Hold

A Hold is a call that freezes all action immediately, used when a real-world safety concern needs to be handled before play continues.

A Hold is one of the most important calls in live-action role-play. When someone shouts "Hold," every player within earshot stops moving, stops fighting, and stops speaking in character, right where they stand. The call exists to deal with real-world concerns — a person is hurt, someone has tripped or lost a contact lens, there is a hazard on the field, or an emergency requires attention. Nothing in the game fiction matters more than the safety and wellbeing of the people playing it. The moment you hear "Hold," freeze in place. If you are mid-swing with a boffer weapon, bring it to a stop. If you were running, stop your feet. Crouch down or take a knee if your game asks you to, as this signals to anyone arriving on scene that play is paused and helps a first-aider or marshal move through the area quickly. Do not speak in character, do not continue a scene, and do not move through the space unless you are the person responding to the situation. Many games ask everyone who hears a Hold to repeat it so the call carries across the whole area. Play resumes when a marshal, game organiser, or other designated person calls "Lay on" (or whichever resume call your game uses — common alternatives include "Three, two, one, lay on" or a countdown). Wait for that signal before re-engaging with any in-game action. If you are unsure whether a Hold is still in effect, stay still and ask quietly out of character. If you ever need to call a Hold yourself — because you are hurt, you see a hazard, or something needs to stop — do not hesitate. Shout it clearly and loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. No one will penalise you for putting real safety first. Some games also have a quieter out-of-character signal for smaller pauses, so check your game's safety brief for any additional calls it uses alongside Hold. Every game runs its own version of this call with its own rules about who may call it, what the resume signal is, and how medical situations are handled on site. The safety briefing at the start of your event is the authority on your game's specific procedures. Attend it, listen carefully, and know where the first-aiders are before play begins.