Rain

Explaining exactly how a LRP game works is always tricky, particularly when defining it to people who have no idea what even tabletop gaming is.

Below is my stock explanation, which is pretty much the best description I've come up with for it:

"At its most basic form, Live Roleplaying can be likened to ‘Murder Mystery’ events: The players all take on a persona and must interact with one another, solve problems, etc.

However, unlike Murder Mystery events, Live Roleplaying is a lot more involved and more flexible: There is no set storyline which the players must take, and almost anything is possible.

Of course, due to the player-driven nature of these games, a rules system is needed in order to give the players the results of their actions and work out what their characters can actually do.

The rules are usually designed to be as simple, fast and streamlined as possible, whilst still keeping things fairly realistic. Don’t worry if you’ve never been to an LRP event before – it’s fairly easy to pick up as you go along."

Of course, the easiest way to find out what it's all about is to try it for yourself: Find a game you like the sound of and go along to an event. If you don't like it, there's no obligation to go again. But if you do enjoy it - welcome to our world...  

Between the usual session events, many ongoing LARP games make use of 'downtime' by providing players with the opportunity to carry on their Characters' actions whilst away from the usual event structure. Usually, this takes the form of allowing the Players to return a list of actions they wish to perform before the next event to the game's Refs (if you're unsure what I'm talking about, an example of the downtime process that my system uses can be found here).

It's also a widely-held belief that the majority of Players don't seem to bother with this - a fact that provides the Refs of such games with much frustration.

The Refs of Mirrorshades have tried many different ways in the past to get our Players to actually bother doing this - IC rewards, bonuses, begging - but all to no avail. Now we've had to resort to threatening them with the docking of XPs for non-completion of downtime sheets.

What I'm looking for, then, is for any LARP Refs out there who have managed to get this type of system working (if any of you truly exist ) to provide details of how you've done it. Or if you're a Player that doesn't take part in downtimes, for your perspective on the issue.

All suggestions welcomed...

Chrysalis: What system is it you're going down to?

There's only two or three Cyberpunk systems currently active in the UK that I'm aware of, and it's always good to hear about new happenings in the genre.

Have you got a URL to check out?

If anyone out there is after a quick fix of cyberpunk literature, you might like to check out the Mirrorshades website.

In 'Literature' > 'General Literature' > 'Vignettes', you'll find several short stories set in the cyberpunk world of the Mirrorshades Live Roleplaying system, written by several players of the game.

Fairly short and designed as quick 'snapshots', rather than full-blown epics, they are designed to give an impression of the game's setting, but also work in their own right as cyberpunk stories.

Check them out and let me know what you think...

Mirrorshades is a monthly cyberpunk Live Roleplaying system set in 2035. Think Blade Runner, think Neuromancer, and you're halfway there.

Based on the streets of Sector 242, Freeside - a man-made island off the coast of North Africa - the game concentrates on the street life of the Sector. Gangs run riot through the city, corporations vie for power, and WorldGov rules with an iron fist. The world of Mirrorshades is not a nice place to live.

The Sessions are set in Twy-Lite - a bar known for its reputation as a haunt for the people who matter. Fixers, Solos, Techies - this is the place where deals are made, plans are set, and there's always something new to be uncovered.

Mirrorshades is currently held upstairs in the Old Queen's Head pub in Sheffield. The pub is right next to the bus station which, conveniently, is about a two minute walk from the train station.

If you're interested, check out the website at www.mirrorshades.co.uk

Mirrorshades gives you a chance to play your characters in the flesh, do what they do, interact as they would. As there are no character classes, the possibilities for character types are limited only by your imagination...

A good question, this, and one to which I wish there was an easy answer. The trick with this is to do what works for you personally, but there are a few bits of advice which I think can apply to all, which may also be of use to people in a similar position to yourself.

First of all let me just say that, personally, I've always found the term 'Newbie' to be mildly-offensive. After all, it's not exactly encouraging, is it? Unfortunately, people will be people, and new players to any system will be inevitably christened as such, regardless of their previous LARP experience. That aside, though, there are a few things to think about before getting started in LARP.

Take a bit of time to find out about the system - Most games have websites - or at the least a flyer or two - they can send out to you with the basic information you should need. Take a look at these and that's the initial hurdle crossed already.

Any Ref worth their salt should be conducive to answering any queries you have regarding a particular system. As a LARP Ref myself, there are some questions I get time and time again, and some that are completely unique. I always do my best to answer them as well as I can, as any potential new player is seen as a bonus. Because of this, I don't think there's any such thing as a stupid question.

Besides asking about anything you're not entirely sure about, I think that the best way in is by throwing yourself in at the deep end. To avoid the 'humiliation' you mention, the best way is to start by looking the part. By this, I'm talking about costume.

Fortunately with cyberpunk, and its 'style over substance' ethic, it's fairly easy to do this. Whilst it's not worth going out and buying a load of PVC purely for the game, you can't really go wrong with black. If you've already got the gear to look like an extra from The Matrix, so much the better. Failing that, either dress in black for the 'cool street guy' look, or a shirt and tie for that corporate edge. Couple this with a toy gun (no more than a couple of quid from a toy shop - and stay away from fluorescent super soakers ) and you're away.

If you look the part, you should fit in physically, at least. For the rest, it may be an idea to take a bit of time watching what other people are doing and following suit, and you should get the hang of it in no time.

One final thing, and I know it's an obvious thing to say, but try and persuade someone to go along with you. It always feels a lot easier and less daunting if there's someone in the same boat as you.

Other than that, just blag it. If you seem to know what you're doing, the more experienced players need never know the truth .

Hope this has been of some use...

Taken from 'LARP of the Month!!! November 2001':

In the past, when it's been necessary to cancel a regular LARP Session, I've run a couple of games using a rules-lite system and, so far, it's seemed to work.

The rules rely on the basic principle that if you have a skill you can use it, and if you don't, you can't.

As the games I've run using this system were standalone, and took place in a single evening, there were several advantages which you don't normally get with an ongoing system: All the characters were pre-genned, so they were all fairly balanced, and we seemed to succeed in removing the aspect of powergaming somewhat - If there's no 'next session' to work towards, the players can get more involved in the actual in-session aspects, and don't even think about what skill upgrade they'll go for next.

In short, they concentrate on their short-term session goals more than how much treasure / experience points / guns they can get their hands on, which, IMHO, is what roleplaying's meant to be about in the first place - I see the rules of any system as just an option to fall back on, existing merely to 'make decisions' on things which don't necessarily have a definite yes or no answer (ie, shooting at people, whether you can pick a lock, etc.). For me, it's more about the character development and interaction involved in 'telling the story' than anything else. After all, that's why we're roleplayers - we play roles.

Whether this sort of system could work in the long-term or not, I don't know. I'm inclined to think no, as players will be players - powergamers will be powergamers - but I'd like to know if any of you out there have managed it and, if so, how.

This may be a controversial thing to say, but I don't know if the game's that crap in itself.

Sure, the rules are, in essence, just Vampire standing up, and the paper-scissors-stone challenges are just plain absurd, but all MET games - for that matter any LARP games - rely on the Ref and Plot teams for their success, or lack thereof.

Of course, this is just personal opinion, but I don't think that the rules should be the be all and end all of the game. Whilst constant whining about them may be relief in the short-term, you should look at the system as a whole.

I believe that the rules should be there only to fall back on only if there's no other option. Interaction is what roleplaying's all about at the end of the day.

I'm shocked and hurt by this message, Skamm.

Oh well - I know what's gonna happen to your character  

Quote from spudfairy, posted on Nov. 10 2001,13:34Quote:

Oi! You two!

You do realise there's now a Mirrorshades Forum for this sort of thing?

Get over there and check it out...

Quote from TekXombie, posted on Nov. 02 2001,03:28Quote:

as for your guess, guess again. I'm Chris

Curses! My patented LRPer detector must be on the blink.

Well, either that or I just read Dan's profile and made assumptions  

Horribly off-topic, I know, but I've just been checking out your website, TekXombie. Love the artwork   .

And, as a random guess, you're Dan, right?

Quote from TekXombie, posted on Oct. 31 2001,18:42

Hmm, I don't suppose you're offereing a ride that can pick me up, here in the States?

'Fraid not, Tek.

I'm not that well connected  

Quote from Annie, posted on Oct. 28 2001,22:00Quote:

Yeah - if you want to give me a shout at rain@ibm-microsoft.freeserve.co.uk, I can put you in touch with a group coming down from Sunderland.

About a year ago, reports were circulating about the rumoured Neuromancer movie. At the time, Chris Cunningham of Aphex Twin video fame was taken on board to write and direct, but he later pulled out. Since then, nothing's been mentioned to my knowledge.

Does anyone know the current status of the project? I'm hoping it's not going the same way as everything else lingering in pre-production hell. I mean, it took ten years to get X-Men to the screen...

Battle Angel Alita's good for an alternative take on the genre.

For anyone that's not seen it, a (very) brief synopsis:

Earth has become a scrapheap for the floating utopian city of Zarem. A cyberdoc comes across a battered cyborg - Alita - who he restores to working order. Alita then sets out on a career as a bounty hunter to gain enough Credits to buy her way to Zarem.

Like I said, it's a slightly different take on cyberpunk and features quite possibly the cutest cyborg ever committed to celluloid.

I can highly recommend it...

Quote from Cyberjunk, posted on Aug. 17 2001,16:19Quote:

Am I the only person that thinks 'The Zeroes' would be a far cooler name?

It's even got a certain cyberpunky ring to it, don't you think?

Cluedo: Mr. Black, in the AV, with the SMG?

Quote from hcnupnuhcgniw, posted on Aug. 18 2001,17:45Quote:

Just a quick question to you, hcnupnuhcgniw (well, two actually) - Have you got any idea what sort of genre you're looking for, and has any of this thread been useful to you?

I think we'd all be interested in knowing what's grabbed your fancy, and if anyone's comments have inspired you to go out and investigate any of these games further.

Quote from spudfairy, posted on Oct. 29 2001,21:42

Quote:

I don't really know about this. I suppose it really comes down to 'different strokes for different folks' (saw that line in some comic book or other years ago. It kinda stuck).

Whilst the two can be compared in so much as both groups run around and hit things   , I don't think it's really fair to lump them together as one and the same, and they both have their various merits.

Maybe you're good with a sword, but not so hot at acting. You'd be hard pressed to turn up to an 'Interactive Theatre'-style LRP game planning to show off your fancy moves, when this style of game mostly caters to the more cerebral approach to live roleplaying.

Obviously, there's a lot of hack-and-slash 'Live Combat'-style games out there which are more appropriate to the physical side but, as Hanns sort of said already, I'm not sure if an experienced re-enacter would necessarily find that the combat works in the same way (going from swinging a huge metal sword to a lump of rubber may be a bit of a drastic transition).

At the end of the day, each to their own. Some people do one or the other, some do both, and some neither.

Who are we to stop them?

Quote from Edgecrusher, posted on Sep. 17 2001,11:19

Quote:

For that matter, anything from Palladium is good for a first game. I still have fond memories of TMNT from when I first started roleplaying, and the game mechanics are pretty easy to get the hang of for a relatively inexperienced gamer.

The major problem with Rifts is the amount of expansion books that get forced down your throat - worldbook this, supplement that - try not to get sucked in.

Me, I've just got the first two sourcebooks and Rifts: Mercenaries, which are really the only useful books I've seen. You really don't need anything beyond the basic book to run successful games.

I guess that, since I'm here, I should contribute something to this thread.

Thanks for the review Annie. It's really appreciated, and I'm glad that you enjoyed it. You too, Doyle.

I think it went pretty well for a first Session and, whilst there were inevitable teething problems (most notably, the lack of multiple copies of the player handouts), it could have been a lot worse. Hopefully, we'll have this sorted out for next time.

So anyone else? I know that there's a few more players that frequent these boards, and I'd like your feedback too.

Alternatively, the official Mirrorshades boards can be found on the website, and there's a few threads starting up which you may wish to contribute to. If nothing else, it should prevent this category from getting full of just Mirrorshades posts and nothing else. 

The next Session's on November 17th, for anyone out there wanting to come along. Feel free to take a look at the website for more details.

Quote from Annie, posted on Oct. 03 2001,22:50Quote:

Wow, a player with a different accent would be way cool.....

We should be getting some players coming down from the North East anyway at this rate - at least one of the original Sunderland players is planning on turning up to the first Session.

Besides that, I guess any new Sheffield-based players will have a different accent to us Chesterfield natives, regardless.

Could be interesting

Besides that - sorry, Spud, but there's no way that's a North East accent

Having lived there for nigh-on three years, I feel qualified to say so. I'm sure you agree, right, Spider?

Quote from SpiderMurphy2020, posted on Sep. 23 2001,04:01Quote:

I might see what I can do about attending that, a lot depends on whether I can find cheap b&b which allows me in when I stagger in past 4am.

A good place to start looking may be Sheffield Scene - a city guide which should contain a link to local hotels and B&Bs. You should be able to find something suitable there.

Hope to see you at the Session,

Mirrorshades: Live Roleplaying in a Dark Future

Mirrorshades is a monthly cyberpunk Live Roleplaying system set in 2034. Think Blade Runner, think Neuromancer, and you're halfway there,

Based on the streets of Sector 242, Freeside - a man-made island off the coast of North Africa - the game concentrates on the street life of the Sector. Gangs run riot through the city, corporations vie for power, and WorldGov rules with an iron fist. The world of Mirrorshades is not a nice place to live.

The sessions are set in Twy-Lite - a nightclub known for its reputation as a haunt for the people who matter. Fixers, Solos, Techies - this is the place where deals are made, plans are set, and there's always something new to be uncovered.

Launched in 1996, Mirrorshades was originally based at the University of Sunderland. Moving to Chesterfield in 1998, the system evolved and developed further, resulting in over thirty successful sessions.

Recent developments have made a new venue necessary, and the system is relauncing in Sheffield:

Session 1.0 will be held on October 20th 2001 at the Old Queen's Head pub and is free of charge to all players. The pub is right next to Sheffield bus station which, conveniently, is about a two minute walk from the train station.

If you're interested in attending, check out the website:

MirrorWeb

The site is about to undergo a major refit but, for now, it should give you enough information to get you started. The Character Generation rules are online here so, if you wish, you can begin to form an idea of what sort of character you'd like to play, or even generate one ahead of time. There's also a new Message Forum on the site, which you may wish to sign up to to keep up to date on the system.

Mirrorshades gives you a chance to play your characters in the flesh, do what they do, interact as they would. As there are no character classes, the possibilities for character types are limited only by your imagination.

If you're interested in attending, you can contact the Refs at Sector242@netscapeonline.co.uk, or hit the 'email' link from the site. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

See you in the future...