Comfort Levels

Hello everyone,
Thanks for being patient with me. Here in the archipelago, I've been hiking until I can't really stand anymore, which leave me with very little brain for LARP. However, in my lonely mountain retreat, I was mulling over something that has come up a couple times for me in conversation, writing, and playing... comfort zones.

(Please excuse the awkward English-- I haven't been using it at length or in any sort of formal context.)

Firstly, what is a comfort zone (and I'm sorry for the lack of a better term)? Within LARP, I'm operatively defining it as an individual player's tolerance and willingness to participate in any number of IG/OoG scenarios. For instance, PC Jenny Jones may have a comfort zone that allows her to enjoy emotional conversations with fellow PCs, political intrigue, and one-on-one combat. However, PC Jenny Jones may have a comfort zone that does not include any sort of PvP nor romantic relationships with other players (PCs or otherwise). Moreover, devoutly religious OoG, Jenny Jones may feel intensely uncomfortable if required to engage in IG religion. Superficially, this situation is easy enough-- don't send Jenny Jones any potential suitors, and make sure she gets in on any juicy usurpation plot (but avoid church stuff, or forewarn her). Seemingly, Jenny should have a fun and comfortable game.

However, when Jenny is one of 60+ players, all of whom have individual comfort zones, this can get complicated. How can the player base, including staff and non-staff, successfully navigate and address the comfort zones of every single player? Admittedly, this is a difficult question into which a lot of thought has been poured-- pregame surveys, post-event letters, and experiential learning have all contributed to helping us learn how to deal with the comfort zones of our fellow players. After all, LARP is, if nothing else, a fundamentally prosocial experience. So, some questions on comfort zones...answer any, all, or none.

What is your comfort zone? How do you make sure it is respected? Have you ever run into problems with your comfort zone/tolerance levels on an OoG level? How did you deal with the incident?

How do you mitigate your OoG comfort zone with the expectations of the IG world?

As a staff member or NPC, how do you deal with varying PC comfort levels in a game?

Are there ground rules for player interaction that facilitate an environment of mutual respect?

Are there ever times when pushing a player out of their comfort zone is ok-- even desirable? Why or why not?

Travels in Shadowfane: Terra's First Adventure

Contributor: Valerie H./Terra

Submission: IG fictive account of Terra's first time in Shadowfane.
LARP system: Madrigal / Accelerant
Your Location: Virginia, USA
Character name: Terra
Years LARPing: 8

From the same universe as Zephyr, Terra is a shaman in the Shadowfane universe. This is her fictive account of her first time LARPing in Shadowfane. Terra, live her fellow players, is a PC-- this first-time narrative is a description of her "travels as a new adventurer" in Shadowfane. The Seekers are a popular group in Shadowfane-- they are friendly, welcoming, and active members of the Shadowfane community. Terra, a dedicated members of the Seekers, will reveal more about this important Shadowfane group. (In fairness, I should mention Grum's Company, another much beloved Shadowfane group to which Zephyr's belongs. It is something of a cult. We will see more Grum's Company in entries to come.)

Terra is a shaman, in the Madrigal universe. She gains her powers, healing and some combat, by ritual communion with dead ancestors. In LARP, shaman and/or other animistic powers are common. While some might argue stereotypical and generalized, they are opportunities for people to explore other religions and belief systems. People are respectful, creative, and nuanced. Racist and simplified portrayals are criticized and questioned by some members of the LARP community. I invite people to comment, respectfully, on LARP portrayals of belief system and ritual. LARP has some diversity, but it needs much more. I am endlessly thankful to Valerie/Terra for sharing the Shaman experience.

Zephyr's pre-Shadowfane Thoughts: Part One

Contributor: Rick Pierce

Submission: In-Game writing from Zephyr's character history (character background)
LARP system: Madrigal / Accelerant
Your Location: Connecticut, USA
Character name: Zephyr
Years LARPing: 22
Contact Email: rgpierce@earthlink.net



This is the first part of Zephyr's character history. Character histories are fictive pieces, generally written by PCs, that provide a background for a LARP character. This background explains a character's motivations, personality, goals, hopes, fears etc. Character histories also provide plot staff with material to facilitate interesting game-play. While some character histories are brief and minimal, many individuals use this written record as a way to assert their characters within the framework of the game universe.

This piece, from Zephyr's character history, was written November 26, 2006 (1516 Madrigal time). "Shadowfane" is a fictional town in Madrigal's country Aerune. It is the center of Madrigal's narrative, and PCs start, and gather in Shadowfane. Each LARP event is, in fact, called "a Gather," indicating a time when the characters come together, in Shadowfane or a related territory. "The town" is a central part of Accelerant LARPs, and serves as a unifying location for all PCs. When writing character, new Madrigal PCs often incorporate a reason for why they have decided to travel to Shadowfane. In general, character histories also allow PCs to explore how they are going to roleplay a character.