Generally speaking, there are two types of LARPing, these are divided into High Fantasy which deals with the Tolkien/full on immersion fantasy and the Low Fantasy which basically makes magic more mystic and wyrd as opposed to the norm. Decor, or costume is totally subjective to the faction/individual.
TERMINOLOGY
There is a massive list of this so this is what I have so far:
- OSP - Occupational Skill Points, these are gathered playing the game and are similar to console players attaining skill points.
- IC - In Character, this is often used to differentiate between speech engaged in either OOC or IC.
- OOC - Out Of Character, term used to ascribe to non gaming speech/action.
- OS - Occupational Skill, this is the attributes that have been gathered on the field of play. They often take the format of ski
- CS - Character Skills, these are what come with your character and general OSP.
- PHYSI REP - Physical Representation, this varies within systems, but generally accepted as being in context with your own OSP and the environment/realm/world.
- HPC - Hits Per Location, AKA hit points, similar to a health bar. Localised according to damage sustained within the arms/legs/torso/head.
- Froffing - OOC banter "hey did you see X kill Z last match? That was insane!" can lead to information being used against other players due to the nature of the game.
- LAMMY - One who has a laminate that is ordained with a special effect/spell or power that can be redeemed during play. Can only be used if ok'd by the ref.
- LAMMY MUNCHKIN - Lammy hoarders, can be selfish or sorted. Depends on the tone of voice used in speech.
- PGT's - Power Gaming Twats, these are the one's who go to games to acquire more stat points to increase their OSP, similar to rushers in console gaming. Can either be benevolent of malevolent depending on the individual.
- FOIP - Find Out In Play, term/phrase used for n00bs who can find out their query by playing more, or done because other players cannot be arsed describing a term/lore to someone else.
- Metagaming - this is comparable to froffing, gathering info OOC in order use in game against a faction or individual/group.
- NPC's - Non Playable Characters, these tend to be high ranking officials such as kings, elementals/ancestors/gods. Depends on faction alignment.
- DPC - Directed Player Characters tend to be the ones who give our plots to people, act as messengers and work OOC and IC logistics. Make sure everything runs smoothly.
There are varied systems that operate within the complex game structure and each system is different depending on the size of the game/game world.
The average/estimated sizes of the groups in attendance at each event respectively is 10/25 for a small group and between 1,000/2,000 at the larger mainlines.
A mainline is one of the main events that unite the broken factions throughout the UK.
One of the mainlines as such is an organisation called 'Lorien Trust', which has a set of rules, regulations and referees to ensure that gameplay flows according to the rulebook.
There are a whole host of guilds and factions that divide the land of Erdreja, these include:
GUILDS
- Mages - these deal with the magic side of things, mainly those interested in casting ritual spells or effects that take place in game, also under the umbrella of "power guilds".*
- Incanters - this guild take care of enchantments and rely on faith based magic users.*
- Healers - these are associated with priests and focus on the channelling of life energy to heal others and themselves.*
- Scouts - these are the swift, often stealthy characters that rely on their knowledge of the forest, tracking ability and fancy footwork.
- Alchemists - potions and poisons, the art of using ingredients to make the latter.
- Armourers - smithies who rely on their extensive knowledge of the forge to create armor and weapons that can be traded IC and OOC.
- Bards - These are split into 3 different categories, harpers (lore), scribes (scholars) and entertainers.
- Militia - This covers melee training and the general combat side of the guilds.
- Archers - Projectiles and arrows.
FACTIONS
- DRAGONS/CELTICS
- BEARS/SCOTTISH
- JACKALS/GREECE/N.AFRICA
- TARANTULAS/ELVES/FANTASY
- UNICORNS/TRADERS
- LIONS/ARTHURIAN
- HEARTS/STAGS/ENGLAND
- VIPERS/TUTONIA/GERMANIC
Each faction has their own religions, although gods are not referenced, instead they are reffered to as Ancestors, as they do not wish to directly offend IC or OOC. This is because the festival caters for the Lowest Common Denominator.
ANYWAY, moving onto the actual LARP group I will be studying myself.
Fools and Heroes.
There is a system similar to the one described previously, although I will not go into great depth describing it all as it would take hours. I will however, discuss races/religion as the system is interesting and captivating at best.
Open publication - Free publishing
Now all that is left is to have a word with the people involved and construct some questions that would appeal to gamers and non gamers. And of course get some interesting photos for the publication.
Now all that is left is to have a word with the people involved and construct some questions that would appeal to gamers and non gamers. And of course get some interesting photos for the publication.
