Heroic Combat Vs PvP (Player vs Player)

There are two distinct forms of combat in my opinion, one is a great roleplay enhancer a selfless act not only to make the combat look super cool to all those watching, but also being epic for anyone actually taking part. The other a mere selfish act of just wanting to make someone’s day a hundred times worse by annihilating them using any given tactic or rule to their best use.

Now to me personally I feel Hero fighting is where LRP should be, there’s nothing more satisfying than watching a well telegraphed fight between consenting combatants, the over dramatic sword swings the exaggerated expressions and over reactions to each and every blow that lands, because let’s face it when you have complete faith that your opponent is wanting to do exactly the same as you, then why not embrace the roleplay side of fights and roleplay the heck out of it ?

I’ve seen and I’m sure I will continue to see people not only using superior skill in fights (heck if your more skillful that’s your right) but also “min , maxing” skill choices and armour to make them the toughest they possibly could be ? Why?

Well the answer is twofold. In the case of the defender (potentially) it is because some players just want to kill you, and this is the ONLY way you can defend against it.

On the flip side when you are wanting to go out and kill other players being the toughest can also have obvious advantages !

Photo Courtesy of Zoe Thomson

I know LRPers who would not normally get into fights knowing that there is a “player killer” and in other events have seen that same player get stuck in with knives and no armour, knowing full well all the fights at that event would be “heroic” and not just some ridiculous fight where people are just wanting to kill people.

But the counter-argument is that film-style hero fighting offers no challenge to those that want to become skilful fighters. I am of the opinion though that unless you are in full real armour and using real swords that you will never be a genuine good fighter, you are after all just pretending.

So what encourages visually good fights and vice versa more pvp? Is it systems with lots of hits and skills in fights? Is it a too-keen crew who want to score points? Is it the briefing of crew and players?

Bring on more hero-fighting I say, perhaps instead of telling crew how they might stay alive (you have 4 hits) we should instead tell them to invent and enjoy an amazing death?

Photo Courtesy of Ian Heath



Camping: The Joys and Woes

So as a live roleplayer you have to get used to camping. In the UK that can come with it's advantages and some serious woes too.

 

• It's taken me about 20 years to finally get a comfortable bed.
• I have broken a tent every 2 years on average.
• I have suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous weather. Drowning, freezing, baking, knee deep in mud, getting blown away. I think I only need to survive a plague of frogs now and I have covered most weather.
• I have tried camping in-character and outside like a proper ranger...but then I had the thermal super powers of youth.
• I have tried in character camps. (Noisy at night and I end up wanting to kill my camp-mates)
• I have had both tiny pop up "condensation tunnel" tents all the way through to huge tents.
• I have crammed 4 people and all their kit into a Polo in the past, but still cant fit me and my partners stuff in a Berlingo these days.
• Oh and I forget a pillow at least once in every 3 trips.
• I nearly always have a snorer within earshot of my tent.
• I have experienced all kinds of toilets from stinking portaloos eye height in mud (well you HOPE it's mud) to delightful soil toilets, and not so delightful ones...

 

Uhrmm OK I just realised those are mostly woes.

But the joys are for me - those fireside evenings, no alarm wakeups and the freedom to make merry.

What's your take on how to camp at LRP events?

Abuse in LRP

This is a sensitive topic and I am bound to upset some readers, I apologise in advance as this is not the intention, it is merely a foil to promote discussion.

There has been some talk of late of instances of women at events being grabbed and man-handled...and worse.

This has always happened at events, especially fests. But it should not.

It most often happens to female players who are not under obvious "ownership" by another man. There is NO other correlation - not the kit she chooses to wear, not the times or places in camp she visits, not related to her inebriation or otherwise.

A lot of the above arguments bear a striking resemblance to comments as to stopping rape. For example recently some clever boffins invented a nailpolish that could detect date-rape drugs in a drink. Now that IS a clever thing don't get me wrong, but shouldn't we just try to stop men sexually abusing in the first place? Why in this day and age is the onus still on the woman to "stay safe?"

I am sure most don't mind the in-character knights errant type protectiveness on occasion, although a bad-ass female knight might do so! Nothing wrong with romance either - a lot of RPers meet their partners in this hobby. But there is a worrying undercurrent in our hobby of excusing blatent sexism and abuse as being "in -character." I am sorry but it is just an excuse and it is still not acceptable to attack people.

Sadly as a result of such incidences all "non pre-consenting" grappling and physical contact has been banned by some events. Again the whole event suffers for a few abusive individuals. My answer for this would be - BAN them, and if she sees fit, support the victim in repoting it to the police.

And what can we do to help stop this? If you see anyone acting like this at events speak out! Tell them it's not acceptable, it's not just "laddish fun" but abuse plain and simple and will not be tolerated.

Myrrdin and Dumnonni

all rights belong to Movie Works accessed 26/8/14 from http://www.movieworks.org.uk/shop/products/view/26

So Dumnonni's pictures and videos from over the years are starting to permeate the Internet, the quality of costume and the setting being so perfectly dark ages they were bound to get some attention. A group of film-makers based in Sheffield and supported by Movie Works saw them and jumped at the chance to use "ready made" battle scenes. They approached the ref team and asked if they would like to be in their film. The group then went to "fight choreography" planning sessions before playing the role of the warring armies in the film, both Celtic and Saxon. Here is a link to the concept art teaser.

Myrrdin movie

The film will be released in a similar way to "The Hunt for Gollum" as a view-on-demand offer. You can watch it on mobile devices too and will be around 90 minutes long. You can support the production by buying concept art posters and props or donating on this same page. I for one am looking forward to seeing my friends on film on the battlefield!

and filming LRP (lost for ever due to being a dufus)

I accidentally deleted the damn post....So if you saw it, you are amongst the special few! This picture shows my thinking face \/

Feel free to talk about how awesome it was while I whistle and tinker a bit in the background!

LRP on Film

There are some amazing things to be found on Youtube! Here are some of the media's view of our hobby from over the years...

 

More to follow!

The New Scribe claims no affiliation or ownership of the video content, links used are public and all reights are reserved for the original owners!

Awesome LRP !

Dumnonni Chronicles 2014
Pictures by the awesome LRP Photographer Roy Smallpage.

There's not much we can say about Dumnonni Chronicles, early on setting the bench mark for awesome LRP, great immersive roleplaying , great set and attention to detail.

If this LRP isn't on your calendars at least once this year, your really missing out !