Frequently Asked Questions about NERO®

 Are you people crazy?!

Yes, a little bit!  Mostly, what our players are is creative.  NERO provides fresh air, exercise, thought-provoking interaction with a wide spectrum of people and, above all else, a creative outlet in a high stress world.

 Can I watch NERO?

Sure, we'd love to have you come visit, so long as you check in with our staff.  However, be warned that it often doesn't look like much from the outside.  In fact, it looks like a bunch of loonies running around in funny costumes, swinging plumbing supplies and chucking beanbags at one another!  If you'd like to get a taste of how it works, you can always NPC (Non-Player Character).  This is a vital job in the creation of our adventure weekends.  Players do not have to pay to NPC, and in exchange, they agree to play a variety of characters throughout the weekend as assigned by plot.  In a given weekend, an NPC might go from skeleton to town guard to goblin and more.

 How safe is NERO?

Very!  We work hard to make our game safe and fun for everyone.  In fact, we have a better insurance safety rating than a little league team.  While there is the occasional scrape and bruise, the majority of medical issues come from players having too much fun, forgetting to drink enough fluids, and dehydrating or overheating!  Members of the NERO community take good care of each other, so you'll often hear strangers remind you to drink water, or take a break, and so on.  NERO Massachusetts also has such a large player base that we try to have at least one EMT on site at all times (many of our players have medical training and volunteer their time), but they are rarely, if ever, called upon to handle more than bumps and bruises. 

Do I actually hit people with swords?

Yes, but they are called "boffer weapons" which are swords (and other weaponry) made out of foam padded PVC pipes.  There are areas that are off limits for hitting people, such as the head, neck, and groin.  But other than these areas, yes, you will be swinging your sword at someone who is swinging back at you!

 Does it cost a lot to play?

While some people invest a great deal in costumes, armor, and so on, no, the game is quite inexpensive to play.  There is a base annual fee of $25 to cover insurance, and it's recommended that you buy a rulebook, which is an additional $10, but after that, you can play for free by NPCing, or you can pay between $50 and $70 per weekend to play your own fully developed recurring character.  Given that there's almost no downtime in NERO, that comes out to about $1.50 an hour for your weekend of fun!