What you should know The Companions of the Unicorn are a group of role-playing games enthusiasts dedicated to the expansion of their passion in Canada. In fact, the Companions constitute the only national role-playing game association. Operating in both of Canada's official languages, the Companions of the Unicorn / Compagnons de la Licorne offer you an opportunity to learn what others are doing and participate actively in the future of rpg's across the country. Want to know more? Take a look! Frequently Asked Questions Historical Overview? How do I join? Why should I join? Who are the Companions? What are their objectives? How is it structured? What does it do? How to contact us? Historical Overview August 1995, a group of role-playing games enthusiasts meet via the internet. This forum was the result of discussions initiated during a gaming convention held in Montréal (PQ). Their goal: discuss the creation of a truly canadian gaming association. Although small clubs are a common sight in Canada, most gamers who wish to join a bigger association tend to go towards the ones exiting south of the border. One must realize these clubs, created by the corporations who sell the games, tend to concentrate their efforts on big conventions for the most part. Everyone agreed that, until these gamers were patriated to a Canadian association, there was no real hope to see an organized expansion of conventions and clubs take place in the country. Clearly, it was time to create an indigenous Canadian mechanism for promoting role-playing games. This mechanism was created in September 1995 and a group of officers elected to sit on the "Council of the Companions". With these brief, historic words, the Companions of the Unicorn became the first concerted attempt to patriate the avid gamers lost in the american melting pot. At the same time, the first Captain-General of the Companions authorized the creation of the first four services to be offered by the association: the Heraldic Authority, the newsletter (known as "The Companion"), the Convention Starter 101 program and, finally, our own Franbourg:City of Peril campaign. One main decision was that the association was to remain grounded to the base. Created by gamers, it would remain under complete control of it's members. It was also decided that membership in the organization was to be totally FREE. A basic set of free services would be offered to all members with a variety of options. Back to Top How do I Join? Requests for membership or registrations take the form of a "petition" addressed to the Herald Chancellor through one of the Censors. They should set out the gaming background of the petitioner and information on gaming interests. All petitioners are reviewed by the Censors, who seek a warrant from the Herald Chancellor to grant membership. If the warrant is issued, the new member can start taking advantage of our various services. You can contact us at the following: Internet Coordinator Companions of the Unicorn Canadian RPG Association companions@oocities.com Or CLICK HERE to use our on-line membership application form. Back to Top Why should I join? To be honest? No reason at all...except, perhaps, a love of role-playing games. We have nothing to sell, no hidden agenda, no products to push. We touch all styles and and all systems at one time or another and nothing stops us from saying what we think. Joining gives you all the benefits of your standard RPG clubs, however, the Companions were designed to leave a great deal of space to members. Back to Top Who are the Companions? Our members are people just like you: proud and implicated role-playing game enthusiasts. Although we are officially a Canadian organization, we have an increasing international membership. These members from across the world are highly valued since they bring an entirely new set of perspectives in the games they participate in. Back to Top What are their objectives? The principal objective of the Companions of the Unicorn is to ensure that all Canadian gamers who wish to join a gaming association will have access to it. The Companions also encourages good gaming practices by working to the highest standards and by developing registration procedures that are consistent with the ones already in existence elsewhere. Many of the records created by the Companions will be made accessible to the members, which will help to increase the awareness the gamers have of others in their region and the possibilities inherent in creating their own local club. Back to Top How is it structured? The Companions of the Unicorn is headed by His Lordship the Captain-General. The officers, listed in order of seniority, are the Herald Chancellor, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and twelve Censors (one for each province, 1 for international recruits and 1 for the internet) who are also acting as advisors on the programs supervised by the Herald Chancellor. The committees includes other members, the main ones being the various recruitors, responsible for membership policies, and the Censors who are responsible for the Registrar. Last, but not least, we find the members. Developing and maintaining a gaming association for a country as geographically large, and as diverse in its social and cultural character, as Canada, is a challenging task. The Council and the other officers of the Companions arrange for consultations as required with various societies and associations to ensure that the new Canadian gaming association is appropriately sensitive to the gaming needs of all it's members. Back to Top What does it do? The Companions major activities include: registration of new members; registration of characters owned by members; control of the Franbourg:City of Peril and Starbase Sigma PBEM; provision of information on correct game practice; provision of information on how to start and manage conventions/clubs; encourage discussion via the club webzine or various internet site; development of, and involvement in, national and regional RPG ventures. Although a great deal of development work remains, it is possible to create a Canadian gaming system that is innovative, true to the form and alive with the dramatic possibilities of serving a bilingual, multicultural nation. The members can help shape the system and keep the Companions fully aware of their desires. Back to Top How to contact us: Companions Headquarters - crpga@quadrunner.com Canadian RPG Association care of Stéphane Raymond 2 Ch Dubé St-Joseph de Madawaska New Brunswick, Canada E7B 2V3 Herald Chancellor - crpga@quadrunner.com Supervisor, Franbourg:City of Peril companions@oocities.com Supervisor, Starbase Sigma companions@oocities.com Internet Coordinator companions@oocities.com Link Exchange Member Free Home Pages at GeoCities Credits ©1995-1998 Canadian RPG Association. All Rights Reserved.