Role-playing is a skill, just like acting, writing, or painting. Practice makes better. So does self-awareness and a concerted effort to improve your skills. Most of us can easily recognize a good role-player when we encounter one. Of course, there are many types of “good” role-players, just as there are many types of great painters. Who is a better artist, Pablo Picasso or Vincent Van Gogh? It all depends on your preferences and perspective. While there is no one recipe for what makes the best LARPer, below are a few thoughts on various skills, tips, and ideas that I hope will help you in your effort to push your role-playing game to the next level.
These first four points will be related to pregame prep.
1. Take direction from the LARP organizers.
No matter what LARP you attend, you can be sure that the individuals who organized it have put a lot of time and effort into making it the best it can be. Please do everything you can to read and understand all of the rules, details, and logistics they provide to you. I cannot stress this enough. This will allow everyone to be on the same page and will help maximize fun for all
2. Know the setting.
When you attend a LARP, you are making a commitment to leave the ordinary and mundane behind and step into another world. That being said, it is critical for you to understand that world. Every LARP is different and subsequently every LARP world is different. In a post-apocalyptic LARP for instance, what type of characters can you imagine living in a place that is one of the few remaining villages on a planet ravaged by nuclear war? What would motivate these people? What do they fear? What do they covet? How might they have adapted to be able to survive in such an environment? These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself when formulating a character that will fit seamlessly into the landscape of this fantasy world.
3. Understand the tone of the LARP.
You know how Mel Gibson acts completely differently in Braveheart than he does in Daddy’s Home 2? There is a time and place for everything, but if the LARP you’re attending places a high value on realism and drama, save your Monty Python jokes for another game.
4. Understand your character.
Going into a game without understanding your character and attempting to roleplay is like trying to do a dance without learning the steps. While some people may be able to pull it off, most of us will just look awkward and unsure of ourselves. Spending a good chunk of time upfront to really flesh out your character will make it so, so much easier to maintain consistent, successful, and enjoyable roleplaying during the game.
The next few points will be about your roleplaying during the game and how we collectively keep the storyline moving.
1. Take direction.
In many games, there will be times when the organizers or other NPCs (Non Player Characters) will try to steer you in a certain direction for the good of the game. At other times, players may be giving you subtle signals to go along with a certain storyline that could help further the narrative of the game. By learning to pick up on these signals, you can help make the game more fun.
2. It’s okay to go with the flow.
When in doubt, sense the energy of the group and try to fit in with that. Join that angry mob, accuse that suspicious character, and cheer for the valiant knight.
3. Don’t be afraid to be two-dimensional.
In a movie, the narrative follows a very limited number of characters. During the film we are able to see every aspect of these characters that the directors want us to see in order for us to understand their multifaceted personalities. In a LARP this is just not possible. There will be dozens and dozens of characters and everyone will have a very limited view of other people’s characters. That being said, who will people remember more, the antisocial stranger in a mask who goes through a moral transformation that radically changes the way in which she views the world, or the guy who lost his goat and at some point in every conversation accuses someone of having stolen his goat? (hint: it’ll be the goat guy) The good news on this one is that it just comes down to which is the most fun for you.
4. Be terrible at keeping secrets.
While keeping secrets would often be practical in real life, it is the kind of thing that can cripple a LARP. Not revealing any secrets can result in a murder mystery where the murder is never solved, character back stories are never discovered, and the story dies before it’s even begun. So don’t be afraid to accidentally let it slip that your fellow role player revealed that he’s a former assassin from Southeast Asia.
5. Using “yes, and…”
Whenever possible, accept the suggestions of others. If someone says, “Remember that time we met in Singapore?” and you say, “No I don’t” it really brings the scene to a halt and just makes things awkward. During a LARP, the players are building a shared reality together, and part of sharing is valuing the contributions of others. One thing that can be helpful in these situations is using the phrase “yes, and…” For instance, when that person says, “Remember that time we met in Singapore?” try something like, “Yes, and what an adventure that was!” That would be a much better start to a scene. If there are times when you really, really don’t want to go along with another player’s suggestion, try the phrase “no, but.” For example, “Remember that time we met in Singapore?” “No, but I’ve traveled many places and met many people, so it can be hard to remember all the faces. Perhaps we should become reacquainted.” This is a way of not fully accepting the initial suggestion that the two players already know each other, while still moving the story along in an interesting way.
6. Sense the spotlight.
Not every scene will be about your character, and that’s okay. When it’s your turn to be a supporting character, do it cheerfully. The spotlight is like a basketball during a game. Seize it, pass it, and always keep it moving.
Below are a few helpful bullet points from US LARPer John Stavropoulos on role-playing.
• Embrace failure. Revel in consequences. Play for drama.
• Find the balance between believable and unexpected.
• Make your character interesting to everyone, not just yourself.
• Have strong, clear goals and motivations.
• Tie your character to others.
• Give your character a weakness. Be vulnerable.
• Play a character that feels real within the context of the game’s specific genre, theme, or setting.
• Allow what happens in game to change your character.
• If there are rules, use them.
• Lose enthusiastically and fail in interesting ways.
• Shepherd the plot and move it forward.
• Keep an eye out for any loose ends and tie them together.
• Break any of these rules if it would make the game better for everyone.