is applicable to the outside world. In most kingdoms, when a player becomes qualified for knighthood the knights in that kingdom vote to decide if the player is ready to join the peerage. Knighthood is not guaranteed upon qualifying, as the award is intended to recognize character as well as achievement. A player is not required to be a squire before being knighted, though squiring for a knight in good standing with the kingdoms circle of knights insures that the hopeful player will be well represented. Organization A common theme of medieval and fantasy feudalism runs through even the official level. Amtgard sub-chapters are generally organized by size, with smaller groups (called variously a "shire," "barony," "duchy," or "principality," depending on the number of active members and how long the group has been around) grouped under the larger or older chapters, called "kingdoms." Each sub-chapter is contractually bound to abide by the official Rules of Play (currently version 8.0) and is sponsored and supported by one of the Amtgard kingdoms. Each kingdom is a Not-For-Profit Organization registered in their state of origin. The kingdoms, along with their primary locations, are: The Kingdom of the Burning Lands, El Paso, Texas, Puyallup, Washington The Kingdom of the Emerald Hills, Dallas, Texas, Wichita Falls, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas River Valley The Celestial Kingdom, Central Texas The Empire of the Iron Mountains, Colorado The Kingdom of the Golden Plains, Amarillo, Texas The Kingdom of Dragonspine, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Tucson, Arizona, Cottonwood, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona The Kingdom of the Wetlands, Southeast Texas, Louisiana The Kingdom of Goldenvale, Nashua, New Hampshire The Kingdom of Neverwinter, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia The Kingdom of the Rising Winds, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota The Kingdom of the Black Spire Washington, Oregon, The Kingdom of Crystal Groves, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania The Kingdom of Desert Winds, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho The Kingdom of Tal Dagore, Missouri, Illinois The Kingdom of Northern Lights, Western Washington The Kingdom of Northreach, Alaska The Kingdom of Rivermoor, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba The Kingdom of Polaris, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa The Kingdom of Westmarch, California, Northern Nevada, Hawaii The Kingdom of Viridian Outlands, Eastern Washington, Western Canada See also Boffer LARP Dagorhir Belegarth Medieval Combat Society Society for Creative Anachronism References Copyright References for Amtgard Amtgard Books of