Battlecry 06 Review

Community Larp discussion
#1

Battlecry 2006 was an awesome weekend, with a huge turnout. I’d like to start a thread discussing the weekend, and would love to hear stories from people who attended.

At one stage we had 6-7 roleplaying games (2 Rpga), 4 full wargaming tournaments (10 - 30 in each), 3 Card gaming tournaments, 5 stalls from shops, and the LARP guys (stalls and Demonstrations). Not sure of exact numbers, but about 130+ people were there.

Great organisation had the registration work smoothly, and the registration for the Roleplaying was ‘Kapcon pitch and sign up style’.

Larp Danielle and Gavin ran a Sci Fi Exodus game on the Sat Night. Costumes where simple yet effective. There were three factions in the game, Marines, Natives, and Ships Personnel. I played the Sergeant in charge of the Colonial Marines. We were told to wear black, single colored pants /tops with black boots. The natives were in more rustic outfits :slight_smile:

My Marines were on a black ops mission, to cleanse and capture Natives from a planet targeted for Terraforming. We were transporting them in stasis aboard a transport vessel back to rendezvous, which the natives were not to be let out, and the ships personnel weren’t to find out we had them on board. Of course both occurred.

I guess I had a central character to the plot, so it impacts heavily on my game perspective. I enjoyed the rock and a hard place aspect, and having a group of marines with no weapons, vs. low tech psychic wielding naturists and heavily armed ships personnel. Made for some interesting decisions and roleplaying situations.

I loved the use of the various rooms for parts of the ship. Our Cargo hold was the main hall, the stasis pod a downstairs changing room. Aspects that weren’t so good was the difficulty of the gms to get to the different groups and answer enough of the questions. Overall, I liked it, but then I was called Sergeant Sleaze :slight_smile:.

Games

Couples
I ran Couples again for some of the people up in Auckland who hadn’t played in it last year. 3 Couples get together, deal with strong issues. This session was different to previous I had run, with the players taking a long time to get comfortable with the game and then having to rush the end. It still worked ok.

Couples Deuce
I wrote a second version of the game, with different characters and issues. This session had huge buy in from the players and was one of the best session I have run. I loved the ways the relationships morphed throughout the game and had one of the couples playing a scene for 5 minutes sitting 5 feet away from each other, as they couldn’t bear to be nearer. Awesome when a game runs better than you envisage it to run.

Good to see a stall from the Mordavia guys there and really enjoyed having Craig and Anna play. You two made the game.

Spycraft
Played in my first systemed game for a while, which was the standard find the spy who’s taken the artifact.

Pirates
Ran by Rowena, I played in a fun over the top high energy game about Pirates (who would’ve thought :slight_smile: Filled with clichés and a nice plotline, the game had lots of Ooooaaarrrhhhing, boarding ships and sailing to hidden temples. Some nice pacing and a variety of scenes, made it feel like a true movie experience.

Overall
An impressive turnout of gamers, awesome professional organisation, one of the best Battlecrys I’ve been to. be good to hear from others who attended.

Tony

#2

I was busy for most of the weekend, but I got to join in the Exodus LARP on Sat run by Danielle and Gavin.
I did hear some people complain and say it was to slow in places, but I really enjoyed it, I have only done Mordavia and it was fun to get involved in other larps. The post above was intersteing as I was one of the natives and did not really get to hear what the main plot was.
It was fun being with a groub of natives who had a range of powers such as becoming invisisble or creating a shield, creating fire, controlling metal etc and the only power I had was being lazy and a bully. Most of the natives were trying to use to find a way to use there power to help in the situtaition where all i did was wind people up, twas fun.
I managed to lose my finance and get disowned by my father during the LARP.

#3

Heya all, I am the Gavin of ‘Danielle and Gavin’.
Battlecry 2006 was an excellent con’, i never saw an unhappy face and everyone was intermingling without unintended fighting and swearing. Despite the sweltering heat inside the hall everyone got on with their games and enjoyed themselves.

I have been hit by the Flames of War bug so missed out on rp’ing, but from what i hear it was very high quality.

The LARP took a long time to write up (99% by Danielle) and there was a major amount of information available (~50 pages) for the characters to attempt to discover. The biggest problem is mentioned by adam, the game was slow. We underestimated how much we would have to keep adding information to the players and moving between groups and our multi-room game idea turned into a bit of a marathon.

Now everyone just has to convince Danielle to run another 30’s game as she will ‘never run another LARP’…

#4

My review of the LARPs in Battlecry.

I only went for the Saturday and I had a really good time overall. The atmosphere, the organisation and the people there were really great. Next year, I’m going to make a point of coming along for all of Battlecry. I participated in two of the LARPs on the Saturday - ‘Couples Deuce’ and ‘Exodus’. Some of you may have also seen me loitering around the nzLARPS stall, under the guise of helping, but I assure you, I was just sitting around in a medieval dress.

Couples Deuce
After reading Stephanie’s posts here on Diatribe about Couples down in Wellington, I was really interested in trying it out. The concept sounded somewhat frightening so I almost backed out but Craig dared me to play - so then it was a matter of honour.

Backstory aside, I am really glad I played. It was an intense LARP but not frightening, so if you get an opportunity to play, I recommend taking it. The character I was given was probably the most different from than I’ve ever played and considering I’m somewhat shy in real life, it was something of a challenge. It also took me a while to bring my secrets out, but they hit the fan in the end.

The game was really well written and Tony was a great GM. The other players were all really strong roleplayers. One of them was a male playing a female, and I swear, during the entire duration of the game, I saw them as a girl. It was a real jolt everytime I realised he was actually a guy.

I really enjoyed a LARP that focussed so much on character and interaction. That in itself can create a very tangible reality. The other players were so good. I liked the subtlety of the RP…very little things, minute changes in body language, looking away…it all made the interaction very real.

The preparation and debriefing was very good as well. The guy playing my character’s boyfriend was a complete stranger to me but I was impressed that he thought to ask how much contact I was comfortable with. It seemed like good general LARP etiquette, especially in such an intense LARP.

Overall, great game, would jump at the chance to play again. Thanks, everyone who was involved in that :slight_smile:

Exodus

I loved the premise of this LARP. I liked the notion of the three different groups, the back story and how much detail even my minor character got. It was well written and I think it has great potential, should it be run in different circumstances.

I think what let this LARP down a little was the sheer massiveness of it. It was part of the reason for the confusion. The other thing was that at least half the players aren’t usually LARPers, they’re usually tabletop gamers or computer gamers. You could tell from the way they were desperately trying to solve the ‘quest’ through furious discussions with the GM, and nobody seemed very keen to sit back and just interact - especially some of us more minor characters, most of us ended up wandering around aimlessly and not really interacting IC much. I heard from Craig that when his character made a bid for freedom, his captors turned to a GM and asked if they could catch him for where they were sitting - highlighting that the ‘live action’ part was lost on a few people :wink:

Nevertheless, I had fun, my character got a surprise birthday party and got to study some nifty new DNA.

Then I went home, dead tired and didn’t turn up the next day. :smiley:

#5

When people ask my about Couples now, my only answer can be “where do you start?”

And just to tantalise I might just leave it at that.

Battlecry had nomination slips for awards, which is a novel idea that probably works. I wrote on Tony’s (for GM nomination) slip “(Couple is) A raw, gutsy game that’s not afraid to push boundaries and envelopes. It takes its players through elation, heartbreak and all the confusion in between. *****”

If you have the guts (and I don’t mean you should pretend), and you get the chance, you should get in for Couples.

In fact, I really reccomend it because (from the sounds of things) the spots will be filled pretty fast by people who have played before. :wink:

Tony mused over the idea of making it more larp-y by having a venue that represents the imaginary one, and by giving people characters that look like and sound like their real life actors. I support this idea hugely. I can think of easy and effective settings, too… [size=75]pm me Mr Shirley[/size]

I think this is the kind of game we should be doing more of. You don’t need an elaborate venue, you don’t need masses of props or costumes or knowledge (that’s not to say these things aren’t good!) - it’s something that takes lots of writing (we’re good at that ‘round here) and not too-too much else. Plus it’s freakin’ cheap, and suits planning on a forum (which we’ll give you if you show interest)
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EXODUS

I was excited as I realised what Exodus was, because I’ve been looking forward to trying a LARP with some of its various devices:

  • Language barrier
  • Scifi (this was MUCH easier to get across than I thought. Out of anything, this was perhaps to most successfully used element - the genre!)
  • Forms of Hierarchy
  • Contrasting freedoms
  • The feeling of being lost

Unfortunately, the use of ALL of these things simply led to mass confusion about what was going on!
It wasn’t until AFTER we’d talked to our captors that we learned we couldn’t communicate. It was only when I used one of my (many) super powers to protect myself that the others were briefed on what had just happened (and assured that I wasn’t breaking the rules). I often had to describe what was going on, like when I made fire appear in the air.

There was some plot, which I won’t try to describe simply, then suddenly, the game ended! I’m not quite sure what triggered that. At the time, I was with my tribe, looking out a window in a spaceship. Got that? Yup. I think what happened next is that me n’ my buddies were fed, killed and disected, and Anna got her face on the cover of Popular Scientist.

And I think there was a big explosion, which would have been COOL if I had been there to imagine it.

If we can learn anything from the game (which, I might add, was still a barrel of fun), I think it’s that devices should be used one at a time. If we could study the rules beforehand we might get a smoother ride. It was neat finding out all the facets of the world (rules of the game) in character, but it was essentially inefficient and anti-game. When that device is used (the find-out-rules-as-you_play device) it should be done with careful timing (don’t overwhelm) and grace (leave some time to learn).

The next day was Mordavia, but I didn’t play. Despite making a bizzare and unusual costume in the weekend, Couples was my Battlecry highlight.

Cheers out again to all involved

#6

Hey Y’all.

It’s really good to hear all your feedback and hints on the Exodus game. As i said in the game wrap up, nothing had gone according to plan! I had to spend a lot more time running across the hall than i’d initially anticipated, mainly because i didn’t foresee the natives being stuck in the room for the rest of the game! There were several moral dilemmas that i thought would be explored a little more fully, but action took over a little for the latter half of the game and I found myself without a challenge/combat system and having to fly by the seat of my pants in terms of making calls.

I did see some amazing scenes where people fought to get some sort of understanding across the language barriers, especially Craig and Rowena. Tony also did a fabulous job as ‘sargeant sleaze’ and I have to say whenever I saw Hamish playing his officious government 2IC with designs on the captains job I wanted to crack up laughing.

it was a tiring game to write and to run, but I hope everyone had a good time. I would definitely run it differently if I had the chance again (which I won’t!!) and i think craig was pretty much spot on with his assessment of it having too many elements jostling for attention.

one thing that did disappoint me a little was the lack of ‘buy in’ at the start with the natives. I know that later on i couldn’t get back to you guys for a while and you missed out, but even just after the game had started and characters were issued, I noticed a few people treating the situation as more comic than anything else. there were a lot of flippant comments and joking in what should have been a fairly frightening situation. I know that if players can’t make that connection its just as much my fault, but there were some senior roleplayers in that group that I trusted to be a little more responsible in leading the group into the game. things to work on for next time!

anyway hope you guys had fun- it’s pretty much the only thing I try to accomplish. as for running more games… you never know. it’s kind of like having kids I think- right after giving birth you swear you’ll never do that again, but here I am with two older sisters so I guess you get over it.

Danielle

#7

Overall all I have to say I enjoyed Battlecry immensly. I would say it was the best Battlecry we have seen in a few years.

Couples 1
I had played in the first Couples game last year. I loved it and it was the highlight of Battlecry 05. I had not intended to replay it but I was not needed to GM that session and they needed another female player so I figured it would be fun to see it from another characters point of view.
Overall it was still a good game but it did not reach the level I had hoped for. Having played it before and remembering most of the issues probably contributed somewhat. Talking to Tony afterwards we agreeed that there was less ‘buy’ into the characters this time around.
It was still interesting to see how the game played out though as a game of this nature is always different depending on the players.

Couples Deuce
This was the only game I really cared about playing. I promised to run my pirate game as much as needed providing I got to play in this game. I am so glad that I did. This game had everything the morning game was lacking. All of the players were excellent which really does help the game along.
I dont wish to give away any details of the game as I really do recommend people experience it themselves. This was definately my highlight for the weekend.

Exodus
I think this game had an excellent premise. I was playing the traitor :slight_smile: Right from the start I figured my mission of getting the tribesmen to the evil corp was never going to happen. It would have been a pretty boring game it I had suceeded.

I found the first part of the game very enjoyable, meeting the rest of the crew and the corporation soldiers. Trying to judge who was loyal and who wasn’t was interesting. I personally could have played this bit longer.

Then the tribesmen started to get out and the soliders tried to deal with them. I found this part dragged on a little. The three groups seemed pretty separate (though Im not really sure what was happening between the soldiers and the tribesmen.) I found interactions slowed on the crew side anyway. Ideally more GMs would have helped here as there was a wait while Danielle tried to sort out everything. (Danielle you did a great job though. As a GM I understand how impossoble it is to be in two places at once).

Once the crew made contact with the tribesmen I really enjoyed the game. I had persuaded the Captain that I had previously worked as a negotiator as I was trying to avoid getting locked into a safe place with the other non-combatants. I decided to try and get as close to the tribesmen as I could to see what I could salvage for the corporation from this mess.
I had a great time trying and failing to negotiate the language barrier. Again I could have kept playing this bit for longer.

My favourite bit - Tribeman “I will show them the fire of peace” Flames burst from his hands
Crew “Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr!” Fire extinguisher to the fire of peace

Rowena

#8

Hi everyone,

We have organised 2 Post-BattleCry gatherings this weekend for people to
come along to discuss how things went.

Saturday’s gathering is at Logo’s on Ponsonby Road, at midday. Gene will be gathering feedback on the Games/Tournaments. Looking at how the sections went and what people thought, stuff for next time, intergrating things, what could go better, etc. And anything else pertaining to BattleCry, if there is time.

Sunday’s gathering is at my house, at midday. I’ll be gathering feedback on
the organisational aspects of BattleCry. From “on-the-day” organisation to
the management of the event. And anything else pertaining to BattleCry, if
there is time. I live in the upstairs flat, above the House of Travel, on
the corner of Symond St, Mt Eden Rd, New North Road. Look for a purple wall, a white door, and a light switch which is the door bell :slight_smile:

Then all the information will be combined with any email feedback we have,
to help us organise BattleCry 2007 better.

Come along with pros/cons/suggestions/modifications/what’s weak/what’s
strong/ideas etc. All feedback will be accepted.

If you want to contribute feedback, but can’t make it either day, please let
me know incase we organise another feedback meeting later, thanks.

Karen

#9

Mordavia: Reckonings is on this weekend, so a lot of larp folks in Auckland will be tied up with playing or crewing in that.

#10

…almost everyone forgot the Mordavia game! :cry: It was awesome, incidentally. We had a few new players, and a few old ones - and everyone I spoke to had heaps of fun. I think game description is kinda late now, but it was good.