[Gaming & LARP] The Newcomers

[baronessv]

Something I'm thinking about this morning, because I don't wanna do homework, is how to introduce a LARP character into a new game. I've only had to live through this once, at Shadows of Amun, but it was pretty awkward. I feel like there should be something more than just "Your character shows up. Go

Comments

[reversepolarity]

At my first Endgame event, we had a new characters mod where a Pathfinder brought us to a location that had some zombies and a bit of important info that the Temple folks in town needed, so we detoured to go see them. It was short and sweet.

Something tells me that new player intros will be more like that now that we're past Game 1, but who knows?

[baronessv]

Well, my first Shadows Game was Game 2, and it was just "You arrive at the train station." I was off on a separate mod at Game 3 start so I don't know if they did anything special for all the new PCs who showed up then.

I like the idea of giving new PCs/players something "special" for their first game. Even better if it can somehow ingratiate/involve them with existing PCs. In fact, Imma start a bullet list right here of things I think a New PC Scenario/Module should have:

- A way of making new PCs feel connected to the overall story (your "important Temple info")
- A way to give new PCs a sense of the overall flavor of the game (There are zombies here! You can expect zombies in this game!)
- Minimal, light combat (just enough to get the juices flowing)
- Guidance and Protection (An NPC Hook who can explain what's going on, provide RP, and theoretically take down any monsters if the PCs really bungle it)

[witticaster]

(Oh man, I never even made a MM avatar. Ah well, Spence will do

[baronessv]

I'm honestly still mystified at how welcoming and friendly everyone was day one, and would worry about that kind of no warning, no character connections walk-in in any other game.

It's awkward, for sure. :) Even at my first Shadows, with siriel as an IC friend who'd been in town already, it was a little awkward. Partially because *she* still didn't know a lot of people, I think. But overall it just felt like I was on my own to get engaged with the game.

What was Shadows Game 1 "intro" like? Did people just show up?

[nomadmwe]

Basically, yeah. We were broken into smallish groups and trucked down the road in a big ol' PC train, which regrouped near Rick's when we heard it was being attacked. Then we glomped in as PCs do.

[baronessv]

Was there anything for Game 3? I mean, you weren't a new PC, I know, but did you see them doing anything?

[spiralngphoenix]

At Endgame, we had the "Temple" trait, which could be used for healing, etc., which was used as an IG way to introduce people. Preacher (Quick) or later one or two others, would be located, introductions and welcoming speech would be had, "Imbue to Temple" would be administered, and then the poor soul would be released into the wilds of Dave's Tavern. It worked reasonably well to signal to people that a.) this person was a new PC and b.) we should go say "hi" and introduce ourselves, in addition to making sure they got Valuable In-Game Traits. It also took a lot of the pressure of the new person coming in to have to figure out how to go up and introduce themselves to complete strangers, which, as someone with social anxiety issues was a HUGE relief.

I've been trying to figure out a way to have Na'imah start to function as a sort of IG welcoming committee, because I want her to be more social, but I haven't figured it out just yet. It doesn't really help that I can't figure out who's a new PC and who isn't just yet. ;)

[baronessv]

Regarding Welcome Committees, I'm thinking it might be useful to let Staff know that you'd like to be able to do this. Even if it was as simple as being the person who comes up to new PCs and says "You look exhausted! Can I get you some water, or something stronger?" and then introduces them to whoever is tending bar, or Jaelle, or something.

And I wish there were something equivalent to the Temple trait. I think there's a Grant skill I can take which would be kind of a neat way to welcome someone, but it might take a while before my new PC is willing to do that for just anyone.

[spiralngphoenix]

I hadn't thought of poking Staff about it. Once we start getting an established player base it'll be easier to identify the new folks, but right now it's just kind of a chaotic. Excellent idea. Glad you brought up the topic. (At least you and one other new PC I'll be able to identify as new folks, but that's because I know the players, which is kind of cheating.)

I mean, technically, I *do* have a trait of sorts to give new folks, already, too...

[baronessv]

DEFINITELY poke Staff, esp. w/the next game coming up so soon. Let them know you want to be able to "be there" for the new PCs (of which we have so many!) and ask what you can do to help integrate them.

[swashbucklr]

My first Endgame weekend was more of a rejoining of the game, as I'd played Tesla during the playtest and had some minimal interaction with the game while I was overseas. So when I returned to game, there were a few people who knew Tesla, and I immediately had a pair of modules as a part of my "hook". Both had Artificer zombies and traps and wacky science goodness, so it was fun and quickly associated me with that kind of plot in the minds of the other players.

It also helped that I was covered in EL wire and could be seen from across the field.

My favorite new player stuff is when they are given a cool intro module, where their guide explains some of the game world and introduces the player population. Give them also something to so that involves one of the main plots for the weekend, preferably something that will give them an in for the whole event, like secret powers or other missions they can do because they are "unknowns."

[baronessv]

Your comments have been saved in our databanks. Beneficial ideas shall be integrated into future collaborations.

[swashbucklr]

SCIENCE!

[zapf]

When I joined Endgame, the handful of new PCs (almost none of whom other than me stayed in game) got attacked and cornered by some NPCs and then some other PCs came to save us. It didn't give us any shiny thing or information to bring to game, but it did give us a sense of the game and helped introduce us to the community

[spiralngphoenix]

That last paragraph. YES, THIS!!!! I mean, I suspect that'll get easier as we all get it sorted, but right now, yeah, it's wicked hard to even give a quick debriefing beyond "Welcome to Luxor...it's, um... yeah... it's a special place. I'm so sorry."

[witticaster]

My problem is that there's nothing I can tell them that will help them, really. I had plenty of fun telling the newbies: "Yep. Scarab people. Yep. Evil tree. If you see something glowing, fetch those people. If you find a skinned body, fetch Emma. If you see someone angry and dressed this way, fetch this set of mobsters or diplomats." But it did mostly end up being "Welcome to Luxor! You never should have come here." rather than ways they could help or get involved or anything they could learn. (I mean, I could tell people to go learn from the Golden Dawn if they're interested in glowing stuff, but that doesn't actually sound like good advice.)

I'm hoping this changes once we're out of the prequel? We'll see, I guess.