V9: Getting Started

This page is part of the Official Amtgard V9 Alpha-Playtest Rulebook.

• The Amtwiki is the official home and primary source for Amtgard V9 Rules as of February 25, 2023.
• These rules are currently in Open Alpha Playtest. See the Playtest Disclaimer for more details.
• To learn more about Amtgard V9 Development, please visit Amtgard.com.
• To view the current Amtgard V8 ruleset, please see the Amtgard V8 Rulebook.

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Getting Started

Getting started with Amtgard is quick and easy. Here's some essential information for any new player.

The Four Pillars of Participation

Amtgard is more than just a combat LARP. It's a vibrant community that offers a variety of ways to participate whether your weapon of choice is a sword, a needle, a pen, or even a spreadsheet!

Once you've finished with this section, follow these links to explore about the various facets of Amtgard:

• Combat
• Roleplay
• Arts & Sciences (A&S)
• Service & Leadership

Progession and the Online Record Keeper (O.R.K.)

On your first day, you will be asked to choose a name for your player account on the ORK. This account will be used to store all the progress and milestones you achieve throughout your Amtgard career. Most people will use the name of their 'Main' character, however this can be whatever you like and changed at any time without affecting your progress.

In Amtgard, progress is tied to the player, not the character. All levels and achievements listed on your ORK account are player-specific and can be immediately applied any new characters you create. You do not need to level up each character individually.

Setting Up Your ORK Account

Your ORK account will be automatically set up for you after you sign in to your first Amtgard function. After that point you can reach out to the officer responsible for ORK Updates (usually called the Prime Minister or Chancellor) and they can provide you with your login information.

Character Creation

Amtgard Characters

Creating a new character in Amtgard is as easy as picking a name. While the majority of Amtgard activities are out-of-character, most players will still try to build their garb and aesthetic around a certain character concept or fantasy, even if they don't participate in roleplay.

Lore, Setting, and Roleplay

Amtgard roleplay is free-form, decentralized, and often episodic. It does not have a single unified story and the shared setting is limited to just a few key details. Instead, local communities each craft their own stories, maps, and expanded lore independent of one another, much like different tabletop RPG groups. As such, your Amtgard can be roleplay-heavy, combat-heavy, or somewhere in between, based on the preferences of your nearest Kingdom or Park.

Check with your local community to inquire if and how often they roleplay, as well as any useful in-character information they may have to get you primed for roleplay with their group.

Head over to the Roleplay section to learn about character-building, roleplay abilities, and more!

What to Bring On Your First Day

Amtgard parks will often have a small collection of basic equipment that new players can borrow to use during combat activities until they are able to craft or acquire their own. You can show up to your first day with nothing but the clothes on your back and get right into the game!

Head over to the Equipment section to learn more about crafting your own weapons, shields, and armor for Amtgard combat!