This page contains the rules and requirements for what you should wear at Concord events, as well as guidelines towards improving your kit, and common mistakes and missteps that have been made in the past. Each Realm has their own ‘Look and Feel’ page for the more specific cultural aesthetics and stylings of that Realm.
‘Kit’ is the catch-all term for the clothes, armour, equipment, and other personal effects that your character wears and carries during a Concord event. Concord uses the term ‘kit’ as opposed to costume as the goal is to try and represent your character as a real person with a variety of garments and equipment.
Minimum Requirements for Kit
What follows are the base requirements that apply to all participants at a Concord event. Children under the age of six are exempt from the kit requirements (excepting clothing coverage) but we ask their guardians to make what attempt they can to conform with expectations.
Clothing
- While in a public space at a Concord event all attendees are required to wear clothing covering their upper torso, upper legs, and groin. The coverage area of a bandeau (tube top) and shorts.
While in private spaces such as toilet stalls, changerooms, and your own tent, these rules don’t apply, but we do want to remind everyone that this does apply before and after time in.
- All participants must wear in-character clothing while in the in-character area during time-in.
- Obviously modern garments such as blue jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, tennis shoes, modern sunglasses, and hoodies must not be on show during time-in.
Most basic costume is acceptable provided it is broadly medieval in style and matches the Concord setting. It is fine to wear plain, modern garments that have an in-character equivalent, such as linen trousers, non-descript leggings, dark track-pants, or combat boots, provided they are unobtrusive, are complimented or covered by more in-character elements of the kit, and have modern elements of these pieces covered.
- Representations or examples of real world religious or state iconography must not be a part of your character wherever possible.
This includes flags and banners of real world organisations or states, religious iconography for current or historic faiths (be they art or jewelry), or similar. If you are an adherent of a faith or culture you are allowed to wear that item of faith or culture on you, but it shouldn’t be something referenced in-character. If you have tattoos or other permanent markings that contravene this requirement, we understand that you cannot remove them. This rule includes items of cultural clothing that have notable cultural importance such as an American First Nation’s War Bonnet.
- Symbols assosciated with hate speech or hate groups are not permitted to be worn at Concord events.
Armour
- Armour should be safe to be worn by the wearer, and anyone interacting with it under normal expectations of that interaction.
Armour should not have egregious or dangerous spikes, sharp edges, or hooks that will damage weapons or other players during its use. Armour should survive not only combat, but being worn throughout an event without becoming unsafe to wear or no longer appearing in character. Armour should also be safe for the wearer, not limiting breathing or movement to a point that endangers the wearer, a threshold which is each wearer’swearers responsibility to assess.
- Modern items of clothing with printed armour, or textiles representing armour (such as woven wool ‘maille’) are not allowed.
These items always look bad, even as a base layer and should not be worn.
Weapons
- All weapons that are carried are required to be LARP Weapons that are safe to use in Concord LARP Combat. The only exceptions being eating utensils and campfire tools. Eating utensils and campfire tools can never be used as a part of threatening roleplay and should not be worn on the battlefield.
The risk of a firewood cutting hatchet or a steak knife being used in combat is too dangerous for there to be flexibility on these issues. This rule includes ceremonial weapons used in roleplay, as the risk is too high when LARP-safe weapons also exist as an alternative.
- Crossbows are not permitted at Concord events.
Crossbows are illegal in Western Australia, and as such are illegal at Concord events. The WA Government defines a crossbow as;
An article made or modified to be used with one or two hands to discharge a missile by an elastic force across a stock grooved to direct the missile, and includes the missile.
Kit Guidelines
The above minimum requirements outline what we require from everyone at Concord events, what follows are less stringent guidelines. All of these guidelines detail the kit that you should not aim for, but a certain amount of contravening these guidelines due to particular story, real world circumstances, or temporary need is valid.
General
- Wherever possible, your character's kit, accessories, and camp should meet their realm’s look and feel.
Every Realm of Concord has its own look and feel page, detailing how the story, history, and culture of that Realm is presented in their aesthetics. Every member of that Realm should do whatever they can to evoke that look and feel. While it is fine to have small markers perhaps of a family history in a different place, favours and gifts from friends in another land, or a weapon that doesn’t quite fit until you can get a new one, you should not allow these to overwhelm the costume and should be kept to a minimum.
- Kit and equipment that is not particularly fantastical should fit a time period between 500CE and 1600CE.
Each realm has its own Look and Feel Page which will help guide your particular aesthetic style. But if you're moving outside of these guidelines, the above dates are good rule of thumb. In particular, we want people to avoid the silhouette, styles, and items common in time periods such as the Golden Age of Piracy, Steampunk, Victorian, or American West. Articles of clothing such as dusters, tricorns, top hats, waistcoats, or akubra hats are not wanted.
- You should have kit that meets the expectations of the event regardless of the weather at the event.
Prepare for the event that is going to happen, both the temperature and rain. We don’t want players to end up in their out-of-character clothing because they didn’t expect it to be hot, or raining.
- Your kit should not collectively form a cosplay of a notable pop-culture character.
While elements of a cosplay (provided they are not too-notable) are allowed, we ask that players don’t build a character around a whole cosplay.
- In-character written works should avoid bright white paper and modern fonts.
While The Concord does have limited access to printing presses, arial font on bright white paper is less effort than Concord deserves. We ask that our players at least purchase off-white paper and use more thematic fonts.
- Grace trappings should be worn at all times while in character as a graced character.
This includes all sanctioned events. Graces are very important within the world of Concord, and require that additional care.
- Your kit should not include elements that could be confused as grace trappings if your character is not a grace.
Examples include hats, hoods, or helmets with horns or antlers attached in a manner that is similar to Einherjar or Cervini graces.
- Your kit should be improved upon, repaired, and maintained to meet these guidelines and requirements.
Just because a kit is approved once, does not mean it will be approved after a weekend of wear and tear. We ask our players to constantly be aware of this, maintaining and improving their kit as required. In addition, unfinished projects will be judged all the same, and as much as we would like to, we cannot give exceptions for intent.
- If your character is a member of a Band, your band styling should be obvious, the most prominent elements of your kit, and should be unified across the band.
More information can be found on the Player Groups page. But as a rule of thumb, your band marker should be the most obvious part of your kit, and you should be immediately recognisable as a member of your band.
Clothing
- Sunglasses are not recommended. If you must wear sunglasses for comfort, they should appear to have metal or wooden frames, a non-modern shape and style, non-reflective lenses, and match your realm’s look and feel as much as possible.
- Watches are permitted, but are requested to be as in-theme as possible, or obscured.
In both of these instances it is the opinion of The Concord Team that their availability improves the game for a number of people, more so than being too litigious. Egregious examples of both will be asked to be removed.
Armour
- Notable pieces of armour directly from pop-culture such as helms or suits of armour should not be worn without considerable modification.
Similar to the expectations around cosplay pieces, armour sets and pieces that are obviously from pop-culture should not be worn.
- Armour may be concealed, but needs to be accessible for armour clearance and quick clarification.
Plenty of standard pieces of costume cover armour up (such as surcoats and tabards), and obscuring armour is a classic trope. However we want armour to be quickly accessible for the team to check when going on a Conflux and arbitrating combat.
- Small pieces of armour worn for stylistic purposes, rather than for protective purposes, is permitted, as long as it is not larger than a handspan, and is not overly prevalent. Armour worn for these purposes must not grant any mechanical advantage or disadvantage.
These pieces should not be used to block fracture, but would also not stop a mage from casting spells, for example.
- Low quality armour that appears plasticy, overly pliable, or fragile may not provide armour coverage or hitpoints and may be asked to be removed.
This sort of armour is common from websites such as wish or temu. In general, Concord recommends against purchasing armour from these sources.
Weapons
- LARP-Safe versions of pop-culture weapons are permitted, but where they are particularly notable, attention should not be brought to these weapons be it in story or roleplay.
Many LARP-Brands feature pop-culture weapons heavily in their catalogue, and simply removing them would remove many of the available options. Instead, we ask that players do not draw attention to them when they do use them to lessen any damaged immersion. For example; your character can wield a LARP-Safe Frostmourne, but we ask that you don’t base your entire character backstory around their cool sword.
Accessibility Aids and Childcare Equipment
Accessibility aids are always appropriate for use at Concord, examples include glasses, hearing aids, walking sticks, and wheel chairs which use modern materials and designs. These do not need to be concealed or disguised, but we always appreciate it when players do take steps to make them feel in-theme.
Childcare equipment such as slings, baby changing mats, or similar equipment is treated similarly to accessibility equipment.
Criticism
- Players should not criticise other players kit
It is very difficult for criticism of another player's kit to be communicated in a manner that is going to be well received, particularly when accounting for concerns of self-perception and confidence. If you believe another player’s kit contravenes the expectations or requirements, please bring it to a Concord team member to be discussed with that player.