Things monsters and hunters need to know

the hunt should be scheduled to begin at some time, say 8:00pm. hunters should be instructed to meet at 7:30pm, and monsters at 6:30pm. i'm not sure of the exact times, but the point is that you want about one and a half hours between when the monsters are supposed to meet and when the hunters are released onto the playing field. for either north or south campus hunts, parrish parlours is a pretty good place to have the briefing.

at the monster meeting, the wizards should make sure all monsters are present. they should determine substitutions or alternate rules if any monsters don't show up (if the fishmonger is missing, just don't have one; if the black knight is missing, upgrade someone else -- basically, use your judgment). announce all monsters and have them stand up so that everyone knows who/what everyone else is. the monsters need to know:

• the basic rules of fighting
• the hunt boundaries
• the identities and behaviour of the other monsters (the best way to do this is to explain each monster's task to him with other monsters listening)
• what the hunters are being told about them
• how much gold and xp they should get (varies by monster) and where to get it (hunt central)
• the fact that, as final arbiters of all battles, they are responsible for making sure hunters enjoy the hunt, enforcing rules, making sure nothing dangerous happens, and reporting anything bad to the wizards

the monsters should be released onto the playing field before hunters start to arrive, though it's fine to recruit some monsters to help finish setting up hunt central. monsters can hang out by hunt central and chat for awhile, but they should spread out around the playing area 10-15 minutes before the hunters arrive. a squire should run around the playing field yelling ``the hunters are coming!'' when the hunters are about to be released from briefing.

after this, the hunters will be briefed. it is important for all hunters to receive some briefing, even those who come late, so the people manning hunt central should make sure latecomers know the basic rules before giving them a trash bag. the hunters who arrive at parlours on time should be told:

• the basic rules of fighting
• the hunt boundaries
• hunt central and buying things
• what prizes exist and how to get them (see section 3.8.2)
• the identity of wizards and squires, who should be informed if anything goes wrong.
• the fact that monsters are final arbiters of battles, etc.
• a few facts about monsters, including: the location of the oracle and how to fight the black knight (especially the part about single combat), the fact that there's a difference between the vampire and the shadow, the fact that monsters which don't wear armour can't be killed by a hit on the torso.

explain to the hunters how to poke holes in their trash bags, then pass around trash bags for them. it's a good idea to have enough swords for the initial wave of hunters in parlours, so the hunters don't immediately need to swamp hunt central. then send them out to fight.