Indicating OOC state without breaking character?

[meirya]

This has happened to me a few times in various games:

My character is in an emotional state. Either spitting mad, or distressed/distraught, or grieving/despairing. Some sort of intense, not-well state of being. I'm deep into character, the character's feelings are visible in my physicality (sobbing, shaking, pacing, agitated, whichever).

Inevitably, this happens: someone puts their hand on their head and asks me if I, the player, am okay. That they care and are concerned is appreciated but I can't help but feel frustrated, because now I have to drop out of character (which, when I'm that deep into an intense scene, breaks me a bit out of the immersion and breaks the energy/flow of the scene) to let them know that I, Dani, am fine; it's just my character that isn't.

When I was on street cast at a renfaire, we had a system for checking on other cast members if we weren't sure if it was them or their character that was in distress. When you're performing, you don't want to break character especially because you have an audience. But we did also want to be able to take care of each other as cast.

The system was "in faith" and "in sooth". "In faith" meant "in fake" or "in character"; "in sooth" meant "in truth" or "out of character". So if I was unsure if a fellow actor was okay, I'd go up to them and ask, "In sooth, are you well?" If it was just their character who was distressed and the actor was fine, they'd respond with "In faith, no; I cannot pay the King's tax this year and I fear I will be locked in jail!" I'd then respond with in-character roleplay from there. On the other hand, if the actor wasn't well, they might say "in sooth, no; I have twisted my ankle," and then I'd get them to the first aid tent.

I cannot begin to describe how many times I've wished we had a system like that at LARP. Obviously if someone were actually, as a player, in distress, putting a hand on their head and saying "no, I'm not okay" is simple enough, but there's no way to indicate that "I'm fine, my character's the one who's upset" without breaking character and going OOG.

(I will probably suggest this system or something like it at my local game, since it's just starting up and so it'll be easier to implement stuff now before the game culture/conventions really get established, but I thought I'd share the idea/thoughts on the larger forums for public consideration and discussion.)

 

[Toddo]

That's actually a really cool way to handle it.

 

[Alavatar]

I like it.

 

[jpariury]

I think it depends on the level of immersion that people prefer. I'm more a fan of the idea that we should all wear our characters as light as a hat; easily taken off or put back on at a moment's notice, even at our most dramatic.

 

[Undrask]

I want that to happen.

 

[meirya]

I think it depends on the level of immersion that people prefer. I'm more a fan of the idea that we should all wear our characters as light as a hat; easily taken off or put back on at a moment's notice, even at our most dramatic.

Certainly it depends on your preferred level of immersion. The nice thing about a concept like this is that it's an option for those of us who prefer deep immersion; someone who prefers a lighter level of immersion probably wouldn't use this option.

I don't know that a generalized "should" is really applicable to play styles and immersion preferences though. People LARP for different reasons. (Which would be an interesting discussion, just not one that's on-topic for this thread.) When I PC, I am looking to get deeply immersed into the world and my character; wearing my character "as light as a hat" would be unsatisfying for me and I wouldn't enjoy my LARP experience nearly as much, and so I think I "shouldn"t" wear my character lightly. For someone else, getting as immersed as I prefer might be uncomfortable for them or dissatisfying, because that's not what they're looking for, so in their case they "should" wear their character more lightly. I think the only "shoulds" applicable in LARP are following the rules and doing whatever you need to do to have an enjoyable experience (while still following the rules).

 

[Alavatar]

I think it depends on the level of immersion that people prefer. I'm more a fan of the idea that we should all wear our characters as light as a hat; easily taken off or put back on at a moment's notice, even at our most dramatic.

I think it depends on what acting technique the player likes to use.

For method actors (or similar), the above suggestion helps them stay in-character and therefore keep their RP constant without the downtime to get in or out of the heightened emotional state.

Sure, not everyone needs it. But for some, it may make the game more enjoyable.

To be honest, I wish there was a way to adapt this to other aspects of the game. I can't tell you how annoyed I have been when I see someone act out in an awesome way them dying or getting terribly wounded, only to have someone call a hold and ask if that person was OK which totally broke the immersion.

 

[evi1r0n]

I think this extends into good acting and "being hurt". 10x an Alliance game when I get struck and act hurt, I get asked OOG if I am okay. It is immersion breaking to have to tell them, "repping my hit IG."

Here's my experience in Alliance NW (Seattle and Oregon): Alliance is the "gentle medium" game in the NW. It has a lot of combat but isn't a "combat game" like amtgard or others. It has a lot of immersion but isn't a "high immersion" game like The World of Oz or Shadow Accord (NW games that a fair amount of people on the westcoast know about). At games like SA or Oz, you will never have someone ask you if you are okay OOG or hurt OOG because if someone is hurt emotionally or physically because the offended party will let you know OOG. Most Alliance players see these games as "cold" and hard to get into, because it is a culture shock level of difference.

It's a cultural thing. Alliance is filled with really nice folk who genuinely care about each other but we are also really "sensitive" (I think that's the word I am looking for). People tend to have a knee jerk reaction to seeing someone in any kind of pain. I have just learned to accept it because it would involve a culture switch to a much more immersive play style, that I don't think Alliance would benefit from.

Experiences may vary but that's my view from the NW and seems to hold true to the traveling players I have met.

 

[jpariury]

Certainly it depends on your preferred level of immersion. The nice thing about a concept like this is that it's an option for those of us who prefer deep immersion; someone who prefers a lighter level of immersion probably wouldn't use this option.

Sure, but then it really only works if both the asker and the asked are on the same level - a light immersionist will still ask a heavy "OOG, you okay?", and a heavy immersionist will ask "For sooth, are you okay?", at which point the LI would likely think they're asking in-game, and it'll cause all sorts of weird roleplay. (Plus, is it really in-character for the Dracolich O' Pain to pause its torture scene and ask in-character if its victim is feeling okay with what's going on?) I think the functions of when its appropriate to use are kind of niche.

I think it depends on what acting technique the player likes to use.

Sure, stylistic preferences will lead people one way or the other, but we're not talking about presentation theater (as a renn fair is) where people are being paid to create a show and an atmosphere. That's, in my mind, where the distinction lies - I'm not approaching it from "What makes a good show?", I'm coming at it from "What makes a good game?".

 

[Undrask]

Certainly it depends on your preferred level of immersion. The nice thing about a concept like this is that it's an option for those of us who prefer deep immersion; someone who prefers a lighter level of immersion probably wouldn't use this option.

Sure, but then it really only works if both the asker and the asked are on the same level - a light immersionist will still ask a heavy "OOG, you okay?", and a heavy immersionist will ask "For sooth, are you okay?", at which point the LI would likely think they're asking in-game, and it'll cause all sorts of weird roleplay. (Plus, is it really in-character for the Dracolich O' Pain to pause its torture scene and ask in-character if its victim is feeling okay with what's going on?) I think the functions of when its appropriate to use are kind of niche.

I think it depends on what acting technique the player likes to use.

Sure, stylistic preferences will lead people one way or the other, but we're not talking about presentation theater (as a renn fair is) where people are being paid to create a show and an atmosphere. That's, in my mind, where the distinction lies - I'm not approaching it from "What makes a good show?", I'm coming at it from "What makes a good game?".

Which is why you create a standardized method of doing so. If you OVER RP there are no consequences. If you UNDER RP, people lose fun. Therefore the safer route is to give people the opportunity to immerse and if they don't want to they can opt out, which isn't going to spoil anyone's fun.

 

[Tantarus]

I tend to agree with JP on this one. There are many times when this would not work because it would be out of character for certain npcs to even say. Also in the heat of combat it seems really out of place.

Also I am not a fan of speaking in code in a vagueish IG and OOG at the same time kinda way. I feel like things need to be clearly OOG or IG. Not kinda both. Otherwise there could be confusion which leads to misunderstandings. that could otherwise be easily avoided.

 

[evi1r0n]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that if you are in such an OOG emotional state that you cannot rep your character properly,that you should excuse yourself from play to cool off for a bit? I just don't think there is a NEED to ask someone who is in the middle of a LARP game if they are okay OOG, especially for emotional stuff. I know when I get emotional at game, I just go away for a bit. If I need to talk to someone, I grab one of my friends (who won't mind) and talk. I just see the fix for this being a little personal responsibility and trust (trusting that the other players are taking personal responsibility).

 

[meirya]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that if you are in such an OOG emotional state that you cannot rep your character properly,that you should excuse yourself from play to cool off for a bit? I just don't think there is a NEED to ask someone who is in the middle of a LARP game if they are okay OOG, especially for emotional stuff. I know when I get emotional at game, I just go away for a bit. If I need to talk to someone, I grab one of my friends (who won't mind) and talk. I just see the fix for this being a little personal responsibility and trust (trusting that the other players are taking personal responsibility).

I was thinking about this earlier actually, but wasn't sure if it was an unreasonable thing to expect, hah. I mean, if I'm not emotionally okay OOG, you are not going to see it because I'm either not going to show it (my characters are way more outwardly emotionally expressive than I am, that's part of the point for me, though maybe also why people get concerned), or I'm going to put a white headband on and go somewhere private.

But I'm a pretty emotionally controlled individual most of the time, and I know not everyone is. I want to just be able to say "please never ask me OOG during a game if I'm okay; if I'm not okay OOG and I want you to know, I'll let you know".

 

[stonegolem]

I want to just be able to say "please never ask me OOG during a game if I'm okay; if I'm not okay OOG and I want you to know, I'll let you know".

This is something you can work out with your RP partners and your plot team, I think. It's not a perfect solution for what you're looking for, which if I'm reading you correctly is a game atmosphere where it is understood that distress is all roleplayed and OOG problems are either removed from stage or simply swallowed until later.

The nature of our game as it stands in the chapters I play in is a medium-immersion game. There are more than just a handful of searingly poignant and potent moments of roleplay, and it is well within the realm of possibility for a person to simply remain in character, respond in character, and play through their whole weekend completely immersed, but it requires an active level of willful refusal to unsuspend disbelief on the part of the person attempting to do so. Finding people willing to make that commitment with you on the PC side, and a strong NPC camp full of players who are capable and willing to provide on the plot and world end, goes a long way toward enhancing your experience in the direction I think you are wishing for - which I also think you know.

My point is that if you were playing in the Deadlands and you came up to me and said "Evan, please make it known that I am trying to play a complete immersion game, and I will let you or anyone else know when my reactions are out of game," I would do everything in my power to give you the experience you were looking for, including informing my staff and NPCs of your wishes.

If enough people did that, the atmosphere of the game would change in the manner you (and I) would prefer to see.