Event Pyrotechnics

[mihangelion]

Hey guys.

This occured to me the other day and i know that right now we dont have the numbers needed for something like this but i thought i would ask it anyway.

Anyway ill get on with it, I was thinking the other day how to make these events more realistic and at a cheap cost to the staff and this past week i found out how.

As many of you know i am studying a Special Effects Course at university which means i get taught alot of very cool things but the thing that i found most rewarding was Pyrotechnics.

I have spent this last week completing a Pyrotechnics course (run by professionals) and have got myself a BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union) reconised qualification.



Now my question is, if it is possible on the sites we use, would people like me to provide a realistic atmosphere using pyrotechnics?

I know what people will say and i agree, yes I would need public liability insurance, written permission off the site owner and first aid on site etc.

On the insurance issue, I will shortly be joining BECTU which will grant me insurance.


If i see interest i will take this a professional route and do it properly as it will also forward my own future career due to experience.

so what do people think?

[Manius]

Pyro have always been a feature of events I’ve either been involved with or helped run and I saw no reason to exclude Grim Darkness events from that.

Basic Pyro such as Flash-Bangs etc are usable (depending on site) by players for personal effects (grenades and booby traps etc).

Other effects pyro has used by staff members but to be honest, you’re likely to be better qualified than any of us now! Pyro effects will be used where possible and appropriate and what I will say now is that if we find a plot avenue for it and need such, we will contact you to ask for your support if that’s ok?

[mihangelion]

Yeh its not a problem. i was my intention to offer the service if you will lol.

There are plenty of effects we could use without needing a license to store them. Bullet runs etc are very easy to do and you could be stood next to one when it detonates so they are pretty safe if done correctly

[L/Cpl Elliott]

I think this is a brilliant idea!!!

I've been on excercises with the cadets where we've had trip flares, blank rounds, smoke grenades, etc. going off left right and centre for 5+ mins solid, and I've always found that charging the enemy is a lot better when you're doing it through a haze of gunsmoke.

[mihangelion]

One thing that i might not have stressed well enough in my first few posts is that I am VERY serious about doing this safely. Alot of people might read it and think im just some pyro nut but after being trained you get a clear idea to how much damage these can cause and how to handle them safely.

If any effects are used then they will be used with the best possible regard for safety.

[Manius]

May 12, 2008 22:48:25 GMT mihangelion said:

One thing that i might not have stressed well enough in my first few posts is that I am VERY serious about doing this safely. Alot of people might read it and think im just some pyro nut but after being trained you get a clear idea to how much damage these can cause and how to handle them safely.

If any effects are used then they will be used with the best possible regard for safety.

Well that confirms that you 100% better trained and more competent than the usual person I’ve got for such events…i.e. “here’s £50, pop down the firework factory and see what you can get that goes BANG”

*cough*whistles innocently*

[mihangelion]

yeh in my eyes one should be even basically qualified to create effects for these sort of events.

One thing i am going to sort out is that everyone has ear plugs lol

[roguesword]

After years of clay shooting with dodgy ear defenders i think my ears are f'ed anyway. Think this is an ace idea, but you wouldnt be able to do it on all sites. Many dont allow pyros at all, or insist that all pyros are bought from the site due to insurance reasons.

[Manius]

To be honest, Pyro based effects will be kept to a minimum.

Firstly, the rule of “less is more” means that if you’re subjected to such effects throughout an event you’ll get used to them and they won’t have the desired OOC effect (shock, wonder etc).

IF the sites allow it there will be small pyro for grenades obviously but, I hope, we’re discussing the more significant effects that we can use to physrep more special things such as tears in the Warp, daemon summoning, plasma blasts etc.

[mihangelion]

Indeed. it wont be a large amount mainly because i would want to play too hehe.

But yeh for that added effect i will prob be hidden in a bush/hide with all wires hidden to give it a bit of extra effect

[SGT Lucius Praal]

this sounds like a very good idea indeed if done not just safly but well. you could contact my flat mate whenhe gets his profile on here sorted) as he is allso quallifiedto do pyros and to top it off is an raf armorer so ill have other infothat might be of use to you for this. if you would like to contact him this week with any questions send them to me on here in a pm as he is unavalable due to work