NPC Spot: Shade from Endgame

Shade's makeup consists of white cake makeup,

which is cheap and sadly streaky, and black and blue Mehron 

eye pencils, and some bronze eye-shadow powder.

So, I'm notoriously bad at taking pictures of any and all makeup that I do for NPCs. (It's the only reason I took "Alternate Appearance" in Mirror, Mirror.) For this reason, I decided to attempt to recreate and photograph some of the makeup I've done for larps. I did this for my benefit, but figured I'd make a blog post out of it. (I did this makeup project in humid, 88 degrees Farenheit weather-- poor choice). And, so, without further ado, I present to you Shade, one of my Endgame NPCs. I had a good time with her costuming, though I've only preserved her final form.

Shade was based on sea creatures. In her final form, she was like a jellyfish mermaid thing.

When in Game, Always Be NPCing

Contributor: Daniel W. (Arcadinal on gmail)
Submission: non-fiction piece, from Dan's blog, on sportsmanship


Dan has written an excellent piece on PCing, player dynamics, and sportsmanship. It's an important topic, and one on which many of us, myself included, don't frequently write. After reading, please go check out Dan's blog, The Paladin's Perspective. I have been following it recently, and he offers a lot of sage advice.

A couple years back there was a discussion on someone's LJ about meta-level PC/NPC interactions. NPCs are frequently told 'don't play to win, play to entertain,' but the question came up as to whether or not PCs had a responsibility to watch out for the fun level of NPCs. One person asserted no, they didn't feel they had any responsibility towards NPCs at all, which created a bit of a stir. Here's my take on it.

I've only been LARPing for several years at this point, but I've done quite a lot of NPCing over that time, and it's a hat I can't really take off anymore. I'm pretty much always trying to keep an eye out particularly during fights as to how NPCs seem to be enjoying what's going on. Why? It's pretty simple. I like big melees, and lots of them. I like having a field choked with people running about thwacking each other with sticks, but I can only do that if there's someone for me to fight. Lets face it, boffer solitaire just ain’t that fun. I love to crunch as an NPC, and I have a pretty good idea of what makes for a fun fight from both the PC and NPC side at this point. I want NPCs to come to games I PC at so I can get in good fighting, and plenty of it, so I want them to have a good time while we're going at it. So, just as while I'm NPCing I'm constantly trying gauge PC enjoyment of what's going on, as a PC I'm doing the same thing.

There are a few good rules of etiquette which are admittedly situation dependent, but I personally feel help to make for a fun time for all involved, and I strongly feel this applies regardless of what side of the line you're on.

First off, don't mob the poor 4 vitality crunchy who's out doing field pain in a 17 on 3 fight. If it's a drag out brutal melee with folks being deathstruck and high-damage lieutenants roaming the field, then sure, go all in. If on the other hand you're in a relatively secure position and you see a breathless NPC crunchy is already fighting three people, just let those folks have it. You'll get plenty of other chances to get your treasure. There's no reason to mob the poor fellow with ridiculously overwhelming numbers. It can also aggravate safety issues as multiple people descending a single frazzled out of breath fighter means more chances of wild swings and unsafe head shots. As said, it's one thing if you're running down a lieutenant, but give the grunts a break.

Secondly, gauge who you're fighting and use some common sense. I have had some awesome full speed duels with some folks who I know from experience really get into it, and it's a blast. We're running all over the place, the swings are fast and furious, both parties are clearly enjoying themselves, and its a rush. When your opponent, however, is timidly approaching taking the odd cautious poke here or there, dial it back a few notches. Especially if you're skilled enough to take the person out with some well placed taps, there's no reason to go to town on that person at high speed. Also, if you're about to engage someone who you know likes a quick fight, but notice they're standing next to some folks who maybe aren't so inclined, be mindful of this so you don't inadvertently trample or clothesline folks who are a bit less rough and tumble.

Third, some may say this breaks immersion and such, but I don't think it's out of line to periodically offer a “thank you” or “good fight” to the exhausted NPC you just put down as you search them for treasure. I noticed some PCs doing it at Madrigal when I started NPCing there, and I try and make a point of doing it myself now because that person is there devoting their time to getting beat up by me and my fellows. I think it helps to let people know their efforts are appreciated.

The bottom line is that regardless of whether you're a PC or NPC, you're at a game and it should be a communal effort to ensure that all involved are having a good time. NPCing is the volunteering of the LARP world, for the most part no one's getting paid for this. So, it's a good idea to try and keep the volunteers entertaining you happy so they'll come back. It's a game, have fun, make sure your opponent is having fun too. That is after all sort of the whole point.


If you've worked the NPC shift, have you had experiences with sportsmanship that have made you more or less inclined to NPC that game again? What is "good" vs. "bad" sportsmanship?

Growing a World: Providing Background Information

by Zoe


In a previous post about briefing NPCs, a commenter brought up the following thing as a key part of successful NPC briefing:


"Background info - Most NPcs are better at their roles the more they know. Keep background info available in monster camp for them to read when curious. Have maps, have writeups, have ways for them to grow their world knowledge that enables them to better handle the unexpected."


I feel like this is a really good point. It's an awkward experience when your merchant NPC who, allegedly, "has been living here for her entire life," doesn't know the political climate of the capital, the state of the roads through the eastern forest, or the activity of a mercenary band in the north. Although, as Berta the Merchant, you may quite well understand your mission, your stats, and the items your carrying, it's uncomfortable to be unable to answer PC questions like, "So what do you think of the civil war in the west?" Cool PCs, realizing a new NPC might not have the background knowledge that they do, will generally try to help you with gentle hints-- but it shatters game immersion for everybody. Especially in a game that has been running for multiple years, this is a tricky situation. Moreover, even if you brief NPCs well and provide them with all the pertinent information for an event, newer ones (and even more experienced ones) can't get everything from a write-up or a conversation with a staff person.


Considering all this, I am a huge fan of "background information." That stuff available in Monster Camp that involves histories, timelines, current events, maps, pictures, lists of key NPCs-- anything. Many games, such as Aralis, Lost Eidolons, Endgame, and the upcoming Invictus, also have websites available providing world info that both new PCs and NPCs can access.


With all of that being said, different games have different ways of providing background information. I wrote this post mainly to source ideas from readers. How does your game provide background information to PCs and/or NPCs (if at all)? What are the benefits and risks of a providing background info to NPCs? As a PC, what sort of background information would you like prior to starting a game? As an NPC, what information do you appreciate having available?

Briefing NPCs

by Zoe

An inquiry into the best and worst tactics for briefing NPCs, especially concerning complicated plot.


The scene: in the middle of an event, when you're dehydrated, fatigued, and overworked, you set off to lead a combat mod, hook an encounter group, or get involved in some intense RP. You know your stats. You've received a quick briefing from a harried staff member. You're sporting costume and make-up. You have your props and weapons. You hit the field, mod building, or tavern.

Everything's going just fine. Then... the unexpected happens. A PC asks you a question you can't answer (but probably should be able to). Or the players, rather than cutting down your crunchy corpse, decide to RP the stats right out of you. Players take you hostage for questioning. Or you're handed an item, which you should understand, that leaves you baffled.

We've all been there.

Despite our best intentions and the dedication of staff members, in every LARP, there eventually comes a time when the NPC, especially the non-staff NPC, is just not prepared for an encounter. In games that have been going on for years and years, this is especially true: PCs often know the world like the backs of their hands, while casual NPCs may have never read anything other than the core rules. Especially for those interested in RP, this can be problematic. It feels terrible to go out as an NPC, only to realize you don't have the information needed to fully interact with the PCs. And PCs can sense it: if an NPC goes out poorly prepared one time (I can think of a particularly unfortunate incident when an NPC hook didn't have name), they're going to have a hard time gaining player trust in later events.

Irregardless of the quality of the NPC in question, most of the burden of prepping the NPC happens in the pre-module briefing. A well-briefed NPC, even if they're new to larping of the system, is going to be infinitely better than even the most experienced, yet poorly briefed, NPC.

As a compulsive NPC, who likes heavy RP and combat roles, I've seen some of the best and worst ways to brief an NPC. I offer my advice on how to successfully brief people, and encourage other players, especially staff members, to join in the conversation.

Just a teensy amount of Beth. Wonderful. Important. Experienced. How to Talk to "Big NPCs"

Contributor: Beth Fallon 
Submission: How To Talk To "Big NPCs"/non-fiction from someone who really does know
LARP system: Madrigal / Accelerant

Your Location: Ayer, MA
Character name: Every character in the book. I owe her an art request, for sure.
Years LARPing: 21
Contact Email: efallon@earthlink.net

Having noted a reticence of some otherwise awesome players to talk to Plot-Staff NPCs, a handy guide to interaction! 

Newbie Observations

Contributor: Amanda/"Istamira"

Submission: The 3rd in a series of IG and OoG written commentary from a "novice LARPer"

LARP System: Accelerant
Location: Boston, USA
PC Name: Istamira "Mira" Nascirus
Years LARPing: 0 years, 7 months 


Website: Istamira's Quill

In and out of character commentary from a novice larper. Character names, places, and sometimes even plot specifics may be changed or altered to protect readers from horrible knowledge that could threaten the very fiber of the universe! ... or something like that.