Organization
The IFGS is a national organization. A central committee is responsible for maintaining the rules, as well as keeping track of sanctioned chapters. Each chapter has its own internal structure, and exists as a self-sufficient entity. My experiences were all with the West Los Angeles and Orange County chapters; I have no doubt that other chapters will have some different customs, but all chapters will play by the same set of rules. By the way, the oficial web page can be found at http://http.rap.ucar.edu/ staff/brandon/ifgs/ifgs.html.
Bar Games
"Bar games" are plotless get-togethers where people hang out in character. They are a chance to take it easy, practice fighting, and conduct business with other characters you didn't get to see in recent games. They usually take place in an imaginary tavern—hence the name. Kool-Aid or similar beverages are often provided.
Weapons
An IFGS melee weapon is made of strips of closed-cell foam around a bamboo or fiberglass core. This foam-and-bamboo sandwich is held together with contact cement and covered with a stretchy fabric sock. It's light enough to be safe, but strong enough to take the abuse of combat. It costs about $20 to make a pair of swords. Any chapter will be able to give you detailed instructions on how to make proper weapons, and most of them will have loaners for new players.
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