There were complaints that he didn't appear to be having a good time, and at least briefly he did, but again, nothing like this was mentioned to Luke, even though there were NPCs and PCs who witnessed it.
Did he have a crappy event for the majority of the time? Yes, we both did. It was a failure on both an in and out of game level for us. And honestly we shouldn't be expected to be spewing rainbows when we are upset in and out of game for the sake of other PCs, especially when those other PCs are contributing to our bad time. But we didn't whine and complain to Luke, did we? We dealt with it.
For example, I was talking IG to another PC and an NPC is out on the field and decided that they wanted to just say "hi." She runs over and says "We're going to pretend that we are long time friends so that I can say hi" to the person I am in conversation with. No hello to me, just interruption of our role play. They talk for a few minutes with me standing there looking like an idiot. She finally nods to my corset and says "is that new?" "Yes" "It's nice" and the other person proceeds to show off hers since well, the RP we had is now blown. The NPC proceeds to ask if she can try it on and without warning the NPC and other PC run to the back of the tavern to try on corsets. No "hello" or even "goodbye" or any other pleasentry; and interruption of my in-game conversation. Pretty much set the tone of the afternoon for me. But did I go whine to the owner or a marshall? No, I sucked it up and went inside to salvage my weekend, which consisted of waiting 6 hours for a mod to go off, and waiting for the same group of PCs to disseminate information to the rest of us, and Accelerant rules being thrown around at pretty much any turn possible. So yeah shitty weekend and event. Point is we didn't bitch and moan to Luke; and I didn't complain about that NPC to the owner or a marshall. It detracted from the game, but I dealt with it and moved on.
So this is a totally hyperfocused reply that's not about the main issue but about a very small bit of what you said. Regarding not complaining to Luke about an NPc disrupting the in game atmosphere and RP, I just wanted to offer a different perspective that might help in whatever LARPs you play in the future. Basically, I really think you should tell the game runners about disruptive NPCs (or PCs for that matter). Now, maybe you wait until the event is over, maybe you do it in person or in e-mail or post event summary letter or whatever, but I do think it's worth doing. It's not about singling the NPC out as a bad person, but if you tell the staff of a game about something that has negatively impacted your fun, then you're helping them make the game better. They can react to it one way or another. It's not a bad thing to bring this sort of thing up and it's not something you should just sort of have to perpetually deal with. If you're playing a game and something bothers you, it's not whining and not a character flaw to go ahead and mention it to those in charge. If it's not a safety issue, which this isn't, I recommend waiting until the post-event letter (asusming the game has them) or a private e-mail (if it doesn't).
It really does help and I've seen it help in my own experiences, on both sides of the staff/PC line. An NPC that is screwing up your IG atmosphere is probably also doing it to the atospher eof others. Probably not maliciously, to be sure, but it is still a problem that can be remedied, but only if the staff know.
Anyway, just wanted to comment on that really really specific tangential thing. Reagrdless of whether you play METRO again, NERO again, or if you play some other LARPs instead, if you *do* play LARPs int he future, feel free to communicate concerns and issues with the staff. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, well, that's a huge trust issue right there that's a good indicator that you may want to reconsider playing the game in the first place.
There were complaints that he didn't appear to be having a good time, and at least briefly he did, but again, nothing like this was mentioned to Luke
It's no one else's job to report if someone is having a good time other than staff. It's the responsibility (or choice) of the player to keep staff informed of this.
But we didn't whine and complain to Luke, did we? We dealt with it.
Maybe this is part of the problem. Games can't improve if you don't provide constructive criticisim. Staff won't know there is a problem if you don't let them know about it. You can't rely on others to provide that feedback. Staff wants you to have a good time, trust me. You don't volunteer to help run a game to make players have a bad time. I really think that when you two have calmed down and can provide constructive critisim in a PEL you should definately do so! Constructive is the key word here. Give advice in a way that if it was said to you, you wouldn't be hurt or offended. Do unto others mantra is applicable here.
But did I go whine to the owner or a marshall? No, I sucked it up and went inside to salvage my weekend
Okay, I'll ask this outright before I get upset - Do you think that I actually whined or bitched and moaned to Luke about Andy? After you answer my question, I can continue this conversation. You've thrown that generalization out there a lot and I want to know if I should be included in that lumping.
You may take "bitch and moan" as a verbage equivalent to "complained about" which according to Luke, every single one of his NPCs, shifters or full-timers did. Also that every NPC did not want to fight him.
No. I do not think that you whine or bitched or moaned. I DO think that you expressed a concern to Luke, who has termed all expressions of concern, complaints.
See, now I'm glad that I calmly asked before I blew up because my first reaction was that you were saying that I was bitching and moaning. Big difference from filing a quick concern.
that was me the NPC, it's ok if you use my name. I did go up to Shelli because I was creating a new NPC who had a history with a few people - but mostly one that could get information about things going on in town.
I also walked up to Elenril and said "HEEEEEEEY! Was your entire family anihilated when you were young? No? Excellent, I'm your third cousin Trisha!"
Corney? Sure. Fun? Maybe. I know Josh liked it, and I'll asked Shelli.
She was sort of a mindless fun NPC. I didn't mean to break your game and I didn't mean to not talk with your PC. It did turn into an IG RP with Shelli. I'll do better next time and now that I know you didn't enjoy it, I can adjust.
What would probably have been better would have been "HEEEEEEEY! Misha! Remember me? Trisha?" and include a lot of winks and nods and hand squeezes until she played along and then pulled her into the back room to get the information from her. This will likely be what I do in the future because I can see how my statement and my approach to Shelli had an oog feel, because that statement I used is oog on several levels - because oog I needed information from Shelli - but I wanted it to be IG and psuedo sneaky.
Personally, I didn't put my hand on my head, I didn't call her Shelli and I did RP with her - but my verbage approaching her could have been different.
I'll do better next time and now that I know you didn't enjoy it, I can adjust.
Now that Sarah knows that it had an inpact on your game, she can make the adjustment. The best part, I'm sure she's not even upset about it. Sorry that she did something that led to a disruption to you? Yes! Upset and doesn't want to be friends with you? Not at all. Of course Sarah can say this for herself - I'm glad to see an example come up that shows you that letting staff know about your concerns can make a difference.
You will both have to forgive me as I am sure that Luke knew that this was not going to happen all quietly. Luke knew what he was doing was shitty, especially since we have talked to him before about sending us emails like that. He did knowingly and, in my eyes, as a way to piss Andy off even more, knowing that he was going to get a response similar to what he did get. If this causes him half of the stress and strife that it has caused us this past week then honestly, I'm ok with that. May not make me a good person but it is what it is.
Did he have a crappy event for the majority of the time? Yes, we both did. It was a failure on both an in and out of game level for us. And honestly we shouldn't be expected to be spewing rainbows when we are upset in and out of game for the sake of other PCs, especially when those other PCs are contributing to our bad time. But we didn't whine and complain to Luke, did we? We dealt with it.
For example, I was talking IG to another PC and an NPC is out on the field and decided that they wanted to just say "hi." She runs over and says "We're going to pretend that we are long time friends so that I can say hi" to the person I am in conversation with. No hello to me, just interruption of our role play. They talk for a few minutes with me standing there looking like an idiot. She finally nods to my corset and says "is that new?" "Yes" "It's nice" and the other person proceeds to show off hers since well, the RP we had is now blown. The NPC proceeds to ask if she can try it on and without warning the NPC and other PC run to the back of the tavern to try on corsets. No "hello" or even "goodbye" or any other pleasentry; and interruption of my in-game conversation. Pretty much set the tone of the afternoon for me. But did I go whine to the owner or a marshall? No, I sucked it up and went inside to salvage my weekend, which consisted of waiting 6 hours for a mod to go off, and waiting for the same group of PCs to disseminate information to the rest of us, and Accelerant rules being thrown around at pretty much any turn possible. So yeah shitty weekend and event. Point is we didn't bitch and moan to Luke; and I didn't complain about that NPC to the owner or a marshall. It detracted from the game, but I dealt with it and moved on.
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It really does help and I've seen it help in my own experiences, on both sides of the staff/PC line. An NPC that is screwing up your IG atmosphere is probably also doing it to the atospher eof others. Probably not maliciously, to be sure, but it is still a problem that can be remedied, but only if the staff know.
Anyway, just wanted to comment on that really really specific tangential thing. Reagrdless of whether you play METRO again, NERO again, or if you play some other LARPs instead, if you *do* play LARPs int he future, feel free to communicate concerns and issues with the staff. If you don't feel comfortable doing so, well, that's a huge trust issue right there that's a good indicator that you may want to reconsider playing the game in the first place.
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It's no one else's job to report if someone is having a good time other than staff. It's the responsibility (or choice) of the player to keep staff informed of this.
But we didn't whine and complain to Luke, did we? We dealt with it.
Maybe this is part of the problem. Games can't improve if you don't provide constructive criticisim. Staff won't know there is a problem if you don't let them know about it. You can't rely on others to provide that feedback. Staff wants you to have a good time, trust me. You don't volunteer to help run a game to make players have a bad time. I really think that when you two have calmed down and can provide constructive critisim in a PEL you should definately do so! Constructive is the key word here. Give advice in a way that if it was said to you, you wouldn't be hurt or offended. Do unto others mantra is applicable here.
But did I go whine to the owner or a marshall? No, I sucked it up and went inside to salvage my weekend
Okay, I'll ask this outright before I get upset - Do you think that I actually whined or bitched and moaned to Luke about Andy? After you answer my question, I can continue this conversation. You've thrown that generalization out there a lot and I want to know if I should be included in that lumping.
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Do you think that I actually whined or bitched and moaned to Luke about Andy?
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I DO think that you expressed a concern to Luke, who has termed all expressions of concern, complaints.
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I also walked up to Elenril and said "HEEEEEEEY! Was your entire family anihilated when you were young? No? Excellent, I'm your third cousin Trisha!"
Corney? Sure. Fun? Maybe. I know Josh liked it, and I'll asked Shelli.
She was sort of a mindless fun NPC. I didn't mean to break your game and I didn't mean to not talk with your PC. It did turn into an IG RP with Shelli. I'll do better next time and now that I know you didn't enjoy it, I can adjust.
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Personally, I didn't put my hand on my head, I didn't call her Shelli and I did RP with her - but my verbage approaching her could have been different.
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Now that Sarah knows that it had an inpact on your game, she can make the adjustment. The best part, I'm sure she's not even upset about it. Sorry that she did something that led to a disruption to you? Yes! Upset and doesn't want to be friends with you? Not at all. Of course Sarah can say this for herself - I'm glad to see an example come up that shows you that letting staff know about your concerns can make a difference.
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I'm sorry that Heidi is upset and this entire situation sucks.
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