Draft Article for Review

nzLARPS
#1

Sorry about the delay, guys, I’ve been having a busy time of it lately. On the plus side, I finally cracked a problem that we’ve been having at work so life is good for me, at least. :wink:

[quote]How Many Live Roleplayers Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?
I don’t know, either. I do know what happens when a certain critical mass of LRPers gets together, though - they start chatting about games that were, games that are, and games that shall be. This last can be the most interesting and this article is about a certain critical mass of LRPers getting together with intent.

A quick note on terms: You know what roleplaying is or you wouldn’t be reading this publication. Live roleplaying is the version where you physically do what your character would do instead of simply saying it. It’s often called by its acronyms LRP or LARP (the A stands for Action). There are a lot of different flavours of LRPing, with such differences as how much is conflict abstracted, what standard of costuming is expected and how much players try to get inside the heads of their characters.

So what’s going on? Several New Zealand LRP groups have formed a LRP co-operative, called the Live Action Role Playing Society (LARPS). There are a whole bunch of advantages that go with this, some of the most obvious being better communication about games, kit sharing, and being able to supply financial backing to games that are in their starting-up strapped-for-cash phase. It’s also intended as a forum for people to go for general LRP advice, to kick ideas around, run training courses, and to pool resources for building projects that no one club could handle by itself. Another advantage is the ability to negotiate shop discounts for members, for instance from Paddywhack, a supplier of LRP-safe weaponry for use in combat-oriented games. color=red[/color]

The easiest way to get in touch with the co-operative is through its Internet forum: www.diatribe.co.nz. You can also get in contact via X at Ycolor=red[/color]. Annual membership is at a heavy discount of $5 for October, but will normally be $20 ($10 for students).

Right now they’re running a Design-Our-Logo competition with free membership and a bottle of winecolor=red[/color] as the prize, as well as an Epic Greek LRP planned for November/January color=red[/color]. For people who prefer SF to Classics, keep an eye out for Nibelungen 2006, a 1950s pulp science fiction game set in a spaceship.

So anyway. Drop us a line, tell your friends about us, or visit for a chat. We’d love to hear from you.[/quote]
Comments:

  1. Have people thought about asking places like the Medieval Shop, Spotlight, costume shops and theatrical makeup shops if they’d like to advertise on the forum? Or be interested in offering a club discount?
  2. Is there a contact name and phone number for people who don’t do Internet forums?
  3. Given both the membership discount and Design competition run out in a couple of weeks is it even worth mentioning them here?
  4. Derek, there’s been two different months mentioned for this. How secure are you on when you’d like to run it?
  5. Would someone on the committee please confirm that I got my facts right? Is there anything I’ve missed that ought to be there?
  6. Craig, do you know what format this should be in for publication?

Cheers all

Stephanie

#2

Cheers Steph! I’m WAY busy right now so I only had a chance to skim. On formatting, text should be fine and the publishers can add their own formatting.

PS: Tone is very good.

#3

I like it too.

The use of “LRP” is interesting. Is this the influence of Pagga? I think “LARP” is far more common worldwide.

The “A” in LARP is indeed for action, but it’s not action in the sense of combat. Just like a “Live action” movie uses real actors rather than cartoons, a “live-action” game uses real people as characters rather than the imagination or computers or miniatures.

Also, AMERICA runs some live games and call them LARPs.

I think the “definition LARP” part of it may be a bit longer than necessary because the audience will almost certainly be familiar, although I like the stuff about different types. Variety is what the new society is all about. Perhaps there could be bit more about why people might want to join instead?

As an aside, I think it would be nice to have a graphic with the article to make it more readable. Even an illustration from the public domain.

  1. Good idea, perhaps online advertising in return for a discount.
  2. I’m guessing that’s Adam.
  3. Those may not be worth mentioning unless it’s published immediately. It’s a student society so just mention the $10 discount.
  4. It’s January, just Derek made a mistake. Also, I don’t think Nibelungen is just set on a spaceship. But perhaps you could mention that it will have have a lovely spaceship interior for playing it?
#4

I tried to look in the public domain for images, but I don’t think I have the knack. I did discover that if you google image search for golems you get the Mordavia one. I also uncovered numberous anarchist symbols and an archive of old cartoons from Punch that make no sense to me:

#5

[quote=“Ryan Paddy”]I tried to look in the public domain for images, but I don’t think I have the knack. I did discover that if you google image search for golems you get the Mordavia one. I also uncovered numberous anarchist symbols and an archive of old cartoons from Punch that make no sense to me:[/quote]I’m not actually sure why Punch thinks that that’s funny. Context, I guess.

Second draft:

[quote][size=150]How Many Live Roleplayers Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?[/size]
I don’t know, either. I do know what happens when a certain critical mass of LARPers gets together, though - they start chatting about games that were, games that are, and games that shall be. This last can be the most interesting and this article is about a certain critical mass of LARPers getting together with intent.

A quick note on terms: You know what roleplaying is or you wouldn’t be reading this publication. In case you haven’t heard of it already, live roleplaying (or LARP) is the version where you physically do what your character would do instead of simply saying it. There are a lot of different flavours of LARPing, with such variations as what degree conflict is abstracted, what standard of costuming is expected and how much players try to get inside the heads of their characters.

So what’s going on? Several New Zealand LARP groups have formed a co-operative called the Live Action Role Playing Society (LARPS). There are a whole bunch of advantages that go with this, some of the most obvious being better communication about games, kit sharing, and being able to supply financial backing to games that are in their starting-up strapped-for-cash phase. Also, given the many different styles of LARPing it’s a way for experienced people to have a look at other ways of doing things and for new people who are dipping their toes in the water to find a group that suits them. It’s also intended as a forum for people to go for general LRP advice, to kick ideas around, run training courses, and to pool resources for building projects that no one club could handle by itself. Another advantage is the ability to negotiate shop discounts for members, for instance from Paddywhack, a supplier of LARP-safe weaponry for use in combat-oriented games.

The easiest way to get in touch with the co-operative is through its Internet forum: www.diatribe.co.nz. You can also get in contact via X at Ycolor=red[/color]. Annual membership is normally $20 with a $10 discount for students.

Right now the main co-op project is an Epic Greek LRP planned for January. For people who prefer Science Fiction to Classics, keep an eye out for Nibelungen 2006, a 1950s pulp SF game partly set in a spaceship. Will it have buttons on the control panels that do things? You betcha.

So anyway. Drop us a line, tell your friends about us, or visit for a chat. Or all of the above. We’d love to hear from you.[/quote]

#6

[quote=“Stephanie”]
You can also get in contact via X at Ycolor=red[/color].
.[/quote]

Yep the contact is me, 09 6364926 or adamww@ihug.co.nz

don’t know why but I like this line.

Thanks for this Steph it looks great, which is what I expected from you. I owe you one. (you are welcome to collect at NARMA as you see fit, let me know)

Some suggestions.
=> Changing that last LRP to LARP
=> I think you should mention that LARPS will be an incorporated society in the near future.
=> Maybe we place the advantages, in a list one on top of the other with bullet points (like my list) I think it stands out more and is easier to read.
=> I think we should mention the paddywacks 30 % discount, its a good discount figure that should get people attention.
=> mention of Mordavia as a project as a good example of current LARPs and the ones you already have as future new LARPS.

Good suggestion about approaching other places like Spotlight. I will bring it up in the next meeting.

#7

Cool, looks like the feedback on this has been solid, and come out in a great article. Let’s leave it until tomorrow afternoon to see if anything else comes up then I’ll send it away for Psuedo dragon.

To clarify, Nibelungen is not set on a space ship, but there is one in it. I like what you’ve got on that now.

#8

Third draft:

[quote][size=150]How Many Live Roleplayers Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?[/size]
I don’t know, either. I do know what happens when a certain critical mass of LARPers gets together, though - they start chatting about games that were, games that are, and games that shall be. This last can be the most interesting and this article is about a certain critical mass of LARPers getting together with intent.

A quick note on terms: You know what roleplaying is or you wouldn’t be reading this publication. In case you haven’t heard of it already, live roleplaying (or LARP) is the version where you physically do what your character would do instead of simply saying it. There are a lot of different flavours of LARPing, with such variations as to what degree conflict is abstracted, what standard of costuming is expected and how much players try to get inside the heads of their characters.

So what’s going on? Several New Zealand LARP groups have formed a co-operative called the Live Action Role Playing Society (LARPS). There are a whole bunch of advantages that go with this, some of the most obvious being better communication about games, kit sharing, and being able to supply financial backing to games that are in their starting-up strapped-for-cash phase. Also, given the many different styles of LARPing it’s a way for experienced people to have a look at other ways of doing things and for new people who are dipping their toes in the water to find a group that suits them. It’s also intended as a forum for people to go for general LRP advice, to kick ideas around, run training courses, and to pool resources for building projects that no one club could handle by itself. Another advantage is the ability to negotiate shop discounts for members, for instance an impressive 30% from Paddywhack, a supplier of LARP-safe weaponry for use in combat-oriented games. Ultimately, LARPS will register itself as an incorporated society, giving even more advantages like club-specific bank accounts and legal protection.

The easiest way to get in touch with the co-operative is through its Internet forum: adamww@ihug.co.nz. Annual membership is normally $20 with a $10 discount for students.

Right now the main new project is an Epic Greek LARP planned for January. LARPS is also now sponsoring the long running Mordavia campaign, usually held in Auckland. For people who prefer Science Fiction to Classics and Dark Fantasy, keep an eye out for Nibelungen 2006, a 1950s pulp SF game partly set in a spaceship. Will it have buttons on the control panels that do things? You betcha.

So anyway. Drop us a line, tell your friends about us, or visit for a chat. Or all of the above. We’d love to hear from you.[/quote]
I flat refuse to write this with bullet points. Sorry, I’m just a snob that way. :wink:
This evening is my last chance to edit this before I head off for NAAMA. The deadline for any more comments is 6pm today, thanks for the helpful ones already made.

Cheers,

Steph

#9

“You can also in contact Adam” - remove the “in”.

“Ultimately, LARPS will register itself” - I’d remove the “Ultimately” because it makes it sound like a long-term plan, but it’s an immediate plan and part of the core concept of the society.

“general LRP advice” - change to LARP for consistency.

“The easiest way to get in touch with the co-operative is” - I would use “society” here. Co-operative may have been overused.

God I’m fussy.

#10

you can add my cell phone as well, 021 1505779.

#11

Final draft:

[quote][size=150]How Many Live Roleplayers Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?[/size]
I don’t know, either. I do know what happens when a certain critical mass of LARPers gets together, though - they start chatting about games that were, games that are, and games that shall be. This last can be the most interesting and this article is about a certain critical mass of LARPers getting together with intent.

A quick note on terms: You know what roleplaying is or you wouldn’t be reading this publication. In case you haven’t heard of it already, live roleplaying (or LARP) is the version where you physically do what your character would do instead of simply saying it. There are a lot of different flavours of LARPing, with such variations as to what degree conflict is abstracted, what standard of costuming is expected and how much players try to get inside the heads of their characters.

So what’s going on? Several New Zealand LARP groups have formed a co-operative called the Live Action Role Playing Society (LARPS). There are a whole bunch of advantages that go with this, some of the most obvious being better communication about games, kit sharing, and being able to supply financial backing to games that are in their starting-up strapped-for-cash phase. Also, given the many different styles of LARPing it’s a way for experienced people to have a look at other ways of doing things and for new people who are dipping their toes in the water to find a group that suits them. It’s also intended as a forum for people to go for general LARP advice, to kick ideas around, run training courses, and to pool resources for building projects that no one club could handle by itself. Another advantage is the ability to negotiate shop discounts for members, for instance an impressive 30% from Paddywhack, a supplier of LARP-safe weaponry for use in combat-oriented games. LARPS will be registering itself as an incorporated society, giving even more advantages like club-specific bank accounts and legal protection.

The easiest way to get in touch with the society is through its Internet forum: adamww@ihug.co.nz. Annual membership is normally $20 with a $10 discount for students.

Right now the main new project is an Epic Greek LARP planned for January. LARPS is also now sponsoring the long running Mordavia campaign, usually held in Auckland. For people who prefer Science Fiction to Classics and Dark Fantasy, keep an eye out for Nibelungen 2006, a 1950s pulp SF game partly set in a spaceship. Will it have buttons on the control panels that do things? You betcha.

So anyway. Drop us a line, tell your friends about us, or visit for a chat. Or all of the above. We’d love to hear from you.[/quote]

OK, I moved up the comment deadline because I want to go home now. :wink: (Thanks for the comments, they were very helpful.) This is the final version, I assume someone can forward it to the editor of the magazine OK.

Cheers,

Steph

#12

Great! I really like that. I’ve sent it away and we’ll no doubt be well represented in the club rag.

We’ll pretty surely use this copy again for future similar releases.
I’ve asked for a copy when they release it.

Craig