Standards and Expectations for Localized Play
Like most chapters, Colorado has a few localized expectations. These are not mechanical or community rules, but expectations based on how our branch runs due to locational restraints set by the various campsites we work with. These standards apply only to Colorado, if you are traveling, please check with those local chapters.
COVID-19 EXPECTATIONS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Dystopia Rising: Colorado is dedicated to the health and safety of its players and travelers. As of April 2024, we require all attendees to show a vaccination record dated after September 12th, 2023 with the “2023-2024” COVID-19 shot from either Moderna or Pfizer. According to the CDC, all previous shots are insufficient protection against COVID-19. You can show this when you check in or email it to drco.logistics@gmail.com.
The purpose of this requirement is to protect all of our attendees and their households, some of who may have be part of a medically-vulnerable population. This was made apparent after several players tested positive after our October 2023 event, despite being vaccinated with earlier boosters. Since we recognize that the medically-vulnerable also may include people who, for medical reasons, cannot get the vaccine, we will also allow those players to attend, provided they can provide negative test results, with the test conducted no earlier than 72 hours prior to the start of an event. A negative test result will be required for each event they attend. In addition, these players will be required to wear a mask when in public areas with other players (e.g., outside of their tent).
This policy is subject to change depending on the sites we use and/or as we receive updated guidance from the CDC or the State of Colorado.
Story Related Expectations
Dystopia Rising is a game of post-apocalyptic horror. Here in Colorado, we attempt to place a heavy focus on the horror aspect as well as some adult themes as they tread into territory of the terrifying. We explore concepts such as cannibalism, body mutilation and torture to name a few. The storytelling staff is very mindful of what it brings into game in terms of story and will always give players the ability to exit a scene or module should it be triggering. We are here to provide an entertainment, not scare our player base.
Dystopia Rising, as a network does not deal with the topic of sexual abuse in any fashion (including as a form of progeny for character backgrounds) – it does not exist and will not be tolerated.
Medical Tent Use
In order to have a medical tent, please note this as part of your registration when asked. While we do need to understand a reason for medical sleep, we no longer require documentation from your doctor. Your tent must be marked with a green “X” on multiple sides of the tent and the tent MUST have glow sticks (green) affixed to the tent to clearly mark it at night. Please bring your own Green duct tape and glow sticks for these tents. These structures are “Out of Play” at all times, even during the daytime.
Colorado utilizes medical tents as well as medical cabins for space constraint reasons. For completely quiet, undisturbed, no-one-else-around sleep, medical tents are going to be the better option, unless electrical power sources are needed.
Questions, concerns, and clarifications can be sent to drco.customerservice@gmail.com.
Medical Cabin Use
The Medical Cabin is a designated space that is “Out of Play” for those who have medical reasons to need to sleep out of game. In order to sleep in the medical cabin, please note this as part of your registration when asked. While we do need to understand a reason for medical sleep, we no longer require documentation from your doctor. Depending on the location DR:CO is using for a given event, the Medical Cabin(s) will move. If you are unsure of the location, please report to logistics or pre-registration upon arrival and we will help you find your home. The medical cabin will always have electricity, and will frequently be shared with staff, so it’s important that you let us know ahead of time if you need space in it so that we can allocate the space.
Unlike other sleeping areas, medical cabins are Out Of Play at all times, even during the daytime.
By requesting Medical Cabin use, participants acknowledge the intent for those cabins is to respect the need for quiet, uninterrupted sleep. If multiple participants are sharing a cabin, which is highly likely at most of our sites, all cabin mates will be understood to have acknowledged this need as well. If this medical space is not respected by a participant, that participant may be asked to arrange for a Medical Tent in order to accommodate the needs of the other cabin mates.
Colorado utilizes medical tents as well as medical cabins for space constraint reasons. If you need a space where there aren’t going to be other attendees in need of a medical cabin coming-and-going, a medical tent might be the preferable option for you, depending on the weather or other needs (e.g., electrical power).
Questions, concerns, and clarifications can be sent to drco.customerservice@gmail.com.
Tenting and “Grace Periods”
In an effort to accommodate for our limited cabin space, a “grace period” is offered to tenters between 2am and 7am where tenters will not be attacked in their tents. This does not mean that you will not be roused by the sounds of things occurring outside your tent.
For particularly large games, we may offer additional incentives to tent campers. Stay tuned to our FB page and the forums for additional perks.
If you are inside a tent, and you are going to be attacked by NPCs, a marshal will communicate with you from outside the tent, letting you know you have 60 seconds to depart the tent. No NPCs are permitted to enter your tent. If you do not exit your tent you will begin taking damage at the call of the marshal, eventually potentially entering bleed out.
Tenters who are staying near cabins must not block the cabin door, and must allow for a WIDE berth allowing for combat to still occur outside the cabin. If a marshal feels the location is unsafe, they can call a hold and move the combat – and may request that you move your tent further away for safety reasons. Guide lines MUST be clearly marked for safety reasons especially in front of cabins.
No tents are allowed near the saloon, regardless of location for safety reasons and site restrictions.
LEAVING SITE
If you need to leave the site for personal reasons, such as preferring to stay in a hotel overnight, please let a staff member or the Public Works office know when you leave and when you get back. This way if we need to find you or there’s an emergency (e.g., a wildlife warning on site), then we can account for your whereabouts.
If you are attending for the Full Weekend but need to leave the game entirely before lay-off on Sunday (e.g., to go to work, to catch a flight, to get on the road to get back home, etc.), be sure to pick a Casting or Guide Shift (if applicable) that will accommodate this need to leave. If one is not available, talk to the Public Works to see what can be arranged. Also, please give yourself enough time to accommodate a short clean-up shift before you leave the site, as we always need help in the kitchen or tidying up the Operations room.
Cabins
Cabins (non-medical) are available on a first come, first served basis save for a few rare occasions. Updates will be posted to FB and the Forums.
In order to accommodate and perpetuate healthy lives for our players, we are updating our policy regarding whether cabins would be invaded at night during late hours (2 am - 7 am) Instead of any invading non-medical cabins at night, players in a particular cabin may elect to allow threats, portrayed by Extras and Lead Characters, to interrupt sleep and invade their cabins at night. All members sleeping in the cabin must agree to this in order to opt-in.
The cabins available at the sites we are using in 2024 accommodate 6 people, and the Glamping tents accommodate up to 12. People who enjoy the excitement of being interrupted late at night, or activating their building’s defenses against external threats, should work to bunk up together, and those who operate better when they get a full night’s rest should bunk up together as well.
Cabins that are Opt-In will be marked as such. Signs will be available at check-in to be posted on cabin doors. Unmarked cabins will be assumed to be opting-out.
Choosing not to opt-in to nighttime invasions is NOT the same as medical sleep, which requires quiet and undisturbed conditions at all times. This option will NOT be available for medical cabins under any circumstances. Larger non-medical buildings (such as dorms) may be assigned to be automatically opt-in for all who choose to sleep there.
Physical Representations for tagged items
All items must be phys-repped properly. Each character should have a Supply Bag where cards for materials (scrap, herb, etc.) are kept; see the Dystopia Rising: Evolved rulebook for details.
SYNONYMS
Operations or NPC camp is generally referred to as the “Warehouse”.
Public Works was referred to as the Assayer’s Office (prior to the National Standard) but may also be called the Post Office. Old habits die hard.
Player Numbers are an out-of-game term, so sometimes you may hear someone call it “my favorite number” or something more abstract like “the number of a horse I bet on once” or “my zip code”. If you’re unsure what they mean, you can say “you mean my favorite number?” and people will nod suggestively.
FORAGING in Colorado
DR:CO loves props! We use scrounge “pods” instead of just cards. These pods must be picked up and Foraged as usual per the rules, please bring us the pods to Public Works!
Altitude Sickness in Colorado
Altitude sickness is a very real concern for visitors to DR:CO. Every game we see several visitors (or even locals) impacted by this condition. If you are feeling off (headache, nauseous, irritability, anxiousness, dizziness are all common symptoms) please come to the medical cabin or to logistics for some water and to relax for a few moments.
Weather in Colorado
Snow, Ice, and below freezing temperatures are a factor for our branch during the April and November games in particular, but at the high altitude in the summer months the temperature can drop to the 40s at night. Additional safety related requests may be made during the colder months. We will attempt to post them ahead of time on FB and the forums, but sometimes we may have to make those clarifications at opening announcements. These frequently include:
Game may be called slightly earlier than normal if weather becomes unsafe.
Cancellations are highly unlikely but in the event of a blizzard (or the site making a call on our behalf) we may cancel a game. We will make that call the Wednesday or the Thursday prior to the game at the latest
If the weather becomes too cold, please come into logistics.
Wildlife concerns in Colorado
DR:CO asks that if you are going anywhere alone outside of the more populated sections of play that you inform a marshal or fellow player out of character. In the event that we need to do a headcount because of a wildlife sighting, we need to account for all players.
We also have concerns about food on sites with wildlife in the area, including omnivorous predators such as bears and mountain lions, but also most sites wish to limit the efforts they need to undergo to deal with rats and mice. For this reason, food should NOT be kept in tents, tabins, or vehicles. Some of our sites will have limited space in their kitchens inside the fridges or in separate coolers; others have wildlife proof containers where food and other wildlife attractant items (such as shampoo and soap) should be kept. Check with our kitchen guides if you have questions!
KITCHEN USE
Most of our weekend sites will have a microwave that players have access to. To use industrial kitchens on the campsite you will have to have an unexpired food handler’s certificate which should be emailed to us, and work with our kitchen guides to ensure that the meal service is not interrupted with. There are many sites where you can take a test and get the certificate, the one we recommend is here.
In Closing
Information on our locations can be seen on our locations page
Information tailored to our visitors from out of state can be found here
This set of clarifications is posted to help our players understand the specific expectations of our local branch. Transparency of this information helps our local community ensure that everyone is on the same page.
These policies will be reviewed no later than November 30th, 2024. If you are reading this after November 30th, 2024, please reach out to request an update. Concerns, Questions, and Clarifications can be acquired by emailing drco.customerservice@gmail.com .