Monday, April 30, 2012

The Week in LARP - April 30th


This Week In LARP


Something starts on the First of May, but I don't quite remember what it is.  And don't put it in the comments.

NERO

NERO SWV will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, May 4th and ends on Sunday, May 6th. The game will be held at Camp Cherokee (KY) at the IG location of Borderlands. It's $50 to PC ($40 with prereg) and is free to NPC.

Independent

Triumph will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Saturday, May 5th and ends on Sunday, May 6th. The game will be held at Sycamore State Park. It's $35 to PC ($30 if you prepay) and is free to NPC, with a $5 suggested donation for food.

If you've got a game running this week and we didn't mention you, either drop a comment here or shoot an email to larp.plot.tips@gmail.com, and we'll add you as soon as possible!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Improving Your In-Game Setting

There have been slight pushes over the years I've LARPed to improve the look of the tavern/saloon/cantina, and for people to make their sleeping space more in-game.  A period looking gathering place can add a lot of atmosphere - but there are a few issues.

First, there's safety, both of players and of your stuff.  You probably don't want to bring your antiques to a game, or anything that you mind too much getting broken or dirty.  And it's hard to find a way to do open flames that don't run the risk of falling over and catching things on fire.

Second, it's extra work that not many people want to do.  They want to go and have fun, not re-decorate a musty tent or sagging cabin.  But there are a few easy ways, oh reader, to improve your look without breaking your back or your bank.  Some of these have been mentioned before, but they're good ideas!

1.) In-game Lighting - Turning off artificial lights wherever possible makes a huge difference.  Eyes will adjust, although safety should still be #1 concern, and likely your food prep people and NPC shack will always need the extra light.  Speaking of safety, candles and lamps add great atmosphere and provide a good light source.  But make sure you're not violating any regulations.  To avoid danger, use closed, sturdy lanterns, and put them in places where they won't get tipped over.  Electric candles can work pretty well, and while the little battery operated tealights look okay, they don't give much light.  Try to avoid the LED lanterns, as they're bright and don't look at all period - or you can muffle the light with a screen or filter to get the best of both worlds.

2.) Tablecloths for All! - Some cheap fabric can go a long way to hiding immersion-breaking aspects.  If you have time and energy, hang them over those scouting posters and signs in your tavern.  If not, you can use them for tablecloths, or drape them over that old cooler in the corner.  Put them over picnic tables, hang them in doorways, cover the ground in your gypsy circle - the uses are endless!  This one can be tough outdoors in the rain, so some vigilance is required so you aren't dealing with a soggy, muddy mess at the end of the game.

3.) Add Accents - Shop your thrift store for a few period-looking accents on the cheap.  Wooden or metal candlesticks, bowls, platters, etc., can all add to your atmosphere. In your saloon you can use them to put out snacks, in your personal area you can fill them with phys reps of ritual components, or odds and ends your character might have.  You can get wooden boxes and use them to store your stuff too, so they look good and are functional!  :)  If you keep them clean, you can just throw them in a box at the end of the game, and it doesn't get much easier than that!

4.) Set Pieces for Your Setting - Put up things that add to the atmosphere of your particular game.  For example, if you've got an old west saloon (not that I'm biased), put out gambling tables and decks of cards.  You can find chess sets for cheap, or other games that suit you - and they serve a double purpose of entertaining people.  Even outdoor games can work - put a theme-appropriate spin (with a little paint and prop work) on easy things like horseshoes. 

And where is your setting anyway?  People often know the name, but associate your location more with the camp than the in-game terrain. Try putting up maps, flags/banners, or even landscape art of your in-game area.  Do you have an important NPC in your life, like a mentor, elemental master, count, general, or governor?  Put up their picture!  Most games have some kind of resident artist, so enlist their help.  This kind of thing can help PCs visualize where you want to be, and add to the flavor.

5.) Keep it Clean - I've said before that picking up is the nice thing to do, but it also helps with immersion.  It's hard to have a serious role-play moment next to a collection of half-empty Gatorade bottles and a pile of moldy shoes.  :)  Put trash in bins and bags, and keep your personal, non-period stuff away when you can.

Got any more ideas for making your location look good?

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Jaded

A lot of LARPers have been playing for a long time.  They've seen so much and heard so much.  They've experienced highs and lows, both IG as their characters and OOG in the community.

So it's no surprise that so many people end up jaded.

Hell, I myself am jaded when put into certain situations.  I often have to take a step back and ask myself why I'm getting all worked up or upset about something that often has no real bearing on me.

This post is a response to something I noticed at Exiles.  I'm not saying these people are bad people in any way, but we have a few players who are known for being jaded at NERO.

But you know what?  You would never know that by playing Exiles with them.  Having them around was a blast.

This clearly indicates to me that it's a problem with a particular community rather than a player themselves.  If someone is mistreated too many times, or has the goals that he has for a LARP game (immersion, gamist, storytelling) broken too many times, that player is more likely to become jaded.  LARP communities have the same problems as any other community, such as gossip, cliques, and the like.  We people stop acting decent to each other, players get jaded.  

The obvious solution is just to start being nice to each other.

So next time you see a player who's jaded, just be aware that there's a good chance that there's a reason why they're jaded.  And if your particular game breeds jaded players, then maybe a holistic look at the health of that community is in order.  

Oh yeah, and do your best not to be a dick.


Monday, April 23, 2012

The Week In LARP - April 23rd


This Week In LARP

Let's all hope that the cold this past weekend was a fluke.

NERO

WAR will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, April 27th and ends on Sunday, April 29th. The game will be held at Lewis Arboretum at the IG location of Rage Hollow (formerly Rockcrusher Forge). It's $50 to PC ($30 with a good NPC ratio) and is free to NPC.

NERO Indiana will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, April 27th and ends on Sunday, April 29th. The game will be held at Nameless Creek Youth Camp (IN). It's $50 to PC ($10 discount if you pre-pay and $10 discount if you tent camp) and is free to NPC.

If you've got a game running this week and we didn't mention you, either drop a comment here or shoot an email to larp.plot.tips@gmail.com, and we'll add you as soon as possible!

Friday, April 20, 2012

YouTube Friday: Kickin' It

Today features yet another kids show featuring the topic of LARP.  The dorky kid has a battle and tries to get his friends to go, but they think it's too nerdy for them.  Ultimately, they show up and help their friend, and at the end of it all, they're not ashamed of LARPing.

While the LARP is not really well developed and they do the normal thing and make everything look as bad as possible, it ends the same way as many other forms of media, with the cool people thinking it was actually fun.

Enjoy!


Thursday, April 19, 2012

NPC Sign Ups

Getting NPCs has always been a problem with most LARPs. There have been all sorts of tips and tricks listed - improved rewards, creating an inviting atmosphere, enticing with interesting NPC roles, etc. However, there are some times and some games where this still doesn't get enough NPCs to give your PCs a good time. So then what do you do to get the NPCs you need?

A few games are more forceful in their recruiting. They ask or require PCs to put in some sort of NPC time, whether helping in the shack, with logistics, with the kitchen, or whatever else the staff team needs.

Obviously the push-back on this is that not everyone will be okay with paying for a game they also have to work at - and I can't really blame them. After all, I don't always want to spend my weekend working! :) So I've seen in some of the more commercial/business games a reluctance to request or require NPC time.

The down side of this then is that, when you're not getting the NPCs, your games don't have enough bodies to give everyone a quality time people pay for. It's a bit of a catch-22. In more community oriented games, I see more people willing to give time with the mentality that helping just a little will ensure that everyone has more fun.

There are still issues with the volunteer method. One is that if it's volunteer, you end up leaning on the people who come to help out, and the people who don't do the work get to enjoy the rewards. The second is that there tend to be more volunteers earlier in the event - when things start winding down people get tired, they want to fit in as much play time as possible, and no one wants to miss those climactic night-time mods! And arguably, those final mods are when you need help the most - your NPCs are tired too, and you need more bodies to make those end fights tough!

One thought I've had is to request NPC time or kitchen help via a sign up sheet. We haven't tried it fully yet, but the goal is to nicely ask for help, and provide slots people can sign up for. That would allow the bodies to get spread out over the event, and give us the volume we need when we need it. Obviously we can't predict all the times extra help will be needed, but at least we'd be better covered.

It doesn't help with the inequality if some people end up doing more volunteering than others. We can try to help with this by providing more rewards to those who do step up, but we hate to require people to NPC. Hopefully this would just be fill in for those events where we don't get the NPCs.

If your game was short on NPCs, how would you feel about signing up for a shift?

On the other end, there are the games that require NPC time. I've not been to one, but I've never heard anyone who plays in one hate on the idea either - when it's built into the community as part of the game experience, people aren't as reluctant I think. If you have played in this type of game, how does mandatory NPC time work?

Or does your game get volunteers another way?

When it comes down to it, NPCing is a dirty job. You are there to give someone else a good time, and you work your butt off doing it. It's just hard to sell that. If you've got good tips, please post them up!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Avoid Searches

One of the staples of the RPG world is "Searching."  So it's no surprise that a lot of staff teams will try and integrate those searches into their games.

But if done incorrectly, searches can break immersion faster than almost anything else.

You see, we don't usually have the benefit of having a perfect replica of the setting.  We run out of cabins and tents and try to make them seem like castles or caves.  So when you tell players to search, they now look in every nook and corner of that anachronistic shelter.  They're looking in things that may or may not be IG and in the process they may be checking near refrigerators, electrical outlets, and the like.

So if you really want to have a search mechanic, make sure you put boundaries on it and supply everything.  If you want the players to find a needle in a haystack, you've got to bring the needle and the haystack, and make sure the players know where the haystack ends.

Monday, April 16, 2012

The Week In LARP - April 16th


This Week In LARP

Spring LARPing is finally here. Let's hope the weather stays dry!

NERO

NCN will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, April 20th and ends on Sunday, April 22nd. The game will be held at Camp NEOSA at the IG location of Syrinx. It's $50 to PC and is free to NPC.

PRO will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, April 20th and ends on Sunday, April 22nd. The game will be held at Raccoon State Park (PA) at the IG location of Woodhaven. It's $40 to PC ($50 at the door) and is $10 to NPC ($15 at the door). Food on Saturday is included.


Independent


Kishar! will be hosting a game on Sunday April 22nd! The game is at Paul Ruster Park (http://g.co/maps/bcvap) in Indianapolis. Check-in starts at 10:30AM, and the game runs from 11:30AM-5PM.

If you've got a game running this week and we didn't mention you, either drop a comment here or shoot an email to larp.plot.tips@gmail.com, and we'll add you as soon as possible!

Friday, April 13, 2012

YouTube Friday: Cuneiform Tablets

Today's YouTube video was brought to my attention by Mike, one of the Invictus staff members, who found it on the Propnomicon Blog.

 I'm pretty excited about this, as it's a chance to play with resin and clay to make some sweet props. I might have some pictures that I'll use from results of this process, but I don't want to put them out yet (because *SPOILER ALERT* they're for this weekend's plot).

 Enjoy!



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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Religion in LARP

So this past weekend was Easter, for those of you observing, and it got me thinking - what's the place of religion in a LARP?

When I first started, WAR was proud of saying that there was no religion in the game. The plot and setting didn't have it, and the oog atmosphere was neutral. Being able to say this is a nice point to tout to outsiders. Nervous parents can come and see that the game is not a cult, and those who might be predisposed to see some sort of devil worship can be told otherwise.

It also makes players of all creeds and none more welcome. No one has to worry about being discriminated against, or having awkward moments in (or hopefully out of) the game. No holy wars or inquisitions that everyone may not be comfortable with.

However, over time, I also started seeing negatives. Religion is a strong aspect in most table-top and fantasy settings. Historically, humans have had beliefs in deities probably since the beginning, and so an absence of those beliefs can feel like a hole in the story. Especially as your world tries to explain the big questions (even just in game). What happens when characters die? Where does magic come from? Are there greater powers out there? And so on.

From a story standpoint, having religion of some sort can add a lot of atmosphere. You can create a pantheon that suits your setting and allows your players to explore different aspects of the world. You can set up religious orders to guide the PCs and provide plot hooks, as well as make for easy points of story and conflict. With religion, there's an automatic system in place that characters step into that helps them categorize the world. If you see followers of Bobthor the Destroyer, you know they're bad; and if you see people wearing the symbol of Bambi the Healer, you know they're helpful (well, in general :) ).

And of course, religious figures allow you to insert powerful beings that can be challenging villains, or can simply step in to take action when things need to be steered in a certain direction. Having an established NPC with that sort of clout may keep people in line without ruining your immersion - if it makes sense. Obviously staff should avoid being heavy-handed with this, and let the PCs decide their own fate as much as possible. But in those instances where it might make sense, you can give your PCs a clue or a little help. Maybe even save them from death if they've put in the time and effort.

For PCs, it can be an interesting role-play experience to follow a certain path, as the restrictions or beliefs of various orders can make for good characters. These paths can also (with enough work) lead to things that make that character unique, like certain knowledge, abilities, or items.

WAR has since gone to what I see as a middle ground with the elemental paths and having the transform/apprenticeship system. Basically, the elementals fill in the deity role - they're powerful, involved, and can grant information and other favors. They also come with a built in recognition system - water vs. fire, death vs. life, and so on. This allows plot to build various groups and orders and stories with the same themes of an actual religion (devotion to a cause, fighting the enemy, and so on), but they don't ever need to take it to the point of saying "god" "worship" or otherwise confirming it is a religion. So basically they can still claim the "no religion" immunity while allowing the good stuff in :)

It also works for their transform system, since you can give each character their own sort of path and contact. Without that ability to customize, it can be frustrating for everyone following the same path to have the same NPC contacts, the same role-play suggestions/restrictions, etc.

But depending on your game, a pantheon or religious system may add a lot of immersion. For example, if you've got more of a historical theme, religion is a huge part of most time periods. Players can live out roles they grew up watching/reading about, like secret monastic orders and holy warriors. Having a pantheon can help get your players into the atmosphere, give them something to do, and give them something to shoot for. You can still single out characters for rewards, but there's not the same pressure to give everyone their own interaction.

And I think there's some weight behind saying someone was touched by an angel, vs. saying they were touched by an elemental - we've got more of an ancestral memory that gives the spiritual some heavier recognition. And you can use real-world happenings, documents, languages, and iconography to enrich your story and setting (hey, it's hard to make it all up yourself!). Most people attracted to gaming and LARP are usually understanding of the line between life and fiction, and aren't offended by in-game representations. But if you're casting the widest net, certainly a game that references real-world religion may put off more people.

Can the religious aspect be avoided all together? I'm sure, but it's probably going to be hard to keep it that way and keep it in game. Characters and players are going to want to know the answers to the big questions, especially as they get more attached to their characters. And now that LARP and gaming in general are becoming much more mainstream, and everyone is forgetting about the whole "Mazes & Monsters" nonsense, having to counter anti-fantasy stereotypes seems to be less and less important.

So what do you think? What's the place of religion in your game?

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

New Blog on the Block: Gamesthetic

I'm always a fan of new LARP blogs that come out, no matter what the information is about.  I'm also a bit of a nut for theory on rules and game design.

So it's no surprise that I'm pretty excited about Rob Ciccolini's new blog, Gamesthetic.

For those of you who are not familiar with Rob's work, you need look no further than the Madrigal and the Accelerant ruleset.  He's been involved with LARPing for a very long time and has played in tons of different systems, and those experiences have shaped the simple and intuitive nature of his game.

Even though he only has a few posts so far, I find that most of them contain some gem of information that sparks insight in my mind, such as his suggestion to focus on player interaction rather than plot interaction if you want to become involved.

If you consider yourself a connoisseur of game design, or are running a game and really want to take it to the next level, I highly suggest that you subscribe to his blog and read it religiously.

You can get to his blog at http://gamesthetic.blogspot.com/ or in the blogroll on this blog.   

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

It's That Time of Year: Garage Sale

Jenn and I just hosted a garage sale this weekend. The weather was fantastic, the crowds were pretty decent and the takeaway was... well less than we hoped.

But it also reminded me that Garage Sales are magical places where people can get some pretty swanky stuff for LARP. 

With it still being fairly early in the LARP season, you may have a few weekends open where you can hit some sales to see what you can find. While most of these sales are filled with crap that isn't a lot of use to people in their day-to-day lives, you can get some really great stuff on account that everything is priced to move.

Some things I look for include:

Anything Fabric
Table cloths, drapes, tapestries, whatever.  If it's something that can be used for LARP, then great.  If not, the fabric itself might make it worthwhile.  And while I'm creeped out at the idea of wearing someone else's close from a garage sale, there may be something you can do with the fabric, since clothing normally goes for next to nothing.

Dining Sets
I'm not talking full ceramic plateware, but sets of glasses, bowls, etc.  That stuff is amazing at increasing the IG atmosphere, but most of us would balk at the prospect of buying a set for $100.  You might have a chance to get something great at a low cost!

Knick-Knacks
This is pretty much the cornerstone of the garage sale.  People have way too many trinkets and stuff filling up their house, and when they say "Enough is enough," these babies make their way to the table.  A lot of them are junk, but you can also find some real gems (not literally) that could be used as props or items at your game.  And again, for a low, low price.

What do you think?  Do you hit up garage sales in hopes of finding LARP treasures?  If so, what's the best treasure you've ever found?  

Monday, April 9, 2012

The Week In LARP - April 9th


This Week In LARP

Spring LARPing is finally here. Let's hope the weather stays dry!

NERO

NERO Cincinnati will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, April 13th and ends on Sunday, April 15th. The game will be held at Cub World at the IG location of Framingarhalan. It's $50 to PC and is free to NPC.

Independent

The Exiles will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, April 13th and ending on Sunday, April 15th. The game will be held at Lewis Arboretum at the IG location of Redemption Hills. It's $40 to PC and is free to NPC. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on Saturday are included in the event cost.

If you've got a game running this week and we didn't mention you, either drop a comment here or shoot an email to larp.plot.tips@gmail.com, and we'll add you as soon as possible!

Friday, April 6, 2012

YouTube Friday: Good Friday (for LARPing)

Happy Good Friday!

I usually try to find a video that's topical for the holiday at hand, so today's video was found by searching YouTube for "Easter LARP."  And this is the gem I found.

Now, don't get me wrong.  The first part of this video was a little hard to swallow.  There's lots of anachronistic stuff like the cargo shorts or the Elmer Fudd references.

But I really want people to listen to what Scott is saying.  He hits all my favorite topics, like how plot should be making the game fun for the players and fun for the NPCs as well, how players and plot should be meeting to form the story, and how it really is a community.

They really seem to have their heads in the right place, and I applaud the team over at Shards of Orn for that.

Enjoy, and Happy Easter!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Mid-Event Recharge

Last week I talked about keeping it clean at events. One benefit I mentioned was that it helps refresh you, and that's the topic for today! LARPing gets tiring, especially if your game runs Friday night through to Sunday. Not just being caked in mud and sweat, but also the lack of sleep and the (probably) unusual amounts of activity and excitement. Especially if you're NPCing. And if you're Staff, your brain is probably on overload trying to handle running the event and dealing with the unexpected. So take some time out to recharge.

If you arrange an hour or so out of your afternoon, it can make a world of difference. It's not just physically resting, but letting your brain take a break as well. Get your thoughts in order, figure out what you want to tackle next, and set up for the rest of the game. This is important in any length of game, but for a 1-day or Saturday-Sunday game there isn't as much time, and theoretically you won't be as tired.

I speak a lot to our NPC/Staff people out there, but this can help a PC too. You can enjoy the game more if you're feeling rested and up for the action, and you can make sure and fit in all those things you want to do if you do a little organization.

What to do? A power nap always works wonders. Even just shutting your eyes and resting for an hour can help. This is a perfect time to take a shower and change your garb. If you can't do these things, just change your socks and sit with your boots off. Get a snack or drink if appropriate (something healthy works best to recharge your body).

Go someplace quiet and environmentally comfortable - rainy, hot, or snowy weather wears on you as well. Just a break from the elements in someplace dry/cool/warm will remind your body you still love it.

I know some folks use energy drinks at opportune moments. I am still testing it, but I think that an hour's rest is better. Or maybe both? Or all of the above?

For me, when I'm PCing I like to sneak in a book and read for a little while. Reading always makes me feel recharged, if it's the right book! And it can even make you feel more immersed if what you're reading is appropriate to the setting. Depressing epic fantasy, while thematic, may not work here since you have to dedicate a lot of mental power to it :)

How to find the time? Well, if you just went on a mod and you know you won't be leaving for another soon, seize the moment! Chances are you'll have an hour at least before everyone gets it together for the next run. Anytime is a good time if you feel yourself dragging or getting cranky - taking a time out will help you enjoy the event more later, not to mention being able to move better and remember all your calls!

As Staff, arrange a rotation with your team where everyone can take a break. Don't just go off without telling anyone, and make sure things are covered. Try to hook role-play sessions or smaller mods during this time so that you don't need everyone. Make sure and enforce it if you see someone getting worn out or grumpy - and let go for long enough to rest up. NPCs will be more energized, more focused, and more likely to last through the Big Battle.

Try it and see! Or maybe you already do - what do you do for your LARP reacharge?

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Last Resort: Banishment

We play a game where characters in a universe filled with fighting and death and adventures.  No matter how real we try and make it, there are certain concepts that will never actually translate well.  Characters will never really feel pain.  Characters often don't fear death, especially in games where death is not necessarily the end*.

So what is the worst possible thing you could do to punish someone in a world like this?

Banishment.

Really, Banishment should be reserved for the worst of the worst crimes, like Treason or Serial Murder.  And yet, I have seen a lot of people throw it around lightly in my years at NERO.

When you banish someone's character, you're telling them that the player can never play that character at your game ever again.  In most cases, it ends up being an OOG punishment for IG actions made by the player.  And that's fine for certain crimes, as this offers the risk that games with limited death can't offer.  You know, "Go Big or Go Home."

So what's the point of this article?

You should only be banishing characters for premeditated and extreme crimes and you should never banish someone for something that's accidental or may not have been clearly illegal.

I remember Galavast, where for a time the PCs had made the punishment for every crime "Death, Banishment, and loss of all possessions."  On the surface, it looks like it's just someone trying to prevent crime with harsh punishments.  But, in essence, a PC was punishing players OOG for committing crimes by banishing them.  That PC was essentially banning players from playing at Galavast for anything, even victimless crimes.

That's a terrible business model.

Now, in some games I've seen a much better punishment that banishment.  Characters are permitted to remain, but they are no longer protected by the laws of the land.  They lose the security that they once had but they can continue to hang out with their friends and participate in the game, albeit more difficult to stay safe.

So let this be a public service announcement - Banishment is a heavy handed punishment reserved for high risk crimes.  PCs should never have the ability to issue banishment, and plot should only ever use banishment for premeditated crimes where the players know the cost of failure.


*Players may fear death, but they don't fear it in the same way as real life.  They fear losing their character, but they don't fear the unknown that accompanies death.




Monday, April 2, 2012

The Week In LARP - April 2nd


This Week In LARP

This week we celebrate Easter by roleplaying a bunch of rabbits looking for eggs, and the winners are rewarded with chocolate!

I couldn't find any events, but I can't say that I'm surprised due to the holiday.  So relax, get your kit straightened out, and get ready for the following week.


If you've got a game running this week and we didn't mention you, either drop a comment here or shoot an email to larp.plot.tips@gmail.com, and we'll add you as soon as possible!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Conquest of Appalachia

I'm super excited and can't contain myself.

You may have noticed a lot of posts recently about immersion, tents, etc.  Well, as usual, I write about the things that I'm working on.  And finally I can announce the thing I've been working on.

Conquest of Appalachia.  

We're bringing Conquest of Mythodea to the US and we'll hopefully break through the stigma that comes with playing LARP.

For those of you who are not familiar, this is a "Fest LARP" which means it's treated a lot like a long running concert/renaissance faire.  Except, everyone is in costume.  We'll have vendors, inns where you can get drunk, comedians, and vomitoriums, all fully immersive and participation for all.

And all you need to bring is a costume, your wallet, and an open mind.

I don't want to get into too many details, but here are some of the things we've improved upon from the Conquest system.

Combat Everywhere
To improve upon the feel of the game, doctors are suggested to carry flasks and give shots to players that are injured as a form of anestetic.  In order to keep the immersion factor up, the alcohol should be real and should be terrible (ideally grain alcohol).  This also acts to balance the game, as weaker players can team up on a powerful person to force them to take shots and reduce their battle effectiveness.

Because of this, we figured there's no reason to limit combat to non-drinking areas.  Players can be attacked at the inn, in their sleep, or when they're on the toilet.

Furry Friendly
In order to bring as many people into the hobby as possible, we're making the game 100% furry friendly.  In order to encourage interactions between our Furry friends and the rest of the roleplayers, we've implemented an interactive and revolutionary system for mounted combat.  Bronies unite!

River Styx
We've also designed the death system so that it would be fully immersive.  Characters who die must go to the area that represents the River Styx and deal with Charon the boatman.  Hopefully you brought your two silver, or else Charon might make you do your best rendition of Renegade to get across.

Sponsors
Players are encouraged to get sponsorship from one of the many companies that will be vendors at the game, such as Wizards of the Coast, Edhellen Armory, and Walmart.  However, to keep in the spirit of immersion, characters who are sponsored by companies must come from the place that bears their name.  So characters may actually be Wizards from the coast or hail from Edhellen or the Mart of Wall.

This is going to be seriously wicked.   The Conquest of Appalachia will be held exactly 1 year from today.  Get pumped and mark your calendar!