Interview on Radio NZ

nzLARPS
#1

One of the producers for Radion NZ’s Summer Report programme contacted me today to see if I was interested in appearing on the show, to do an interview about larping. I agreed.

The interview is scheduled for just after the 8:30am news on Tuesday December 28th.

So, what should I talk about ? Here’s some items I am considering:

  • The high incidence of players losing grip on reality, and thinking the game is actually real.
  • The current moves within the community to allow players to wear costumes when larping.
  • How the term “larp-safe” actually refers to a repository where we put our valuables for safekeeping.

I’m not sure if this will fill up the allotted time, so I was wondering if the community would be able to suggest some hot-button issues.

#2

That sounds interesting. My 2c for the things you could talk about:
[ul][li]The different kinds of games that are run (theatreform, boffer, differences between one-off and campaign, those netherlands minimalist games which I don’t know how to define).[/li]
[li]The variety of fictional genres that are used for larps (I find that a lot of non-larpers I talk to don’t realise how far removed from reality some of the games are).[/li]
[li]The differences between scripted acting and improvising the entirety of a character that isn’t you.[/li]
[li]The sort of things that are required to run a larp.[/li]
[li]Small facts like how often they run, where they run, the number of people involved, information about NZLARPS, the forum URL, etc.[/li][/ul]

By the way, I have only talked to one person who has trouble removing themselves from their character after a game, but certainly not any who have trouble distinguishing reality from the larp that they are/were in. Does this happen often in Auckland? I know about character hang-over, because I suffer that to varying degrees, but I’ve never come across someone who gets so uncontrollably immersed that they have trouble with getting back to reality in it’s entirety.

#3

Ummm, Tetra, I’m pretty sure his topic list was rather tongue-in-cheek. Observe the definition for “larp-safe” …

#4

Yeah, I was being silly. Although, pretty much every time we get interviewed in a newspaper, we do get questioned on players losing their grip on reality. :unamused: Summer Report is usually very friendly towards their interviewees, so I don’t anticipate any of the larp myths to pop up.

Tetrajak, thanks for your suggestions, they are along the lines of what I was thinking.

The interview is 3 minutes long, so I won’t be able to include everything.

Depending on the questions, I’ll focus on explaining larp as a cooperative fictional narrative, and then go on to outline the genres and game types in New Zealand. I’ll talk about larpsafe weapons, likely expound on Teonn as the NZLARPS flagship larp, and probably finish off with a plug for our website.

#5

I would add:

[ul][li]Larp is widely acknowledged as the pinnacle of geek culture[/li]
[li]Rumours about larpers who believe they are vampires are mildly exaggerated. [/li]
[li]While roleplaying was a gateway to Satanism in the 80s, these days it’s a gateway to Islamic extremism. We like to keep with the times. [/li]
[li]To add to the realism, we use marijuana as a “healing herb”. Wait…[/li][/ul]More seriously, I think of Chimera more as the main NZLARPS flagship event. Fantasy campaigns will come and go, but there will always be a place for a big varied convention.

I like the interactive fiction angle. The idea that you’re in the story, experiencing it first hand, and you can change it.

#6

Oh, when they ask for a youtube link, I’ve got the perfect one !

Heh. What next ? Beer ? Gingernuts ?

Good idea about Chimera, I’ll make sure I mention it too. The reason I mentioned Teonn is because the “same character for a whole weekend” is quite an interesting topic, and it is easy to draw the listeners in.

#7

Has Anna got some “Chimera 2011” business cards yet? Drop a few during your visit, and try to recruit the station staff to come to Chimera!

#8

A good idea, but, unfortunately, it’s a phone interview.

#9

Mmmmm… gingernuts.

Anna doesn’t have Chimera '11 cards yet, because she’s still waiting for the name of the Flagship Larp. I suppose we could just put “Space Opera Larp” but it doesn’t have much of a ring to it.

#10

Maybe consider mentioning the wide range of people who participate in LARP, (students to professionals, a wide range of ages, all nationalities) and the fact that the collaborative nature of the game extends beyond the creation of the story - but through the loaning of gear and the sharing of skills like sewing, leatherwork, etc …

One thing that impresses my non-larp friends is how -active- a hobby this is, in that it encourages creation and collaboration and imagination (as opposed to something passive like sitting around watching TV). Maybe something around the positivity in that?

#11

Excellent point. I’ll include the positives around costume and gear creation, and how it inspires and motivates a significant proportion of the larp community.

I guess the point to make is that larping works for both casual and hardcore participants. You can take it as far as you want, and still have a lot of fun.

Note to self: re-read this thread on the 27th ( a day before the interview); so many good ideas ! :slight_smile:

#12

Totally. A year ago I didn’t know how to sew. Now I’ve a practical skill that I enjoy that I can and do apply to my real life all the time. That’s a pretty epic bonus of larping!

#13

Gah ! I just had to click on it, didn’t I ? So the poor victim of D&D gets rescued, and the pastor tells her that rock music is part of her “occult paraphernalia”. Good god ! I could understand Death Metal or Black Metal, but generic Rock Music ? WE ARE ALL DOOMED !*

  • unless you only listen to George, Bfm or National Radio :wink:
#14

I love how the pastors always have moustaches in Jack Chick’s comics.

#15

I got bumped :frowning: Apparently, some interviews went longer than planned, so my interview got squeezed out.

The producers of Summer Report have given my details to Summer Noelle, and they might be able to interview me later on this week. Fingers crossed…