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| For (image via Avalon) |
Anyone who has spent a few years immersed in a tabletop RPG or taken 100 hours saving Ferelden can identify with the allure of a truly engaging setting. However, few things can compare to being out in the forest, surrounded by masked and costumed characters, weapon in hand. This week, we interview one of the member of the local Avalon LARP, Michael Nelson.
About twenty minutes into revising this article, I realized that this is the first time I've written about LARPing without feeling the least bit compelled to describe what it is. In the past, anytime I've mentioned it in a new social circle, I've launched into the formula:
• You know [this popular RPG]? Well, it's like that.
• Except you're with friends in person rather than over Vent
• [optional: and outside rather than in your mom's basement]
• And you each play one of the characters or monsters/enemies
• And the game master is a bit like the referee or the PC game's program
• [optional: Statement anticipating and contradicting the mid-nineties Satanic Panic bullshit]
• You should try it, the costuming/acting/combat is awesome.
But given that LARP is around at nearly every convention, and referenced all the time in geeky/gamer social circles and media, I just sort of forgot that there might be people who had never heard of it. In the podcast, Mike steps up and gives a great, concise description.
In Avalon, Mike plays a rogue and embalmer extraordinaire. Although he's been involved with the game for the past seven years, the eagle scout says he would have joined sooner if he'd attended Scouting on the Mall. As a way of giving back to the community, Avalon has a partnership with the Boyscouts of America, and they recruit in full costume at events like Scouting on the Mall. Mike describes the symbiotic relationship with BSA that allows Avalon access to local camps, and exposes kids and parents to the gaming medium.
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| I'd buy it if you told me alchemy was a gateway to chemistry. (image via Avalon) |
Avalon was launched in 1997 and has spent the last fifteen years developing a rich backstory and balanced rulesets. Mike describes not only the system for character death, but offers glimpses into the combat and magic systems as well. In short, while being fast as Arya Stark will always help, but the mechanics are good at evening out the characters' abilities and compensating for different player abilities.
Player characters have fourteen races to choose from, but keep in mind that costumes are required for the non-human races, so a few require staff approval. Your character's personality is determined by the traits you choose for them (the website has an extensive but not exhaustive list). An added personal bonus is that spending weekends outside running from rogues like Mike is that most people "lose the Avalon 15."
The monthly Virginia event is going on this weekend, so now is the perfect time to check them out (RSVP on Facebook here). One of their big annual events will be going on next month, but with a setting like the "City of the Dead," no one's going to guarantee the survival of your squishy youngling.
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| Remember, you just have to be faster than one friend, right? (image via Avalon) |
Please keep in mind that, in part because of the BSA collaboration, events are PG-13 (no swearing, drugs, alcohol, other R-rated shenanigans), and all attendees must be 14+. Here are some resources if you'd like to join in the fun:
• Website (Heads up: auto-playing music. Look top right for the controls.)
• Forums
• YouTube
• This Weekend's Event
Thanks again for coming on the podcast, Mike.
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