Couples: Rerun

Auckland
#41

I think you probably did more delving than anyone else Hannah - at least I thought I could sense you probing for secrets.

I had mixed feelings on Couples.

The characters were suitably detailed and conflicted, the GMing (which had quite a directorial style) was appropriate for prompting interesting character development and interactions, and the minimal staging worked okay for the style of larp. The players did a great job in their roles. So it should have been all good.

But I was put off by the erotic explicitness in the character briefings and felt that it should have been made clear in a disclaimer before anyone signed up. If it had been, I probably wouldn’t have attended and it sounds like it accounts for the late drop-out too. While it may well be that it creates a tone that some players would enjoy, it’s not my thing. To me it seemed unnecessary and puerile.

The “all secrets must get out in the open” directive felt contrived to me, what works in a movie due to months of careful scriptwriting doesn’t necessarily translate to believable play in a few hours of larp. There was too much somewhat melodramatic material to all be revealed in such a short time, it was soapy. For this reason I didn’t find it to have characteristics of psychological realism in play, even if it did in the character briefings. Because I had to reveal things that would have predictable impacts I felt a little like a billiard ball at times - it was not clear where I might travel around the table but there was no uncertainly that I was predestined to end up in a hole. And it was very much the hole I anticipated.

Also, the numeric personality characteristics on the sheets seemed pointless. EDIT: likewise the physical descriptions. Why put hair colour and height on a larp character briefing when the odds of it matching the player are minimal?

Probably a great larp for someone else and some people clearly love it, but all things considered not my bag.

#42

Anna did say that the games contain mature content. I have very wide boundaries so I have not bothered to ask exactly how mature, but it’s probably a good idea for someone who has a threshold to ask exactly what “mature” entails.

#43

It was origanaly written as a table top game…but the players of the first run of it found that it was better to have it semi-larp…i guess he just hadn’t thought to remove those bits from the sheet.

#44

Don’t we all have thresholds?

“Contains mature content” and “contains sexually explicit briefings” are somewhat different kettles of fish. It wouldn’t have occured to me that one implied the other. For that matter, mature wasn’t the word that sprang to mind for me personally on contact with the briefings. Mildly pornographic, maybe. In my book a theme of adultery is run-of-the-mill mature content, an explicit description of it is something else again.

I’m not saying it was badwrongfun or criticising the organisation. No harm, no foul. It’s just not my thing, and in general it would be nice to know about these hot-button items in advance.

#45

However, maybe I should give some insight as to why some components are in the game.

These series of games were always written for tabletop games, I never envisaged them as a purely larp game, and make no apologies for running them ‘semi larp’, keeping a variety of tools which work in a tabletop game.

The reasoning behind the erotic explicitness in the intro… (which btw is a single comment… ‘Discuss as a couple what you do in bed’). First, the game is about 3 couples in loving relationships. Yes people have sex in loving relationships. I wanted this to be addressed by the players, not just ignored. Second, I always have said my games are of an adult nature. Third, thats hardly an explicit R18 Porn Movie, its the sort of information you would find out about a couple on shortland street.

However, it isnt an irrelevant puerile delve into sexuality, it plays an important part of the game. The main reason I do that at the intro is so that the players can broach the subject in a safe one on one environment. Everyone has different boundaries and in a game with such a nature, its important to test those very early on and determine whats ok and whats not.

The players can opt in or out by the way they talk about the subject, from just brushing over the fact with a nervous laugh, to delving and proudly discussing it with me when I come around. This sets this tone for the game and determines how the topic would be covered.

The ‘all secrets out in the open’ part of the game, is unashamedly and deliberately directorial. I originally ran the first series of games with a set of scenes and handouts in between, to allow more difficult information to come out as the game continues. I didn’t like that as it controlled the information too much, but still wanted to create scenes where people feel strong emotions.

In the ‘all secrets out’ way, its over to the player to determine how it should come out and manipulate the scenes to have this happen naturally an non-soap like manner (well as much as they can). I guess some people like it, others do not.

I never said it was perfect. It was a tool to allow minimal gm input, and give the players a feel of control. I feel it works better than have people sit around and the game dwindle to nothing as no conflict occurs. Well maybe thats just my opinion :slight_smile:

The numerical personality characteristics is from my days as a psych major. That wasnt generated from rolling dice. What I did is use two personality testing techniques, art based psychoanalysis (the pictures and comments)and the 16PF, through the eyes of each character. The numebrs are the representation of the 16PF. Some people find them irrelevant, others liked them.

I’m sorry if things didnt quite go as you hoped Ryan. There always was a problem with the couple you played and how it seemed to shadow the main issue brought up by the others. I addressed this in Couples Deuce.

Also- its always difficult to live up to hype.

Hope everyone else wasnt bored :slight_smile:

See yas Tuesday.

#46

Hey Tony - I wasn’t bored, as I said the larp orverall was good and I just had a couple of minor issues. I put more text into the issues than the stuff I enjoyed, but only because I didn’t want to criticise without explaining.

You may be right about my specific character’s issues being over-shadowed, perhaps because the issues didn’t related much to the other characters or follow on from their revelations. Or those that did (e.g. father-related stuff) was quickly & quietly resolved between two characters.

The verbal briefing suggested “discuss things as a couple like x, y, and your favourite sexual position”, which is slightly more explicit than “sex life” - I don’t recall ever hearing about or seeing positions on Shortland Street, but then I’m not exactly a fan. But it was my character sheet (Richard) that had text elements that seemed porn-like to me. And I’m not particularly debating whether they belong, as I said it could be argued that it set a certain tone some players might like (just not me), my main suggestion was that it’s the kind of thing that should have a disclaimer. Some people could take the material in much poorer light than I did, and yet feel unable to back out once they’re at the event.

#47

Ahhh the character sheet… True the character you played does go into detail a little more than possibly is needed, unfortuantely its the most explixit of all backgrounds. The others talk in general terms about sexual exploits.
Reasoning was that I was trying to relay the characters player-like status and how he relates to sex. But I guess in hind sight, that isnt as important as keeping things comfrotable for the player. Point noted.

#48

Anyone able to give me a ride back towards Penrose after tomorrows game? I can get to the game, just home is looking a little troublesome at this point

#49

I can do it.

#50

Cool bannanas That save a long possibly wet walk home :smiley:

#51

Anyone going in from town to this that could give me a ride there and then back to Mt Eden at the end?

#52

We still have a female player space available tonight, if there’s a female out there that would like to give the game a shot.

#53

Hi Malu, I can swing by town on the way I’ll be coming from Western Springs. give me a call before 3pm, 8342571, Hannah

#54

Awesome Hannah. Thanks so much.

#55

I’d call this event a success!

Tony, if you want to do this again next year, let me know. I’m happy to set it all up :slight_smile:

#56

I’m penciling 3 Couples at the moment, and will see how things eventuate. I’ve taken a couple of the points raised at the end of each session and are re-balancing things here and there. It always seems to be a work in progress. But then by the reviews given on this forum, Im not sure you would want me back :slight_smile:

Edit: Ahh just saw the new string for couples deuce… Guess I will be back :slight_smile:

Had a lot of fun gming the games. Great players, some excellent scenes. Till next time.

Tony