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Knight
 
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Monday, June 09, 2008 8:16 PM
Posts: 99,
Visits: 643
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Event 9, 'Lost Property', saw the return of Riftworld after a much needed rest and rulebook re-write. Well, you have to, really, when the players significantly change the game world and you start hearing that your little game is getting a good reputation.
We returned to the site of our very fist game (back in the days of 5 players and 6 crew): The Borwick, near Newtown, Powys. The site has such potential but also some major flaws. The drive up, for one. Although when you get there, there's a dedicated 'tavern' (unfinished, nine bunks, only one toilet, a temporary kitchen and something of a Health and Safety nightmare, to be honest), plenty of room to roam around over fields, in woodlands and along woody lanes (though being half way up a hillside there are some very steep bits, useable with due caution but no melee fights) and the sweetest little roundhouse. I'm torn about the site. I love it, bar it's flaws and really hope that the major problems get sorted. There is a separate flat (I didn't get to look round) with a bathroom. We didn't end up renting it out for the crew as well because it would have been an extra £100 on top of the £250 we paid for the site and when you've crew breakfast, van hire and petrol to get you from Hertfordshire to Wales (4 1/2 hours) and the odd bit for costume and props to pay for, you really want to have some profit leftover for the next event.
Aside from the site, which we've decided not to use again unless the main problems are dealt with, I felt it ran quite smoothly. My husband writes and is head ref. He deals with Ongoing Actions and plotsticks as well as designing and making props. I deal with costume, admin and play NPC/ minor reffage. We have a few wonderful supporting refs/ NPC's and a great crew made up of old friends and a couple of new faces.
Costume: we store our kit in those big plastic crates with lids, stackable in the garage though you can't sit on them. I wash it all between events and sort it into various types. Each box has a label: 'Xadacian kit, General Westlitsider, Twisted tops and a couple for special NPC's. Each NPC gets their kit in a labelled carrier bag, so when it's time to get your kit on, you can find everything you need in one place.
The scenario is printed out and kept in the Big Yellow Folder so each crewmember can find their stats, whether major character or player-fodder.
Admin: I tried to get everyone's contact details, emergency contact and medical info together by email but naturally not everyone responded, so I took a list of known players and crew, with a copy of our rules 'n' regs. Against each name was a note as to who had paid (P), who needed to pay (G for pay on the Gate) and who was (C)rew. A second sheet had names and details filled in for those who had responded and blank spaces to be filled in before being allowed to receive a character pack. That way our First Aider was kept informed and we had outside contacts for all in case of emergency. Blimey, I was actually organised this time!
With 33 people attending, almost half of which were crew, it was the largest event we'd done. We intend to run next time with 15 crew places, 20 bookable player places plus 10 reserved for on-the-gate submission. I think Fain2 is still a little reluctant to go straight to 30 players as he wants to keep the game very personal to each player. I reckon, with all the interest we've had, we'll fill all 30. One of the main problems has been numbers of really enthusiastic people who say yes, they'll be there though they can't afford to book before the deadline and then don't show. When you've very small numbers, it makes a big difference on the money front. I don't mind the odd one or two not making it because real life inevitably gets in the way some times. So, we've settled on this compromise. Hope it works. It might spur those who do want to play but may not be that organised to just book! People need a little push sometimes to make decisions.
We couldn't run this game and go throuigh all the stress of preparation, running up and down steep Welsh hillsides and lack of sleep without all of the support we're getting, some of which comes from people who run their own games. I'm so grateful for that. We play and crew each other's events but I rarely come across discussions on the mechanics of how to do it; we just seem to observe each other and adapt the methods to our our ways. LRP osmosis, I suppose.
So how did it go? Very well. Sore, bruised and exhausted but really, really satisfied. Hope to see you at the next one.
www.riftworld.co.uk
AliensphereLRP Riftworld: Minion and Crew
Maelstrom: Last Cherry Blossom
Artificer: Crew
Waypoint: Yanei Rynn
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