Event Guide

Hail and well met, traveler. If you’re here, you’ve already taken your first steps toward joining the world of Wyvern Rising. This guide explains how our events work – from arrival and gameplay to safety, preparation, and cleanup – so you know what to expect when you join us in the field. You don’t need to remember every detail right away; the community and staff will help you along the way. Think of this as your map for the journey ahead!

A typical Wyvern Rising event begins Friday evening around 8:00 PM and runs continuously until Sunday morning at 8:00 AM.

Players arrive, check in at Logistics, and prepare their cabins before the game begins. Once the Game Directors announce “Lay On,” the game world becomes active and play continues day and night until the end of the event.

Gameplay only pauses in the case of a serious emergency.

Game Periods

The event is divided into two periods:

  • Period 1: Lay On Friday at around 8:00 PM → Saturday at 12:00 PM
  • Period 2: Saturday 12:00 PM → End of Game Sunday around 8:00 AM

At the start of each new period, the following refresh:

  • Energy (NRG)
  • Faith
  • Mana
  • Spells and prayers (according to spell rules)

All attendees must:

  • Fill out a Liability Waiver
  • Pay the applicable fees

When you arrive:

  1. Choose a cabin and settle in.
  2. Visit Logistics to check in.
  3. Receive your character card and any skill tags
  4. Move your vehicle to the designated parking area before Lay On.

Registration may take up to 30 minutes during busy arrival periods.

Before leaving the event, all players must check out at Logistics and return their character cards and materials.

Wyvern Rising runs continuously. Players are considered in-game for the entire event, even while sleeping.

You should only go Out-Of-Game (OOG) if:

  • You are injured or ill
  • A Director instructs you to do so

Any injury or illness must be reported to Logistics immediately.

Out-of-Game Headbands

Visual markers help players understand who is in or out of the game.

White Headband

  • Indicates a player is Out of Game
  • Other players must ignore them completely

Orange Headband

  • Indicates a dead character’s spirit
  • Clerics may interact with spirits according to resurrection rules
  • Non-cleric characters do not know that the spirit is there so should ignore them

Red Headband

  • Indicates a staff member

Wyvern Rising strives to maintain the feel of a medieval fantasy world.

Players are encouraged to avoid modern items whenever possible.

Examples:

  • Costumes should match a fantasy/medieval style
  • Lighting is typically done with:
    • Lanterns
    • Torches
    • Candles
  • Flashlights must have red or amber filters to simulate torchlight
  • Avoid visible modern packaging (such as soda cans)

Player safety always comes first.

First Aid

If an accident occurs:

  • Notify a Staff Member, Director, or Marshal immediately
  • First aid kits are located in Logistics and the Kitchen

In the event of a serious emergency, staff can contact Hickory Run Rangers.

Wildlife may be present at the campsite.

If you hear something in the woods and are unsure if it is a player or an animal, you may ask:

“Are you in game?”

Anyone asked this question must respond clearly.

To avoid attracting wildlife:

  • Do not store food in cabins
  • Keep scented items sealed in bags
  • Store food in the Kitchen cooler

Report sightings of dangerous animals such as:

  • Bears
  • Coyotes
  • Large cats

Fire Safety

Fires are only allowed in:

  • Fireplaces
  • Existing fire rings

If Hickory Run declares a fire ban, staff will inform players during opening ceremonies.

Additional rules:

  • Candles and open flames are prohibited
  • Tiki torches may be used outside but must be placed 5–10 feet from structures

All participants must have the following on file:

Emergency Contact & Medical Information Form

This form allows staff to:

  • Contact someone in case of emergency
  • Be aware of allergies, conditions, or limitations

Information is kept confidential among staff.

Liability Waiver

All participants must sign a Release and Waiver of Liability for the season.

Wyvern Rising events take place at Hickory Run State Park in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where weather can change quickly.

Cabins are unheated, and many do not have electricity.

Common items players bring include:

Sleeping

  • Sleeping bag or blankets
  • Pillow
  • Camp mat or cot (beds are wooden)

Clothing

  • Costuming
  • Extra socks (4–6 pairs recommended)
  • Thermals
  • Gloves
  • Waterproof boots

Personal Items

  • Hygiene products
  • Towel
  • Prescription medications
  • OTC medications

Game Equipment

  • Armor
  • Weapons (no real weapons allowed)
  • Shields
  • Spell packets
  • In-game props

Other Useful Items

  • Flashlight with red or amber filter
  • Extra batteries
  • Water
  • Food
  • Pens
  • NPC clothing (black shirt & black pants)

Players often also bring:

  • Bed sheets or tapestries for cabin privacy
  • Thumbtacks
  • Hand warmers

Hickory Run requires our group to check out by noon on Sunday.

To allow enough time for cleanup:

  • Game ends at 8:00 AM Sunday
  • Closing ceremonies follow immediately

During check-in, players will:

  • Sign up for an NPC shift
  • Select a cleanup task

Your cleanup task must be completed and signed off by staff before you leave in order to receive Build for the weekend.

Everyone is expected to help so cleanup can happen quickly.

Once the camp is clean, many players gather afterward to grab lunch and discuss the event.

FAQs

Hickory Run has TENTATIVELY given us a first event date: “April 17-19” We are 99% sure that we will receive this date, most others are up in the air currently. If anything changes we will inform the player base as soon as possible.

The event is divided into two periods:

  • Period 1: Lay On Friday at around 8:00 PM → Saturday at 12:00 PM
  • Period 2: Saturday 12:00 PM → End of Game Sunday around 8:00 AM

At the start of each new period, the following refresh:

  • Energy (NRG)
  • Faith
  • Mana
  • Spells and prayers (according to spell rules)

Full Event $60 Cash or $65 Online/Card (Electronic Payments include 25 SP); must sign up for a single 4 Hour NPC Shift.

Partial Event $30 Cash; must be here less than 8 hours. No NPC Shift. Warning If found to be abusing the Partial Event system your right to use it can be revoked.

Full Time NPC: Free; Get 400 SP (which is added at end of event) for playing NPCs and helping the Core Staff with tasks.

Players have the option to pay for an event they can’t attend and get the 4 event build and send an AAR. The only caveat is that it can only happen once and then the player must attend an event in person before doing so again. Please send an email to [email protected] for info.

Service Points This can be gained via donations (approved items or at a rate of $10 per 100 SP or by providing extra assistance to Staff/Directors and can be spent for the following benefits.

Exchange for Build (100 SP to 1 Build – Only During Check-In – Limit 4 per event)

Exchange for Food Tags (10 SP to $1 – Only During Check-In)

Reduce Cost of Event (100 SP to reduce cost by $10 – Only Before Event – Limit 1 per event)

Reorganize Ability Points (50 SP – Only Before Event – Limit 1 per event)

Refund One Skill (100 SP – Only Before Event – Limit 1 per event)

Submit All 3 AAR Actions (50 SP – Only During AAR Submission; Please note you’ll be using this option.)

We are a proud northeast Pennsylvania LARP (NEPA LARP) with players who drive in from the Pocono Mountains, Lehigh Valley, and Northeast Pennsylvania area. We serve players from: Blakeslee, Lake Harmony, Weatherly, Freeland, Drums, Hazleton, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Tamaqua, Mount Pocono, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Allentown, Bethlehem, Stroudsburg, Pittston, and even as far as State College!

No. Many players start at Wyvern Rising with no prior LARP experience. Staff and veteran players help new players learn the basics.

New players create a character using the Wyvern Rising rulebook and character creation system. Staff can help guide you through the process.

Yes. Many new players attend their first event as an NPC (Non-Player Character) to learn the game before creating a character.

  • PC (Player Character): Your personal character that progresses over time.
  • NPC (Non-Player Character): Roles played to help run storylines, monsters, or townsfolk.

Events typically begin Friday evening and run continuously until Sunday morning.

No, but most players attend the full event. If you leave early, you should check out with Logistics first.

Events are held at Hickory Run State Park in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

No. Cabins are unheated and many do not have electricity, so players should pack accordingly.

Players must pay the event fee and applicable camp fees. Pricing varies by event.

Yes. All players must sign a Release and Waiver of Liability and provide emergency contact information.

Players who are Out of Game (OOG) wear a white headband, and other players must ignore them.

PC characters are expected to dress according to their Class and Species. NPCs will be provided costuming to choose from but should arrive in a plain black outfit.

Yes. Gameplay continues day and night throughout the event.

You wear an orange headband to represent your spirit and may seek a cleric for resurrection according to the game rules.

Players stay in-game for most of the event, but you can step out if needed for safety or personal reasons.

Our game is 18+.

Absolutely. Many players attend their first event without knowing anyone. The Wyvern Rising community is known for being welcoming, and new players are quickly brought into the story.

Basic items include:

  • Sleeping bag or blankets
  • Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Flashlight with red or amber filter
  • Personal hygiene supplies
  • Water and snacks
  • Basic costume

A detailed packing list is available in the Event Guide above under the What to Bring section.