IFGS stands for International Fantasy Gaming Society, and it is based on a group of the same name in the novels DREAMPARK, THE BARSOOM PROJECT, and THE CALIFORNIA VOODOO GAME by Larry Niven and Steve Barnes. This is a non-profit organization that promotes, designs, and runs safe LIVE role playing games, complete with rules for combat (with foam padded weapons) and other fantasy elements (e.g. spell casting). A strong emphasis is placed on roleplaying and maintaining your persona during a game. Safety is also a key word, as each chapter has a Safety Officer who checks weapons construction, fighting styles, and game sites to make sure they are in accordance with the IFGS safety guidelines. In addition, before a game is run, it goes through a sanctioning process by the chapter which checks game design, logistics, and safety to maximize the chances that everyone has a good time. All players in an officially sanctioned IFGS game are also covered by the society's insurance policy in case of an accident. The IFGS was started eleven years ago in Colorado. It now has 18 chapters and provisional chapters in Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusets, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The IFGS has a complete Rules Book that covers all aspects of a game: creating characters, costuming, fighting, magic, spell casting, and the eight character classes. Weapons are made from a bamboo or fiberglass tube core, covered with closed cell foam. Weapons intended to catch limbs or other weapons are not allowed, and neither are weapons with chains (e.g. nunchakus). Shields have to be covered with foam, on the face and the edge, and we never fire any arrows or bolts of any kind during an adventure. Armor is represented by a patch of cloth of a specific color (e.g brown patch = leather armor). We do not recommend wearing actual armor because it is not necessary as far as safety goes; in fact, certain types of armor could be barred from a game by a Game Safety Officer if they are deemed to be unsafe to the wearer or other players. Also, keep in mind that real metal armor can really wear you down during a 6 or 7 hour game where you have to walk up to 2 miles, usually in the glaring sun :)

Combat rules are very simple. Each weapon does a base amount of damage, plus any bonuses from character level or magic. It is your own skill that determines whether you hit your opponent or not, but once you hit, you call out the damage, and your opponent takes that amount of damage, minus armor or any other protection. Each character class has a base number of life points, and this goes up by level. You also have limb points, so it's possible to lose an arm or a leg. You keep track of your own life points during a game, but there are score keepers with each party who also record damage. Any touch is a hit, which encourages a finesse style of combat.

Throwing stars, flasks of acid, oil, or holy water, and certain special abilities are represented by a specific color of bean bag. Once again, your skill determines whether you hit someone or not, and the range is as far as you can throw the beanbags. Arrows and spells work on a system that is based on costume color. Each character's costume has to be 80% one color, and players on the same party can't have the same color costume. When a player calls out "Arrow, red" the player wearing red is informed by the game master if he was hit by an arrow or not, and how much damage he takes. Spell casting works the same way, the spell caster chants for the appropriate amount of time, calls out the name of the spell, the color of the costume(s) affected by the spell, and the damage (or other effect).

Player characters have eight classes to choose from: Fighter, Ranger, Knight, Magic User, Cleric, Druid, Thief (Rogue), and Monk. Each character class has distinct abilities which are gained at each level. The IFGS Bank keeps a record of all characters, including experience, level, gold, and items found. This way, you can play any of your characters in any IFGS chapter. You can also decide to play a Non Player Character in a game, or help as a Game Master or Score Keeper and still get experience that you can apply to any of your characters. Above all, though, the emphasis of the IFGS is on role-playing and having fun, not hoarding treasure or experience points.

You do have to become a member of the IFGS Society to be able to play in games, although everyone is entitled to 2 trial games before becoming a member. The membership requirement needed to keep the IRS happy with our non-profit social club status. Membership is $10 for one year, which includes The IFGS society newsletter, THE CHAINMAIL, and chapter membership.