Event Review - In Times of War

[Brennus]

For the purposes of the barge mod the effects of the repel and snare were from items not cast as spells so we flubbed it a bit and generally the repel was only to make sure our orcs could get on the rafts after that it was choppy choppy time.

[Andrei Katrares]

I had a great time, 11/10.

This event shows the difference framing can make - as best I could see, besides the weather and the 'hooks', or motivators offered to our PCs for why they should do the things asked of them, it was pretty much following the same formula as last game, which did not receive as universal a positive response. I suspect a lot of that has to do with the fact that this event the PCs left game with a sense of winning or accomplishment, despite having more or less the exact same mechanical outcomes.

It also showcases the need for particular attention - some PCs need small scale attention to hold their interest in larger affairs, and those PCs found that this game through new NPCs that engaged them directly, and thus had a much better time.

All in all it was an exceptional event. Great job Plot Team. Looking forward to the next one.

[Ludvic]

I would really echo what Brad said. The Ralinwood team goes above the call of duty regularly and it's greatly appreciated.

Every month there is a new mechanic and well thought out mod or two that is very memorable and impressive. The emersion on several mods made me feel like I was there without having to use my imagination. You were there and in a cave with the moonlight peaking in or on a barge, surrounded by water. The NPC's running along the shoreline or swimming in the water was very real. Will (plays Bifford in Jericho) NPC'd the best gator and Troll I have ever seen.

I ended up doing 3 instamods. I usually don't do more than one but a new character Haro was very excited to scout them out and ask me to tag along. Each one was very different and came with a decision rather then the typical you running into a bunch of crunchies. Some of the feedback was that many of the instamods were not being brought back or done. I think this says a lot about the plot team keeping everyone busy and is a good thing. Generally when people are bored they go hunting for plot or instamods.

This is two events in a row where sleep was hard to come by. Last month the npc's kept coming by the tents and waking people up. It made Saturday hard to enjoy as most people were half asleep and struggling to stay awake. This time I got a cabin. I NPC'd till 2 am, spent a half hour getting into game then went to bed. One player was sleeping with a white headband but kept talking to people. I was too tired to really say shut up your not even here. Another guy kept searching for things with his lighter so I would wake up to a light coming on. When I went to bed someone had taken my ladder that I had set up prior to event but instead of turning on a light to look for one I just jumped and climbed up. The cabin experience was ruined for me due to players being disrespectful to those who were trying to sleep. 6:30 people kept trying to wake us up because of Ziggy being killed. This is acceptable but it was the exhaustion from lack of sleep that made it so most of us still didn't move. Then a nap was interrupted by 2 NCP's coming in with white headbands claiming to be ghosts looking for bug spray incredibly loud. Then a plot specific npc looking for me got another nap. Later another nap was stopped because I was told if I didn't come to town Navy meeting I would be executed. It's a real struggle to enjoy anything when sleep is impossible to be found.

The cabins are nice when weather is terrible but I miss the traveling from camp to camp and the cluster of tents.

The games were good. There was a little something for everyone. We let our hair down and it led to some pretty funny RP that followed. When the bankers showed up during talk of sleepy poo's and shitting the bed. Making it rain on Kraye and some other stuff.

I had a bunch of character developing moments this month. Even though there were times I was strugging overall I am very pleased with the experience.

The last mod in the rain was great. The energy from both sides players and plot showed fighting in the rain had no control over our spirit. The show must go on.

[Andrei Katrares]

Also, this is not a review thing, but I know players will read this thread:

Many PCs have their fear of death backwards. They OOG fear losing their characters forever, but IG seem to keep track of the 'deaths' mechanic and brush off the prospect of dying their first or second time.

You should be afraid of death, IG. When someone tells you that not doing something will probably result in your death, you might not prioritize your breakfast or your sleep over you death, even if it'll be your first death. I've never met anyone so jaded that they'd rather have pancakes and die than not have pancakes and live in real life. Would you make that decision?

You should not be afraid of death, OOG. You are a strand in the fabric of the story, and every strand will eventually reach its end. Your deaths will add narrative, complexity, and beautiful moments to the game. Most of us will have our characters die with some ambition unfulfilled. Its just how it goes. Frontier living in wartime is hard, but the threat of final death should not take away from the opportunity to experience as much as you can.

'Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.' as Miss Frizzle taught us.

[Gennaro M]

Rules: The orcs that would hunter snare themselves to the boats would only be snared for 10 seconds, because you cannot maintain line of sight of yourself. Also, if they repel then snare, the snare would break the concentration being used on the repel.l

On this point I believe it was supposed to be Activate Magic Entangle, it just may have been miscommunicated at the moment of explanation. Good call, though, I agree! Let's keep up the rules lawyering, and I mean that, because I am pro-consistency.

'Take chances, make mistakes, get messy.' as Miss Frizzle taught us.

You are my favourite kind of person, Constantine.

[Sierra Katrian]

Well said Constantine. Thank you.

I find that this is so often missed, and leads to players having a terrible time or getting bored fast. LARP allows us to get into situations that may cause our characters harm, or even death, and that is what it is there for. We can be boring and safe in our regular lives, but LARP is a time for experimentation.

I always remember Ms. Frizzle when I am LARPing and it has led to MANY exciting and, yes, terrifying moments, but it is all worth it in the end because I am trying something that I can't do in real life.

[Ras'Thashynn Quickshadow]

Amazing Game!

Pros:
+ White Company Mod! The fear of capture! Well done!
+ The "Red Company". Shaman's NPC lying to us. He was very convincing. Almost had us.
+ The sudden Orc attack after White Company. Unexpected and well fought.
+ Turning heads Saturday morning when I kinda sorta mentioned Malagant.
++ Finding the only insta-mod i could find. Simple mod containing Farmer and 2 Orcs. Did not expect to find the loot I did find. Surprised me... Was almost speechless because of it.
++ Prim! Her RP was spot on! REAL TEARS! Oh, how I they get to me. Right in the feels!
++ Saturday Night stealth mission! 1st Group finishs in no time. 2nd group takes 3 times as long, but suceeds as well. My group... we kinda got caught. However, due to Callum's sacrifice and my steath skills, we finished the mission!!!
+ Sunday morning Orc attack. I felt as if we were all going to die. Hell, I even ran for my life! The fear was real.

Cons:
- Waking up Saturday morning to 2 NPCs speaking loudly out of game. If you want to chat to your crunchy buddy, whisper.
- The Muse Cleric. This is more a knowledge thing, but The Muse is Creativity and the Arts, not Beauty. The constant focus on Beauty bothered me and made me feel she was a Cleric of Sabrina instead.

I can't wait for next game! SEE YOU AT WARCRY!!!

[Jacob Kraye]

ok so before any more people say this: plan fo different types of weather , as much as plot is all powerful they can not control the weather. if its going to be hot or rainy it going to happen.

Pros:
+ spending the first 2 hours of game hiding and stalking in the woods by myself as a pc. i missed the kind of excitment and fear that comes with this.
+ The White company as a whole was every well done, well stated and worked well as a group. made me feel as if i was dealing with more then a bunch of moronic bandits. listening to them interagate Swiggins was pretty good made the situation so much more real.
+howling to the moon always a treat, having things howl back, even better.
+The thing with the Einher is always good Rp, id like to say good job to all those involved.

+The Bounty Hunters Guild is finaly up and running! and we get our first bounty!!! Id say this was probably my most favortie bounty to have worked on, cuase not for the money but becuase it was so out of the blue.

+Vrail and his baby
+Primroses crying, always spot on
+Bjorn, this guys RP is getting better and better.

Cons
- I got a tick again. Every body check yourselves and your gear for ticks!

[Quiet]

I don't usually do these but for the 4+ hours i was actually on site i had a good time

Pros:

+Max, your rp as your orc was beautiful to watch, literally felt like if i came near you i was going to die
+"red company" shenanigans with shaman, which lead to the capture of two pc's
+being on the shaper side of things, rather than pc side
+Prims screaming that woke me up in npc camp at 6
+npc's being more than just crunchy puddles of flesh we have to cut through, making classed npc's makes things more interesting
+Dustin screaming profanity's after we tried to sell back the pc's

Cons:

-i was at site for just over 8 hours
-headshots we're a little out of control
-i missed the second rain battle
-i missed Ziggy and Valis death 
-i don't think some people were talking tag skills or other hits (but i couldn't see so not really a con)

Overall it was amazing to see what the shaper/npc team is doing, i have a new found respect for everyone in that camp, thank you all for the hardwork and dedication that you guys bring to the game!

[MM/NPL Dustin]

Had a really great time this event, and feel like my RP has improved since I started LARPing. This event had a lot of fun twists for me and it was all enjoyable.

Pros:
+ The down-time periods felt the perfect length for me. Enough time to rest, eat and get hydrated for the next mod or occurrence. Pacing was fantastic this game.
+ Awesome NPC shift during the barge mod. Climbing onto the barges to deal some damage before being knocked off or killed was great! Poor Wizwik was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the final push and ended up with my polearm slay in his back. Also, props to the PC’s who went along with the ‘bobbing dead orc corpse’ RP and dragged myself and Patrick’s bodies out of the water to loot.
+ Kyrem/Caia RP has probably been some of my favourite RP I’ve ever done.
+ As stated above, thanks to Caia I was not only did I have to deal with half of my stamina being damaged from the previous night’s shenanigans, I was hallucinating on top of it. “Which way is up?” “Everything is on fire…” and “Doyly’s being eaten by a giant rock!” are among my goofed head quotes.
+ The magic item that appeared in my hands at the beginning of the weekend will make my life interesting for a little while. Thanks Gennaro XD
+ Making what I thought would be a final stand against three angry orcs on Friday night to allow the smiths and healers to escape. Thought I was dead meat, luckily I have friends.
+ I actually enjoyed fighting in the rain against the orcs. Final mod really gave my PC purpose and made me really happy I saved the majority of my fire spells for that day. Take that trolls!

Cons:
- Personal con: I’m sorry to anyone I overswung on this weekend, especially Cat. I’m actually thinking of selling/retiring my current sword due to its weight and hardness, going in with a softer/lighter weapon and practicing my control for next event. Once again, very sorry.

Had a great experience this weekend and can’t wait to see you all in August, since I can’t make Warcry!