Oct 4-6 Event Reviews and Props

[meirya]

Since no one else has started this yet, I'm going to start a thread!

Roleplaying Props

• Molly was fantastic. She was at once caretaking and enterprising, and the juxtaposition of the two was entertaining and felt quite real. I absolutely loved the pitch for the guild of lady merchants, by the way.
• One of my favorite observed interactions was between Molly and Matthew-the-NPC on Sunday morning. Molly read the letter from Matthew's lover beautifully, pausing and reassuring him or commenting on each line. When she transcribed his response, her reactions and nicer edits in writing it were hilarious. Matthew (as played by Casey) was fantastic too, and I loved when the one dwarf gave him two copper for consolation drinks. The comedic timing by all involved had me in stitches.
• Naia (Bria's character). Fortress + hobgoblin taunting was fabulous and brilliant.
• Lagarde (Jim)! I liked the roguish air and the vicious animality of the fox. I won't give specifics, but overall props to the character.
• Ernest (Mari) the honest aspiring thief, and the reactions to zir on Sunday morning. The exchange between Lagarde and Ernest was awesome. As were such comments as "This is the Baron of Warchester, you might not want to say you're a thief in front of him" and "Why don't you join a locksmith guild or something and put your skills to a more lawful use" and so on. Also the shocked pause when Ernest asked, "Does anyone know where I can find the Thieves Guild?" as if, as Barbara said, "asking directions to church." >D
• The entire ogre encounter on Friday night. Skagrak (David) calling Dame Katherine (Trace) a liar, Katherine calling for an honor duel, the intense drama of the chanting ogres and encouraging town cheers and sounds of combat. One of the highlights of my weekend!
• The other highlight for me was the whole hobgoblin encounter. Dame Katherine commanding people to kill the hobgoblins after witnessing the chaos casting, which in contrast to her reasonable and merciful approach towards monstrous races earlier in the game was really, really striking and impactful. Naia's Fortress-taunting. Lagarde and Naia trying to stay peaceful with the hobgoblins. The taunt-off between Jesse's hobgoblin and Naia in Fortress pose.

Those are just the ones off the top of my head... my highlights, because I saw so much good RPing and it would take forever to list it all!

Other elements I loved

• Holy crap is Jesse organized. He had something scheduled for every hour. When it was slow, it was because we shorthanded NPCs were wiped and needed a break or a nap on Saturday, not because there was too little planned. (I was so tired on Saturday that I felt drunk and nauseous. A 1.5 hour nap fixed it but I needed that nap to function.)
  Also, everything that went out had a reason. There were no arbitrary random mobs with no rhyme or purpose! Everything had a backstory, everything had context. There were a couple little one-shot encounters (the kobold masquerading as a ghost, the pregnant rabbit and the fire ants) but even those had some context (such as post-war kobolds and goblins doing their thing). Plot has done some serious planning and prep work, and yet it's not on rails - Jesse was impressively adaptable and capable of improvisation, and he seemed even excited about it when things didn't go as planned. It helped that we had some seriously good roleplayers in NPC camp!
• Okay, I just overall loved the way NPC camp was organized. We had really nice makeup to work with (though my face was burning horribly from the constant on/off/on/off of makeup by Saturday night.) There was a "fishbowl" of NPC roleplaying characters and scenarios, which was way better than trying to come up with a dinner NPC on four hours of sleep ("generic guard #4"! oh the days of generic guards for dinner. This was way easier to play with).
  Also, I know Jesse strove for a balance of RP and combat but could only do so much with six NPCs, and he had a lot of plot points to get through. I thought we did a good job of RPing during combat scenarios though.
• THE COSTUMES. Ohmigods the players had all such incredible, well-thought-out costumes. I loved that Rivervale was all in green and their key sigil was evident. I loved the matching Warchester shields. I loved the armor, weapons, makeup, prosthetics, masks (Briana's animal masks remain utterly stunning and impressive each time I see them). You lot really went all out!
• Decor! Rivervale's tapestries and the candles strewn throughout their cabin room. Plaques for all of the guilds. Lights and prop elements in the Healers Guild. Wooden ward markers. Too freaking cool.

 

[Jesse Grabowski]

Where do I begin???

The amazing core of NPCs who worked tirelessly to bring you entertainment... all 70% of the original writeup... lol.

The costumes, the staying in game, the amazing RP, and Molly... i was holding back as she attempted to listen to the brokenhearted drunk write his reply to the dear john letter. Dear.... whoreface.... lol

Honor duel...

waiting for PCs to show up Saturday night as we got stupid tired and told stories while waiting for them to arrive.

Pretending to understand the fortress as my goblin necromancer and falsely using it in the vicinity of Mike Messmer, thinking I know how to cast it. I go up to him and strike the Fortress pose with the most menacing of faces. Mike: Visible fortress? Me: No. "I am invincible goblin now!" After my taunting, calvary shows up, and MIke 2 Normals me into the ground. lol

Killing imaginary town guardsmen by firing my high level spells into an empty room...

Constantly sending things into the tavern to find it empty... (You better get your behinds to the tavern at the next event!!! I will shut off your heat!! lol)

The bunny...
the thief looking for the thieves' guild...

PC nobles contemplating what to do about monster races in the vicinity...

ahh fun...

 

[Briannon]

Bra-freaking-vo to all those brave souls who NPC'd and to Jesse for organizing them.

Situations I particularly enjoyed;

Little girl searching for medicine to help her sick father WITHOUT any sort of magic meeting up with the herbalist dryad Panax (sp?). I enjoyed the mannerisms of the little girl and her commitment to NO MAGIC. ('cause it's evil). Panax managed to be helpful, courteously confused, and refused payment, instead asking the girl to pick a bunch of mint for her parents. It was lovely to watch from an OOG standpoint.

Thank you entire goblin troupe for responding to the taunts made throughout the event, particularly whilst I was Fortress'd. I love goblin squabbles involving the emphatic, "nu-UH!"

Orge team: Way to be ogres. I enjoyed the rythmic chanting and shield-hitting to encourage one of your own. I was in awe that the Sunday ogres A: had a horn and B: knew how to use one! I could hear it from the other side of the cabins and it was a truly amazing touch.

As was stated earlier by meirya, this event had some phenomenal costuming.

The full wilderkin masks were in uncanny valley territory of realism, the fox brothers wore those abominably itchy muzzle prosthetics the entire time, and I know La Garde (sp?) had to have half a bottle of final seal on his face.

Rivervale: Seriously wow levels of coordination and theme. Even your Ward was designed to integrate with the design of your decor and costuming! (I must find some of those tea lights).

Tiatar (sp?) Wilderkin: Vera, Frank, Rork (sp?), your costumes, weapons, and personas were a well crafted whole and helped me to truly believe in and picture an entire race.

Horatio: The hat is awful, the personality is highly entertaining.

I reserve the right to add more later.

All in all, thank you everyone who came out to the game for making me want to come back.

Thank you,

Briannon (a.k.a Aneira Owens, she of the armored fuzzy hat).

 

[Traceroo]

Just search Amazon.com for "battery powered candles" and there are 49 BILLION choices! Too many choices, actually. Prices vary wildly, so be sure to calculate price per candle for the bundles. Watch out for the ones that are scented if you don't want that. And as a repeated PSA, if you have a .edu email address, you can get a 1+ year free trial of Amazon Prime (free shipping).

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I don't care to make too many props by individual name because I'd hate to inadvertantly leave anyone out and thus hurt feelings rather than bolster them. I have some blanket thanks for all involved, however:

• FRIENDLINESS: From the initial meeting in the park, through the first tavern night at Petrie's Family Games, on Facebook and these forums, and throughout this first weekend event, I am continually amazed at how incredibly friendly, supportive, polite, enthusiastic, and helpful all the players are in this game. This is a really welcoming community. This is truly a place where I'm going to look forward meeting all my new friends over the next several years.
• ATMOSPHERE: I don't recall that we ever had much of a general about staying in character consistently, and yet everyone just "gets" that on their own without prompting. I didn't walk into a single discussion this weekend that was totally out-of-character. At best, there were sideline discussions with a quick rules or Logistics question, or discussion about "what my character should know" about something -- quietly and quickly settled off to the side without disrupting the atmosphere at large. Those of you who are experienced LARPers know what a true rarity this is in even the best of games! Let's make this part of our culture, and keep that trend going!
• ROLEPLAYING QUALITY: We've got a mixed bag of LARPing experience of any sort among players. We have a lot of veteran LARPers, and we have lots who are new to this hobby. What we do have, however, is an amazingly high percentage of table-top roleplayers in this game. I think the overall experience with the concept of roleplaying in general really raises the bar on character quality here. On the first event of any game, we're all just trying to remember to answer to our character names, and we're making some fairly high level decisions about morality -- "Do I roll the poor little girl for her lunch money? Or should I help her get a healing potion for her father? Hmmmm." -- Not Alliance Denver! Not Acarthia! I found myself enmeshed deeply in debates about advanced moral standing -- how do the rights of a citizen of Acarthia who's a thief and blackguard compare with the rights of an "enemy" of our people that conducts themselves with honor? What is the historical basis for our traditions of politeness, of titles and kneeling, and salutes? Will we be a people that takes the high road of morality despite strategic difficulty? Or is the welfare of our own people of greater immediate importance, and the philosophers and courtiers can have their day at a later time? WOW! Props to ALL of you, and I look forward to more of the same!
• APPEARANCE: The bar is set pretty high on appearance in this game -- Unbelieveable masks and makeup, great costumes, incredibly artistry among weapons and some cabin props. Even Jesse's contributions to the Merchants Guild with his wonderful leather goods were great. The look and feel of this game is truly immersive. It makes me want to step up my own game there, and inspires me to create things, which I love.
• ENTHUSIASM: NPCs and volunteers, wow! Again, I hate to name names because I don't wish to leave anyone out. Your energy was boundless. Between rests of monster lives, you each had a smile on your face. You were so polite even under the duress of combat, and being so cold and overtired. You did an excellent job with make-up -- and made so many changes for us! The acting among the NPCs was stellar -- Your portrayal of such an array of really varied characters was nothing short of amazing. I have offered some specific feedback on particular characters and encounters in my Post Event Letter which I emailed to Local Plot. I hope those comments will get shared appropriately with those who deserve the praise in there. I am grateful to all of you for your time and energy. Thank you for being the backbone of this game, and setting the tone for future games.

Like so many others, I can't stop talking about Alliance! I'm picking up the phone and reaching out to friends who wanted the advanced scouting report before they checked it out. This is an amazing game with wonderful promise for the future. Thank you, Jesse and Barbara for all the work that I know most players don't even realize that you do every single day to build this community. Running a game this high quality is like more than merely a second full-time job. It's life consuming. Please know that all of us out here speak so highly and with gratitude of you both for everything that you're doing here. When LARPers are upset, we'll say, "It's only a game...." I've never subscribed to that, though. For many of us, this is so much more. This is our community. This is where we'll meet the new friends that will become lifelong companions. We'll ask someone out on a date after a shared adventure, and end up marrying someone we met at a LARP! This is far more than "just a game." This is our community, and our gathering place, and our social connection, and the place where we'll find the stories we're still telling 10 and 20 years later and more. So, thank you, Jesse and Barbara for building this and bringing this to us. Thank you, all who read this, and all who are working together to build this. I'm grateful to each and every one of you for something wonderful.

Thanks,
Trace Moriarty

 

[meirya]

For many of us, this is so much more. This is our community. This is where we'll meet the new friends that will become lifelong companions. We'll ask someone out on a date after a shared adventure, and end up marrying someone we met at a LARP! This is far more than "just a game." This is our community, and our gathering place, and our social connection, and the place where we'll find the stories we're still telling 10 and 20 years later and more.

Yes, this! I've been craving community for a while... I had it in Ohio (a Vampire LARP and also renfaire cast) but haven't found an equivalent that feels like "my" community out here yet. My grad school program satisfies a lot of that for now, but that won't necessarily continue after graduation, and it's more my academic/professional community. I had hoped other LARPs out here would satisfy that craving but that didn't happen...

...This LARP, though. This already feels like community. And it is looking like a place where I could explore craft hobbies more in depth than in past games. I was even considering joining SCA after grad school as a community seeking attempt, despite the drama and life consumption that comes with it, and the lack of the kind of roleplay that I like. But I think I can get those needs and wants satisfied at Alliance! That's awesome. I'm daring to hope that Alliance Denver can be the community I've been searching for.

The out of game interaction is really valuable to me too. Fight practice has been wonderful for this. But I think the emphasis on a "good guy game" and the existence of baronies and cohesive guilds in game is community building too, on an in game and out of game level, and I'm not really sure how to explain why it affects out of game community but I feel as though it does.

Basically: yes, community. I like what it looks like so far, I'm hopeful about it, I want to do everything I can to help keep the community growing.

 

[PirateFox]

I really need to get my username changed to something more recognizable...that aside...

Review tidbits for me:
- Amazing enthusiasm both from players and NPCs. Loved the depth of roleplay, costuming, makeup, etc on both sides. I'd say energy and enthusiasm got a 4/5 and the costuming all around got 5/5.
- Roleplaying was very good. Saw very few breaks from immersion (though we all had our moments, usually after reaching the officially sleep-deprived stage of things). In-game atmosphere was probably a 4/5. It's a LARP without a special effects budget, so I doubt I'll ever give a 5/5 on RP/immersion.
- Site was awesome. I want my cabin back for future events. 5/5 on site.
- There were some minor issues with cliquish behavior among the PCs, which kind of surprised me in a low-level/starting game. That may just be perspective though, given that I was one of the shifty people. Why don't people trust the fox pirate?!? PC willingness to get to know people outside the group they came with...2/5, sadly. I'm used to groups going off and ignoring others a lot more in higher-level games, which was why this one stood out to me. Right now, I'm writing it off as shyness of new players vs the older players trying really really hard not to fall into a rut with their old companions.
- Story was a little less deep than I'd have liked, but Trace can vouch for the insane place I started LARPing (ask her about taco dip). *grin* Then again, we're level one, so most plot that is deeper than "go kill the rats in my basement" is probably fine. With short-staffed NPC camp, major kudos for the amount that did get run. 3/5 on story, but 4/5 on execution, though perspective of plot varies a LOT by location/person, so that's only representative of what I saw.

High points from my perspective:
- The stealth mod. I'm getting too old to scale smooth stone slopes like I used to, but still an awesome mod. ;-)
- The level of depth from most of the NPCs. Even random characters who were stopping by for food had a degree of depth and personality that I'm not used to seeing in NPCs. Great work, guys!
- And this one's not so much on the game as a whole...the amount of times people implied that I was some kind of horrible child-killer without any good reason, other than my appearance. I spent half the event trying not to laugh hysterically as people tried not to let me fully tell any story, lest I confess to murder. Definitely kept me amused.

Overall, I had a great time and would recommend it to anyone I know who games...though I think they're all already involved. I will definitely be trying to make it to as many of the future events as I can, hopefully with Cassie in-tow for a few.

Jim Galford
- Lagarde, the sketchy-looking fox

 

[Traceroo]

Jim, I'd attribute any apparent standoffish behavior to shyness rather than elitism/cliquishness. Everyone wants to feel comfortable. Even outgoing persons are usually willing to be engaged in a conversation someone else starts. It's always the more difficult role to be the one who extends a hand and starts the conversation. Your remarks are a good lesson for all of us to extend the hand and start the talk. I think that will become easier as we become more familiar with our own characters that we're playing, and more familiar with the game environment such that we have something to talk about! I had a few moments this weekend where I'd say to someone I don't yet know, "So where are you from?" I'd get the hand over the head, and a polite explanation from the player that they had no character history yet. "Ah, I hear that place is lovely this time of year," I'd respond with equal politeness -- admittedly it did tend to limit some of the classic conversation starters, however!

You're an exemplary roleplayer, and you've chosen to play a character who is undeniably shifty in demeanor. This no doubt cast a shadow over your interactions in a way that's different from the expereince of others who played more welcoming archetypes -- just a thought there, too.

Nevertheless, it's a good reminder for everyone to be more friendly, more inclusive, and be the one who extends the hand and makes conversation easy to draw others in. Point well taken there!

Trace

 

[PirateFox]

Yep, well aware some of it was because of character, which was why I mentioned that just to be safe. Just thought I'd throw it in anyway, in case it helped anyone else recognize that they're being a little closeted.

 

[Eadar]

I'd attribute it to a few things Jim.
-Shyness. Not all of the players are used to this style of gaming yet, nor everyone involved.
-Nobles slumming with the commoners. I was caught surprised several times myself by who was a noble and who was not, and the uncertainty of how, if, when, etc to talk to Nobles was an issue for many of us.
-The game just started. Some people are still like, getting used to their close group and the roleplay - so there is a lot to be had and be busy with there. Honestly I could have roleplayed with just Tiatar and been entirely fulfilled, but OOG I'm a bit of social butterfly so I like getting around.
-Your PC came off as either super friendly and cooperative, standoffish, or unapproachable depending on the situation. Not that you intended to be standoffish or unapproachable, it's honestly the costume. Like I see where people get that (I see past it/doesn't come across to me, personally). Apparently I came across as scary or intimidating in mine. Save a few cases of people already used to my PC, I was the one always initiating conversation with my PC. I think a lot of this will pass and is attributed to the shyness/not being used to everyone.

I could honestly point out the entire weekend as something I enjoyed, and overall was definitely 5/5. I'll give your version a go:

- Atmosphere: I'd give the enthusiasm 4.5/5 and the costuming 5/5. Even a few people who had to last minute costumes looked great! I think the late night fight had a drop overall in the go go go, but it barely affected it really. If anything, the campsite setup where we had choices of running mods and their distance apart affected some, along with the tavern being so far and really empty most of the days. But really - overall was aboslutely amazing, everyone was into it and wanted more and more. I also want more trees at a site, but thats a personal preference for atmosphere.
- Roleplaying: While I agree with you on the special effects budget and all, I'd give this 5/5 in comparison to what is normally capable of a larp.
- Site: 6/5. Cabins were too nice. I will say I'm dreading not having normal toilets and showers next event.
- Socialization: I'd give this 3.5 outta 5. TBH, the constraints put out on the bowing and what you can and can't say round nobility actually is a damper and hindrance in some of my roleplay. There was a lot more I could have, and wanted to do but could not due to the nobility constraint in some cases. I social butterflied a lot though, and really I think all sections of this will severely improve over time.
- Story: 3/5 on story, but 5/5 on execution. I agree we could have way more complexity and depth, but in the end were just starting, too much would be a bad thing. I think it was just right for the first event, especially with a lot of new players, so I totally give it 5/5 on execution. Now, factoring in how few NPCers we had? 6/5 on execution.

I had a lot of favorite moments, trying to rank them in my head, but Ill put out a few:
-The goblin attack in the morning, and how they roleplayed instead of rollplayed with us. Amazing work.
-Philosophical debates with multiple PCs.
-The undead attack on the tavern, and the convos IC we had about it between us two there and the tavern keep (I swear I will learn her IG name next time...)
-The finding, and dividing of loot roleplay we had after we checked into the ex-mage-guild's house. This wasn't even a loot and scoot scenario, like there was roleplay in opening that chest, story with what was in there, roleplay in what we thought about its contents, roleplay in how to divide up the contents, etc. Great stuff involved here from Plot, the NPCs involved, and the PCs. Small little thing in the grand scheme normally, but had a ton of fun and RP associated.
-The necromancer plot was my favorite, due to its multiple components and crazy awesome finish.

Thank you to like, everyone - I had a blast and am jonesing for more.

-Mike "Porch"
TPO Frank (the wylderkin in the dark plate armor)