Welcome to the New Players section of the Querna Tema website! If you're reading this, odds are good that you're new to Amtgard, to the Duchy of Querna Tema, or both. If so, then you're in the right place. In a nutshell, this page is a good starting point for any new player. You can find online documents, and other general information here.

So, what is Amtgard anyway?
Amtgard is a non-profit, non-sectarian group devoted to recreating elements of the medieval, ancient, and fantasy genres. The thrust of Amtgard is both recreational and educational, with major group efforts devoted to reconstructions of medieval combat. Amtgard weapons are safe, foam-padded replicas of the real things. Anyone age 14 or greater may join (those under 14 years of age require parental and Monarch approval to partake).

What is Querna Tema?
Querna Tema is a Duchy within the realm of Amtgard. The Duchy of Querna Tema is in the Omaha area. There are currently 12 kingdoms in Amtgard spread across the United States, with provinces in Canada, as well as a few holdings in Europe and Australia. You can find a great deal more information about the specific kingdoms of Amtgard and their Chapters (location, contact info, etc.) at the Amtgard Atlas.

How do I get started?
First, have a look at the Amtgard: Handbook on the Rules of Play (this is an Adobe Acrobat document, 1.45 megabytes in size). This handbook is the essence of Amtgard. Rules, descriptions of the game and it's content, and so on are found within it's pages.

Next, you may want to read Amtgard: A Beginner's Guide. This is exactly what is says it is: A beginner's guide to the game. If you're new to Amtgard, this document is meant for you. Keep in mind that this is a "guide", meant to assist new players. If there are ever rules questions, always defer to the Amtgard rulebook.

To speed up your entry into the QT, you should download, read, and complete an Waiver. The Waiver is required for all Amtgard participants in the Duchy of Querna Tema (as well as for participation throughout Amtgard).

You can find all of these documents, and quite a few more, in the Querna Tema's Documents section of this website. The Documents section has just about everything relevant to Querna Tema, and quite a bit more. Still more can be found at the official Amtgard homepage where many of the documents in the QT site have been mirrored from. If you haven't already done so, be sure to check the Amtgard homepage, as well as the Amtgard Publications page.

If you have any questions, by all means ask them. New players are always welcome and encouraged to attend. The first person you can contact is the Duke. The Duke can try to answer your questions, and may be able to direct you to a provincial monarch or contact near you for further assistance.

So, you want to take part, but don't know where to start? No problem. Have a look at the Calendar page. The calendar there lists the activities going on in Querna Tema. Typically, we meets once a week for a fighter practice and once a week (on a weekend day) to game. if you need directions to a site, they're more than likely on the Maps page. And if you don't see what you're looking for there, you still have the option of contacting the Duke, or anyone else listed on the site.

Querna Tema also has an Email List that anyone may subscribe to. This list is the most used method of communication and distribution of information. To subscribe to the list (or adjust your settings if you're already subscribed), head over to the The Querna Tema List. Once subscribed, you can send messages to the QT mailing list by addressing a message to QuernaTema@yahoogroups.com. Note: only addresses subscribed to the list may send email to the QT list. Mail from non-subscribers will not be relayed through the list, and instead will be immediately bounced back to the sender.

Written By Thor of the IM (with our thanks!)