Nine Candles

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======What is LARP?====

**LARP** stands for "Live-Action Roleplay". 

A roleplaying game is somewhere between amateur dramatics and collaborative storytelling. You turn up, create a character to play, and play them. There are no scripts or lines, no set outcomes to what will happen---just a setting, a bunch of other characters to interact with, and some GMs to make sure it all runs smoothly.

//Nine Candles// is broadly a freeform live roleplaying game, taking place accross a full weekend, which means that instead of narrating your character's actions during game sessions (like you might do in something like D&D), you actually perform them. There's no dice rolls - everything is either a result of your interactions with other characters, or through the [[format|mechanics of the game]]. This doesn't mean you need to be a great public speaker, or even a particularly good actor---just be able to speak as your character would.

The game does not have a combat system - while there may be elements of threat that arise, how this plays out will be down to how you want to resolve the scene, possibly in collaboration with a ref. For instance, if you are being threatened by one of them, you might choose to have a lucky escape, maybe you get an injury, or perhaps you decide this is a satisfying way for your character to end their story, and die at the hands of one of them.

Most importantly: roleplaying is about having fun and creating stories with other players. Absolutely no experience is required to play Nine Candles, and there will be plenty of supportive people on-hand to help you out if you're confused about any aspect of the game. Turn up and enjoy yourself!


====What do I need to Bring?====

To play Nine Candles (South) you don't need to bring much with you. Here is a short list of things you will need:

  * Character costume - while in character you will need a costume for your character. The game is set in modern day England, so while you can buy specific kit for you character, you can just turn up in whatever clothes you normally wear.
  * Bedding (a sleeping bag, pillow and/or blankets) and Pajamas
  * Toiletries (e.g. Tooth Brush and Toothpaste)
  * Any personal medication/ first aid supplies
  * Sturdy and comfortable shoes. 
  * Waterproof layers
  * Warm clothes


Additional things you might want to optionally bring:
  * Phone Charger
  * Personal comfort items (e.g. a cuddly toy, or your favourite book)
  * A light source (e.g. a torch)
  * Paper and pens
=====Tips for Roleplayers=====
For those new to roleplaying, there's a lot of little things that may not be immediately obvious, but when you think about them they make a lot of sense. Even for more experienced roleplayers, it's easy to forget these things when getting involved in a game - this page may have something for everyone!

====Talk to the Refs====
Nine Candles is a collaborative experience between the players and Refs. You will have the opportunity to shape how the game plays out, even as the end draws near for your characters. That being said, if you are not enjoying some aspect of the game, please do come and talk to the Refs, so we can help you find a way to engage with the game in a way you enjoy.

Similarly, it can be useful to think about the difference between your OOC desires and your characters desires. Nine Candles is ultimately a game about tragedy - fighting against the odds, and in the end still losing despite everything. Your character's inevitable failure is not a reflection on you out of character.

====Character Design====
We all love our characters - coming up with a cool character for the setting is heaps of fun, especially when you think of a cool aspect of the world you want to interact with. However it can be easy to forget that given it's a LARP, you need to play that character, and it should be fun to play that character. Also remember that in this LARP, character creation is a communal experience - you will have a chance to define aspect of other people's characters, and they will have the chance to define aspects of your character. 

What this means in practice is that while a cool brooding character who sits in the corner alone might sound like an interesting character, if you end up spending an entire session sitting in the corner not talking to anyone you may not have a lot of fun in sessions. This is not to discourage you from exploring different kinds of characters, it's just worth keeping in mind how this character is going to be fun for **you** to play. Different people enjoy different kinds of things, after all!


====Character Bleed====

Character bleed is the concept of your feelings and emotions getting blurred between your character and your OOC self. Often character bleed is talked about as some nasty thing that must be avoided at all costs, but in reality it's perfectly natural; in LARP you are embodying your character, you are having the interactions that cause that emotional reaction, and if your character is hugging someone, your body is physically hugging. It is natural for your brain OOC to react to those experiences, even after dropping out of character.

Rather than simply saying "you shouldn't do this", there are more useful approaches to take to character bleed. The first thing is being aware that it's happening - this is usually a case of spotting when your OOC feelings start to change to match your IC ones. Then you can begin the work of trying to uncouple those things again. One way you can do this is by dropping OOC and talking to the person/people that the character bleed is about, either during the session or afterwards. This can help you get to know the OOC person as a separate entity to their character, and to firmly differentiate your IC and OOC feelings and reactions.

Getting to know people OOC is a great way to preempt some of these things - including after the game has finished.