Warband Rules

A warband is a persistent group of players who choose to act together within the Wargrounds across multiple events. Warbands are intended to be long‑term social, narrative, and organisational units rather than temporary teams assembled for a single game.

Warbands exist to:

• Create social cohesion and belonging for players who want a consistent group identity

• Provide a structure for mentorship and onboarding, especially for newer players

• Contribute meaningfully to the shared narrative of the Wargrounds

• Offer a recognisable presence that helps other players understand who you are, what you value, and how you play

Warbands are not required to participate in Wargrounds, though they are in order to be a member of a faction. Choosing not to join a warband is a valid and respected way to play.

Because warbands have outsized influence on player experience, tone, and culture, they carry responsibility as well as privilege. Warbands are expected to act in ways that support the health, safety, and longevity of the community as a whole.

All warbands must exist under one of the following three factions:

• The Most Holy Empire of Confederated Kingdoms

• The League of Free Peoples and Nations

• The Dreadhorde

Factions act as broad narrative and organisational frameworks, not rigid or totalising identities. A faction provides context, tone, and alignment, but does not grant ownership over an entire culture, race, ideology, or aesthetic.

A warband should represent one expression of a faction’s values, history, or worldview - no single warband is the definitive version of that faction.

A Warband’s concepts and lore must intentionally leave room for:

• Other warbands within the same faction

• Individual character agency and divergence

• Future narrative developments introduced by admins or other players

This approach ensures factions remain diverse, flexible, and able to grow over time without contradiction or exclusion.

To maintain fairness, accessibility, and healthy community dynamics, warbands are subject to strict size limits.

• Minimum size: 3 players

• Maximum size: 10 players

The maximum size of 10 players includes all members, without exception. This means:

• Players who list the warband as a secondary warband still count toward the cap

• Players who tour and later formally join are counted once they are accepted

The size cap exists to:

• Prevent social dominance or factional stacking

• Reduce pressure on unaffiliated players

• Ensure leaders can realistically care for and support their members

• Encourage the formation of multiple distinct warbands rather than a small number of oversized groups

Admins may review or intervene if a warband’s size or structure begins to negatively impact player experience or game balance.

Joining a Warband

Joining a warband is considered a mutual commitment between the player and the group. It is not intended to be an instant or casual decision.

Touring Recommendation

Players are strongly encouraged to tour with a warband for two to three (2–3) games before formally joining.

Touring is:

• Organised through the warband leader

• Communicated to admins by the leader

• Intended to allow all parties to assess fit, expectations, and group culture

Touring exists to:

• Protect players from joining incompatible groups

• Give leaders time to clearly communicate expectations and boundaries

• Reduce social friction, pressure, or regret

Admins may recommend touring in situations where concerns exist about group fit, player wellbeing, or rapid expansion. The final call for Warband membership is the decision of the Warband Leader and tentative player.

Players Without a Warband

Players who are not members of a warband are always entitled to participate in Wargrounds events.

Wargrounds does not require warband membership to access gameplay, narrative, or community involvement, though there may be additional benefits to having joined a Warband.

• Combat-focused games: non-warband players will be auto-assigned to sides based on numbers, balance, and safety considerations

• Immersive or narrative-focused games: non-warband players are expected to assist a faction directly rather than acting independently

This structure ensures:

• Fair and balanced teams

• Clear narrative alignment

• Equal access to play regardless of social affiliation

Not joining a warband is a valid long-term playstyle, and will not be removed from Wargrounds as a whole. However, joining a warband is generally preferential for game-balance and community inclusion purposes.

Creating a Warband

Creating a warband is a request to take on additional responsibility within the Wargrounds community.

Players wishing to form a new warband must submit a written request to the admin team via email at wargrounds.battlesport@gmail.com with Warband Application - (Warband Name) as the preferred subject of the email. 

Submission Requirements

Applications must include the following elements:

1. Warband name

   • Must be distinct and non-totalising

2. Requested faction

   • One of the three available factions

3. Elevator pitch / unique theme

   • A concise explanation of what makes the warband distinct

   • What niche, tone, or role it fills

4. Style guide

   • Visual identity and cohesion

   • Costume expectations and boundaries

   • Overall aesthetic tone

5. In-character lore

   • Minimum of two paragraphs

   • Must link the warband to its chosen faction

   • Lore should invite interaction, not restrict it

   • Admin assistance is available on request

   • If you choose to collaborate with other warbands in lore-linking, this is encouraged so long as all parties consent, and must be removed upon request

6. Warband leader

   • Named individual responsible for the group

   • Must hold a valid Working With Vulnerable People card

7. Player list

   • Current members at time of submission

   • Must be kept accurate and up to date

Applications are assessed collaboratively, with the goal of ensuring alignment with community values, narrative cohesion, and player safety.

A warband leader occupies a position of trust, visibility, and influence within the Wargrounds.

Leadership is not purely an in-character role. It carries real responsibilities toward players and the wider community. A warband leader does not necessarily need to be the in-character leader of a warband, but is it required that they adhere to these expectations.

Warband leaders are expected to:

• Actively care for the wellbeing, inclusion, and safety of their members

• Set and maintain a healthy internal group culture

• Support new players and touring members

• Communicate clearly, promptly, and honestly with admins

• Uphold safety rules, behavioural expectations, and admin rulings

• Read and Sign the Warband Leaders agreement upon Warband approval

Leaders are also responsible for:

• Managing conflict within their warband where possible

• Escalating issues to admins when appropriate

• Ensuring their warband’s conduct reflects positively on the faction and game

Failure to meet these expectations may result in admin intervention, leadership review, or removal of the warband.

Narrative Responsibility

Warbands play a major role in shaping the shared fiction of the Wargrounds.

When creating lore and playing in-character, warbands must:

• Avoid claiming exclusive ownership over races, cultures, ideologies, or factions

• Leave narrative space for other warbands and individual characters

• Treat lore as a tool for generating play, conflict, and interaction

Lore should function as an invitation, not a barrier. Warbands that attempt to close off narrative space or override faction identity may be asked to revise their concept.

Relationship With Admins

Admins act as custodians of safety, narrative consistency, and long-term community health.

They are not gatekeepers, but collaborators.

The warband approval and review process exists to ensure:

• Player wellbeing and protection

• Sustainable social dynamics

• Narrative coherence across the game

Open, good-faith communication between warband leaders and admins is expected. We are here to collaborate and tell a growing and unique story, and provide a safe and productive environment in which to do so.

Admins may request clarification, changes, or additional support at any stage of a warband’s life cycle.

Warbands are one of the most powerful forces shaping the Wargrounds experience.

They influence how new players feel welcomed, how stories emerge, and how conflict is experienced on and off the field.

This framework exists to ensure warbands remain a positive, creative, and sustainable part of the game.

If you are considering forming or joining a warband, do so with intention, care, and respect - for the world, for the story, and for the people beside you.