Ow ow ow... I failed to realise how much work Monstering is. The frequent deployments from the monster room coupled with my own enthusiastic efforts to be helpful and approachable are wearing me out. One thing you'll learn about while LARPing is your general level of fitness- its a damn good idea to limber up a little before battle is joined (Or you are called on to become a halfling shopkeeper with atrocious dress sense).
Today we got the opportunity to fight in clear daylight, which believe me is to be preferred. A thought strikes me that, despite the safety rules, the foam weapons and the ever-vigilant referees, last night gave me a little taste of how chaotic and scary a night engagement can be.
In any case, this time I was prepared- I ditched the two hander in favour of a shield and war hammer combo, much easier to use and it'll help me survive that much longer before doing the invisible arms-raised stroll back to the monster area for respawn. It works too, I'm better able to get a handle on how the calls (things like abilities, spells, scrolls, chants etc) work and how not to get surrounded and beaten to an imaginary pulp. I'm still no great shakes at this, though.
However, it is immense fun, especially when you improvise, I managed to crate a little bit of drama when I had my fellow TEs surround a downed player and prevent a rescue for half their downed timer. Of course I allowed them to rescue the fallen eventually, because I'm not a dick. I feel I played it right however, because the look in the rescuing player's eyes was a gift. I played the mindless minion card to the hilt, only relenting when I received an order to redeploy from a Greater TE.
I also managed to twist an ankle. Karma is a bitch.
Showing posts with label WTHWIWTDT?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WTHWIWTDT?. Show all posts
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Lions spring event 19/03/2011 Part 1.5
Reflecting on the previous day's round of hectic activity, I'm sat outside the shower block (this place is used as a scout hut I think) in the early morning sunshine. After a little bit of head scratching I've decided to record some more thoughts that may help people new to LARP.
Potentially the most intimidating aspect of this gathering is the social factor. Don't mistake me, everyone is super-friendly and helpful but still there remains a definite disconnect for the new joiner without an existing LARP background.
First we have the in character/out of character barrier; this is vital for maintaining the immersion of the player base of course but it can result in some difficulties, especially if someone isn't used to it. This is mainly because, as a monster, you'll be sat in a relatively small area waiting to be called up for service while players are constantly role playing their characters, wandering about and essentially being entirely other people for the duration. This more or less precludes mutual introductions, at least until time out at the end of the day. This shouldn't be a huge problem however- I got around it by involving myself voluntarily in anything I could (including helping the kitchen volunteers peeling one metric Kilimanjaro of apples for the evening menu; ironically I was so tapped out I fell asleep early and didn't get any!); from asking around it seems that most new players start out their LARP life monstering this way, getting stuck in is the key.
Another thing to remember is that these gatherings are fairly infrequent so long-term friends naturally want to spend more face time with their fellow veteran LARPers. Again, don't be unduly discouraged if you end the event without a parcel of new friends (this is unlikely to be totally honest). Like everything, this takes time and effort.
OK, that isn't as helpful-sounding as I thought at first.
Potentially the most intimidating aspect of this gathering is the social factor. Don't mistake me, everyone is super-friendly and helpful but still there remains a definite disconnect for the new joiner without an existing LARP background.
First we have the in character/out of character barrier; this is vital for maintaining the immersion of the player base of course but it can result in some difficulties, especially if someone isn't used to it. This is mainly because, as a monster, you'll be sat in a relatively small area waiting to be called up for service while players are constantly role playing their characters, wandering about and essentially being entirely other people for the duration. This more or less precludes mutual introductions, at least until time out at the end of the day. This shouldn't be a huge problem however- I got around it by involving myself voluntarily in anything I could (including helping the kitchen volunteers peeling one metric Kilimanjaro of apples for the evening menu; ironically I was so tapped out I fell asleep early and didn't get any!); from asking around it seems that most new players start out their LARP life monstering this way, getting stuck in is the key.
Another thing to remember is that these gatherings are fairly infrequent so long-term friends naturally want to spend more face time with their fellow veteran LARPers. Again, don't be unduly discouraged if you end the event without a parcel of new friends (this is unlikely to be totally honest). Like everything, this takes time and effort.
OK, that isn't as helpful-sounding as I thought at first.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Lions spring event 18/03/2011
Day 1:
Well I'm as prepared as I can be, I think. I have a sleeping bag from the future and enough changes of clothes to offset a minor downpour. I also have my notebook, a pen, duster coat and sense of creeping dread.
I've never done anything like this before; there are so many unknown quantities here that my paranoia and cynicism have found themselves in a surprise coalition with my social cowardice. Despite this, I'm going to press on, for the sake of meeting interesting new people and pretending to stab them up.
This little bit of emotional turbulence is suggestive; has my love of gaming blunted my urge to explore the real world for myself? Has dipping into other people's imaginary constructs so frequently stifled mine, in the same way that over-regularly taking painkillers can compromise the human body's ability to suppress pain naturally? Hmm.
Once arrived and set up, my friends and I go our separate ways, myself to the monster room and they to get kitted up for their characters. I should mention, for those unfamiliar with the terms, "monster" in this sense refers to general NPCs, enemies, shopkeepers, marmosets, sentient tableware- anything the plot guys need, that's what I'll be doing this weekend. The room is currently full of people, slightly more confident looking people, bustle and what looks like a dwarven jumble sale on several tables. Axes, swords and spears are stacked on one table, various scraps of clothing on another. Introductions are made, basics explained and then, to my secret surprise, the game is on. Confusion reigns for a few seconds as I strain to hear the battle setup, what I'm supposed to be and grab a passable costume from the fabric debris and a decent looking weapon. I'm further surprised to realise I'm smiling.
The first battle takes place in the near-dark with me not being sure of the rules, my given NPC's abilities (I'm some flavour of time elemental) or what I can expect to be facing from the players. For this fight, I've picked a two-handed sword and I'm quickly realising that this was a mistake, even if the thing isn't genuine, trying to bring it to bear effectively is still like trying to hit a wasp with a barn on a stick. Next time I'll try something less cumbersome!
This has given me a basic idea of what monstering is all about; you are in essence grist for the mill- you aren't expected to match players on the battlefield, but you are expected to put up as good a fight as your NPC limitations will allow you to. I was brutally splattered about twelve times following this idea, but I'm still grinning. In between battles myself and the monster squad were called upon to do some non combat taster bits also. I'm utterly knackered after all that; time to test out that space-age sleeping bag.
Well I'm as prepared as I can be, I think. I have a sleeping bag from the future and enough changes of clothes to offset a minor downpour. I also have my notebook, a pen, duster coat and sense of creeping dread.
I've never done anything like this before; there are so many unknown quantities here that my paranoia and cynicism have found themselves in a surprise coalition with my social cowardice. Despite this, I'm going to press on, for the sake of meeting interesting new people and pretending to stab them up.
This little bit of emotional turbulence is suggestive; has my love of gaming blunted my urge to explore the real world for myself? Has dipping into other people's imaginary constructs so frequently stifled mine, in the same way that over-regularly taking painkillers can compromise the human body's ability to suppress pain naturally? Hmm.
Once arrived and set up, my friends and I go our separate ways, myself to the monster room and they to get kitted up for their characters. I should mention, for those unfamiliar with the terms, "monster" in this sense refers to general NPCs, enemies, shopkeepers, marmosets, sentient tableware- anything the plot guys need, that's what I'll be doing this weekend. The room is currently full of people, slightly more confident looking people, bustle and what looks like a dwarven jumble sale on several tables. Axes, swords and spears are stacked on one table, various scraps of clothing on another. Introductions are made, basics explained and then, to my secret surprise, the game is on. Confusion reigns for a few seconds as I strain to hear the battle setup, what I'm supposed to be and grab a passable costume from the fabric debris and a decent looking weapon. I'm further surprised to realise I'm smiling.
The first battle takes place in the near-dark with me not being sure of the rules, my given NPC's abilities (I'm some flavour of time elemental) or what I can expect to be facing from the players. For this fight, I've picked a two-handed sword and I'm quickly realising that this was a mistake, even if the thing isn't genuine, trying to bring it to bear effectively is still like trying to hit a wasp with a barn on a stick. Next time I'll try something less cumbersome!
This has given me a basic idea of what monstering is all about; you are in essence grist for the mill- you aren't expected to match players on the battlefield, but you are expected to put up as good a fight as your NPC limitations will allow you to. I was brutally splattered about twelve times following this idea, but I'm still grinning. In between battles myself and the monster squad were called upon to do some non combat taster bits also. I'm utterly knackered after all that; time to test out that space-age sleeping bag.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Why the HELL would I want to do that?
I'm a man of varied interests; I collect Forteana and have a small personal library of sci-fi and fiction as well as a lot of stuff from the great American fiction writers and self-styled life poets. I play video games and read comics. I like forest walking. I follow politics like a bloodhound with a grudge and my musical tastes can genuinely be described as eclectic.
But recently, as I've taken stock of my life in the light of my coming redundancy, I've noticed a lot more "used to's" and a lot less actual activity. I've become closed-minded, sour, embittered and grouchy. I mean for this to change.
To that end I have decided to conduct an experiment. I have thought of several things to see and do to which my initial reaction was "And why the hell would I want to do that?". My experiment will be to seek for the answer to that question, by going and doing these things with no thought of my own personal dignity.
Most of them will be harmless, geeky things that nevertheless may strike fear and unease into stout but uninitiated folk. Some of them may be totally ill-advised; all of them will be fun. Lets go out and discover them together. Don't worry, you'll be perfectly fine. For a given value of fine.
Shall we begin?
N.B. I'd like to mention that I'm not setting out to poke fun at anyone's treasured pastimes here; I'm not about to go thrusting a spoke in the wheel for cheap laughs and even cheaper column inches. I'm arriving with nothing but flimsy prejudice and hopefully leaving with nothing but experience, bruises and some photos I'm sure to regret.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
WTHWIWTDT? Part One- Playing the Role.
If I mentioned pen and paper role playing to you, what would your reaction be? Would you stare at me like a Budgerigar asked to write a Haiku? Would you find yourself grinning wistfully and recalling evenings spend uncovering conspiracy, slaying monsters and acting out wild extensions of your personality? Or would you quietly get up and head for the nearest exit, shaking your head? If your answered Budgerigar or Exit, stop, cease and desist- its you I particularly want to talk to. You others, take *Rolls*... five and I'll be back soon.
For those of you not cringing at that joke, here are the basics: A role playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting, for instance a derelict space station, 1930's New York or the front lines of an epic battle. Players act out these roles within a persistent storyline, through a process of structured decision-making or character development.
Actions taken within the game succeed or fail according to an agreed system of rules and guidelines. An arranger called a game master (GM) usually decides on the rules and setting to be used and acts as referee, while each of the other players plays the role of a single character.
With me so far? Right, well I used to (grrr!) play a few of these in my ancient college days (Vampire the Masquerade and Werewolf, with a tiny bit of Call of Cthulhu as well) and I thought it would be a nice starting point on my quest to reclaim my interests and broaden my horizons.
With this in mind I joined up with known lexical contrabandistor and semi-professional beard wearer Evis T and joined a game of Vampire: World of Darkness he was running.
So far, it's been a blast. I've accidentally eaten a hobo to death, had my face peeled off by sewer zombies and met the country's most powerful Rastafarian Cheshire cat. God alone knows what goes on in Evis' head when he's coming up with these plots, but I'm glad it does. I've also gotten to know some top people from my player group. Despite my earlier reservations, I'm glad I started this now.
Also his characters have potential beyond the game.
For those of you not cringing at that joke, here are the basics: A role playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting, for instance a derelict space station, 1930's New York or the front lines of an epic battle. Players act out these roles within a persistent storyline, through a process of structured decision-making or character development.
Actions taken within the game succeed or fail according to an agreed system of rules and guidelines. An arranger called a game master (GM) usually decides on the rules and setting to be used and acts as referee, while each of the other players plays the role of a single character.
With me so far? Right, well I used to (grrr!) play a few of these in my ancient college days (Vampire the Masquerade and Werewolf, with a tiny bit of Call of Cthulhu as well) and I thought it would be a nice starting point on my quest to reclaim my interests and broaden my horizons.
With this in mind I joined up with known lexical contrabandistor and semi-professional beard wearer Evis T and joined a game of Vampire: World of Darkness he was running.
So far, it's been a blast. I've accidentally eaten a hobo to death, had my face peeled off by sewer zombies and met the country's most powerful Rastafarian Cheshire cat. God alone knows what goes on in Evis' head when he's coming up with these plots, but I'm glad it does. I've also gotten to know some top people from my player group. Despite my earlier reservations, I'm glad I started this now.
Also his characters have potential beyond the game.
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