“Stealing” refers only to the IG stealing of IG items. Players must be incredibly careful when attempting to steal anything IG.
You are never allowed to destroy anything to steal something (no cutting of purse strings, no breaking windows to get into a home, no harming real property). On the other hand, you’re allowed to steal IG items if, for example, you can manage to open someone’s pouch and take the game items within without that person noticing.
There are special rules for each type of IG item and all players are required to know them. If you are caught stealing something incorrectly or stealing OOG items deliberately, consequences can include being expelled from the game and potentially reported to real-world law enforcement.
Game Money, Magic Items and Jewelry: You are always allowed to take whatever game money you can find IG. When taking jewelry or an item, always check to make sure there is a Magic Item or Evaluate number attached to it. If there is a number, then the item is now yours. If there is no number, then the item is personal property and not a game item. If you are unsure, you may find a marshal with a game item list who can check to make sure that it really is a game item.
If you have a Magic Item physrep stolen, you must immediately head to a Marshal and turn over the Magic Item tag. Since this is a Logistical requirement, you can do this OOG. Not turning in a Magic Item tag from something that has been stolen or lost is considered cheating.
Weapons: You must take the physrep of the Weapon you are stealing. Once you have stolen a Weapon and safely gotten away IG, you should then head immediately to an OOG Marshal or Plot member. You cannot actually keep that particular Weapon physrep since it is the personal property of the player from whom you stole it, but the marshal in charge will give you the tag from that Weapon which you can then attach to your own Weapon physrep.
If your Weapon is stolen, you should head to an OOG Marshal or Plot member to get your physrep back. You can do this OOG since this is only a Logistical function. Once you have your Weapon physrep back, you will then have to find a Weapon tag IG in order to use that Weapon again.
Some monsters will have Weapons that are stealable. However, for logistical reasons, these monsters will simply hand you a tag instead of the actual Weapon since they need the physrep for later. Most monster Weapons are not stealable as they are made of poor-quality materials IG.
If you steal a magic Weapon, you will keep the physrep but must have it Identified before you can use it. Remember, until you have the Magic Item tag via IG identification, the item cannot be used even if you do have the physrep.
Spell Books and Recipe Books: In order to steal a spell book or an Alchemical recipe book, you should take the tag that is attached to the book. The actual book is the private property of the player. Some players will mark their spell books with a note saying “this spell book is stealable.” In that case, you must take the actual book itself and not just the card, and you may not take the card out of that book and place it into a different book.
Alchemy and Trap Globes: If you steal globes from someone (or if those globes are destroyed), the owner of the globes must randomly give up the appropriate amount of tags for the globes. A Marshal may be called to oversee this.
Other IG items: REFUGE LARP often provides props such as maps, notes, books, and other informational items. If you find these in a module or on Cast, they’re yours. If you steal them from another player, you should either contact the person you stole it from OOG and make sure that they were stealable, or alternatively, see a Marshal to make sure.
If you waylay, kill, or control a person or monster, you may search that being. Simply approach within touch range and say “I search you.” All game items must be turned over at that point. You do not need to touch the person and should not without permission.
Note that it is impossible to completely hide something on your body. If you are searched, you cannot claim that something was “really, really well hidden.”
If you are searched, you also have the option of saying, “Describe your search.” The searcher then must describe what he or she is doing to search (“I am looking through your pockets,” “I am searching your cloak,” etc.) This is not only to help you hide items, but it also takes up the time that the search should take. When the searcher asks about a place where an item is hidden, you must turn over the item at that point.
If you claim to have an item in a hidden location, you must physically have the item hidden where you say it is. You cannot claim to have secret pouches and compartments that do not actually exist in your gear.
If someone steals your Magic Item, do not give them the Magic Item tag. Immediately go to an appropriate logistical site or Marshal and turn over the tag. It is up to the person who stole the item to find out what the item is and how it works. Not turning over a Magic Item tag after the physrep has been stolen or lost is considered cheating. You must turn over these tags as soon as possible.
To search a cabin, you must have a Marshal present. If you enter a cabin without a Marshal, you are not only cheating but may be subject to legal action as well. The Marshal will stay appropriately out of the way but must be aware of what you are doing and nearby.
Every chapter has specific rules about where you can hide items and what must be done in order to search a cabin, so check with the Marshal first before doing anything. These rules are based on the local chapter’s policies which may be specific to the camp and may be based on the chapter’s insurance requirements.
You must search the cabin yourself. The Marshal will not simply look at the Marshal notes and go and retrieve items for you.
Do not take any items marked “personal” or any items stored in any area marked OOG. IG items may not be put in OOG areas.
The Marshal is also there to make sure that you properly disarm any traps that may be on the door or window.
Destroying property such as window screens or door hinges is not allowed.
Once more, the bottom line is: Always get a Marshal first. Not doing so is the quickest way to be kicked out of REFUGE LARP.
The REALMS OF REFUGE can be an unsafe place, so it’s always a wise idea to guard your valuables. There may be places IG where you can buy or rent a lock for your cabin. Some of these places will also install it for you for a small fee. While locks can be picked IG, it can be a slow process and even if bypassed will buy time for you to discover the intrusion.
If you want to put a lock on a door, you must either use an approved lock or you must use your own lock after getting it approved by a marshal. If you can demonstrate that you can pick your lock, then it will probably be allowed.
Remember that REFUGE requires easy to pick locks, as it is the IG Skill itself that is supposed to be used and not the OOG Skill of picking a very difficult lock. Combination locks are not allowed to be used by players but may be found in modules (where part of the module is discovering the combination).
You can also buy or make traps for your cabin. Each trap must be accompanied by a trap tag (see the section on traps).
OOG areas must be marked on Marshal Notes (such as “under the beds” or “behind the tapestry”). IG items may not be stored in areas declared OOG. Any special security precautions you take must be entered on the Marshal Notes on your cabin door. Make any appropriate entries there, with the spell labels and/or trap tags necessary. If no precautions have been entered on the Marshal Notes, then there is nothing protecting the cabin IG.
Anyone who does not reside in a particular cabin caught reading the Marshal Notes will be subject to disciplinary action. These notes are for Marshals only, and only when marshaling a thief into the cabin.