Before you read this many of you people who have been Larping before may
well consider it patronising. I know I would, so only read this if you have no
idea what Live Roleplaying is or if you fancy having look.
What is Live-Roleplaying?
So you have made your way to this website, through no fault of your own most
likely and with no idea what to expect. If you are one of these people, one who
has never run, screaming battle cries, at unsuspecting peasants then this
preface is just for you.
Roleplaying
The basic idea behind roleplaying is that you get to create an imaginary
character that you have complete control over and then attempt to guide them
through a series of problems and dilemmas in the aim toward achieving a goal.
There is however a lot more to it than that.
1.The World: The world that you will be taking your
character to is a fantastical one, similar in many ways to a medieval Earth. The
difference is the addition of Magic and Monsters, Murder and Mayhem. The concept
is a very Tolkien one and background reading of novels such as The Hobbit, Lord
of the Rings, The Belgariad and anything else in that section of a Library or
Bookshop may be useful.
2.Hero Worship: When you decide to join in
Live-Roleplaying you have to create a character, when you do so you become that
character. You will be expected to talk the way you imagine that character to
talk, dress as you imagine that character to dress and most importantly act the
way you imagine the character would act. It is often useful to model your
character on that of a film or book hero: not fully, but perhaps certain
mannerisms or the accent of your character, the folded arms of Superman, the
one-line wisecracks of Bruce Campbell or even the absent minded insanity of
Doctor Who.
3.Acting: The second most important factor of Live-Roleplaying
is acting. When you begin Live-Roleplaying you will be expected to fall into
character, keeping up the act throughout the game. For example if you choose to
play an evil character you must continue to act within the moral code that you
have lain down for yourself even if in real life you are Pope Gregory the
Third.
4.A Game: The most important factor to remember: ITS ONLY A GAME. No
matter what happens it is a game, you are meant to have fun. It is not a blood
sport, nor is a slanging match between hated real life enemies; it is a way of
relaxing, unwinding and escaping from the rigours of the 9-5 routines or
homework. Roleplaying is a way of meeting other sad and strangely dressed
individuals who have nothing better to do with their weekends. Nothing more,
nothing less.
Mock Combat and not getting hurt:
During the course of an adventure it is likely that the participants will engage
in mock physical combat. If you have never played within the system before it
would be advisable to approach the referee before play begins so that they can
brief you on the ins and outs of combat. At no time are first time players to
engage in combat unless they have had a full combat brief, anybody found to be
in violation of this tenet will find themselves removed from the system,
permanently.
Although the above warning may sound particularly severe you must remember that
the system is set up to be fun for everybody and it would be no fun at all to
have an untrained player ambling around causing high levels of physical damage
to other players in the system. Always keep in mind what we call the golden
rule: DO NOT DO TO OTHERS THAT WHICH YOU WOULD NOT WANT OTHERS TO DO TO YOU,
ESPECIALLY IF IT HURTS. Before you begin Live-Roleplaying you should also spare
some time to make the system head's job easier by filling in a medical condition
form and a disclaimer.
