10 things you should know before your first camping event

Your home at a camping event will probably look something like this. Photo Ellie © Apland

After weeks or months of practice, it's finally time: you're going to your first camping event. You've heard countless stories from veterans about how amazing they are with hundreds of people, incredible fighting, and a buzzing nightlife. It's a chance to see what the Belegarth community is really all about.

Well, before you head out and enjoy, there are a few things you should know.

1 - How to pack well

Packing the right stuff can make or break an event, just like any vacation. There are some complete packing guides online that you should look at before you leave, but the most important things to bring are your id, garb, and enough money to get into and home from the event. Don't forget the cost of gas! If you can afford it, make sure you have a little extra cash for emergencies, purchasing goods from vendors, or participating in special events like charity auctions.

2 - Where you're staying

You should know if you're rooming with someone else or need to bring your own tent. If you're camping with a unit or realm, make sure you get the contact information of a few members before you leave. It's also a good idea to have a rough idea of who will be the first ones to arrive.

If you can't get in touch with your friends when you get to the event, the people at Troll (where you sign in) should be able to help you. Despite their best intentions, Belegrim don't always have their phones near them, or they may not get reception while camping.

3 - What you're eating

You will almost certainly want to bring water. If you have dietary restrictions, be prepared to take care of your own needs. At some events there may be a food vendor like the amazing Lady Feri, or a couple of feasts in the evening, but that may not cover you entirely depending on the quantity and type of food you like to eat. Also, if you want utensils, plates, or bowls, make sure you bring them with you!

I personally like to pack paper plates that can be burned later and special snacks for fighting during the day. Homemade pickles are the best when you're tired and dehydrated.

4 - The Book of War

This may seem obvious, but a lot of people go to their first event without fully grasping all the rules. Knowing them well will make your event much more pleasant if you're fighting. Since you'll be meeting many new people, it's important to not cause a problem by accidentally cheating - although most Belegrim are forgiving if you're new, once you get labeled as a cheater, it's a hard reputation to shake.

Understanding the Book of War also means heralds will need to spend less effort watching you and correcting you. One less distraction for them to deal with means better fighting for everyone.

5 - How to visit other camps

If you can, get someone to show you around and tell you about all the different units at your first camping event. It's usually a lot of fun, and you'll get a good feeling for the range of Belegrim out there.

When you're walking alone, you should know how to properly approach a stranger's camp. If you're about to walk into or through someone's camp, say "Hail, [insert camp name]!" or "Hail, camp!" to get their attention. Whoever is in the area will likely say "Hail!" back or otherwise greet you, welcoming you into their camp. This is both so you don't startle anyone if you're walking around in the dark, and it's a sign of respect for each unit or realm's "home" during the event.

6 - Get to weapons check on time

Checkers give up their time fighting to make sure all gear on the field is safe. Don't make them waste more time than they have to by trying to put weapons through late. If you're late enough, they may just say that you can't fight with your equipment for the day. Weapons check is a crazy place at a big event, and checkers are trying their best to do a thorough job, answer questions, and still get things through in a timely manner.

Try to drop your gear off close to when weapons check opens, wander off for breakfast or to chat with friends, and come back to pick everything up a bit later. Don't dawdle around the weapons check area while you wait for your gear because it causes too much congestion. If you have a question about a failed weapon, try to wait until checking has died down a little to approach someone about it. If you catch them when they aren't incredibly busy, most good weapons checkers will be happy to explain exactly what failed and even how you can repair it.

7 - Don't argue with the staff

The guys running troll, weapons checkers, marshals, event coordinators, feast cooks, and security, to name just a few, give up part of their event vacation to make sure you have a good time. Respect the sacrifices they make for you by following their requests, even if you don't agree with them. Be aware that certain drunken behaviors will likely get you in trouble.

If you have a dispute with someone on the event staff, you can always calmly discuss the issue when it's appropriate, or go to someone like the Head Marshal if it's related to fighting. Belligerently arguing with staff doesn't help anyone.

8 - Campground policies (alochol, firepits, quiet hours, etc.)

Most big events will have this information posted online ahead of time, and they will post it again at Troll if it's really important. The last thing anyone on the event staff wants to do is send Security to deal with you breaking the campground rules, or worse, answer to the park or police about it. It's important to know early on if a site is dry or does not allow in-ground firepits, for instance, so you pack appropriately.

9 - Clean up after yourself

Trash being thrown everywhere or camps leaving without cleaning their site is always a problem. When that happens, the event staff members have to stay hours after the event is over to take care of what is left behind. Help ensure these volunteers want to keep running events by cleaning up your own mess properly. That means trash in proper receptacles (not the firepit) and generally leaving the grounds in the same or better condition than when you arrived.

10 - Who to go to in case of trouble

Belegrim are largely pretty nice folk, but when it's dark and people have been partying, you'll want to be sure you stay safe. Know who you can go to if there's an issue, whether it be security, event staff, or a trusted veteran. If at any time you feel harassed or nervous at night, don't be afraid to let event staff know and find a buddy to walk around with. If you're having an issue with someone during fighting, don't hesitate to speak with a marshal. You should never feel unsafe at an event, no matter your gender or newness to Belegarth.

Now that you know the basics, enjoy your trip. It should be an exhausting, awesome time that you'll never forget. And if you ever spot me at an event, please stop by and say hi!