Pagan vs. Christian LARP

But Derek’s post-apocalyptic religiously themed larp could work. No canon there.

There’s a post-apocalyptic larp called NEXUS in the UK. Using airsoft and having a Big Corp theme, not religion. Kind of cyberpunk. www.NEXUSlarp.co.uk

[quote]N-E-X-U-S is a live action role-playing game in a grim near-future setting where national governments have crumbled, and in the wake of the chaos, giant corporations have seized control.

You’re invited to play whatever role you wish in the grim reality, be it: Mercenary, Medic, Scientist, Merchant or many more. In the Nexus you can explore and control Territories, build and develop Facilities, manipulate Social & Economic conditions, gather faceless Minions to do your bidding, and research new Technologies & Equipment, all with tangible effects on game play.[/quote]

I think post-apocalyptic/religious would work well for a lot of reasons.

Costumes are easy - modern clothing with a bit of Mad Max thrown in.

Poverty is GOOD if you want tech in a larp. You can have guns and make ammo scarce. Ammo and resources are always a problem for modern larps in the sense that there is no reason why a government/military in charge of something like a stargate wouldn’t give the troops rocket launchers to take with them. Post apocalypse, you could start with a revolver with four bullets and bullets could be “loot” from some of the baddies. This would be keeping logically within the genre.

You can still have magic if you want in the form of religion that works or radioactive awakened psionics.

I see the satanic guys getting magic if anyone and the Christians not. If you actualy have a God that cares for you he’ll protect you. Psionics could also be interesting but I’d guess in a world like that the Christians might not approve of them and keep a close eye on any followers who had them.

[quote=“Derek”]I think post-apocalyptic/religious would work well for a lot of reasons.

Christians could however have the basic things promised to them in the bible and alot could be used from Revelations. I’d be happy to help work on the game although I’m very keen to play a Christian rather than NPC.

Costumes are easy - modern clothing with a bit of Mad Max thrown in.

Poverty is GOOD if you want tech in a larp. You can have guns and make ammo scarce. Ammo and resources are always a problem for modern larps in the sense that there is no reason why a government/military in charge of something like a stargate wouldn’t give the troops rocket launchers to take with them. Post apocalypse, you could start with a revolver with four bullets and bullets could be “loot” from some of the baddies. This would be keeping logically within the genre.

You can still have magic if you want in the form of religion that works or radioactive awakened psionics.[/quote]

That sounds quite wrong. Do you mean first of the Arabs? Islam (the faith of Muslims) came about 600 years after Christ, from the teachings of Muhammad. That’s thousands of years after the stuff described in the Old Testiment (or the Torah, which is the jewish holy book and largely identical to the Christian Old Testiment) where Abraham is described.

Are you thinking of this?

Abraham was descended from Shem according to the Gospel of Luke. When God promised Abraham a son, his wife Sarah was barren so he had a child his slave Hagar. That son was named Ishmael. Ishmael and Hager were sent into the desert of Arabia with the protection of God, eventually coming to Mecca and so he became the first true Arab. His story is told in Genesis.

Andrew wins! Needless to say it’s been a while since religious education.

Jesus vs. Buddha - who would win?

As we stand on the threshold of the 21st Century, many of mankind’s oldest questions about supreme beings have been answered.

For example, scholars have long since determined that if Superman and The Hulk got in a fight, Superman would easily win. Superman’s powers of flight and superspeed alone would make short work of the dim-witted behemoth. Even in the unlikely event that The Hulk caught Superman in close quarters, a blast of Kryptonian heat-vision to the eyes would leave the gamma-ray giant as sightless as Ulysses’ Cyclops.

Relatively little serious scholarship, however, has been invested in determining how mankind’s two greatest saviours, Jesus “The Christ” Ben-David and Siddharta “The Buddha” Gautama would fare in straight combat.

url=http://mentokthemindtaker.blogspot.com/2005/10/jesus-vs-buddha-who-would-win.html[/url]

Can’t say I actually know much about any religions beyond Christianity.[/quote]

Then play a Christian. I kind of like the idea of switching sides each time I die. If we all did that then soon we’d have a clear winner. Deaths meaning something more than normal.[/quote]

So I have to play a christian because I don’t know any better?

Suddenly I’m not so interested

Can’t say I actually know much about any religions beyond Christianity.[/quote]

Then play a Christian. I kind of like the idea of switching sides each time I die. If we all did that then soon we’d have a clear winner. Deaths meaning something more than normal.[/quote]

So I have to play a christian because I don’t know any better?

Suddenly I’m not so interested[/quote]
I think Dylan was suggesting that you play Christian because it would be easier (i.e less research required), not that you should play one.

Or you could do some research and come up with a religion that appeals. My picks would include Tibetan Bhuddism (vs Zen Bhuddism), Wicca, or Druidism. I’ve had experience in all of them, and they all have their strengths.

First Arab and first Muslim is not the same thing. Arab does not equal Muslim, and more importantly the Islamic religion didn’t exist until thousands of years after this hypothetical first Arab. They clearly weren’t the first Muslim (as Lucy said) because the religion didn’t exist yet. The first Muslim would surely be Muhammad, as he was the prophet who brought word of Islam sometime in 7C AD.

The whole question of descent is quite irrelevant anyway, as both Muslims and Christians agree that we all came from Adam. So we’re all related according to them. Where exactly the split in bloodlines supposedly happens has no real bearing on anything except geneologists.

In terms of the historical and modern wars between Christians and Muslims, what’s really sad isn’t so much that they’re “of the same blood” (according to their holy books, everyone is) but that they’re of the same God. And it’s the same God as the Jews.

These three religions spending so much time warring over how to worship that same God is a tragedy. The same goes for the many sectarian wars within those religions. What a stupid inhumane waste.

Which is mostly why I’d rather not participate in this game, sorry. It’s too close to a topic that depresses me in real life. Also, I see great potential for shoutiness, in game.

Which is mostly why I’d rather not participate in this game, sorry. It’s too close to a topic that depresses me in real life. Also, I see great potential for shoutiness, in game.[/quote]

This, and my earlier point about not knowing much beyond christianity anyway, makes it seem like a good idea to just make other religions up. Otherwise I think this larp idea is a good idea, but a bit too personal.

I attended a Catholic secondary school in the mid 80’s. An Anglican priest would occasionally preside over the evening prayers/hymns. I used to sit there and think “Hmmm, what are the chances of this happening in Northern Ireland ?”

Nods I see much shouting and weapon drawing. But I’ve always wondered how things get so out of hand. Prehaps this is a chance to find out.

Which is mostly why I’d rather not participate in this game, sorry. It’s too close to a topic that depresses me in real life. Also, I see great potential for shoutiness, in game.[/quote]

I agree partially. If the religions are used in their current state, I can see it turned into a religious problem, and a lot of people are going to get personally involved. Being brought up in a christian household, but holding pagan-esk belief myself, I can see how it would pan out in either extreme.

  1. All out slug-fest that will end up doing as much OC damage as IC
  2. If people play the accepting forms of both sects that are becoming more common this day in age, it will be somthing like:

Person A: "Hi! I’m a Christian! I love God"
Person B: "Really? I’m a Pagan myself, but you loving God doesn’t bother me. I hope you are happy with your choice of religious Path.“
Person A: " I am. I think that while you and I don’t agree about our beliefs, I tolerate your right to choose wether our Lord is your Saviour. After all , it is between you and Him in the end.”

(Some time passes)

Person A “So… You like… stuff?”

If this was to work as a Larp, I’d say two original-created religions would work best. You’d get the conflict that is obviously being craved here, whilst leaving the OC beliefs of the players unsullied.

True, but part of the benefit of using already stated religions is that they have much more of a full backgrounds than any writer, ever, could create without maybe losing his followers and/or writing a significant novel.
I think that as long as the players who come into it understand that people are playing characters and so must they, these hurdles can be jumped.

I remember the first time I learnt to act. My director sat me down and said “you’re not much of a flirt, are you?” Being a sweet sixteen I shook my head and he said “Just remember, they aren’t looking at you, all they’re seeing is your character.”

If people take that to heart then any UnPC arisings should be put to bed.

HI all,
My 2 cents (or 5 cents equally worthless).
A larp involving the coming of a new mission based or converting faith meeting an old world faith throws a whole bunch of possibilities for mayhem or if well roleplayed in the so called true meaning of faiths (love and tolerance which don’t seem to be enough in the real world) could end up kind of dull. The true mayhem comes not from the basis or pure religion but from the minds of humankind. SO all you need is a pagan to “accidentally” do something that outrages a retardly pious syncophant or for a righteous dumbass to skewer a pagan to birth the kind of conflicct that burns between religion today (gross generalisation alert)
Sounds like fun.

HOWEVER what I wanted to say is that several times now I have been told of a religious group here in Hamilton getting very upset when someone (of there particular sect) stumbles over a larp “ritual” taking place in a park, circle of candles, small alter, other pseudo religious artifacts all in plain sight (not to mention a whole bunch of dark garbed hooded people sitting around chanting nonsense).
So Quest responds by making anything involved in the religious category by giving anything related very silly names completely devoid of any semblance to existing religion.
The evil god is named MSG, the overgod is named DNA, and the god of pleasure named Phuque (argh sick) and demons are named after Alcoholic beverages.
Bear this in mind because little old NZ does have retard zealots with followers who can make life difficult for Larpers.
Thats it i think
Jared

Mmm… bretheren. You make a good point.

Oh and I think Devils are named after drugs. :imp:

I know it may sound ridiculous that a religious group can influence what we do in Larp but these zealots tend to flock around… all you need is one of them to whip the other 100 (or 1000) or so into a retarded righteous furore and suddenly the city council has a group opposed to larpers using city parks etc. :smiling_imp:

:angry: And it sucks cause what we do is harmless very fake fun so last thing we want to do is give ourselves a bad name. :imp:

Long unlive G’nash, lord of the underworld!

That could be equally badly misinterpreted.
I can see someone overhearing…
“We worship our master [insert drug name here], all praise {drug name}”

I think avoiding sacrificial rituals and witches-coven-like gatherings is a good idea if you’re trying to stay on side with the public. Either that or use private venues, as Mordavia mostly did.