I have not presented this in any particular order, so please excuse the style if it seems to wander around a bit.
This year, provision has been made to account for troop movements from all the Factions throughout the whole year. Factions will be allocated a number of standard sized armies and navies to use for campaign purposes. If anyone would like to 'command' one of these armies or navies, please get in touch with me using the address below. Please note: these armies are under the ultimate control of myself, as Faction Leader (IC & OOC), and the Lord Marshall of the Armies, Karl (IC). They cannot be used except via these characters, but I have seen a few players from other factions use them as role-play 'props'. For example: There was a large fight going on near Bristol in Albion - they had a bit of an undead problem there. Armies from other factions were sent to aid them using these FMPs (Faction Military Points).As you can see by the example the FMP armies will normally be used only in downtime plot, but occasionally they may be used for other purposes. Prior to the Gathering, two armies were conscripted to prepare the site outside Frankfurt for the Gathering (putting up the Faction walls, building the Guild houses, etc.).
If you are interested in this form of campaign-related year-long role-play, let me know. This may or may not alter your Gathering character in terms of rank, position, power etc., but you will have to keep in touch with the command Group regularly to find out where your army is being sent (and why). Please be aware that the Lorien Trust has rules for FMP armies in combat situations. It is possible that your character may be injured or killed during these battles, it is also possible, however, you may return a hero.
Also, this year there is a new concept of Faction Special Points (FSPs) being run for all Factions. These are to simulate Rituals that are being held throughout the year. FSPs will be used to purchase such things as summoned creatures, special items and other ritual-based powers that can be justified at the Gathering Event. By the addition of these FSPs they can also be used to help a ritual to succeed (depending on the power of the ritual and how many FSPs available to spend). However, all FSPs must be spent before the gathering, so please get in touch if you can think of a good way to spend them. Please remember, if your ritual group wishes to summon a powerful creature at the Gathering (or before it) you must have someone to play the creature (and the costume). FSPs are run from Gathering to gathering ...that is ... now that the Gathering '96 has passed I have a new set of FSP's to spend between now and the Gathering '97. Wish lists from groups are welcome, but I cannot guarantee what will be bought, allowed or changed.
Vipers introduce a new word into the Gathering vocabulary. At the last Faction Leader's meeting I saw Paul Wilder (The Violet Mage) wearing a new red T-Shirt.The traditional Lorien Trust logo of a Dragon encircling the globe had been changed so that the dragon head had become a sheep's head. The caption read:- "Lorien Trust Senior Staff ..... Do It With Lammies". The word "Lammies" is now a common term for laminated special effect cards in Lorien Trust meetings - thank you Goblins.