The Night Watch Needs You!

nzLARPS
#1

I’ve chatted with some of the GMs and event organisers about drinking problems at events. I’ve said that I would like to take the drinking problem off them, so they can continue to focus on running great events. I really love going to Chimera and Teonn and I don’t want the GMs of these games to have to deal with this kind of problem.

I am after a group of people who want to work proactively towards fixing this problem in our social group.

This will involve:

[ul]

  • setting a good example
  • keeping their own alcohol consumption moderate
  • making food and non alcoholic beverages available
  • pushing non-drinking activities like singing, dancing, music, juggling and fire dancing
  • moving loud people to designated loud areas
  • being a go-to person if people spot a problem
  • asking heavy drinkers to slow down or stop
  • telling people who become agressive or obnixious they’ve had too much and they should go to bed
  • staying up late
  • taking responsibility for improving how we’re drinking
    [/ul]

I’m making a general offer to GMs and event organisers in Auckland:

[ul]

  • I will shoulder some of the responsibility fixing this problem
  • I will find like minded people to help me
    [/ul]
#2

I’m in, the reprobate that I am.

#3

I promise you that we can still take our clothes off sober!

#4

Happy to help

#5

Cool, great offer.

If event organisers take you up on this, I think it’ll be important to ask what specifically they want for their event.

They may just leave it up to your judgement. However they may have specific requests. Keeping it in a single area for example. Making all drinking OOC, or keeping it all IC. Or they may want to keep all drinking light (by my definition: 3 drinks in 2 hours), not moderate as you’ve mentioned.

That last point could be the difference between you being cat herders or lion tamers, as moderate drinking can veer towards heavy more easily than light can.

#6

Thank you Derek and other Volunteers for stepping up and doing this. I think this a great positive idea, and this along with steps from event organisers will go a long way. It might not fix everything, and people still need to take personal responsibility but it’s a great start.

If event organisers want something similar in Wellington I am happy to join the Night’s Watch, and happy to do a stint for a game in Auckland.

#7

I am happy to assist in any way I can. Count me in.

#8

I’m happy to help out and be a scary medic/cat herder/area moderator.

#9

Sure.

So far the ones I’ve talked to want to be able to go to bed and not have to worry.

#10

I’m usually up pretty late anyway, count me in.

#11

Thank you Vanya, Kirsten, Scott, Mandos, Linda and Kara.

And thanks to all the people who already actively do these things or will help us in the future!

#12

I’ll put my hand up too, when I can at least get to a game. I’ve some ideas of things to bring for the night time, like seeing if I can source an IC looking kettle and safe method of heating it to provide hot cocoa and stories.

#13

Hi Night Watchmen and Watchwomen

I love what you’re doing, and would join, except I can’t function late at night and am usually one of the early ones to bed. Sorry…

Please read my latest post on the major thread. My Dad thinks what you’re planning to do is great and has more ideas for you.

Cheers :slight_smile:

#14

Sounds good :slight_smile: You can count me in.

#15

Can I just say that I really really appreciate all of you and you will not know how much comfort I take as an organiser that such an awesome group of people exist in our community. It is really easy as an organiser to get bogged down in all the negative because those are the loudest voices we hear.

#16

Sign me up. Ill be hitting the lemonade hard at Teonn :smiley:

#17

Another Wellington rep putting his hand up.

#18

Im also happy to help :slight_smile:

#19

Today I bought a 10L plastic water container for NZLarps. There are bigger jerry cans available, but I figured that when full, that weaklings like me can still carry it, and that 30-40 people can get a cup of drink before needs re-filling. It is plastics, so it can be kept clean, and be taken outside to the firepit etc. To help keep it clean in long term, I would recommend this is used just for water, rather than juice/cordial etc, as that is what the mould loves.

However it is not very in-keeping for most larp settings. So I was thinking of painting the plastic with a metal or woodgrain effect. Or even building a wooden (or leather?) cask/barrel which with hinges, opens up, slip this container in, and shuts with just the tap sitting outside. Some leather straps & buckles to keep it closed.

If this is successful, NZLarps can buy more as required.

Is anyone wanting to take on the project of making the container more larp appropriate? NZLarps can pay for additional materials as required. I will bring it to the Teonn day game next weekend, so people can brainstorm/discuss it then.

#20

Cool idea Hannah. I am looking at doing a similar thing with Cruicible while acting as a healer. I won’t have time before Teonn to get it sorted though, but I intend to have something similar set up by the time Cruicible comes around. Nothing quite like wearing metal armour in the heat of the day to bring on a decent thirst.