Quote from: StuartLARPing is big in Europe, especially Scandinavia. This link will get you started: http://www.ropecon.fi/brap/

Yes. I know. I live in Europe.

I'm sorry, I'm not expressing myself very well here: please could you give me a specific example of a specific LARP which, in your opinion, is not a game?

Quote from: WarthurYes. I know. I live in Europe.

I'm sorry, I'm not expressing myself very well here: please could you give me a specific example of a specific LARP which, in your opinion, is not a game?

They're all games. They're just not roleplaying games, as defined by the D&D model (table, dice, no retarded costumes).

Quote from: YamoThey're all games. They're just not roleplaying games, as defined by the D&D model (table, dice, no retarded costumes).

D&D isn't the boss of me.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeform_roleplaying_game

QuoteFreeform role-playing games, also called freeforms, are a type of role-playing game which employ minimal or no rules; occupying a middle-ground between traditional role-playing games and improvisational theatre.

If there are rules, it could be a game.  If there are NO RULES, it could be a ton of fun, but it's not a game. Not in the same way Baseball, Blackjack, or D&D are games.  It's only a game in the way that "Let's pretend we're Cowboys!" is a game.  Under that definition, any childhood activity is also a game... and thus, there's virtually no point trying to discuss / define anything relating to games.

Edit:

I no longer live in Europe, and not being able to speak anymore than English and very rough French, I'm not really the best person to give you specific names of LARP events in Norway, Iceland, or Germany.  However, I believe they really do exist, and I think you should too.

This is a good overview of LARPs internationally:
http://fate.laiv.org/in_larp.htm

QuoteSome groups use extensive systems of rules and regulations as part of their larps, others rely on improvisation alone.

You'll also find examples of some of the roleplaying I think Andy was talking about earlier...

QuoteAt the moment the larp begins, the organisers will relinquish most of their authority to shape the larp and leave it to the players who pretend to be their characters for the rest of the larp. Even sleeping is considered to be in-character, as a player may be woken up in the middle of the night and be expected to act not as herself but as her character. At a longer event - much time will be spent with the daily life of the character - eating, cooking, working - but the larp will usually take place in an unusual situation such as the days leading up to a major battle or a royal court immediately after the monarchs death.

Also note that this is NOT the same as Live Action Vampire games.

QuoteThere are commercial larp products. "Minds Eye Theatre" and "Cthulhu live!" are larp versions of popular roleplaying game products. They are sold as rulebooks, books of advice, and scenarios (ready-to-play larps). Their being tied-in with the original products and their publishers fear of liability have led to these systems being extremely heavy on impractical rules, and many people allready familiar with an independent larp tradition scorn them as the plague. "Host your own murder mystery" books are also commercial larps, aimed for the market of burgeoise adults who seek to spice up their dinner parties with some roleplaying.

So, I think that SOME LARPs (eg. Vampire) may well be games.  While other LARPs are not.

Quote from: Levi KornelsenD&D isn't the boss of me.

It's the template for the roleplaying game and hence the roleplaying hobby. You are hardly relevent to that.

Do RPGs have formal goals? Or are the goals in an RPG established by the players?

Quote from: YamoIt's the template for the roleplaying game and hence the roleplaying hobby. You are hardly relevent to that.

Allow me to clarify, then:

English is use-defined.  Through use, the meaning of terms, acronyms, and the like are altered.  The greater the number of popular users, the more likely the usage is to be taken seriously.

World of Warcraft is the template for an RPG.

What does "template" have to do with popularity?

Quote from: Levi KornelsenEnglish is use-defined.  Through use, the meaning of terms, acronyms, and the like are altered.  The greater the number of popular users, the more likely the usage is to be taken seriously.

I was going to post that I was suspicious of your original post. Your original post seems to simple for its purported purpose, I suspect that within it are landmines built of words with definitions that are at variance to mine or ones in common use. It's the kind of thing I suspect your starting to do in the above quote. To use those redefined words as rhetorical weapons.

For all his faults RPGPundit seems at least a strait shooter. He dosen't seem mealy mouthed or weasly in his statements, maybe in his responses, but not in what he actually states. Maybe he isn't smart enough, maybe I'm a fool.

From you however, and others, I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach that you are trying to game the fora. That your comments should have an arrow pointed at them with the tag "BEWARE, HERE BE DRAGONS!"

Quote from: darI was going to post that I was suspicious of your original post. Your original post seems to simple for its purported purpose, I suspect that within it are landmines built of words with definitions that are at variance to mine or ones in common use. It's the kind of thing I suspect your starting to do in the above quote. To use those redefined words as rhetorical weapons.

For all his faults RPGPundit seems at least a strait shooter. He dosen't seem mealy mouthed or weasly in his statements, maybe in his responses, but not in what he actually states. Maybe he isn't smart enough, maybe I'm a fool.

From you however, and others, I get this feeling in the pit of my stomach that you are trying to game the fora. That your comments should have an arrow pointed at them with the tag "BEWARE, HERE BE DRAGONS!"

I'm with you. Being fairly smart, but not formally educated, I get kinda annoyed at this when it occurs. Don't know if Levi's doing it now, but it is annoying when I detect it.

Levi: The point is DnD is the RPG origin... the "patient 0" of this disease, as it were. From it, all other RPGs stem (although I'm sure some smart-ass is going to point out how that's completely untrue). Therefore, DnD IS the boss of you, if only because it's the boss of all other RPGs.  Embrace it, it will set you free  .

Yeah, I've had the feeling there are a few people who are more interested in int0rw3b discussion fu than being a straight shooter and staying focused on thoughtful, constructive responses.

Come on then – let's name names! AND THEN THE PURGES!!!!!!

Levi Kornelsen! Step forward!!

Captain! They've discovered the Movement! Run!!

Levi Kornelsen!
Christmas Ape!