(Yes, I realise this is going up in February. This is for future reference, and available well in advance. Comments, additions, suggestions and tips welcome.)
On the Anvil of the Sun.
Welcome to Anvil in summer! Regardless of the season in play, the days heat up quite a bit. And as we have a cold weather guide, a hot weather one is perhaps needed…
Tent
Your tent can quite easily end up very warm indeed. If you can pitch it in the shade of something else, that might be a good idea. When it’s up, look for any little ventilation windows or slits built in, and open them up. If your groundsheet isn’t fitted, consider skipping it. Leaving it gaping open is a bad plan, but if you avoid sealing it up completely, that helps. As does letting it air for a little before you need to duck in.
Group tents also need ventilation. A flow through of air, raised panels, see if they have window ports built in as well. I have nearly passed out in airless tents during group meetings. Don’t do this.
Given heat buildup in tents, you may wake up early. So adjust your sleeping time to suit.
Clothing
While this is dependant on who you play as (and the Brass Coast I think have the edge for this weather), consider adjusting your outfit for summer wear. Linen or cotton instead of wool? Sandals instead of boots? Fewer layers? You want light and loose and flowing, with ventilation and ability to wick sweat away. Heavy furs and signature armour… should be minimised.
This applies especially to battle kits. Minimise, apply with a thought to heat, and hydrate extensively before, during and after.
Accessories can help. The Marchers do a nice line in straw hats, and I can see Urizen and the League with hand-fans. Parasols are also good, if you can manage one.
Bear in mind that clear skies all day will be quite cool at night, especially in contrast. Don’t leave the socks and warm top behind…
“Heat sinks” are of great use. Get a towel, scarf, shirt, whatever. Soak it in water, and then put it on, tucked around the neck, over the head, or even stuffed down inside a shirt. It will draw heat out of you, and cool you down, and trickle water down you.
Gear
Latex weapons do not like high temperatures. If they get too hot, they can become sticky and melt into each other. I suggest keeping them separated, in the shade, maybe wrapped in cloth (a towel, a cloak?). If you have metal armour, leaving it out in the sun will heat it up more than comfortable. You do not want to be able to fry an egg on your breastplate… So again, in the shade with something over them.
Food and drink
Drink is important. No, more important than that. Carry a water source with you. IC waterskins and flasks are great, but a cheaper classic is the 500ml water bottle, stuffed down a long plain sock, which is tied to your belt. Yes, you look like a tramp drinking out of a sock, but you’re hydrated. If PD gets to the point of breaking out the pallets of water bottles for players, they’d like you to use them, immersion can wait.
Stick to water or fruit squashes. Leave the alchohol till the cooler evening. A goblet of blackcurrant squash looks like wine and won’t dehydrate you. There are some cordials that can imitate wine etc and cool you down nicely. Keeping up electrolytes is big and clever, so fruit juices or something deliberately electrolyte rich is worth having (sports drinks etc).
Try to keep the food cool and light, especially during the day. Bread, cold meat, fruit etc. It’s not really soups/stews weather. I can reccomend tangerines, chewy oaty bars, and salty little snacks (keep salts topped up as well as water). Chocolates and the like will melt if kept in tents.
It’s possible to keep things cool, at a variety of budgets. A coolbox full of ice is great if you can manage it (please hide it IC). On a more modest budget, several bottles of water, frozen solid before you head to site and kept wrapped up (in a towel or cloak) will take some time to thaw and remain cool for a while.
Behaviour
The heat builds from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Fill water bottles in the morning, and stash them somewhere to stay cool during the heat.
If you have strenuous things to do, see if you can avoid doing them 11 to 15:00… That’s a good time to visit the Navarri in the woods, or perhaps the Freeborn with their well ventilated airy pavilions…
Hydrate regularly.
Do you want your facial tattoes/lineage markings sunburnt onto your face for the next week? Remember to apply sun cream before you need it. And apply it before you put on your make-up. Are you in sandals and short sleeves? More suncream there. Note that some face-paint works very nicely as sun-block, and some does not. Stay safe, apply sunblock if in doubt.