events may be sponsored by individual troupes. All events, regardless of size, will have support from Underground Theater’s administrative team as needed by request.

Reset Referenda

Underground Theater’s chronicle will run a minimum of five years before it is reset. The reset is a start-over point where all stories, Floor XP and characters will come to an end and a new chronicle will begin. UT understands that some of

our patrons may be concerned with the idea that their character’s story could possibly come to a close at the end of the fifth year. The administration would like to remind patrons that a scheduled, anticipated reset allows players to really push the limits of what their characters can accomplish in a time of dwindling opportunities and consequences.

Events may transpire that lead our patron base to want to extend a chronicle for additional time. To account for this, there will be a vote of all patrons to determine the ending schedule of each chronicle.

At the beginning of the fifth year of each chronicle, a vote will be held with the choice to end the chronicle at the end of the fifth year, or to delay the chronicle ending for one more year. If the option to delay the chronicle ending fails to receive a 2/3 majority of votes received, then the chronicle will end at the end of year five.

If the option to delay the chronicle ending passes with a 2/3 majority of votes received, then the chronicle will continue to advance one year beyond the fifth. Then, at the beginning of the sixth year, there will be another vote with the choice to end the chronicle at the end of the sixth year, or to delay the chronicle ending one more year. This process will repeat each year until the vote fails to

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reach the necessary 2/3 margin, and the reset finally occurs.

Behavior and

Code of Conduct

It is Underground Theater’s goal to create a community of gamers who treat one another like friends – with respect and kindness. The Underground Theater Code of Conduct is a series of guiding principles to help with this. Following the Code of Conduct is expected of all participants in all aspects of Underground Theater. These are the general expectations laid out by the board of directors and are by no means exhaustive. There is no way to predict or anticipate every situation that may arise, and in situations that are not easily identified through these guidelines, the board of directors will be the final adjudicators.

The Code of Conduct applies to all Underground Theater events and games, as well as all online resources, including but not limited to blogs, wiki, email lists, forums, Facebook pages and groups, database support forms and social media outlets.

The guidelines of the Code of Conduct are not to supersede any law or statute governing individuals or areas in which Underground Theater operates.

Underground Theater does not condone violations of the law and will cooperate fully with any investigations made by legal authorities.

The Code of Conduct should not be used by patrons as a substitute for legal action or criminal prosecution, though it may be applied in addition to such actions.

All possible ways to violate the Code of Conduct are too numerous to anticipate or list in full. This code of conduct may change at anytime.

Social Media Guidelines

Underground Theater is not the Facebook police. We are neither interested nor able to tell anyone what they may or may not post on their social media networks. This does not, however, mean that personal posts directly related to Underground Theater, its troupes, administrators, storytellers or patrons, are free from repercussions.

Should a UT participant make a UT related post on social media that violates our Code of Conduct or discusses/implies a situation that might result in investigation and/or disciplinary action, local LSTs or the board of directors may respond to the situation in an appropriate manner.

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Code of Conduct

We are a group of adults and agree to behave honestly and responsibly.

We will use common sense and maturity when involved in organization matters.

We understand the spirit of the rules is more important than the letter of the rules, and that story and fun will always be more important than mechanics.

We will be honest with the board of directors, administrators, storytellers and other patrons at all times, treating one another with respect and friendliness.

We will make the club a safe and welcoming community. Harassment or discrimination of any type is not tolerated.

We adhere to all applicable laws when involved in club matters. Actions during organization functions that violate the law may be grounds for club disciplinary action as well as appropriate legal action.

We understand our games are works of fantasy. If the line ever begins to blur, we must speak with an organization administrator and take whatever time off is necessary to put things back in proper perspective. Real life responsibilities always take precedence over organization matters.

We agree that real weapons, stunts, blood drinking and any other activities an organization officer deems likely to cause physical harm are not allowed at organization functions – safety is always first.

We will keep all physical contact minimal, consensual and non-sexual in nature.

We will not cheat, meta-game or otherwise undermine the authority of the administration, storytellers or the rules.

Other behaviors and activities may also be prohibited or regulated by this code at the discretion of the board of directors.

Code of Conduct

Violations

Underground Theater is a Federally recognized non-profit corporation. Due to the responsibilities and legal requirements therein, Code of Conduct violations are governed by the Board of Directors directly and quickly.

The Board of Directors will determine if the Code of Conduct was violated and the disciplinary action the patron is to receive

Patrons accused of violating the Code of Conduct will be notified by the Board of the situation.

Non-patrons violating the Code of Conduct will, in most cases, simply be removed from the organization.

None of us are perfect and mistakes (knowing or accidental) are always possible. Owning up to mistakes and pledging to change actions or

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Sample Disciplinary Actions

The following are examples of Disciplinary Actions that may be given in any order to participants who are found to be in violation of the Underground Theater Code of Conduct (CofC):

Warning: The participant receives a formal warning. This Warning is taken into consideration when determining any future Disciplinary Actions against the player for other incidents. A Warning remains in effect for 1 year from the date of issuance.

Level One Sanction: The participant may not hold national positions in Underground Theater.  In addition, his or her PCs may not hold any larger-than-local positions within the organization. This Sanction remains for a period of time determined by the board on the date of issuance.

Level Two Sanction: The participant may not hold a national position in Underground Theater, nor may they be on the storytelling staff of any troupe. The participant’s PC(s) may be “administratively killed” and removed from play. The participant may also be temporarily suspended from the organization. This Sanction remains for a period of time determined by the board on the date of issuance, and then drops to the Level One Sanction level for the next 1 year.

Organization Ban: The participant is banned from Underground Theater in its entirety. This disciplinary action remains on record in perpetuity.

behavior will always be received positively in disciplinary scenarios.

Histories, contributions and behaviors of specific individuals and circumstances may influence the situation, making specific punishments for specific negative behaviors impossible to predict. As such, there will be no consideration of “precedence” in determining disciplinary actions.

Volunteering

Underground Theater is an organization founded, comprised and supported entirely by patrons who give their time, talent and energy to make this the best hobby it can be. Volunteerism is the foundation of this club, from the Board of Directors to the Administrators, from storytellers to patrons. We all work together directly and indirectly to provide a shared community that we can all enjoy. This fact makes us each uniquely indebted to each other, and with that debt comes responsibility.

Underground Theater volunteers must understand that all work, ideas, concepts, products and authorship created for or granted to the organization during their time serving in a position for the organization remains the property of the organization.

Patrons interested in volunteering should contact the Board of Directors at:

BoD@UndergroundTheater.org

As reward for volunteer-ism, officers of the Board of Directors and the national-level administration team working with them will receive their patronage renewal for free if they have held any one or combination of these positions for the six months prior. This renewal is the organization’s way of saying, “thank you,” for their time.

In addition, each Board of Director officer will each have a yearly $200 discretionary fund that may be used toward expenses directly encountered in their Underground Theater duties such as travel, convention attendance fees, helping troupes in need, promotional materials, props, or other necessities.

License

Underground Theater is a member of the Official Camarilla Fan Club. This is an umbrella organization that manages the licensing for White Wolf products, copyrighted materials and trademarks for free use in fan clubs. This does not affect our administration, policies or game play in anyway. This allows our marketing team to utilize White Wolf resources in its materials, which will be available to patrons in a restricted capacity.

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Underground Theater’s marketing materials will be required to undergo a thorough review by the Camarilla Fan Club before they may be offered for distribution to troupes for use. This does not, in any way, license any patron or troupe to use any aspect of White Wolf’s trademarked and or copyrighted materials in any way shape or form, with the exception of those delivered to that

patron or troupe directly from Underground Theater’s marketing team. Because of this agreement, using White Wolf’s licensed materials in an unofficial capacity is grounds for immediate expulsion from the club.

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Underground Theater is a 501c7 nonprofit corporation and LARPing organization. As such, the Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization charged with making the overall decisions, policies and rules that protect and maintain the best interests of the organization as a whole. While the Board of Directors will often request and always consider general patron and storyteller input, all governing decisions will ultimately be handled by the board.

A team of Board-appointed administrators coordinates operations between the Board of Directors and the local storytellers. Local storytellers are the base level of authority overseeing local troupes. For more information on storytellers, see Chapter Four: Troupes.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors deals with the day to day operations of the nonprofit corporate entity known as Underground Theater, Inc. They are also responsible for setting rules and policies for the organization, creating administrator positions, appointing administrators and

facilitating communication across the entire organization. The Board of Directors is also responsible for final determinations in Code of Conduct disciplinary issues and any issue that escalates beyond the Ombudsman.

The Board of Directors is made up of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director of Communications, as well as the Chief of Technology and Ombudsman. These individuals volunteer their time.

For Underground Theater to maintain its core values, board leadership must stay consistent. As such, the Board of Directors appoints positions as opposed to electing patrons to unfilled positions. As Underground Theater is an actual nonprofit corporation, there is also legal necessity to have a level of stability within the highest administrative offices of the organization.

Underground Theater adopted this model from the desire to build a streamlined administrative system built around facilitating gameplay and building a healthy and safe gaming community.

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Chapter Six

Underground Theater Administration

All Board Officers and their appointed administrators will have his or her patron membership extended by one year on their normal renewal date provided:

1. The individual is performing hisor her duties in good standing atthe time their renewal date passes.

2. The individual has served in oneof these positions for greater thansix months.

This renewal is compliments of the organization as an acknowledgement and “thank you” for extended volunteerism.

In addition, those on the Board of Directors will each have a $200 discretionary fund that may be used toward expenses directly encountered in their Underground Theater duties such as travel, convention attendance fees, helping troupes in need, promotional materials, props, or other necessities.

The Underground Theater board of

directors is made up of the following

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Board of Directors

Cheat Sheet

Figuring out who to talk to on the board can be difficult. Here’s a quick guide to help get you to the person you need:

• President: Organizational OOC operations, National Event game coordination,convention communication, legal face of the organization.

• Vice President: Organizational IC operations, troupe admissions, national plot,Content Team.

• Secretary: Record-keeping, patron management.

• Treasurer: Financials, nonprofit documentation, patron management.

• Director of Communications: Media relations, crisis communication,marketing, community culture, Patron Handbook, website content.

• Chief of Technology: Technical issues, website administration, databaseadministration.

• Ombudsman: General patron contact, conflict mediation, patron retention,policy review.

The Underground Theater board of directors is made up of the following positions and responsibilities:

The President presides over all board meetings, may recommend committee members and perform any other duties as required of the office. The President is the primary contact of the organization for official and legal purposes, and oversees the daily needs of the overall management of Underground Theater as an organization. The President also acts as the primary contact and organizer of National Events and conventions. While most decisions are made through board vote or consensus, the President is the highest ranking official in Underground Theater. He or she may install administrators at his or her leisure under the office of President. Contact the President at: President@UndergroundTheater.org

The Vice President is responsible for the administration of the day to day operations of troupes, admissions and the Content Management Team. National plots, NPCs and storyteller coordination fall under the Vice President’s office. The Vice President oversees new troupe admission and integration and the content development team responsible

for national plot and continuity. The Vice President will also temporarily assume the duties of the President in the event the President is absent. He or she may also install administrators at his or her leisure under the office of Vice President. Contact the Vice President at: VicePresident@UndergroundTheater.org

The Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes and agendas of the board meetings, keeping all approved minutes in a designated minutes file and providing copies of minutes to the board. The Secretary will be the designated record keeper for all reports made to the board and is responsible for patron tracking with the Treasurer. The Secretary shall perform any additional duties as may be required of the office. He or she may also install administrators at his or her leisure under the office of Secretary. Contact the Secretary at: Secretary@UndergroundTheater.org

The Treasurer keeps record of the organization’s budget and financial records, prepares financial reports as needed (including governmental requirements), issues payments, oversees monetary deposits and performs any additional duties as may be required of

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the office. The Treasurer is also responsible for patron tracking with the Secretary. He or she may install administrators at his or her leisure. Contact the Treasurer at: Treasurer@UndergroundTheater.org

The Director of Communications conducts all official communications from the board, thereby representing the face of the board to the patronage, media and external individuals or organizations, and also represents the organization to the public. The Director of Communications shall be responsible for the writing of copy and the marketing and branding of the organization. He or she is also responsible for building the health and culture of our gaming community and shall perform such additional duties as may be required of the office. He or she may also install administrators at his or her leisure. Contact the Director of Communications at: Communications@UndergroundTheater.org

The Chief of Technology shall administer, update and improve the organizational database of Underground Theater, and provide these tools to the patronage. He or she will also administer any technological needs or requirements of the board, such as website domains

and hosting, email services and information storage methods. He or she may also install administrators at his or her leisure under the office of Chief of Technology. Contact the Chief of Technology at: Technology@UndergroundTheater.org

The Ombudsman shall work as an independent neutral party to assist patrons and groups in the resolution of conflicts and concerns. The Ombudsman will act as the board contact for patrons throughout Underground Theater. The Ombudsman will also help identify issues in policies, processes and procedures that need attention, including their implementation and documentation. He or she will serve as an instrumental piece of the arbitration, player retention and recruitment processes, and shall perform such additional duties as may be required of the office. He or she may also install administrators at his or her leisure under the office of Ombudsman. Contact the Ombudsman at: Ombudsman@UndergroundTheater.org

Administrators

Underground Theater utilizes a number of administrators to assist in the day to day operation of the organization and to service our patrons. Administrator

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positions are appointed. This list of administrator positions is always a work in progress, as the number of administrators and their specific roles may change based on the organizations needs at any time. For information, questions or comments about any specific administrator or their duties contact the board of directors.

Content Management Team

The Content Team is made up of a group of administrators under the supervision and direction of the Vice President. These administrators are Organizational Storytellers, each overseeing a variety of functions.

The Canon and Continuity Storytellers serve to track character relationships and usage for all canon and national-level NPCs. CCSTs also track the usage of geographic areas not under the authority of a local troupe and maintains a general history of each chronicle. Finally, CCSTs work with the other Organizational Storytellers in the management and implementation of all canon NPCs, as well as NPCs or institutions whose actions have a massive effect above the city level of the troupe (such as The President of the United States, The

Chancellor of Germany, the FBI, or the CIA).

The Camarilla/Anarch/IA Organizational Storyteller, The Werewolf Organizational Storyteller and the Sabbat Organizational Storyteller are the primary point of contact of the appropriate setting for all Lead Storytellers in Underground Theater. Any LST may reach out to the OSTs to receive clarification on rules questions from the content management team or for assistance in plots. The OSTs work with LSTs to prepare selected plots for elevation to a regional, national or organizational level story. The OSTs also work with the CCST in the management and implementation of all canon NPCs, as well as NPCs or institutions whose actions have a massive effect above the city level of the troupe (such as The President of the United States, The Chancellor of Germany, the FBI, or the CIA). The OSTs are also responsible for the creation and running of their respective sect chronicle’s five year national plot.

Admissions Team

New troupe applications are handled by the troupe admissions team.

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The new troupe admissions team is led by the Vice President. The team consists of the Vice President, the President, the Canon and Continuity Storyteller, the Camarilla/Anarch/IA Organizational Storyteller, the Werewolf Organizational Storyteller and the Sabbat Organizational Storyteller.

This team reviews all new troupe applications and works with applying troupes to reconcile their characters’ experience levels with that of the

organization, as well as helping the applying troupe adjust any plot, genre or setting concerns that might be difficult to integrate into the Underground Theater chronicle.

At the end of the application and review process, the new troupe admissions team is responsible for approving or denying the new troupe.

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Administrator Contacts

The Vampire CCST can be reached at:

CCST@UndergroundTheater.org

The Werewolf CCST can be reached at:

Werewolf-CCST@UndergroundTheater.org

The Camarilla/Anarch/IA Organizational Storyteller can be reached at:

CamAnarch-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

The Sabbat Organizational Storyteller can be reached at:

Sabbat-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

The Werewolf Organizational Storyteller can be reached at:

Werewolf-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

The Admissions Team can be reached at:

Admissions@UndergroundTheater.org

The following is a modification from the existing Camarilla and Anarch Settings found in the BNS MET Book. This document adds the ability to have Independent Alliance games within the Underground Theater camarilla/anarch chronicle, and further restates and clarifies that a character’s Rarity Cost is based on the Sect that character is a member of (Camarilla members pay Camarilla costs, Anarchs pay Anarch costs, Independent Alliance pay Independent Alliance costs and Autarkis or otherwise unaligned default to the Camarilla costs in the Cam/Anarch/IA setting). 

All Giovanni and Followers of Set characters who are specifically members of the Independent Alliance that were created prior to this document should have the Rarity Cost associated with playing those characters refunded as XP by their storytellers to match the Rarity Costs outlined below.

While a Storyteller may not modify the Rarity Costs for characters, the storyteller does always have final say on what character types are permitted within their game.

Independent Alliance Clans

A setting’s common clans are the most appropriate for play. There is no additional cost for playing a clan that is common to your chronicle’s setting. Common Clans:  Followers of Set,Giovanni, Ravnos.Rare Clans (4 point merit): Your character is a member of a rare clan, one found very infrequently in your chronicle’s setting. Such characters may be loners, outcasts, or solitary observers of society, and they may be treated poorly or shunned by the rest of the characters in play (as may be appropriate to the setting). Rare Clans: Gargoyles All other clans are ineligible for membership in the Independent Alliance.

Local Politics and Positions

The Independent Alliance is bound by the Treaty of Alliance on p. 38 of MET: VtM. The positions outlined here are universal and mandatory. Governance beyond the treaty and this document is left to local decision and is not binding to other domains.

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Appendix A

Independent Alliance

Don/Dona (Giovanni): The Don (or Dona) serves as the Clan leader for the Giovanni within a city.

Hierophant (Followers of Set): The Hierophant acts as the Clan leader and religious head of the Followers of Set in a city.

Rom baro/Netaji (Ravnos): The Rom baro or Netaji serves as the family head of the Ravnos within a city. The position is chosen amongst the local Ravnos based on an individual’s merit, resourcefulness, and local area knowledge.

Warden (Gargoyle): The Warden serves as the Clan leader for the Gargoyles within a city.

Emissary: In each domain that the Alliance is present, each clan appoints an Emissary to the others. The Emissary serves as witness to any notable dealings with the other clans and serves as arbiter to any disputes between them.

Outside of these positions, the IA setting does not have a status system.

Merits and Flaws

Independent Alliance characters may select Merits and Flaws from their Clan Merits and Flaws list and from the

General Merits and Flaws list. In addition, they may also select from the following:

Setting-Specific Merits

+1 Antiquities (p. 404)

+1 Emissary to the Camarilla (p. 404)

+2 Fanatic (p. 453 – Replace referencesto “Caine” with “Set.”  This Merit is restricted to Followers of Set)

+2 Master of Puppets (p. 404)

+1 Monopoly (p. 405)

+1 Wild One (p. 487)

Setting-Specific Flaws

-3 Untrained Combatant (p. 405)

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Organizational guidelines

Underground Theater leverages Facebook as its primary medium for cross-game online role-play and communication. The following policies cover any “larger-than-local” level Facebook group or page. Local troupes’ Facebook groups are managed by the LST of that troupe and are subject to any local policies or procedures.

In-character Security

Each premise for an in-character Facebook group is different, but for the purposes of role-play, they are considered “secure” and “unhackable” by any means (mundane or supernatural). Because of this, UT also disallows the ability to “screen capture” any group. However, because leaking information is part of what makes the game interesting, PCs may transcribe the content in other ways. (i.e., transcribing the text by hand, or typing it into a new email, etc).

Character Eligibility

In order to join an IC list, a PC needs to be a member of the group in question. Each group should clearly

indicate in the Name, Description or Pinned Post what characters are eligible to join.

Post Signatures

Each new post or comment on an In-Character Facebook group must include the player’s character name (or alternate identity if applicable). In addition, Storytellers must include their real name and the troupe they are an ST for in their posts on any organizational ST group.

Online Vampire Status

In the cross-game Facebook groups, status may not be used online due to inherent problems with tracking and accountability, as well as significantly differing refresh dates on status from game to game. This includes both Passive and Spent mechanics. If a player wishes to use status between games, it may occur through email between that player’s PC, the LST of that player’s game, the target, and the LST of the target’s game

How online status is handled locally within each game is up to the local LST.

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Appendix B

Facebook

Post Deletion

Players may not delete posts after they’ve been in play longer than a few minutes. Posts are considered “in play” after a few minutes and should only be removed by a member of the Content Team or a member of the board of directors. Removals in this way will be considered on a case by case basis.

Posting Out of Character

Please do not post out of character to in-character groups. All posts should be IC unless they are prompted by an admin/Content Team member or a member of the board of directors acting in their duty.

LOCAL NPCs

NPCs that are not under the direct control of the Content Team (local-level NPCs ran by LSTs) must have the permission of the Content Team to post on any larger-than-local group.

New Groups

Should a player have an idea for a larger-than-local IC Facebook group or believe that Underground Theater is missing one, please contact the Vice President and the Canon and Continuity Storyteller.

All new official national groups should have the Vice President and the Director of Communications set as group administrators.

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As a large, international organization, Underground Theater maintains a number of individuals in leadership positions, from the Board of Directors to Administrators. As these roles are all volunteer, it is requested that any official correspondence be handled primarily over email.

Board of Directors

All Officers bod@UndergroundTheater.org

President

Amber Godat president@UndergroundTheater.org

Vice President

Mike Rilee vicepresident@UndergroundTheater.org

Treasurer

Jennifer Mims treasurer@UndergroundTheater.org

Director of Communications

communications@UndergroundTheater.org

secretary@UndergroundTheater.org

technology@UndergroundTheater.org

Bill Vollmer

Secretary

Kyle Anderson

Chief of Technology

Andrew Sayman

Ombudsman

Andrew Humble ombudsman@UndergroundTheater.org

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Appendix C

Contacting Underground Theater

Administration

Admissions Team

President, admissions@UndergroundTheater.org

Vice President, all CCSTs

and all OSTs

Canon and Continuity Storytellers

Vampire CCST@UndergroundTheater.org

Werewolf Werewolf-CCST@UndergroundTheater.org

Organizational Storytellers

Cam/IA/Anarch OST CamAnarch-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

Sabbat OST Sabbat-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

Werewolf OST Werewolf-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

Sabbat OST Sabbat-OST@UndergroundTheater.org

President’s Office

Special Projects Coord SpecialProjects@UndergroundTheater.org

Events Liaison UTEventsLiaison@gmail.com

Online Resources

Website UndergroundTheater.org

Yorick Character Database patron.UndergroundTheater.org

Character Wiki wiki.UndergroundTheater.org

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In-Character Facebook Groups for theCamarilla/Anarch/Independent Alliance Venue

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Group Name Direct URL

Anarch Movement facebook.com/groups/UTAnarchs

Assamites facebook.com/groups/UTAssamites

Brujah facebook.com/groups/UTBrujah

Caitiff facebook.com/groups/UTCaitiffs

Camarilla facebook.com/groups/UTCamarilla

Daughters of Cacophony facebook.com/groups/Daughters.of.Cacophany

Elders and Architects facebook.com/groups/UTElders

Followers of Set facebook.com/groups/UTSetites

Gangrel facebook.com/groups/UTGangrel

Gargoyles facebook.com/groups/UTGargoyles

Giovanni facebook.com/groups/UTGiovanni

Harpy Network facebook.com/groups/UTHarpies

Independent Alliance facebook.com/groups/UTIndependentAlliance

Lasombra facebook.com/groups/UTLasombra

Malkavians facebook.com/groups/UTMalkavians

Nosferatu facebook.com/groups/UTNosferatu

Prince Network facebook.com/groups/UTPrinces

Ravnos facebook.com/groups/UTRavnos

Sabbat facebook.com/groups/UTSabbat

Toreador facebook.com/groups/UTToreador

Tremere facebook.com/groups/UTTremere

True Brujah facebook.com/groups/UTTrueBrujah

Tzimisce facebook.com/groups/UTTzimisce

Ventrue facebook.com/groups/Ventrue.UT

In-Character Facebook Groups for theSabbat Venue

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Group Name Direct URL

Sabbat facebook.com/groups/UTSabbat

Sabbat Black Hand facebook.com/groups/UTBlackHand

Sabbat Inquisition facebook.com/groups/UTInquisitors

Group Name Direct URL

Official Organization Page facebook.com/UndergroundTheater

Official OOC Group facebook.com/groups/UndergroundTheaterOOC

Yorick Help Group facebook.com/groups/UTYorickHelp

Cam/Anarch/IA Character Ties facebook.com/groups/UTCamAnarchTies

Sabbat Character Ties facebook.com/groups/UTSabbatTies

Werewolf Character Ties facebook.com/groups/UTWerewolfTies

All UT Storytellers facebook.com/groups/UTStorytellers/

Vampire Cam/IA/Anarch STs facebook.com/groups/UTCamAnarchST

Vampire Sabbat STs facebook.com/groups/986522908049308

Werewolf STs facebook.com/groups/UTWerewolfST

Out-of-Character Facebook Groups

Violations of the Underground Theater Code of Conduct are considered serious and addressed swiftly. In the rare instance in which the punishment is deemed worthy of a patron being permanently banned from the entirety of Underground Theater, that information will be maintained here, publicly. Banned individuals may not be a patron, storyteller or non-patron participant in anything our organization does. In addition, banned individuals may not participate in any official UT online forum. The following is a list of all individuals expelled from Underground Theater:

Person Troupe Date Reason

Larry Henson Hickory, NC 4/8/14 Creating an unsafe playing environmentby intentionally and maliciously usingLARPing and LARP characterinformation to damage the real lifepublic reputation and profession ofanother player.

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Appendix D

Organizational Bans