Playing Jerks in LARPs

[baron_saturday]

So, I've been ruminating on the old rule of thumb in LARP that says, If you play a grumpy loner, everyone will avoid your character. Its certainly true, that I avoid playing with people who aren't fun to play with, and I suspect that's true of everyone else, too. And most LARP (especially campaign style) are big enough that you can easily avoid a

Comments

[tpau]

well... i think it can be done, but with caution. you need to really make sure folks know you are not a jerk just yoru character. and you need to let people know in advance that is what you will be doing. and be prepared that people like me, who tend to revel in the "we all work together to fix the problem this game is centered on" will avoid you like a plague AND complain that you are playing a bad character...

[arachne8x]

I am playing a likable jerk, I think Nell is likable. I think the important aspect of playing a likable jerk is to be in someone's way. Obviously this is what makes Adriel work. People don't have a choice, they HAVE to deal with you. Same with Nell.

[the_smith_e]

I am going to add that part of this is driven by how well your fellow players know YOU. You can bring this off far better if you are a known quantity so they can tell the difference between your character and you.

Also, what you are a jerk about matters.

[_lackey_]

I have two case studies in the grumpy loner characer

[tpau]

i would have to disagree with your assertion that you only threaten NPCs and unnamed players. you threatened me IC at least once enough that i will not under any circumstances come near your char unless he is not conscious and that is only because i have a medical oath to help him.

[tpau]

actually, i think you made me cry in fact :)

[_lackey_]

oops... sorry.

I guess I was making more of a general statement. My point was that I don't spit on the gun-bunnies or kill characters.

The incident in question, I believe, involved me being mean to you when you were only doing your job as a doctor. It is a subtle distinction, but I didn't just walk up to you and criticize your doctoring skills. You performed the action (checking me for a community threatening disease) and I responded in a jerky fashion. Thus from a community point of view I was not the aggressor, just a jerk. And thus it is forgivable.

Subtle, but the subtle distinctions make you acceptable. If I knifed Doctor Susan, everyone would be pissed. But if Doctor Susan bugs the psychopathic mass murderer, no one blames the psychopathic mass murderer for how he responds. Even if Doctor Susam is right.

[buddhagrrl]

I think absolutely