Limited Run Games

On teh Facebooks, Stephen, long time commenter, brought up an excellent point about NERO.  Here's what he said:

I just figured out Nero's problem. Or at least it's IG one. There are no mysteries left. There are no "final frontiers" to explore.

Absolutely brilliant.


Now, I know that today's post may seem a like a foreign concept to LARPers in Ohio, but there are actually a number of games that have solved this problem by running games on a limited timeline.  The idea is that you start the game with a story to tell, and know that in a few years, when that story is told, you can move on to the next great LARP adventure.

I know that Bloodlines, as well as many Accelerant games (Madrigal 1, Aftermath, Endgame, Invictus, etc) have done or will do this, at varying levels of success.

These games usually run between 2-5 years in length, and have a set storyline that will unfold during that time.  The organizers are then given more leeway to mess with the structure of the world, and can have the PCs create a bigger impact at the end, since they know they can pull out the stops.  Also, there is little worry about a major power creep, like has been experienced at NERO.

The downside?  The most obvious downside is that players that are interested in character growth via skills and abilities may not like the idea of a game that will end, leaving them with nothing.  The other problem is that limited run games cannot do much cross-chapter work.  Accelerant solves that problem with CP exchange (if you NPC at Madrigal, you can put your experience on your character in Mirror Mirror, End Game, 7 Virtues, etc).

I would love to participate in a limited run game here in Ohio.  Would you play in a limited run game?

The Week In LARP - May 7th

This Week In LARP

Expedia sucks ass.  More to come on that.

NERO

The NERO Indiana has been canceled due to a booking conflict with the camp. For more information, visit their website at the link above.

Independent

Exiles will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Friday, May 11th and ends on Sunday, May 13th. The game will be held at Sycamore State Park. It's $40 to PC ($35 if you're new) and is free to NPC. The event fee includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday.

Trials of Terra Nova will be hosting a 2-day event this weekend starting on Saturday, May 12th and ends on Sunday, May 13th. The game will be held at the Bradford Woods North Lodge (IN). It's $10 to PC each cycle ($30 for all three cycles) 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!

Touchie-Feelie LARPie

Tuesday WAS the 1st of May, but this is a topic I've brushed by a few times in my past posts on romance and significant others at LARP.  The Touchie-Feelie Rule.  WAR has it, but not all NERO chapters do I'm told - so what is good and bad about it?  Should it be at your game?

One of the biggest considerations I feel in having a "no touchie-feelie" rule is if you allow minors at your game. If you do, that's a big vote from me to have this in place.  No one wants to ever hear "but I thought she was 18" and deal with the legal ramifications of randy teenagers.

Having the rule in place puts a check on the hormones and sets the ground rule of what's acceptable and what's not.  I don't think it adds to anyone's game to see people making out in a corner of the tavern, or to accidentally walk in on it.  But more importantly, it is a safety net for players.  As we all know, there are some weird people in the world, and you probably don't want them touching you.  With touch casting and first aid, everyone's got an "oops, that was your..." story - but with physical contact being limited you can feel safer knowing that this kind of thing should always be an accident.  Not everyone is okay with physical role-play, either. This rule saves you.  And it saves the staff from dealing with the drama. 

And for the outside world, especially parents, a rule like this can set their minds at ease.

So, can a game without this rule be a good thing?  I'm not talking about a crazy free love compound or anything, but I mean just being able to hug your significant other without feeling like someone might report you.  And when it's cold, you can (*gasp*) sleep in the same bed.   Things like that. People can (and do) sneak off even with a rule in place, so it's not really that part of it - it's more the comfort and convenience of being able to be a couple and do things like share toiletries because you can use the same bathroom to brush your teeth. :)

And it is nice to have an "we're all adults here" feel.  However, all it takes is one bad apple, and it can ruin a lot.  It may be best to put a rule like this in place before the bad apple gets into the barrel.  In a smaller game, where it's 18 and over, it's easier to keep an eye on people and keep the drama to a minimum.  So it might work for those games, at least for a while.  I have to admit, though, it's nice to be able to relax just that bit extra those 7-10 weekends of my year!  :)

But what do you think?  Should a game always have a touchie-feelie rule, or are there situations where it's okay to go without?

YouTube Bonus - Shit Gamers Say...

It's hard to keep coming up with posts while I'm in NYC.  So I'm going to take the easy way out and go with posting a YouTube video.  Thanks Ryan!

Enjoy!

LARPing while Injured - Know your Limits!

This post was inspired by my sprained ankle, and the fact that I've got an event coming up (two, actually) that I may not be 100% for.

It's tough when you are unable to perform at your best during a LARP game.  It's even worse when you're hurt and further strain might cause more of an injury.

For me, the question arises on whether or not I'll be able to function as a non-combatant at the events.

Exiles is a very combat oriented game, and my character there is combat oriented, so being unable to run may be a no-go.  That, or start another gentleman character.

However, at NERO, my current character is a merchant who is very economically and politically motivated, so it would be very easy for me to play light or even go completely non-combative.

It's of the upmost importance for a good LARPer to know where they have to draw the line.  It would be selfish of me, to both other players and game staff, to try and LARP beyond my capacity.  If I were to get injured, it could put them in hot water and could stall the game for my fellow players.

I've seen far to many people try and push past their injuries, and more often than not, it ends up backfiring on them.

So here's the PSA:  If you're hurt, don't try and be a hero and don't be selfish.  If you don't think you can do something, don't do it.