I am keen, but unfortunately my mind is writing a lot of cheques my body cannot cash atm.

I think we're confusing a few things here. I'll support any LRP project in the UK with the resources of this forum and will actively help promote games wherever I possibly can. I am interested in Heroquest, but it seems to be geared towards PvM which I can't square away with a fest style event. People tell me CP do that, but then if I wanted that, perhaps I should go to CP.

At Eos we're trying to run a fest style event that encourages equally competitive character interaction, whether its a player or a non player character. We've got a lot of ideals and are trying to stumble towards them. What sparks my interest most about Herofest is how they intend to manage the verses element of the game? I am sure there are several unique ideas behind this and I bet they'll be well executed, but at the moment all we have is the restrictions that are mentioned in Heroquest. IMHO, Fest LRP is a wholly different animal to Quest LRP.

At LT PvP is generally not handled that well. Its like a box with a load of NPCs sat on the lid. When its fashionable they get off and let it open up, when people get scared they shut it down tight. Part of the problem is the attitude of a cross section of the players who invest a bit too much in their "character" and get hurt personally when they die. I've been there and done it and I know its a rubbish attitude to have. The highest compliment in a game is being assassinated IMHO.

At Maelstrom PvP is part of the blood of the game. You can sit and hatch plans all year round, knowing all the people you are scheming with and against care just as much as you do. The players have a much more open attitude to getting killed. Death is an opportunity to play something else just as cool.

I've had great moments at both, I like the latter attitude more, but the period of the former is always my preference. I'm not saying Herofest should be shaped by anyone else's game, but everyone needs a frame of reference.

And Matt and I need a game in which we can pit our wits against each other...  

just to confirm the following points

Herofest is a player vs player event

Any monsters or npcs that we have will have exactly the same stats as the players if they are human. If they are monsters/creatures they will look like monsters/creatures and may have more hits than players.

It is a fest event, there will be no linears, what we will be doing is giving each faction a large number of missions/quests and they will try to complete as many of these as possible - for a fuller explanation go to

http://www.live-roleplaying.co.uk/live/action/roleplaying/larp-herofest-plot.html

candleston is an amazing site, not only do we have a 100 acre exclusive site to host the event but we are ajoining an 800 acre park which is closed to the public after 8pm. The camping area and the toilets showers bar and traders will all be a non combat zone. This fits perfectly into the world of Orin rakatha and is part of the plot. Noone likes fighting around their tents and everyone wants to be able to eat drink shop and go to the loo without being attacked. However once you leave this area all bets are of. Many, but not all, of the missions will only be accomplished by members of your group heading into the combat zone. Once there you will come into contact with members of the other factions and the way we have written the missions it is very likely that combat is going to ensure.

The faction meetings are being held to give players a chance to catch up on what is happening, hand in completed missions and gain new ones. To find out what the rest of the faction has been up to and make some plans for the next stage of the event. It will also give us a chance to set some new encounter areas and for us to clean bar toilets and catering area and for the many staff and refs to have a chance to eat drink shower etc and to have our own updates. Each faction will also have its own plot and unique missions some of which will be player led for those of you who wish to create some interesting character plot beforehand.

There will be 4 faction meetings per day, 1 every 3-4 hours, they arent compulsory but 1 of the main complaints i hear from other fest weekends is that either there is too much going on and players dont know what is happening or that they werent important enough to be allowed into certain meetings etc and so be updated. There will also be new information coming from your faction rep on your unique plots and missions.

We plan to set approx 10 encounters per hour, these may be plot or mission encounters or just some interesting npcs who will be adding flavour to the event. Thats up to 30 encounters every 3 hour section. They will spread all over the site including the non combat area. Your faction will have to go some to be able to encounter even half of these. Plus the other 5 factions, 100 players, will also be wanting to meet these encounters before you.

The reason we are keeping the player stats and character classes very basic is that we want everyone to be equal and to encourage team play. We will work with you to make your character interesting, this can be done very easily with the wealth of campaign plot and background we already have. We also want to give everyone, new to lrp or to us, an idea of the quality event we can run for a relatively low price. If you like Herofest but want more character skills and classes, linears, armour, longer fights etc then come to Heroquest afterwards.

Enough from me for now, what have I missed? Keep the replies coming and keep those personal messages as well, i will answer everyone, I am really interested in what people want because i want to please all of the people as often as i possibly can.

Mark Roberts

Herofest

markst@blueyonder.co.uk

Not a lot. You solved my concerns with just that...