Enjoy!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
You Are A Character IRL
So I've been doing some thinking since I watched Jesse Schell's presentation from DICE 2010. I'm wondering the best way to make a LARP integrated into the social structure, while still being immersive. This is a difficult task, but I think there's one way to achieve full immersion and social integration of the game.
Make a LARP where you play yourself.
I know that one of the big draws of LARP is that you get to be someone else, but you can make it so that you are still playing yourself, but you have more when you're in the game.
I was thinking about this, because Jenn and I both got each other the Supernatural Role Playing Game for our anniversary (God Bless Nerds). And that, like WoD Hunter, is something where your character can be you, but also be more than you.
Yes, you are a normal person. But occasionally you go on hunts, and you have skills and such that make you useful in those situations. That way you can talk about the game to others without breaking immersion. Hell, you can facebook about it, or check facebook while you're playing it, and no one would feel ripped out of the immersion.
This could also work with a number of other concepts, where there is some trigger where you can do more inside of another world. Maybe you're really a superhero, and when you put on a special mask you get powers that let you fight evil. But you're still you, and you can talk about it all you want to others without breaking immersion. And the mask thing explains why you don't go around punching zombies every day and still have to go to work/school.
Now, the obvious downside of this is that it dances on the thin line of being too real, and then you get the Mazes and Monsters effect, which looks pretty terrible from any outsider. You don't want people telling others on facebook that they themselves (not a character) is a wizard who summons the dead. That could go bad pretty fast.
What do you think? Would you participate in a modern-ish type game where you are playing yourself, except you have some means to special powers (think the rings from captain planet)? What if you didn't really have special powers, but you still did adventures and such, like the hunters from Supernatural?
Make a LARP where you play yourself.
I know that one of the big draws of LARP is that you get to be someone else, but you can make it so that you are still playing yourself, but you have more when you're in the game.
I was thinking about this, because Jenn and I both got each other the Supernatural Role Playing Game for our anniversary (God Bless Nerds). And that, like WoD Hunter, is something where your character can be you, but also be more than you.
Yes, you are a normal person. But occasionally you go on hunts, and you have skills and such that make you useful in those situations. That way you can talk about the game to others without breaking immersion. Hell, you can facebook about it, or check facebook while you're playing it, and no one would feel ripped out of the immersion.
This could also work with a number of other concepts, where there is some trigger where you can do more inside of another world. Maybe you're really a superhero, and when you put on a special mask you get powers that let you fight evil. But you're still you, and you can talk about it all you want to others without breaking immersion. And the mask thing explains why you don't go around punching zombies every day and still have to go to work/school.
Now, the obvious downside of this is that it dances on the thin line of being too real, and then you get the Mazes and Monsters effect, which looks pretty terrible from any outsider. You don't want people telling others on facebook that they themselves (not a character) is a wizard who summons the dead. That could go bad pretty fast.
What do you think? Would you participate in a modern-ish type game where you are playing yourself, except you have some means to special powers (think the rings from captain planet)? What if you didn't really have special powers, but you still did adventures and such, like the hunters from Supernatural?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Looking for Contributors
As some of you may have noticed, Tim hasn't been posting much as of recent. His new position keeps him swamped, and he simply doesn't have the time to write when he gets home.
I've done my best to keep up with the furious pace of a post every weekday, but we're getting towards the end of the LARPing season. That means I'm going to have a lot less anecdotal posts to go on.
Based on comments I've seen below, I know you guys and gals have a lot of great ideas and opinions on LARPing. Wouldn't you like a platform for your opinions?
As such, I'm taking on guest posts for anyone who's interested (maybe I'll make it a segment), or even take on a full time contributor to the blog. If you're interested, send an email to larp.ohio@gmail.com.
I've done my best to keep up with the furious pace of a post every weekday, but we're getting towards the end of the LARPing season. That means I'm going to have a lot less anecdotal posts to go on.
Based on comments I've seen below, I know you guys and gals have a lot of great ideas and opinions on LARPing. Wouldn't you like a platform for your opinions?
As such, I'm taking on guest posts for anyone who's interested (maybe I'll make it a segment), or even take on a full time contributor to the blog. If you're interested, send an email to larp.ohio@gmail.com.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
The Art of Makeup...
is something I don't actually know a whole lot about.
Let's face it. I'm an engineer. While I might be an expert with mathematics and logic, I tend to fail pretty hard in the arts department. And no small part of that is because I don't practice.
Anyways, on the last Larpcast, we talked about the importance of makeup, even though both Mickey and I are rather unskilled with actual makeup. And there are two very interesting points that I've taken away from that podcast.
1. Airbrushes FTW
I don't really have any experience with them, but there was no shortage of praises sung for them in the comments. None of the chapters in this area (that I'm aware of) use them, and that's actually kind of surprising, now that I think of it.
Sure, it is kind of expensive. And yes, it's going to require some training for NPCs so that it can be used properly. But the speed and quality at which makeup can be applied is unparalleled. As such, I highly suggest any make up heavy games invest in an airbrush for NPCs. And make sure people are trained in it.
Which brings me to my second point...
2. We Need to Have a Theater Makeup Class
This is something Jenn had come up with back in the day, as something that WAR was thinking of hosting for plot teams, but never actually came to fruition. This is definitely one of the hardest things to do well as an NPC. Great makeup is far more immersive than good makeup, and nothing breaks immersion like bad makeup.
There's over 9000 colleges in the state of Ohio (see what I did there?) and there has to be a few of those that have a theatre department, who might enjoy holding a class for a bunch of LARPers. Even better, they might do it for free (or next to free) if they think it can be used as a learning experience for their students.
Someone make this happen, and I'll be happy to advertise for the class on the blog.
So what about you guys? Do you guys have any opinions on these topics, or any tricks that you've used to help makeup look better? Drop it in the comments!
Let's face it. I'm an engineer. While I might be an expert with mathematics and logic, I tend to fail pretty hard in the arts department. And no small part of that is because I don't practice.
Anyways, on the last Larpcast, we talked about the importance of makeup, even though both Mickey and I are rather unskilled with actual makeup. And there are two very interesting points that I've taken away from that podcast.
1. Airbrushes FTW
I don't really have any experience with them, but there was no shortage of praises sung for them in the comments. None of the chapters in this area (that I'm aware of) use them, and that's actually kind of surprising, now that I think of it.
Sure, it is kind of expensive. And yes, it's going to require some training for NPCs so that it can be used properly. But the speed and quality at which makeup can be applied is unparalleled. As such, I highly suggest any make up heavy games invest in an airbrush for NPCs. And make sure people are trained in it.
Which brings me to my second point...
2. We Need to Have a Theater Makeup Class
This is something Jenn had come up with back in the day, as something that WAR was thinking of hosting for plot teams, but never actually came to fruition. This is definitely one of the hardest things to do well as an NPC. Great makeup is far more immersive than good makeup, and nothing breaks immersion like bad makeup.
There's over 9000 colleges in the state of Ohio (see what I did there?) and there has to be a few of those that have a theatre department, who might enjoy holding a class for a bunch of LARPers. Even better, they might do it for free (or next to free) if they think it can be used as a learning experience for their students.
Someone make this happen, and I'll be happy to advertise for the class on the blog.
So what about you guys? Do you guys have any opinions on these topics, or any tricks that you've used to help makeup look better? Drop it in the comments!
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Week In LARP - October 17th
Last Week In LARP
Did you attend a LARP event last weekend? Let us know how it was in the comments!
This Week In LARP
Look out for Halloween deals, as the season is drawing to a close!
NERO
OGRE will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, October 21st and ending Sunday, October 23rd. The game will be held at Chief Logan Reservation at the IG location of Starlen's Crossing. It's $40 to PC and $10 to NPC. This game wll be using 9th edition rules.
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!
Did you attend a LARP event last weekend? Let us know how it was in the comments!
This Week In LARP
Look out for Halloween deals, as the season is drawing to a close!
NERO
OGRE will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, October 21st and ending Sunday, October 23rd. The game will be held at Chief Logan Reservation at the IG location of Starlen's Crossing. It's $40 to PC and $10 to NPC. This game wll be using 9th edition rules.
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!
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