Traceroo
Rogue
The topic for reflection in this December edition while we’re all on LARP winter break is an easy one:
Seriously - almost any action is better than taking no action!
LARP is an action-oriented hobby. You usually think of "action" meaning athletic activities: fighting, running for your life, climbing those damn hills at Sky High Ranch. Broaden your thinking to consider that LARP is oriented around what you do, not what you avoid doing, or what actions you might be afraid to take. The actions you take define your LARP experience. Nearly always, taking any action at all, no matter what it is, will turn out better for your experience than taking no action.
Let’s check out some obstacles that might stand in the way of action. They might include:
Here are some things that you can do to climb over those obstacles:
Just shout, "Jeronimo!" and give your idea a try and see what happens. Then plan the next step from there.
If you’re really truly stuck:
...in storyline
...with your BGA
...with your character development
...on this mod
...with this effing puzzle that’s in this mod!!!
...on this trap or lock
...with “what this means”
...in a social situation with LARP, IC or OOC
There is no failure here in LARP. Either you get the result that you hope for, or you eliminate one more method that didn’t work, and move to the next item for trial on your list.
Action breeds opportunity in LARP.
You may always contact any member of our Plot Team if you’d like to discuss a particular dilemma privately. We’re really invested in your fun, and we want to help you out! Thus I hope this advice sinks in for the moment when you feel stuck, and you really need this.
Love & Kisses,
Auntie Trace
Team Prometheus
2017 Acarthia Plot
P.S. Over the past few months, members of our Plot Team gave this particular directly and privately to a number of players in our game. We don't want any of you to feel singled out here, like this edition is for JUST YOU BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE EVER FELT STUCK WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?? This is definitely a thing applicable to many. Don't feel bad; we believe in you!
How To Work a Plotline 1
How To Work a Plotline 2: Info you get from NPCs
How To Work a Plotline 3: Order from the menu
When you get stuck in LARP and don’t know what to do:
Try anything at all.
Seriously - almost any action is better than taking no action!
LARP is an action-oriented hobby. You usually think of "action" meaning athletic activities: fighting, running for your life, climbing those damn hills at Sky High Ranch. Broaden your thinking to consider that LARP is oriented around what you do, not what you avoid doing, or what actions you might be afraid to take. The actions you take define your LARP experience. Nearly always, taking any action at all, no matter what it is, will turn out better for your experience than taking no action.
Let’s check out some obstacles that might stand in the way of action. They might include:
- Not being able to think of what to do next
- Not being familiar enough with LARP to even know what choices you have
- Being afraid of messing this up
- Being afraid of messing this up for others
- Being afraid of lost reputation for messing this up
- Being afraid that once you exit this highway, you won’t be able to get back on
- Being afraid of losing items or getting deaths on your character card
- Being afraid that Plot will punish your actions because they’re vindictive jerks!
- Deciding that your choice of action “wouldn’t work anyway”
- “Plot would never allow that”
- “That’s too crazy, it’s not even in the realm of possibility!”
- You tried something similar in the past, and it didn’t work
- You don’t have the right skills for this attempt
- No, like… I believe in myself and all... but this still super wouldn’t work!
- Because now that I think about it, that really was a bad idea!
Here are some things that you can do to climb over those obstacles:
- TALK TO OTHER PCS! (No one should be surprised by this entry now that we get to #4 in this series!) See what ideas they have - maybe they have creative thoughts that you don’t? They can evaluate the relative risks of your ideas and help talk you through them. More experienced LARPers among them might have ideas that you haven’t thought of about what choices are available to you. This game is all about social bonding and teamwork - let others help you!
- Talk about your fears out loud, even if just in private to yourself. Do they sound silly once you give them voice? Maybe they’re not so scary after all?
- Ask your Plot Marshal, or a friend on the Plot Team, if there are other choices and avenues for you here? Have you genuinely hit a dead end? INSIDER PROTIP: Some plot writers are more forthright than others. Some of us may level with you that you’re facing a dead end and maybe it’s time to choose a new direction. Others might be too polite to do so, or the people pleaser in them doesn’t wish to offer disappointment. Let me give you a hint: “So long as PCs show interest in this, I’ll keep running it!” is code for, “You’ve hit a dead end, it’s time to choose a new direction.” You’re welcome.
- Sometimes, you just gotta follow the timeless advice from the 1983 classic movie, “Risky Business” and say, “What the ****!” (NSFW):
If you’re really truly stuck:
...in storyline
...with your BGA
...with your character development
...on this mod
...with this effing puzzle that’s in this mod!!!
...on this trap or lock
...with “what this means”
...in a social situation with LARP, IC or OOC
Try anything at all.
There is no failure here in LARP. Either you get the result that you hope for, or you eliminate one more method that didn’t work, and move to the next item for trial on your list.
Action breeds opportunity in LARP.
Try anything at all.
You may always contact any member of our Plot Team if you’d like to discuss a particular dilemma privately. We’re really invested in your fun, and we want to help you out! Thus I hope this advice sinks in for the moment when you feel stuck, and you really need this.
Love & Kisses,
Auntie Trace
Team Prometheus
2017 Acarthia Plot
P.S. Over the past few months, members of our Plot Team gave this particular directly and privately to a number of players in our game. We don't want any of you to feel singled out here, like this edition is for JUST YOU BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE EVER FELT STUCK WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?? This is definitely a thing applicable to many. Don't feel bad; we believe in you!
How To Work a Plotline 1
How To Work a Plotline 2: Info you get from NPCs
How To Work a Plotline 3: Order from the menu