Newsletter

nzLARPS
#21

Firstly, I agree with Craig’s assessment and recommendations. I know what it’s like to work on a publication whilst under pressure, so I would like to commend the team for their efforts and for taking on board the constructive criticism.

The purpose of the newsletter is at the crux of questions of content, editorial style, issue scheduling and budgeting. Furthermore, the purpose is necessarily informed by the relationship between the newsletter and the nzLARPS web presences (nzLARPS website, diatribe), the intended readership, and the desired actions (if any) resulting from the newsletter being read.

I’m not convinced that Anna’s purpose is entirely cognisant of the above factors.

Print is a static medium. Once an issue is published, it will not change. This makes it particularly suited to expressing historical events, and unsuited to handling dynamic topics (such rules that are under development).

The web presences are dynamic, so it would be useful if the newsletter was designed to draw readers in and motivate them connect with our dynamic publications.

Although this is a decision for the committee, here’s my vision:

  • The newsletter acts as a portal into historical and future larps that were/will be held by nzLARPS (reviews, development updates, satire, guides, advice, histories etc)

  • Although there will be a consistent meta-style for the newsletter, each article will be styled to convey the setting of the larp that is being discussed.

  • There will be “links” to appropriate online references (diatribe, nzlarps.org etc) i.e. website addresses

  • A lot of content that is not already online. While I expect that the newsletter will be ultimately available online in PDF format, we could delay this for say, a couple of weeks, to give the newsletter some prominence.

  • A calendar of planned events, listing events planned for the next few months, with more links.

LaTex is a very powerful tool, but it is aimed at computer science undergraduates. It is closer to a markup language than a word processor. Although Word is lots of limitations, it would be easier to keep using Word because it is more ubiquitous and relatively easy to learn.

#22

I suggest a new name for the Magazine: Tuakoi. It means “imagine” in Maori. It’s cute, memorable, meaningful and interesting. I reckon it would make a better name for the club than nzLARPS but we’d surely need an SGM to change that :wink:

What are others’ thoughts on Tuakoi?

#23

[quote=“Exquire”]I suggest a new name for the Magazine: Tuakoi. It means “imagine” in Maori. It’s cute, memorable, meaningful and interesting. I reckon it would make a better name for the club than nzLARPS but we’d surely need an SGM to change that :wink:

What are others’ thoughts on Tuakoi?[/quote]

I firmly think we do need a seperate name for the magazine.

#24

I don’t think the Maori name idea really adds value. If it was a more familiar Maori word then it could be evocative, but the one suggested is unrecognisable to most potential readers I suspect.

I favour a name like “NZLARPer” for the magazine.

#25

Me as potential user of this product votes for “NZLARPer”. Vox populi, he-he…

#26

[quote=“Ryan Paddy”]
I favour a name like “NZLARPer” for the magazine.[/quote]

I’d like to name it something a little more imaginative…

#27

How do Maori words gain traction in an English-dominated media, and therefore reach the position of “familiar”, unless people are prepared to use them ? Sometimes, leadership is required to bring an idea to the mainstream, just like with your Grand Battle ™ proposal.

The history of New Zealand is one in which our education systems tried to beat Maori language out of existence. Literally. Isn’t it time to move on from what Moana Jackson calls “The Tyranny of Language” ?

What is important when adopting a Maori name of a publication that is (currently) largely targeted at non-Maori-speaking/aware people is a strong by-line.

e.g.

[size=150]Tuakoi[/size]
[size=109]Live Action Role Playing in Aotearoa[/size]

I am open to any argument that can evidence that the above title and by-line provide less information than “NZLARPer”

Remember, us LARPers are attuned to separating NZ from LARP in the above title, but the uninititiated will not necessarily make the connections we do.

#28

While I agree with Ryan that it doesn’t add value, the magazine is only going to be purchased by dedicated larpers anyway, so I don’t see that as a problem.

Personally, I like the idea of giving it a Maori name.

Another idea, what is the name for the traditional Maori tales like the one about Maui stealing fire?

#29

My feeling is that we’ve struggled to find any word or phrase that adequately describes this whole larping thing and makes it attractive or interesting. With a distinctive name for a mag (like Diatribe is not called “larp boards”) it has a chance at becoming familiar and loved.

Mike’s right that it would need a sub-heading, and “Live Action Role Playing in Aotearoa” explains everything. I think he’s also right that Maori language deserves more use and belongs in applications like this.

“Tuakoi” sounds like it could mean many things (and it does), and it sounds like it comes from the same set as “Diatribe” - both memorable three syllable words. The word lends itself to attractive but non-specific branding. Probably the biggest trouble we’ve had with the nzLARPS name is that it doesn’t.

And like Anna said, we can be more imaginative than “nzLARPER” even if it is the obvious choice. Nicknames are good. We could have been “the Mordavia club.” :wink:

#30

I actually really like the name Tuakoi, I like the way it sounds and I like what it means. LARP to me is all about imagination and fun and Tuakoi kinda captures that.

#31

Pakiwaitara is translated as “legends”, and covers what you’re meaning. Although I don’t think that’s a popular translation of the word with Maori, it’s rather like calling Bible stories legends.

I made a tabletop RPG called Pakiwaitara once. All the PCs were karakia-chanting hardasses. Maori superheroes from the middle times of history, or some such. Ran it a few times and it worked pretty well, but I felt it suffered from a lack of deep understanding of the milieu on the part of myself and the players. I considered publication but thought it would be bound to offend someone. So I found it quite disarming when Robyn Kahukiwa later published artworks of Maori as superheroes. :wink:

In terms of Tuakoi and the inevitable declaration of words-as-politics from Mike (which is undeniably true if you subscribe to an ethic personal politics, which I do) and words-as-art from Craig… maybe. To me, having an organisation called NZLARPS with an organ called Tuakoi is rather like painting your living room blue and purple. They don’t fit together, the magazine sounds completely independant of the society (even with the byline), and the word chosen doesn’t have the immediacy of “Diatribe” in terms of resonance of meaning. I’m all for activism and art, but you’ve got to weigh it up against utility. That name just tips the scales a bit far for my comfort. But I’m not up in arms against it, and I agree my suggestion leans too far towards utility.

#32

You’re right!

We must change the name of the society at once!!

(half serious)

#33

[quote=“Exquire”]You’re right!

We must change the name of the society at once!!

(half serious)[/quote]
Thusly it becomes

[size=150]TuakoiNz[/size]

:wink:

Putting all words-as-politcs aside, the above concept is simply rancid…

#34

I thought this was talking about a magizine name, not the society name

#35

“Tuakoi” was the third or fourth word that Craig pitched to me as a potential name for the magazine but it was the only that really caught my attention.

The more I mull over it, the more attached I get to the idea of a magazine called “Tuakoi” - it’s unique, it’s a great word, it has an appropriate meaning…

shrugs I dunno, maybe we should gather a few other suggestions and run a poll?

#36

I really like Tuakoi. It’s a little different, cute and definately memorable. You know how words sometimes jump out at you and you really like the way they sound. Tuakoi is one of them. I reckon it would be a catchy name for the magazine and it has the appropriate meaning for a larp publication.

#37

It looks like Tuakoi is proving the popular choice from most people.

#38

I like ‘Tuakoi’ in that it has a meaning, and (being in Maori) injects some NZ-specific-ness into the mix. Also the magazine definitely needs a name.

On the downside, the vast majority of people will not recognise the word (like they would recognise ‘kia ora’, for example) and so it needs the byline. Also theres a (very) small risk that people will place too much significance on it being a political statement (we’re a LARP society, not a political group).

On balance, I like the idea, but I’d be almost as happy with something like ‘The nzLARPer’ instead.

Lets concentrate on the things that everyone seems to agree on - fixing the presentation and making it look more professional. I must agree that the last issue looked far too school-club-like and the printing costs were disproportionate to the value.

#39

‘Tuakoi’ sounds very cute, of course, but for person not much familiar with Maori stuff (like me) means just nothing. Sorry, but it’s true. The sound of this word gives me no associations. Something like “NZLARPer” is exactly the opposite - it DOES MAKE SENSE. Do you guys need sense?
I agree that ‘Tuakoi’ is a very unique name - but it’s just too much unique, even out of context, at least sounds like that, sorry. And yes, it does sound politically coloured.

#40

“nzLARPER” doesn’t mean anything to most people either, no matter what languages they speak. Both of them are new words, and we get to explain the meaning ourselves. That puts us at an advantage. I think “it’s Maori for ‘imagine’” is actually a better introduction to larp than “it stands for live action role playing…”

I didn’t know what it meant until I looked up the Maori word for “imagine”. The result was so satasfying I thought it’d be a good word to bring larpers together.

It finally meets the requirements we have for larp-related advertising.

Doesn’t have swords in it (or another genre-specific leaning)
Distinctly New Zealand (and better than having “NZ” in the name)
Means something to those in the know
Can be quickly and easily explained by those in the know
Sounds attractive and curious
Memorable

Bonus round:

Correct!
Free!
Available!
Goes with Daitribe (I reckon it does)
“Tuakoi and Diatribe” <- ringring!