LARP rules - What is there?

[Levi]

I'm writing an article for the local LARP newletter, and people have been requesting one on different LARP rules-sets (non-boffer).

I've got down MET and Active Exploits for serious discussion, because I know both. Anything else you can link to?

[Thanuir]

There is Jeepform (http://jeepen.org/) as an example of Nordic freeform. Generally, all of them have no to quite few rules.

[komradebob]

No link, but there were the Cthulhu Live rules, which I found pretty interesting.

[Mesa Virga]

There is Cthulhu Live. Everything else I've done which isn't a homebrew uses foam weapons for the combat side, even if it has extensive rules for other parts of the game.

EDIT: Bah! Scooped!

[James Holloway]

There is or was a system called "Rules to Live By," which appeared to be a sort of generic LARP system with plug-ins. I've never played it, but apparently it has or had a following.

[Peter Svensson]

There's the Dynamic Nobilis rules found in Game of Powers. And the Legend of the Five Rings LARP rules as well.

[Perfect Organism]

What's the new White Wolf LARP system called? Is that MET too? I'm pretty sure it's radically different to the old one.

[Peter Svensson]

What's the new White Wolf LARP system called? Is that MET too? I'm pretty sure it's radically different to the old one.
It's still called Mind's Eye Theatre, though it is a radically different system.

Lets see, there's the system that Passion Play uses. And various Action LARP rule sets for hitting people with sticks safely to boot.

[Levi]

Passion Play

Right!

That one totally slipped past me. Been a while since I reviewed this stuff - I've been playing house ruled LARP for a long time now.

[Matt-M-McElroy]

Obsidian LARP (http://www.twilight-games.com/obsidian.shtml)

The Game of Powers: Nobilis RPG Live Action (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=as2&path=ASIN/1899749365&tag=flamesrising-20&camp=1789&creative=9325)

[James Holloway]

<i>Underworld</i>'s rules were also meant to be playable either as tabletop or LARP.

[mneme]

I've played in and run games with RTLB, which grew out of the Theatre Style community. It's not horrible (and much better for my taste than MET), but very bland and GURPS-ish.

It's OOP now because Mike Young (who published it) elected to shut down Interactivities Ink and do something that made money. But the II site is still up: http://www.interactivitiesink.com/

Also available (maybe) from II and IMO more interesting are the MENKS rules -- a card-based LARP combat system. And some free larps, many of which illustrate the "classic" TS setup (ie, the rules consist of simple-ish combat rules and a few special abilities attached to characters at character creation).

[jhkim]

People have already covered the main systems out there: Mind's Eye Theater, Cthulhu Live, Jeepform, Rules to Live By, and such.

There's also the system from Shifting Forest's <a href="http://www.shiftingforest.com/parlorlarps.html"><b>Parlor Larp</b></a> series. This is a comparison of stats, modified by how many "function levels" you want to sacrifice. The loss of function levels pushes the tension and resolution of the game, which usually winds up in 2 to 4 hours.

[Matt-M-McElroy]

There is also:

http://www.wanderer.org/intro

Free rules and plenty of resources for the game.

Regards,

Matt

[invisible_al]

I fled screaming in horror from 'Rules to Live By' :) Ok for the UK I can offer up a few rules sets for inspiration, you'd better ask the authors if anyone wants to borrow from them. Oh and just because some of these use 'boffer' doesn't mean that the rules are just about combat, the systems below are all quite social and political. Give them a look and see if they're useful.

First one are the entirely non-combat and very system-lite freeform games at www.freeforms.org.uk (http://www.freeforms.org.uk/).

There's also Grand Design (http://web.archive.org/web/20041024020125/http://www.granddesign.org.uk/index.html) (Archive.org page as its down at the moment). Another great game with good rules and background, this ones designed for 150-200 people games heavy on the story but also can handle a combat. Once again don't think they're up for grabs but they're a great inspiration for doing your own.

Boogieman Games (http://www.boogiemangames.co.uk/) has a set of Mythic Greek rules up for their Odyessy game which have a lot of nice ideas in them.

Also here's the NWO Ars Magica rules (http://www.nwogames.co.uk/~iana/Complete_NWO_Players_Guide_2004.pdf) which manages to handle a 100 person plus Ars Magica Tribunal. These are quite definately copyrighted but are a good read for an example of how to do this sort of game.

Also I almost forgot here are the <a href="http://members.lycos.co.uk/vampire_tw/rules/index.html">4th Edition of the Vampire Tyne and Wear rules</a> its a non-MET vampire system with a mix of political/social intrigue rules but with LRP combat as well. If you want to use that one drop us a PM and I'll put you in contact with the writer as I built that webpage for him back in the day :).

Hope those are useful.

[Ryan Paddy]

There was a Star Wars larp rulebook, but I can't comment on the rules as I only leafed through it in a store. I get the impression that game didn't make much of a splash in the larp community, though.

There's also a D20 Star Wars larp conversion over here (http://www.geocities.com/nuelow/swlarp.html), using cards instead of dice but otherwise much like the P&P game.

[invisible_al]

Is that the Star Wars Larp that uses dice? If so that's your reason right there. Pity as theres people crying out for Star Wars LRP, [url="http://www.risingofchaos.com/dureliumdewback/"]Tales from the Durelium Dewback[/ul] is just one of a few people I've heard of giving it a go.

[Snoopy]

There are those used by the Lorien Trust: http://www.lorientrust.com/realworld/system/rulescontence.htm

and Curious Pasttimes:
http://www.curiouspastimes.co.uk/rules.asp

Both are what get called `boffer' larps.

[Ryan Paddy]

Yes, I think the official Star Wars larp book used dice.

Then again, so does the Rules to Live By larp, and that has a following. Perhaps it's helped by being fan-created and having fans supporting and running games for it.

[Simon Marks]

There are those used by the Lorien Trust: http://www.lorientrust.com/realworld/system/rulescontence.htm

The Lorien Trust rules system is undergoing a significant and comprehensive re-write at the moment...

[Snoopy]

I know. I'm playing it. However, we don't know what it's actually going to look like afterwards.

[Gavin Lucan]

Hyborian Tales (http://www.hyboriantales.com) have a good rules set, though I may be biased as I'd kill to play in it.

[Sethra007]

It's OOP, but West End Games published LARP rules for Star Wars (http://www.nobleknight.com/ProductDetail.asp_Q_ProductID_E_8541_A_InventoryID_E_10659_A _ProductLineID_E_2137419293_A_ManufacturerID_E_17_A_Category ID_E_12_A_GenreID_E_) awhile back.

There's also the L5R LARP (http://paizo.com/store/brand/legendOfTheFiveRings/roleplayingGames/v5748btpy73pf), Ars Magica LARP (http://paizo.com/store/games/roleplayingGames/a/arsMagica/v5748btpy73x4), and Rampant LARP (http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/l/livingImaginationInc/v5748btpy78lh) rules. There's also rules for running a 7th Seas LARP in this module (http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/a/alderac/featuredBrands/7thSea/v5748btpy73tk).

There's Nero (http://www.nerolarp.com/)and the International Fantasy Gaming Society (http://www.ifgs.org/) LARP Rules as well.

[Carmen]

Yes, I think the official Star Wars larp book used dice.

It does, but there are two diceless systems in the Gamemaster Toolkit. One uses cards, the other uses hand signals.

[Levi]

Some new rules right here. (http://members.shaw.ca/LeviK/BasicRules.pdf)

Merry May 13th.

[Jiituomas]

Maybe I'm already late with this, but nevertheless:

Many Nordic experiential/avant-garde/whatever (you know, the "non-standard stuff") larps default to a system combining an "anything goes" attitude with a set of keywords. Typically the words simply contain a safe word and a command that allows you to state metainformation during the game without breaks. (Example: "Meta: I'll hit you", after which the punch is acted out.) As there usually isn't any competitive aspect to these kinds of games, that is sufficient.

So touching is OK, roughing someone up is OK, even highly sexual contact may be OK, as long as everyone trusts that these words /may/ and /will/ be used if a) they're needed for systems reasons or b) a player gets uncomfortable with what is happening.

That's all there is to the basic method. It has no official name. (My own variant is usually called FreeComm or Free Communication.)

In addition, there naturally are loads of special rules that may be used in addition to that basic template, such as the Swedish "Ars Amandi" method (lovemaking by arm contact), special stats, etc.

[Ambrogino]

(lovemaking by arm contact).

I very much doubt I'm the only person to go to a wrong place after reading this, but I'm probably the only person who thought of the name "Fisting Kate".

[Jiituomas]

I very much doubt I'm the only person to go to a wrong place after reading this

Oh, that method (allowing sensual touching but only with hands, arms and neck, and only to the hands, arms and neck; eye contact and facial expressions make it quite effective; you can find the basics in Beyond Role and Play (http://www.ropecon.fi/brap)) has been so much in active use and discussion in the Nordic area for over four years, so we've already exhausted absolutely all the dirty jokes you can make about it. Sorry.

[Salvius]

I'm writing an article for the local LARP newletter, and people have been requesting one on different LARP rules-sets (non-boffer).

I've got down MET and Active Exploits for serious discussion, because I know both. Anything else you can link to?

Sorry for the late response, but you might also want to look at Double Exposure's rule system, DECOR. It is a generic LARP rule system which allows you to build anything on top of it:

http://www.dexposure.com/decor.pdf

>>>Vinny

[Jadasc]

Sorry for the late response, but you might also want to look at Double Exposure's rule system, DECOR. It is a generic LARP rule system which allows you to build anything on top of it.

*waves to Vinny* Glad to see you found your way here.

[NERO Aeon]

<i>Underworld</i>'s rules were also meant to be playable either as tabletop or LARP.

Do you have a link for this? Because I'm thinking that the "Underworld" that I know and the one your talking about are two different games.

[Salvius]

*waves to Vinny* Glad to see you found your way here.

Been here for a while, but don't usually post. We advertised here last year and are doing it again :)

>>>Vinny