I’m somewhat wary of defining larp mainly as an artform, because things that get defined as artforms seem to have a tendency to generate a lot of pretension. I like sketching, and reading stories. It really infuriates me when a certain type of person starts announcing that a book or a painting that gets a genuine emotional reaction from people is fundamentally inferior to one which has lots of obscure references that aren’t very interesting, or a very experimental technique that doesn’t work very well*. I’d hate it if the same thing happened to larp- if we got to the stage where the question of whether people enjoyed an event is irrelevant compared to how intellectual it looks on paper.

One way to try to stave off this effect is to try to de-emphasise the art side of larp by stressing the idea that "it’s only a game". I approve of this approach in some situations. It just gets overused.

One thing that really irritates me is when people say "it’s only a game" in response to someone complaining about people bending the rules to suit themselves. If it’s a game, then it’s a game that only works if people respect the rules- I know that in some rules-light games it’s acceptable to ignore certain rules under certain circumstances, but that’s only because there’s effectively another rule telling people that it’s appropriate for them to do so.

* this isn’t to say that you can’t have obscure references which are interesting, or an experimental technique that revolutionises things- those are very nice bonuses, but if people look at the end result and feel nothing then there’s no point in them trying to appreciate it because it’s clever.

If someone is openly drinking a can of coke in an IC area at maelstrom (just an example I picked out of the air). And you have a go because it's spoiling your immersion. To which they reply "Chill out, it's only a game". Bearing in mind that you personally had to drop OOC to go and berate him. Would this A) infuriate you beyond belief and have the refs escort them offsite? B) Think 'He's a bit of a wanker' and go about your business making a point of not interacting with him in future? C) Think 'He's got a point but he should get a more appropriate drinking vessel' and say nothing more about it? D) Chill out and realise it is only a game?

Personally, I would go for the C option. The thing is that other people have different perceptions of play than you do and some may not go to the extremes that others do with kit and such. I must admit, I have used the Chill out, it's only a game line on at least one occasion that I can recall, but that was for a self proclaimed member of the kit police. (not at maelstrom you understand. And that was designed to infuriate him further as I took an instant dislike to the little prick.)

But hey ho.

So yes, it's a game, but it's not just a game, it's the one week in the year when I get to be somebody I'm not, so don't mess it up for me, kthxbai.

It depends on the event as well. At most small scale events, it is considerably less acceptable to (for example) drink from the can.

And besides, its not just the time you will be drinking from the can (which is usually more than a few seconds), its the time the can is left lying around

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The Whispering God is your friend... trust the Whispering God...

Ruins of Empire

1st - 3rd Feb, 2008, Gladstone scout centre, Chester

I have been known to utter the phrase "it's only a game" but only when people are being really anal about something quite, quite petty (such as a first-timer not having 'proper' kit).

Ascendancy LRP: Redvers Fenn-Cooper

Crimson Requiem: Crew

Real Life: Doug McKerracher

Quis custodiet ipsos custard?