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Knight
 
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 11:09 AM
Posts: 73,
Visits: 1,929
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Damn. How do you start these things…
Er…
Wyverns Tales is a new system running in Southampton/ Portsmouth, every month or so on a Sunday, with players engaging the monsters both sides of a lunch break (no half-time swapover). The cheap ‘n’ cheerful end of the LRP market certainly has a welcome addition. Props and set dressing are limited at the moment, although every penny raised is clearly put back in, as well as the organisers spending up front on monster kit.
Running against a backdrop of early medieval times - not just using it as an example of society attitudes and technology levels, but actually using events and locations of the time frame - Wyverns attempts to be a more historical themed event than straight fantasy. Think of Cadfael or Robin of Sherwood. You don’t need to be a history buff though, so don’t worry, just a good grasp of the setting, and everything else unfolds nicely. Conversely it’s definitely not a place for authenticity muppets - yes its historically inspired, but that’s as far as it goes, nobody cares if your shirt is bright white nylon or hand-sewn linen, it’s the character or NPC inside the shirt that matters.
The one thing Wyverns has that every LARP needs is its people. Intelligent and friendly system crew, and enthusiastic players regardless of their experience or wardrobe. A real lesson in how to make role-play breathe life into encounters and characters, rather than rely on stunning costume and special rules.
The organisers are more than able to deal with unexpected turns in events, or players deciding to do something completely different to what was planned, both through the days adventure and in between events, and manage to let the game flow in the direction the players take it, but without losing control of the setting or the overall story arcs. And the players are more than capable of getting on with playing the story and the characters, without simply being a bunch of people in fancy dress being led around a set series of encounters. The more experienced are happy to lead by example, and the less experienced are eager to learn.
There’s still slightly extraordinary events, the odd healing potion or heroic sword slinger that can take on numerous foes, the odd monster that looks more beast than man, or the dead being up and walking - and magic, but its not a case of fireballs and raising zombies, but hedgewitches and psychology. (That’s before you get to the point of risking being burnt at the stake for displaying any kind of un-natural behaviour.) As a character with “occult lore” that’s as close to casting as you can get, but this meant that I was able to go full out on wailing and gnashing of teeth, and pointing bony fingers in a doomish way - all of which was reacted to with superb fear and superstition by both my targets and my fellow party members, despite the entire process being ad-libbed on both sides, no OOC calls of “lose 3 points of mana” or “player, take a fear effect”.
In any system that relies so heavily on a more free-form approach, there is a risk of it being abused by strong willed or power minded players - intentionally or otherwise. But all the players and crew seem to be able to keep a mind on what would be “too much”, and largely the system self-regulates with a sense of decency on all sides.
Character progression… er… I don’t know. I was having far too much fun treating everything as it came, enjoying what was going on and not worrying at all about XP or new skills (or even surviving the next encounter). And that’s the best praise I can give a system. 
Did I enjoy it? Will I go back? Yes, definitely. As player or crew.
Are there things that could improve? Of course - but the organisers are realistic as well as enthusiastic.
Would I recommend it? Yes. If a one day game is bit far to travel, try the weekend event in October at Candlestone.
Gill / Aggie the Hag
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Gill R. : Variously playing and crewing at : CP / LoD / PD
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Heroic Knight
Group: Basic Members
Last Login: Friday, January 29, 2010 8:18 AM
Posts: 208,
Visits: 657
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| Thanks! I am REALLY glad you enjoyed it so much!
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