WELCOME!

Welcome to the website of the Chicago chapter of the Gateway Chronicles live-action fantasy role-playing game. This site assumes you are both familiar with live-action role-playing (LARPs) in general and the Gateway rules specifically.

To review the Gateway rules, please go here

Tell me about Gateway.

How do I get involved?

How do I create a new character?

Who plays in this game, anyway?

And who runs it?

GATEWAY RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

ABOUT GATEWAY

Gateway is a monthly fantasy LARP run in the Chicagoland area continuously since January of 1997 (with only a month missed here and there) and currently supports a player list of approximately 50. The game site varies from month to month and includes an overnight camp site and an annual visit to the grounds of the enormous Stronghold manor in Oregon, IL. 

Gameplay is a unique blend of live-action, character-to-character interaction matched with a more informal "table-top" style of adventuring. This allows Gateway to tell epic tales without being bound creatively by the physical limitations of the game site. All combat, magic, and skill-based interaction is resulted using a fast but detailed system that resolves combat quickly while allowing for a great deal of character flexibility and strategizing. Additionally, since Gateway is a non-contact game that does not rely on fake or "boffer" weapons for resolving combat there are no restrictions, practical, physical, or otherwise on the kind of character you can play.

Gateway stories are primarily those of heroic fantasy. Its characters are principally good guys, but they're very often painted in bold shades of gray and carry their own goals, desires, and agendas. Though the in-game format varies slightly, most tales revolve around the famous Ram's Head Tavern, a sometimes mundane, sometimes magical tavern where the heroes of the realm gather to adventure. Another common element in Gateway stories, and the part that gives the game it's name and direction, are the Gatekeepers - magicians trained or skilled in the ways of opening special mystical Portals that carry the characters to their adventures. The backgrounds, motivations, and goals of the Gatekeepers vary from altruism to self-interest, as do the nature of their Portals.

The live-action area of the game is usually the Ram's Head Tavern, or some other location that a Gatekeeper or circumstance has drawn the characters to. From there, the Portals send the characters out on Expeditions that are resolved in a pseudo-tabletop format that allows the Gateway game to be anchored in a dynamic live-action setting while feeding off the character's Portals to far-away places and events that do not have to be recreated for live-action play.

Adventure, politics, magic, heroism, mysticism, grand as well as petty evil, intrigue, and theology are all woven together in a detailed, evolving, on-going storyline steered by the game's storytellers but driven by the player's actions and desires. 

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GETTING INVOLVED

Sound interesting? Gateway is often looking for new members. We recommend that you peruse this site and then fill out our Player Profile form that doubles as an application. Within a few days out Coordinator will drop you an email with more information (and if a few days pass without you hearing anything feel free to drop her another email as we do sometimes get a little behind in our correspondence.)

The next stop after that is creating a new character. To get that ball rolling, you can go here.

Rerturn

All Material (c)1997 - 2003, Alex Gray/The Gateway Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
Website Copyright (c) 1999 - 2003 by Tom Dowd -- AMAZON.COM is the registered trademark of Amazon.com, Inc.

Gateway Creator: Alexander Gray

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GATEWAY RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

Gateway is a pretty free-form game, but we do have some rules and requirements. Please note that this list is in development and as such the content and language may change. Please check back often.

* No Players are permitted in the game without prior contact with the Staff. (So, if you plan on inviting a friend please contact the Staff first.)
* All Players must be at least 18 years of age.
* No spectators are allowed at Gateway sessions. Everyone who comes must participate.
* No alcohol is permitted under any circumstances. 
* No rough or sudden physical contact is permitted between Players and/or Staff. Light contact is permitted (such as holding an arm, and so on) only if all participants consent prior to the act.
* Real weapons may be carried without peace-bonding unless otherwise noted. Live steel should NEVER be drawn without specific Staff permission and involvement. Weapons with a sharp edge should be covered for the protection of the Players and Staff.
* Safety of the other Players and Staff must always be the  #1 concern when contemplating some act or action. If there is any danger of accident or injury (even if it is solely you at risk) DO NOT DO IT.
* All confrontations or arguments must be confined to character-to-character interaction. If you are unable to play your character without real world tension or frustration entering in please leave the game site until the situation is resolved or you cool down.
* No pets are permitted.
* Cheating is not permitted.
* Assume that the game environment is "PG-13" to prevent insulting or offending others present.
* Rules lawyering and power-gaming is discouraged, but the price will usually be paid in-character.
* All participants must be treated with the utmost respect and consideration. Out of character disrespect of any kind will not be tolerated.
* The Staff reserves the right to suspend anyone from play without reason or notice, refund their site fee (for this session), and ask them to leave the game site at any time if the Staff believes they are violating the spirit or letter of the rules and requirements.

If you have any comments, observations, or suggestions regarding these rules and requirements please send email to the Gateway Staff.

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