Ah, it's summer! Maybe not officially, but at least in Ohio the sun is here, along with the heat. Summer is the busiest time to LARP, so you're probably planning on having quite a few weekends dedicated to games over the next few months.
Summer offers relatively clear weather where you can get camps that don't require heat. You can enjoy sleeping under the stars! You don't have to be weighed down by layers! People have more free time to get out there, and it's just generally good to be outside. But it's hot. Those high temperatures can be just as much, if not more, of a damper to your game than winter chill, so here are a few things you can do to beat the heat.
Water - this is a priority. Drink it. Don't drink pop or anything else sugary or hyper-caffeinated unless you're drinking a lot more water to balance it out. I've gotten dehydrated because all I was drinking was sugar, and it's icky. :( Worried about carrying it around? Try a camelback. You can put it in another bag or just cover it with some cloth to give it a more period look. You can also get leather bottle holders!
Summer Costume - First, cut down on unnecessary armor, or even go to a lighter version. You don't want to trap all that sweat and heat in - ask yourself if it's worth the armor points. You don't need to reduce yourself to a Metallica t-shirt and sweat shorts to stay cool (unless that's already good for your game!). There are all sorts of short-sleeved blouses for ladies that still look pretty period. Or try a gauzy shirt and just roll up the sleeves. You can also make sleeve ties or use sleeve garters. Now's a good time to wear lighter skirts, and open-sided wrap pants allow for ventilation. These can all be pretty cheap, and your friendly neighborhood seam-person can help :) Also, a little more expensive, think about getting some summer Under Armor, which is designed to help keep your body cool.
Cool Down - Make sure that you make time to cool off. Take a break and rest, drink some water, and let yourself air out :) Related to the hygiene post, take off some of the heat-traping aspects of your costume and sit in the shade. Take a cool shower to bring your body temperature down. Change out your socks and other sweat-soaked elements - you'll feel better & smell better! Think about bringing things like freezie pops for the tavern and extra water in a cooler. Staff, coordinate to make sure that you have access to cool water for your team, and think about bringing them some extra heat-beating treats! :) Cooling down the inside can help cool down the outside!
Take it Easy - Don't push yourself during the heat of those scorchers, if you can. Try to go on role-play or investigation mods in the hottest part of the day. Plot, think about planning those kinds of things so that they can take place during that time. Also, think ahead and consider where you're having your mods - try to make them in shaded areas that no one will pass out getting to (hopefully). It's hard when you're NPCing, but try to rotate out people to give everyone time to cool down. Yes, you want everyone to have fun, but having someone pass out from heat exhaustion won't make it better!! :)
Beat the Bugs - Let's not forget summer mosquitos! :) Don't forget your bug spray, and think about bringing a citronella candle to keep them away from your sleeping area (if you can burn it safely). Keep lights out where you can so the bugs don't swarm inside your tent/cabin in the dark (especially while you're out - your tent/cabin mates will be thankful!). They do have silent mosquito repellers, which I've used and seem to work pretty well. I got it from a guy in Louisiana, and you know they've got bugs down there! Also, people sometimes forget, but this is tick season - give yourself a check before you go to bed to make sure you haven't picked up any hitchhikers.
Got any more tips on beating the heat at LARP?
Showing posts with label Technique.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technique.. Show all posts
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Dream a Little Dream - Tips on Dreams & Prophecies
I'm not sure if the NERO drama is still going on, so I hope I'm not missing out on a great blog post idea!
As we get more into the season, it's time for all you plot & staff types to start cooking up stories and prepping your hooks. One of the fastest, easiest ways to hook a plotline is the prophecy or dream mechanic.
This is great, because you can do it via email or letter, and you can make it as long and as detailed as you want. You can describe things you could never rep in game. And having a prophecy immediately adds tension to what you're doing, hopefully encouraging the PCs to act! So there are a lot of good things to be said. However, here are a few tips to keep things interesting.
Don't make it too easy. It's really easy to fall into the rut of just giving the PCs a more flowery description of an obvious clue or hook. But dreams are seldom straightforward, and prophecies are mysterious. Don't make the answer too obvious to the PC, as long as you have the time to spare. Shroud clues in metaphor and symbolism (if you can't think of any, do some research!). Is the villain they're seeking by the sea? Don't just tell them "you see the ocean" but maybe instead tell them "you see a whale walking down a path." You can also add some aspects that don't mean anything, such as having the whale lose her hat - every mystery has a red herring or two after all. :) A lot of players love figuring out clues and puzzles like this, and it can add a lot to the atmosphere. But on the other hand...
Make it count. There shouldn't be a major prophecy on every mod, and if you keep hooking your players with dramatic dreams, they won't be so impressed. So use these mechanics when they'll have the best effect. You may not be able to control how often this comes up if the PCs have a mechanic (Dreamvision, anyone?). But even if it gets frustrating, try to do a good job and make the results in game instead of out-of-game via the grumpy plot person (even if deserved). Materials are usually being spent on this, after all. And if they do abuse it, give them a consequence, like angry dream elementals, nightmare effects, etc.
When you're writing things up, don't make things too obscure :) Avoid putting in too much nonsense, and throw in a few clear clues to compliment the mysterious ones. For the example above, have the whale find the villain sitting in a cave, with the sound of thunder (waves). So at least they'll know he's in a cave! Remember it may be obvious to you, but it's usually not to the PCs, and not being able to figure anything out can make them frustrated and disintersted in your plot.
Write it ahead of time. Dreams, visions, and prophecies are often the types of flavor that get left till the last minute and then hurriedly scribbled on the back of a logistics sheet before the mod. If you know you want to put it out, or if you know the PC is going to seek out the information, take the time to write it ahead of the event. It's a lot easier to be clever when you're not sleep deprived and hopped up on energy drinks. :) It's worth it to see your players excitedly trying to figure out what's going on.
Put a little bit in game. If the player is going to get hit with this at the event, it can be fun to turn up the immersion a little. Record some sound effects or even a voiceover to play while they read your write up. Have the prophet go into a trance right in the middle of the tavern to deliver their message. Act out what they see. You could even go so far as to make a game out of it, such as having the player put together a puzzle, or dropping random pieces of the dream/prophecy for them throughout the event and letting them put it together. You can still have a lot of the benefits the written word can bring, but really bring it home by having it done in character.
Include their characters. Most everyone wants to be the hero of their story, so hook in multiple PCs by giving them a starring role. Allow for little things that the characters can do to make a difference so that you can show them being important. Maybe only a dwarf will recognize the entrance to the cave, or you need an alchemist to make a potion. It can be dangerous to hook to a specific player, in case they don't make the event, but on the other hand, it's hard to resist the draw of starring in your own prophecy!
Got any other neat things you've done with dreams & prophecies?
As we get more into the season, it's time for all you plot & staff types to start cooking up stories and prepping your hooks. One of the fastest, easiest ways to hook a plotline is the prophecy or dream mechanic.
This is great, because you can do it via email or letter, and you can make it as long and as detailed as you want. You can describe things you could never rep in game. And having a prophecy immediately adds tension to what you're doing, hopefully encouraging the PCs to act! So there are a lot of good things to be said. However, here are a few tips to keep things interesting.
Don't make it too easy. It's really easy to fall into the rut of just giving the PCs a more flowery description of an obvious clue or hook. But dreams are seldom straightforward, and prophecies are mysterious. Don't make the answer too obvious to the PC, as long as you have the time to spare. Shroud clues in metaphor and symbolism (if you can't think of any, do some research!). Is the villain they're seeking by the sea? Don't just tell them "you see the ocean" but maybe instead tell them "you see a whale walking down a path." You can also add some aspects that don't mean anything, such as having the whale lose her hat - every mystery has a red herring or two after all. :) A lot of players love figuring out clues and puzzles like this, and it can add a lot to the atmosphere. But on the other hand...
Make it count. There shouldn't be a major prophecy on every mod, and if you keep hooking your players with dramatic dreams, they won't be so impressed. So use these mechanics when they'll have the best effect. You may not be able to control how often this comes up if the PCs have a mechanic (Dreamvision, anyone?). But even if it gets frustrating, try to do a good job and make the results in game instead of out-of-game via the grumpy plot person (even if deserved). Materials are usually being spent on this, after all. And if they do abuse it, give them a consequence, like angry dream elementals, nightmare effects, etc.
When you're writing things up, don't make things too obscure :) Avoid putting in too much nonsense, and throw in a few clear clues to compliment the mysterious ones. For the example above, have the whale find the villain sitting in a cave, with the sound of thunder (waves). So at least they'll know he's in a cave! Remember it may be obvious to you, but it's usually not to the PCs, and not being able to figure anything out can make them frustrated and disintersted in your plot.
Write it ahead of time. Dreams, visions, and prophecies are often the types of flavor that get left till the last minute and then hurriedly scribbled on the back of a logistics sheet before the mod. If you know you want to put it out, or if you know the PC is going to seek out the information, take the time to write it ahead of the event. It's a lot easier to be clever when you're not sleep deprived and hopped up on energy drinks. :) It's worth it to see your players excitedly trying to figure out what's going on.
Put a little bit in game. If the player is going to get hit with this at the event, it can be fun to turn up the immersion a little. Record some sound effects or even a voiceover to play while they read your write up. Have the prophet go into a trance right in the middle of the tavern to deliver their message. Act out what they see. You could even go so far as to make a game out of it, such as having the player put together a puzzle, or dropping random pieces of the dream/prophecy for them throughout the event and letting them put it together. You can still have a lot of the benefits the written word can bring, but really bring it home by having it done in character.
Include their characters. Most everyone wants to be the hero of their story, so hook in multiple PCs by giving them a starring role. Allow for little things that the characters can do to make a difference so that you can show them being important. Maybe only a dwarf will recognize the entrance to the cave, or you need an alchemist to make a potion. It can be dangerous to hook to a specific player, in case they don't make the event, but on the other hand, it's hard to resist the draw of starring in your own prophecy!
Got any other neat things you've done with dreams & prophecies?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Ladies Who LARP
Introduction: Hi! I’m Karin, and I’ve been LARPing since 2000 (unless you count SCA, which I don’t :) ). I joined a Plot team in 2002, and have been Plot, Campaign Plot, and Coordinator at NERO WAR, and have co-run Exiles since 2008. And, as this post will discuss, I am often the voice of the minority on the teams I’ve been on – women! This is a longer post, but I hope you'll bear with me and I'll shorten them up for the future :)
If you LARP or game, you know that women are already there, playing, whether or not we admitted early on that we’re into the nerd scene. And, in case you didn’t get the memo in kindergarten, girls are different from boys. :) While in general all we want is some r-e-s-p-e-c-t, there are some general concepts for players and plot alike to keep in mind when thinking about satisfying female gamers, so to speak.
Just to put in the disclaimer, these are very general concepts that may or may not apply to all us lady LARPers to some degree. There are plenty of examples of tough dames who LARP - and could kick the butts of many of the guys around them.
First, I’ve noticed that there tend to be two basic groups of women who come to games (we could break it down past that, but I don’t want to go far into psychology here). There are those who come because they’re honestly interested intrying it out, and those who come because their significant other is (I call them Girlfriends).
In the first situation, you have an interested player right away. The second group is often not interested in the game, can be a challenge to get involved, and they often don’t turn into long-term players. But don't mistake one for the other; being shy isn't the same as being disinterested. Try throwing them something they can get involved with, and see if you can hook them into your game (your male players will thank you). Try making your NPC take a shine to them, or make it so that they have that one specific trait or skill that is needed for the ritual. See who bites.
Okay, so, you’ve got an interested player. Now what do ladies want out of a game?
Sparkling vampires, fairy princesses, and babies.
If you LARP or game, you know that women are already there, playing, whether or not we admitted early on that we’re into the nerd scene. And, in case you didn’t get the memo in kindergarten, girls are different from boys. :) While in general all we want is some r-e-s-p-e-c-t, there are some general concepts for players and plot alike to keep in mind when thinking about satisfying female gamers, so to speak.
Just to put in the disclaimer, these are very general concepts that may or may not apply to all us lady LARPers to some degree. There are plenty of examples of tough dames who LARP - and could kick the butts of many of the guys around them.
First, I’ve noticed that there tend to be two basic groups of women who come to games (we could break it down past that, but I don’t want to go far into psychology here). There are those who come because they’re honestly interested intrying it out, and those who come because their significant other is (I call them Girlfriends).
In the first situation, you have an interested player right away. The second group is often not interested in the game, can be a challenge to get involved, and they often don’t turn into long-term players. But don't mistake one for the other; being shy isn't the same as being disinterested. Try throwing them something they can get involved with, and see if you can hook them into your game (your male players will thank you). Try making your NPC take a shine to them, or make it so that they have that one specific trait or skill that is needed for the ritual. See who bites.
Okay, so, you’ve got an interested player. Now what do ladies want out of a game?
Sparkling vampires, fairy princesses, and babies.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Prop Magic: Glo Away
For those of you who were at the Exiles event last weekend, you might already know about my favorite new prop trick that I used on the mimic mod.
Glo Away by Plaid
This stuff is not that expensive and it glows like nobody's business. This paint was originally made for kids to have fun with at sleepovers, but isn't that really what a LARP is? It's non-toxic and can be washed off with soap and water. I had a module where I was supposed to have a weird looking blur face, and when the white makeup didn't show up in the black light, I just put some of this on my face. It really showed up well and freaked some people out.
I can just imagine putting it on a black shirt to rep bones for a skeleton (it glows kind of green though), filling test tubes with it for that freaky glowing liquid effect, or doing any number of other jobs with it.
Go get some!
Glo Away by Plaid
This stuff is not that expensive and it glows like nobody's business. This paint was originally made for kids to have fun with at sleepovers, but isn't that really what a LARP is? It's non-toxic and can be washed off with soap and water. I had a module where I was supposed to have a weird looking blur face, and when the white makeup didn't show up in the black light, I just put some of this on my face. It really showed up well and freaked some people out.
I can just imagine putting it on a black shirt to rep bones for a skeleton (it glows kind of green though), filling test tubes with it for that freaky glowing liquid effect, or doing any number of other jobs with it.
Go get some!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
When I Say Table, You Say Cloth
In both the games I'm currently playing regularly, my character has some reason to set up a shop. One of them is a wild west Doctor, with tons of herbs and concoctions. The other is a bookbinding guild master.
Now, I was traveling before the first time I played the latter character. My wife graciously put together costuming/gear for the event ahead of time. And I can honestly say, I wouldn't dare play a merchant character (PC or NPC) ever again without one of the things she packed for me.
Tablecloth
It's such a small prop and it's not that expensive, but it can absolutely transform space, especially whenever the site you're using doesn't exactly match the theme of the game. To me, nothing pulls me out of game as a merchant selling their wares off of a fold up table.
And since it's essentially a finished piece of cloth, it can be used as so many things when in possession of the staff; Tapestries, environmental effects, dimming lighting. Sky's the limit.
So get yourself a table cloth!
As an aside, one of the players for both of these games put together a set of faux-suede curtains/tablecloths in order to transform an open air tavern into a more confined, more immersive setting. I'm going to try and find some pictures for you guys.
Now, I was traveling before the first time I played the latter character. My wife graciously put together costuming/gear for the event ahead of time. And I can honestly say, I wouldn't dare play a merchant character (PC or NPC) ever again without one of the things she packed for me.
Tablecloth
It's such a small prop and it's not that expensive, but it can absolutely transform space, especially whenever the site you're using doesn't exactly match the theme of the game. To me, nothing pulls me out of game as a merchant selling their wares off of a fold up table.
And since it's essentially a finished piece of cloth, it can be used as so many things when in possession of the staff; Tapestries, environmental effects, dimming lighting. Sky's the limit.
So get yourself a table cloth!
As an aside, one of the players for both of these games put together a set of faux-suede curtains/tablecloths in order to transform an open air tavern into a more confined, more immersive setting. I'm going to try and find some pictures for you guys.
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