From
scratch (no RPing xp at all)
Live
Action Role Playing (LARP(ing)) is a very specific style of Role Playing Game
(RPG) akin to improvisational theatre and sports as well as other styles of
RPGs. As in any RPG, you assume the role of a character in the specific setting
of the game. Usually you may decide exactly how you want your character to be:
bold, adventurous, average, shy, evil; like you or unlike, it can be whatever
you want to create (within the boundaries of the game – you wouldn’t want to be
an astronaut in medieval Norway for example). You will interact with many other
characters (PCs, or Player Characters, who created their own personas just like
you) and often monsters and other people (NPCs, Non-Player Characters, usually
designed for a purpose by the people controlling the Plot), telling a story
that you, and the other PCs, can shape as you like. The objective is for
everyone to enjoy themselves. There are many rules that guide the game along the
way, but you must know how the concept of the game works overall before
worrying about that kind of thing. Continue reading below to understand more,
and if you become confused, see the bottom for email info.
From
Table-Top (no Live RPing xp)
LARPing
is very similar to other RPGs, except in real time with real people acting out
the game. Padded safety weapons (“boffers”) and birdseed-filled fabric packets
are typically used in combat for weapons and spells. Characters keep track of
HP, skills, damage, etc. (or sometimes have tags to help). The entire structure
of the game is built on the honour system, so for the game to be enjoyable,
everyone has to keep track of things correctly (or at least as close as you
can, so long as nothing was done blatantly wrong on purpose). Rather than
rolling dice and describing your actions, you actually get to perform them
without a “DM” telling you everything (often, though, there will be a “Marshal”
or staff person guiding Players through an adventure, or explaining rules, but
most of the time the game is yours). Continue reading below to understand more,
and if you become confused, see the bottom for email info.
Berserkr
(Live RP xp)
When
you get down to one LARP, there will be many, many specific rules to learn.
Each game is different. Berserkr is based around a relatively rule-free setup
with (of course) important OOG (out of game) rules for player safety (combat
safety restrictions, drug restrictions, etc. as outlined in the Rules & Combat sections). Most of all,
players are to have fun, even if it takes some rule-bending to be as creative
as you want. Not that there aren’t rules, but most deal with skills, the more complex
linked to optional skills only a few people use. Berserkr uses a base setting
of fantasy-laced Norway in 703 CE (~948 Runic Era), with many links into Norse
Mythology (Asatru, Regintru, Odinism, etc.). There are many Norse beings,
magics, ways, and plots to be found throughout the game. No knowledge of Norse
ways is necessary, but it is rewarded. You will usually be able to choose which
of the quests you become involved in, or whether to become involved at all.
Berserkr utilizes a stat most games do not, Defense. It lowers the amount of
damage you take form physical blows. Also, with the rules freedom allowed,
characters can alter their damage with a “critical” system where solid hits to
vital locations deal more damage and grazing strikes to non-vital areas deal
much less. Magic in Berserkr is thrown via packets and a verbal (“magic
<school> <spell>”), and goes through most shields. Monsters you
fight will have a Monster card, detailing its abilities to some extent, and how
much XP should be divided up amongst anyone who fought it (unless a Marshal is
around to take care of that for you). These cards should be turned into a
Marshal ASAP if one isn’t already doing it. Continue reading the Rules
elsewhere to understand more, and if you become confused, see below for email
info.
Questions, Comments, etc.?
please email berserkr@larp.com