Strathclyde University Roleplaying Game Society - 2021-2022 Members' Handbook - Strath Union
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Strathclyde University Roleplaying Game Society 2021-2022 Members’ Handbook
2
SURGE
Members’ Handbook 2021/22
Where To Find Us Where To Find Us 1
About Us 2
SURGE Discord
This is SURGE’s primary social hub and Who are we? 2
our online venue for running games. Tabletop Roleplaying 2
discord.gg/zYnanhW Glossary 3
Email Event Guide 4
The committee try to respond to any
email within a few days. Resources 6
strathsurge@gmail.com Safety Tools 6
Strath Union Tabletop Simulator 7
For society details and upcoming Actual Plays 7
events.
Dungeons & Dragons 5e 8
https://bit.ly/StrathSURGE
OSR Games 8
Strathclyde Nerds & Community
General Game Master Resources 9
Our shared Discord community with
like-minded Strath societies. FAQs 10
discord.gg/sQHNmbW
The Committee
President Treasurer Social Convenor Dev. Officer
Ryan Baillie Cassie Smith James McGowan Liam Hourston
1About Us
Who are we? Tabletop
The Strathclyde University Roleplaying
Game Society (SURGE) is Strath Union’s
Roleplaying
go-to group for tabletop roleplaying A Tabletop Roleplaying Game is played
games (TRPGs). collaboratively as a group with pencil
and paper (or online tools, as
How We Meet circumstances require). They can take
SURGE meets every Friday, many forms but are generally built
6pm-10pm. around improvisational storytelling with
While unsafe for us to meet in person strategic elements.
we are playing online via the SURGE One example of such a game is
Discord server. This may change for Dungeons & Dragons.
Semester 2. You will be kept up to date. These games typically feature an
Our Aims, Beliefs and Objectives assortment of dice for resolving
scenarios, and a Game Master (GM):
The aims of SURGE are: The central storyteller and referee who
> To provide a relaxed atmosphere for oversees play.
students to come and enjoy roleplaying The GM narrates events for the players
games. to imagine. In turn: The players roleplay
> To raise awareness of roleplaying (usually in character) and communicate
games and to remove the stigma to the GM how their characters interact
associated with it. with the game world.
SURGE believes: Examples of Play
> That roleplaying games are a good There are many examples of TRPG play
way to enjoy your time and meet new (called actual plays) available on
people. YouTube and in podcast form.
> In keeping roleplaying games a Many such productions involve
relaxed and enjoyable experience for professional actors - which can give a
everyone. skewed perception of how an average
SURGE seeks to achieve: game is played. For that reason, we
> To grow all aspects of SURGE. recommend High Rollers - a group with
professional production values but a
> More collaboration between SURGE cast made up of average TRPG players.
and other appropriate societies.
> More resources to encompass a wider
variety of interests.
2Glossary Non-Player Character (NPC): Any
character played by the Game Master.
This is a list of terms commonly used at One-Shot: A one-off TRPG session that
SURGE. Those specifically relating to isn’t intended to extend into a full
SURGE are underlined. campaign.
Annual General Meeting (AGM): A Party: A TRPG group, not including the
meeting where all SURGE student Game Master.
members convene to discuss the Player: Anyone at a TRPG table with the
running of the society. This is also when exception of the GM (Who is typically
the Committee for the following year counted separately).
are elected. Player Character (PC): A character
Astral: A free, browser-based virtual controlled by a player.
tabletop used for playing TRPGs. President: Committee member in
Campaign: Consecutive sessions of a overall charge at SURGE. They preside
TRPG game that form a serialised over the committee and take charge in
narrative. addresses to the society - among other
D[number]: A TRPG die of the indicated things.
number of sides. A d6 is a common Old-School Renaissance/Revival
gambling die, a d20 has twenty sides - (OSR): A sub-genre of TRPG popular
etc. with many of our members. Utilises the
Development Officer: A committee design ethos of 1970s-1980s TRPGs
member elected from amongst prior (early D&D especially).
committee members. Acts as a guide for Roll20: A free, browser-based virtual
the new committee. tabletop used for playing TRPGs.
Discord: A social platform which is used Secretary: Committee member who
as SURGE’s primary online presence. All assists the rest of the committee in their
announcements are made here, online roles. We do not have one this year.
campaigns are held here, and members Session 0: A preliminary session of a
may use this space to socialise. campaign where expectations are set
Dungeon Master (DM): See Game for the game ahead, any safety tools are
Master (GM). Specifically used for those discussed, and characters are created.
running Dungeons & Dragons. At SURGE, this session is also when
Emergency General Meeting (EGM): An members sign up to become players in
impromptu meeting to settle an urgent their selected campaigns.
point of order, such as electing a new Social Convener: Committee member
committee member outwith the usual and main organiser of extra social
schedule. events.
Fantasy Grounds: A paid virtual Tabletop Simulator: A paid virtual
tabletop used for playing TRPGs. tabletop used for playing TRPGs. SURGE
Foundry: A paid, browser-based virtual offers to purchase this software on
tabletop used for playing TRPGs. members’ behalf at a discount.
Game Master (GM): The narrator and Treasurer: Committee member in
referee of a TRPG game. They are the control of SURGE’s funds.
authority of play at any given table.
3SURGE Calendar of Events
Semester Event* Dates
Registration deadline for
20 September 2021
Semester 1 Game Masters
1 Session 0 24 September 2021
1 October 2021 - 10 December 2021 (11
Campaign Play (Block 1)
weeks)†
Registration deadline for
10 January 2021
Semester 2 Game Masters
2 Session 0 14 January 2022
21 January 2022 - 25 March 2022 (10
Campaign Play (Block 2)
weeks)†
Week beginning 14 March 2022 (Date
2 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
TBD)
* Additional events may be organised and advertised to members throughout the
academic year.
† Date ranges shown represent the base start and end point of a SURGE campaign.
Games may continue longer or be cut short at the individual group’s discretion.
Event Guide Reserve Game Masters: If you don’t
intend to run a game but would like to
be on-call for the event of player
Game Master Registration overflow, you can become a reserve
For Game Masters Only. game master. Simply inform a
committee member that you would like
To register your campaign, sign up via
to do this and you will be given the
the form in the SURGE Discord (#gm-
Reserve Game Master role. For more
signup-and-admin).
information, see What if I am left without
An email is automatically sent to you - a campaign? in FAQs.
allowing you to edit any part of the form
SURGE help-to-buy scheme: Through
after submission.
this program SURGE will pay half the
Once signed up, a committee member cost of a book and you get to keep it.
will get in contact and give you the The only requirements are that you are
Campaigning Game Master Discord running a game in the upcoming
role. This allows entry into a private semester and the book requested is
channel to talk to other current GMs related to what you are running.
away from players’ prying eyes.
Session 0
We recommend you sign up to GM
only if you have prior experience. The first meeting of each semester is
GMing a whole campaign is a fairly big called a “Session 0”. On this night,
commitment, so a bit of practice prospective players are free to talk to
beforehand goes a long way. GMs in order to join their campaigns.
For gaining GMing experience: Members All members should make sure to
are free to advertise one-shots attend Session 0 at 6pm sharp as
throughout the year via the Discord. campaign spaces are filled quickly.
4Preparing for Session 0: Players should Campaign Play
consult the list of confirmed campaigns
At this point, each individual group is
(#current-campaigns within the SURGE
largely left to their own devices.
Discord) before the first meeting. This
will give you an idea of which GMs to Every week at 6PM: You are free to
prioritise talking to at Session 0. simply start playing. If there is a session
cancellation or a delay, it will be
When spaces open (6pm): During
communicated by your GM.
Semester 1, any GMs who are accepting
new players will be in their campaign's Many games continue into the next
dedicated voice channel within the semester, or even into summer: It is
SURGE Discord. ultimately down to the members of
each group to decide whether the
The arrangement may be the same
campaign ends after the allotted block.
during Semester 2, or it might be in
person on campus if deemed safe. Campaign channels within the
Details will be announced on the SURGE Discord: Will remain open for as long as
Discord server closer to the time. the group wishes to use them.
Either way: GMs will be waiting with Once in-person play resumes: We are
bated breath for folk to go talk to them - able to book rooms for throughout
so don't be scared to do so! Feel free to summer for groups who request them.
talk to multiple GMs to find the game We recommend that you try to show
that fits you best. up a little before 6pm: This allows time
In conversation with a GM: The GM will for pre-game chat and to settle in before
discuss expectations for their game and playing.
answer questions. The GM will declare Many groups also socialise at their
at this point which (if any) virtual own discretion after games: While
tabletop is being used. playing online you can stay within your
This is also a good time to bring up channel for as long as you want. In
TRPG safety tools if the GM doesn’t do so person you will need to socialise
themselves. elsewhere as our room bookings only
last until 10pm.
If you are unable to join a campaign:
See What if I am left without a We find that without this extra time
campaign? in FAQs. spent beyond the game, you can go a
whole semester without knowing the
Once the group is finalised: Finalise
people behind the characters.
your campaign selection from the
automated list in #current-campaigns. Annual General Meeting
Players now create their characters The AGM is an opportunity for changes
together, with assistance from the GM. within the society to be discussed -
You may have to download, sign up to, including those to its constitution.
and/or purchase a virtual tabletop at Importantly, it is also when the new
this point. committee is elected by our student
If the character creation process is members.
completed early enough, the GM might SURGE’s AGM is held online during the
begin the campaign on the night. second-to-last week of play. The exact
Assume, however, that you will need to date will be provided closer to the time.
wait until the next week.
5Resources
Use of safety tools: Most common in
Safety Tools regards to horror topics - as well as
depictions of romance, sex, and bigotry
The TRPG community is largely a very - but they can be used to set limits on
welcoming one, but when playing with a whatever you aren’t comfortable with.
brand new group it can be very useful to Complexity: The use of safety tools can
use safety tools to ensure the comfort of be as simple as establishing a “rating”
all involved. for the game’s content in advance (by
The use of safety tools is a case of most applying film content ratings). It can
games never needing them - but that also take a more nuanced approach
you’ll wish you had them if anything involving checklists or in-built game
goes wrong. mechanics.
A very good resource: The free PDF If you are a player: You are entitled to
Consent in Gaming. This is a short (but use safety tools if you wish - even if your
thorough) document published by GM doesn’t offer them up front. If you
Monte Cook Games. It acts as both an would like to use safety tools: Request
educational tool, as well as a their use to your GM, and do not play
compilation of techniques and with a GM who does not honour this
resources. It also includes its own topic request. Your comfort is more
consent checklist along with a form- important than others’ convenience.
fillable version. If you are a GM: You are encouraged to
Safety tools are designed to: have a good understanding of this topic
1. Provide an avenue to clear consent so that you can effectively navigate any
regarding any sensitive topics that may situations that arise. Consider having
appear during a game. such tools by default, and if no one is
interested in using them then that’s fine
2. Establish limits regarding topics at - go on without them. Keep what you
the threshold of acceptability. have read in mind regardless as such
3. Provide participants with clear and material might be useful down the line.
easy means to show when something Also remember that you can make use
in-game has crossed a line, and to roll of safety tools to convey what you are
the narrative back if required. comfortable with as well!
6Tabletop Simulator Actual Plays
If you are a player: Do not feel the need An Actual Play is a recording of a TRPG
to purchase Tabletop Simulator until session made available for you to watch
you know whether your campaign is or listen to. As well as being
using it. entertaining, they are very useful to
SURGE offers a help-to-buy scheme brand new players in gaining a clear
for copies of Tabletop simulator: You understanding of what TRPG play is like.
pay us £5, we purchase Tabletop Actual Plays vary widely: In tone,
Simulator for the full £14.99. We send production values, and the ability of
you it as gift via Steam. You can access their casts. Some are groups of friends
this offer via our Union page. If you are uploading for the fun of it; Some are
already a member you will need to large productions with casts of
make the purchase as a guest. professional actors. Most fall
For more info: See How do I purchase somewhere in between.
Tabletop Simulator through SURGE? In High Rollers was mentioned previously.
FAQs. It is a good representation of a fairly
Keep in mind: The committee will be ordinary group - while still having a
unable to handle purchases during good production value. If you have
Session 0, so groups will have to do never seen a TRPG played before, this is
without Tabletop Simulator until a good peek into that experience.
Session 1. Here is a small selection of other
Actual Plays:
About Tabletop Simulator
> The Adventure Zone: Acclaimed
This virtual tabletop most closely system-hopping actual play podcast.
replicates what being at a physical table
is like. > The Black Dice Society: An official
actual play by Dungeons & Dragons, set
It boils down to a physics simulator with in the D&D horror setting Ravenloft.
a virtual 3D table and user-created
objects. The GM may download a user- > Critical Role: The most famous big-
created table for their TRPG system, budget Actual Play by a group of well-
modify it as needed, and even import known voice actors. The “Mercer Effect”
PDFs as virtual objects in-game. (named after their GM) describes new
players being let down because their
Tabletop Simulator is best used by GMs experience couldn’t compare to Critical
who: Role, so remember: Take it as
a. Don’t want the virtual tabletop entertainment and stay open minded.
handling game mechanics for them. > Dimension 20: Big-budget insanity
b. Want full freedom to customise condensed into narrative form and
their virtual play space. spewed forth from the mind of actor
c. Want a feel close to in-person play. and comedian Brennan Lee Mulligan.
Keep in mind: Members with very weak > The Glass Cannon Network: Their
hardware will have to turn settings “New Game, Who Dis?” series has the
down significantly. Check minimum ever-rotating cast try out new TRPG
system requirements if uncertain. systems. Linked is them playing
Cyberpunk R.E.D.
7Dungeons & OSR Games
Dragons 5e Several campaigns at SURGE Semester 1
are Old-School Renaissance (OSR)
Do not assume that you will be games.
playing D&D 5e: With limited spaces, This section applies to those involved in
high demand, and many GMs that prefer Old-School Essentials, Stars Without
to run other systems - you may be Number, and any other OSR game that
setting yourself up for disappointment if might get added after the writing of this.
you have your heart set on joining a 5e
Members playing Traveller will also
game.
likely gain a lot of benefit from the
Here are a list of resources for members Principia Apocrypha.
who will be playing Dungeons & Dragons
5e: For Players and Game Masters
> The Principia Apocrypha: A short
For Players and Game Masters document of principles and tips for OSR
> D&D Basic Rules: Official rules for 5e. play.
> D&D Beyond: The official digital tool > What is the DnD Old School
set for D&D 5e. You may purchase digital Renaissance?: A video explaining the
versions of the 5e rule books through origin, style, and merits of OSR games.
them for use with their app, and you can
> Old-School Essentials SRD: The free
use those books in the digital character
basic rules for Old-School Essentials.
builder. If your GM has D&D beyond,
they are also able to share their books > Stars Without Number: Revised
with you. Edition (Free Version)
> Avrae: A Discord bot built for D&D 5e For Game Masters
and present within the SURGE Discord > Links to Wisdom: Directory of OSR
server. It can be used to roll dice, house rules.
generate characters, handle combat,
and integrate with D&D Beyond.
For Game Masters
> Giffyglyph: Free supplements and
digital tools for D&D 5e:
a. Darker Dungeons: A modular rules
toolkit for customising your game. Is
particularly useful for those running
grittier games - but there is material
there useful to all 5e games (including
a very good encumbrance system).
b. Monster Maker: A browser-based
application for quickly and easily
making monster stat blocks.
> The Lazy DM’s Workbook: Tools,
maps, and reference sheets for D&D 5e.
8> GM Tips: General GM advice (and some
General Game more D&D-specific advice) from Matt
Mercer, Satine Phoenix, and guests. If
Master Resources nothing else: I recommend watching
the Player Roleplay episode.
Advice Books > How to be a Great GM: Guy Sclanders’
> Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master: General advice on a huge range of
By Sly Flourish. All about running D&D topics. Often through a D&D lens, but
effectively with low prep. lots of content useful across systems
and genres. If nothing else: I
> XDM X-Treme Dungeon Mastery: By
recommend watching the How to
Tracy and Curtis Hickman. General
Introduce a new player to Role-playing
TRPG theory with a satirical edge. It also
episode.
includes its own lightweight game
system - but that’s besides the point. > Writing a Horror Scenario the Sandy
Petersen Way: A lecture by the creator
Advice Videos of the Call of Cthulhu TRPG all about
> Dungeon Craft: Professor Dungeon running horror adventures.
Master giving advice on how to run > Web DM: Conversations with Jim Davis
TRPGs in the fastest, easiest way and Jonathan Pruitt all about D&D - 5e
possible. Mostly D&D (edition neutral), and otherwise - as well as general TRPG
but some other things (like Call of topics. If nothing else: I recommend
Cthulhu) too. If nothing else: I watching the episode The Tyranny of
recommend watching the episode The FUN.
Rules I Use.
> MonarchsFactory: Dael Kingsmill talks
> Running the Game: Matt Colville’s about fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons
series aimed at guiding new Gms from - largely through the lens of heightening
their very first game and into more the narrative feel of your game in novel
advanced techniques. Mostly D&D ways. If nothing else: I recommend
again, but most of the advice is system watching the episode How to take
neutral with a fantasy angle. If you have Advantage of Genre.
never GMed before: I recommend
> Advanced Gamemastery: Justin
starting at the beginning with Your First
Alexander (Better known as The
Adventure. If you are a veteran: I
Alexandrian) talking about all sorts of
recommend watching the episode "No."
topics. If nothing else: I recommend
watching the episode Mastering a
Published Setting.
9FAQs
How do I purchase Tabletop If you have experience in another
Simulator through SURGE? system already: Just remember that
the hardest system you will learn is
We offer Tabletop Simulator for £5 via
likely to be your first. You are over that
the SURGE Union Page.
hurdle already: Everything else will be
If you are already a member: You will much easier.
need to sign in with a guest account to
If the system you already have
make the purchase. This is due to the
experience with is D&D: The D&D-like
workaround involved to offer it via the
is a fairly common system type. It might
Strath Union website.
be that the system you will be playing
Once you have made the purchase: already has a lot in common with D&D.
Get in touch with the SURGE committee This will be the case with games such as
(preferably via Discord) to let us know Pathfinder and any system described as
you have done so. We will check our OSR (Old-School Essentials, Stars
purchase records to confirm. Without Number, Dungeon Crawl
We don't check regularly, so it is Classics, etc.)
important that you make us aware of
I would like to GM in future but I
your purchase.
have no experience. What do I do?
Within your message to us: Include a
The best thing you can do is to start with
link to your Steam profile page. This
short, one-off games. You can advertise
allows us to add you as a friend and to
a one-shot within #looking-for-a-game
send gifts to you.
on the SURGE Discord, or you can do so
One of the committee will purchase privately with the group you are already
Tabletop Simulator as a gift and send it in.
to you. The committee member then
It is likely to take you a while before you
gets reimbursed by the Student Union
find the tone, genre, and style of game
from SURGE funds.
that works for you. This can often differ
I don’t know any of the game rules. from the types of games you enjoy
What do I do? being a player in.
That’s perfectly fine! Your Game Explore different systems as well. If you
Master will assume that is the case have an idea of what you are going for,
unless told otherwise. It is part of the but don’t know what system might
job to teach new players the ins-and- match: Ask our GMs. We will be able to
outs of whatever game is being run. You help.
will learn the game system by playing.
10What do I need to bring? Players are free to join or turn down
whatever reserve campaigns are made
If we are playing online: You don’t
available.
have to bring anything.
If at the end of all this you are still
If we are playing in person: You should
unable to join a campaign: We are very
bring a pencil, an eraser, and a set of
sorry! There is always next semester.
standard TRPG dice (d4, d6, d8, d10,
d12, and d20). What if I can’t act?
What if I am late or absent? Most new players find it very difficult to
speak in character: It can be a new and
If you know you will be late or absent:
awkward creative muscle to stretch.
Let your GM know early. A day or two in
advance is ideal. Any later and you have With some practice you will get used to
a grumpy GM. Any earlier and your GM it. Remember that you can describe
may forget and wonder where you are. your actions in third-person as well.
If your late/absent status is sudden: Oftentimes it can take a few characters
Don’t worry: It happens. Just inform before you find one that you can slip
your GM as soon as you can and don’t into the personality of. If you start with a
make a habit out of it. If it becomes a character fairly like yourself, you may
regular thing, reconsider whether your find this easier.
schedule permits Friday night TRPGs.
What if I can’t do voices?
What if I am left without a Many players can’t do voices: That’s
campaign? fine.
Occasionally we have too many players Those who can find that it is a fun way
for the number of campaign spaces. If to get further into character - but it isn’t
this happens to you at Session 0: Don’t necessary.
worry!
All you need to do is let the Reserve Will games be online or in person?
Game Masters know. You should do this Games will all be online via the SURGE
within the SURGE Discord in the Discord for Semester 1.
#looking-for-a-game channel. For Semester 2: Details will be provided
At 6.45pm: The Reserve Game Masters via the SURGE Discord closer to the
will decide how many campaigns are time.
needed based on the number of players
there are. Will there be other events
throughout the year?
The Reserve GMs are in a pre-
determined order that they will have There are likely to be: Yes!
decided between themselves. GMs at The specifics of any event will be
the front of the queue will advertise announced closer to the time.
their campaigns - based on how many If you have any ideas for events, you
are needed to fit demand. They will also may pass them on to our Social
make themselves available in the Convenor.
SURGE Discord’s community voice
channels.
11You can also read
