New Player Guide

Getting a Costume

A good costume really gives life to the game, and does not have to be difficult or expensive. You probably already have a simple costume in your closet!

For Starters

"But I don't have a costume!" Sure you do. You don't need a fancy gown or a set of tights to fit in at Quest game. And you don't have to worry about being perfectly accurate to the 14th century or anything; we have a pretty loose interpretation about what looks "medieval".

First, the basics. For the shirt: plain-colored, long-sleeve t-shirts (without breast pockets or logos), henley shirts, and sweatshirts can make a good starting tunic. Leave the shirt untucked, but wear a belt over the shirt; that's what makes it look medieval. For women, most puffy-sleeved blouses work great.

For pants: dark-colored sweats work fine, as do most leggings. Black or brown khakis work too. Black jeans even work — though blue jeans don't, so please don't wear them. For women, most long skirts will do.

You can enhance a basic tunic further with a second layer; for instance, you could wear a vest over it, or you can buy a long rectangle of cloth, cut out a hole in the middle for your head, and wear it as a tabard (with your belt over it).

For shoes, avoid sneakers if you can. Most boots, including hiking boots, will do just fine, as will "moc" style shoes. If all else fails, go with leather shoes instead of sneakers. (However, at our weekend-long events you will be outside a lot in the woods, so then you will want to prioritize for comfortable outdoor shoes instead of ones that look medieval.)

If your costume doesn't have a pocket, consider digging up a pouch or bag somewhere. You will find pouches to be fairly indispensible, as they allow you to carry around whatever stuff you have on you, while still looking appropriate to the setting. A purse will do fine, especially if worn diagonally across the chest.

Try to avoid wearing blue jeans, clothing with logos, and any other piece of clothing that looks particularly modern!

If the weather is poor, particularly at our weekend events, you'll want something to keep out the cold or the rain/snow. Ideally, stick to long, plain-color coats (like trenchcoats) instead of modern-looking ski jackets. (However, we understand that it's better to be warm than to look medieval.)

Improving Your Costume

The basics above are perfectly acceptable! As your character moves up in class and standing, or if you find a character that you really enjoy playing, you may want to consider putting together a fancier or more authentic costume. A cloak is a good investment (and not that hard to make; consult Google for some easy patterns), as is a nice period shirt. Renaissance faires often sell nice garb, though often at less-than-affordable prices. There are a number of catalogs specializing in period garb, such as Museum Replicas Limited. There are also some excellent online resources, including simple patterns for sewing.

You will also find that thrift shops and second-hand stores can be a good way to acquire inexpensive garb. For example, some of our players have bought old leather jackets and cut them into vests; an old leather purse makes a great belt pouch. Vests, blousy shirts, and other treasures can be had for cheap at such stores.