Shifts

Shifts

A shift is a 5 hour block of time during which the game is taking place. During each shift a player must choose to either be a player character (PC) or a non-player character (NPC). Players are expected to NPC for at least as many shifts as they PC.

If you are going to be late for a shift or need to leave early for some reason, that shift should be one of the shifts that you PC.

Related Rules

Shift Balance

Shift balance is how the game tries to keep the number of players on each shift roughly even.

If there are too many PC's on a shift this results in very few people who can play NPC's, these shifts are slow without a lot happening at once, and the NPC's burn out and run out of energy very quickly. When there are too few PC's on a shift there is a massive horde of NPC's. During these shifts the PC's tire out or can't handle the volume of plots that might come out. Meanwhile the NPC's get bored and don't get to have any fun either. Neither of these situations is great.

Our solution to this is a program we call shift balance. The first step is for players to organize themselves into adventuring groups. You don't have to join a group, but there is preferential treatment for groups because we want to encourage them to exist. Groups are easier for GM's to create plot for, generally a plot aimed at one member of the group provides entertainment for ALL members of that group. It also makes it easier for logistics staff members to organize shift balance.

Once players have had a chance to join an adventuring group they apply for the shifts they want. This will typically be a window of time that opens every 6 months or a year. Groups and those wishing to remain solo request what shifts they would like to play. The logistics marshal then does their best to fill those requests.

Obviously not everyone will get what they request. If they did, we wouldn't need shift balance. But we will do our best to get you some of what you are looking for.

Considerations that impact shift balance include (but are not limited to):

• The Daylight Shifts (2 and 3) are more popular than the Night shifts (1 and 4)
• Some players have complicated make up to put on and prefer 2 back to back shifts (2 and 3) or (3 and 4)
  • Everyone experiences this to some degree, so only very heavy make up (races) will get preference for this.
• Groups will always be prioritized over solo players, solo players will fill in the holes.
• Requests for 1st and 4th are generally easiest to fill.
  • Groups requesting 1st AND 4th as their two shifts are very likely to get what they want.
• If possible no one will be forced into all night shifts (1 and 4)
  • In order to make sure everyone can have a day shift, getting assigned to 2 AND 3 is very unlikely unless this isn't possible for some reason.
• While all efforts will be made to treat staff members with the same priority as everyone else, if staff schedules make certain combinations impossible they may end up in unusual combinations.

Events

An event is the name for the full weekend of activities when game is happening. Events are broken down into four shifts (except during specific special events).

If it is your first event be sure to fill out this waiver and send a signed digital copy to: konwaivers@gmail.com

Preregistration

The old methods of preregistration are no longer applicable. New means of event preregistration will be announced in February 2023.

Feb Feast 2023 Registration

You can register for Feb Feast 2023 here: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/T7FQX5P9ZFWC2

Please do so by Wednesday January 11th at the latest.

The Timeline of a Typical Event

• 4 pm Friday to 9 pm Friday: Set-up of logistics, the inn, and player encampments.
  • Only staff should arrive before 4pm.
  • Arrive at any time in this window.
• 7 pm Friday: Players may sign in when the logistics staff are ready for them.
• 8:50PM Friday (approximate): New player introduction is run. If you can't make it, talk to Marketing and Player Outreach staff (Brandon Febles or Michael Maneri) for additional times.
• 9 pm Friday to 2 am Saturday: 1st shift
• 9 am to 10 am Saturday: Some players make their own breakfast.
  • The game itself will not have anything available until the start of 2nd shift.
• 10 am Saturday to 3 pm Saturday: 2nd shift
• 3 pm Saturday to 8 pm Saturday: 3rd shift
• 8 pm Saturday to 1 am Sunday: 4th shift
• 8 am Sunday to 11am Sunday: Clean-up
  • Players should remove their personal belongings before helping with general clean up.
  • Personal belongings should all be removed from site by 10am at the latest.
  • After 10am if you are not helping with clean up you should leave so the people still cleaning can finish.
• It is common for people to go for lunch afterwards nearby.

Categories: Real World Rules | Key Terminology | Redundant Pages - Events