Non-boffer fantasy LARP?

[MobtownAce]

I've asked about this subject in this forum before, but it's been about a year, so it never hurts to try again.

Has anyone ever seen someone run a fantasy LARP (pref campaign-style over one-shot convention game) that did not use "boffers"? No foam weapons, no foam fireballs, etc.

Further, can anyone recommend a 'generic' LARP mechanics system besides Rules to Live By? I'm looking for something that doesn't require dice, cards, or anything to be carried.

I'm interested in running a fantasy-themed, politically/socially focused LARP, but can't seem to find a ruleset to get me rolling. I could homebrew, certainly. I could heavily modify MET. But I can't believe I'm the first person who ever tried this. Thus, my plea.

Ideas?

MobtownAce

[Craig Oxbrow]

Non-boffer LARPs with large PC casts and lots of politicking were known as "freeforms" before MET attached the basic idea to Vampire, and these included a fair number of fantasy settings. As I understand it, equipment and one-shot abilities represented by cards are quite common, but not universal.

MET (or the nWoD version) would probably work for the High king's court as well as the Prince's - the Mage versions are probably the easiest converts for a setting with a fair amount of magic.

Also on (some) FLGS shelves there's The Game Of Powers based on Nobilis. I can't attest to its usefulness myself, but this review (http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_7524.html) is a 4/4...

[Matt-M-McElroy]

Check out:

Active Exploits (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2589&affiliate_id=22713) which has diceless and larp rules, can't beat the price either...

Regards,

Matt

[Dragon_Blooded]

I have never read them, but AFAIK Fading Suns LARP rules are like MET's (that is, no boffer weapons), and, considering the setting (space fantasy opera), it shouldn't be too difficult to convert them to straight fantasy.

Eduardo Penna

[MobtownAce]

I'll have to check out Active Exploits again...been a while since I looked at it.

I agree that MET is capable of doing what I want it to do, if I tack on some homebrew; and given that my likely player base is familiar with MET, that's the way I'm leaning (although, of course, there's a downside to that familiarity, the "but Obfuscate doesn't work that way in a Vampire game" factor).

If I go the MET route, I don't want to port over Mage magic or Changeling cantrips wholesale...I'm thinking that the homebrew aspect of the magic system is the best opportunity to get the setting flavor in the rules.

Guess I was just hoping some groundwork had been laid that I could cannibalize (you know, standard gamer MO).

Ideally, the game wouldn't require anything but yourself and your character sheet (which, IMHO, should fit on a single index card). No dice, bags of marbles, cards or tickets you 'spend', etc. Cards with rules for a power on 'em, I can deal with. A recipe-box full of 'items', no thanks.

Seems like I'm in one of those "what can't I stand about the LARPs I've played in" moods again, eh?

Thanks again.

MobtownAce

[salamanca]

It does require one item but I'm recommending the 7th sea LARP rules published in Rapier's Edge

You have to allow for a spend challenge but I use plastic pirate gold for it and that should be functional for you to get by with.

It is built totally around the concept of social over physical in all aspects.

[Mr. Sluagh]

The new MET looks like a simple, generic system. It typically uses cards, but has an alernate resolution mechanic that doesn't (and isn't RPS).

Nobilis is also splendiferous, but isn't suitable for anything where you don't play gods.

[David Goodner]

I have never read them, but AFAIK Fading Suns LARP rules are like MET's (that is, no boffer weapons), and, considering the setting (space fantasy opera), it shouldn't be too difficult to convert them to straight fantasy.

Eduardo Penna

Unfortunately, Fading Suns does require something to be carried, but not very much. A few tokens of which there must be four recognizable types. Or it might just be two types. I don't recall. I think generally a player might have five or less. The book suggests using playing cards.

They're for "Wyrd" which is spent by players to influence the outcome of tasks. Without "Wyrd" coming into play, a PC is limited to whatever skill totals he normally has to meet a difficulty. So, for instance, if you were a thief trying to pick a lock with a difficulty of 6, you'd need to have a lockpicking skill total of 6 - or else someone would have to spend Wyrd on the test. (Not necessaraly you, and not necessaraly to your benifit. Anyone who wants to spend Wyrd can, with different effects)

You could substitute colored stones or whatever. They just need to be different to represent the different flavors of Wyrd, and somehow randomizable since you don't get to choose which ones you have - you draw them randomly. For absolute ease of carrying with just a little initial outlay, I might suggest a length of keychain that could be looped around a belt or worn as a bracelet and some large plastic beads in different colors or with different symbols on them.

David G.

[Redfeild]

Second try. I have a hard time getting things finished before getting booted so I'm posting mine in three.

Option 1
Deliria is a card based game that seems like it would lend itself well to LARP. I was on the laughing pan sight and saw some thing called Street Theatre. So some one is using it for LARP.
I Have the book but have not yet read it so I can not say how good or bad the system is. The world is modern but you may be able to toy with it.

[Redfeild]

Option 2

Mix and match Minds Eye Theater. Go find a copy of MET's the Shining Host (LARP for Changeling: the Dreaming). I loved this LARP but I will warn you that the book felt unfinished. You will also have to do some work getting med evil with it because it is a modern setting.

If you do not like the bunking rules I suggest dropping them entirely. FYI: Bunking required your character to do weird things at random for a bonus to cast Changeling's equivalent to spells. Fun stuff but probably not what you will be looking for in a traditional fantasy LARP.

If you are like me you will want to use the nWoD/MET system. Unlike the paper/scissors/rock system that the Shining Host uses, the new MET uses a card system. Pick your self up a copy of the MET World of Darkness core book and convert. But if you really prefer the old system then skip it.

[Redfeild]

Option 3

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Thats right, you heard me. I know of at least one guy on the Eden message boards that has used it for LARP. BtVS uses a the cinematic version of the unisystem. Unisystem has had an optional card system long befor MET switched for P/S/R. This makes converting to LARP very easy.

You may have heard of cinematics other two titles Angle and Army of Darkness. Angle has hard rules for creating Demons (aka monsters) and Army of Darkness is closer to period. So why Buffy and not one of the others? Buffy has more support to draw from. Magic Box, Slayers Handbook, and Monster Smack Down. Please keep in mind I have not yet read my AoD or Angle core books yet so others may disagree here.

There is lots of potential for LARP in cinematic Unisystem. It would be my first choise for a traditional fantasy LARP.

This conclueds my ideas on the subject. Hope that helps as a starting point. Be sure to do a little research befor commiting to a system.

[Thanuir]

Dragonbane? (http://www.dragonbane.org/en/)

Also, many other nordic LARPs.