Covid-19, Massachusetts Phase 3, and Port Katherine

On Monday, July 6, Massachusetts will begin Phase 3 of its reopening process. As they do so, the rest of the nation is undergoing a massive surge in cases, with uncertainty as to when that will begin to crest and reduce.

We have a decision to make: whether or not to have our fall season.

In Phase 3, the general restrictions for Massachusetts look like this: “Indoor gatherings will be capped at eight people per 1,000 square feet with a maximum of 25, while outdoor enclosed gatherings will be limited to 25% of permitted capacity with a maximum of 100.”

Phase 4 won’t happen until there’s a vaccine, so we should expect that the entire fall season would take place in Phase 3.

As you can imagine, there is a version of our game we could run under those conditions. It would involve everyone wearing masks and limited numbers in the tavern, in mod halls, etc. We’d need to lower the cap to ensure that players+staff is less than 100.

My inclination is to not hold the fall season.

But I want to hear from you. Please write me and tell me what you think at director@portkatherine.com. I will also be discussing this matter directly with the staff. After I’ve collected your feedback and theirs, I will be making a decision and make a proposal to the Board of RFR, who will be meeting a week from today to discuss.

Ultimately, we run this game for you. So please let me know what you think. If I hear nothing, I will go with my gut and propose that we do not run.

Brian Misamore
Game Director, Port Katherine

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Thank you to everyone who wrote in. I have received 17 wonderful emails with incredible expressions of support for our entire community and for both the players and staff who come together to make Port Katherine the experience that it is. The sentiment of those emails was unanimous - while we are all eager to resume our adventures in the Pan Aetherium and miss each other deeply, we must instead choose responsibility, care for our neighbors, and compassion for the world at large, over our personal desires.

I will be recommending to the RFR Board of Directors that Port Katherine’s Fall and Winter events for 2020 be cancelled.

Thank you for being the greatest LARP community I have ever seen, and far greater than I could ever have imagined.

Brian Misamore
Game Director, Port Katherine

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