Comments | mediaprophet: Anime LARP Analysis

Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! richterca November 16 2008, 05:58:36 UTC

FURTHERMORE (I got cut off as being too long a comment, sorry ( ... )

Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! mediaprophet November 18 2008, 04:19:08 UTC

I think charging for the privilege to select your character was my worst idea; it might be tenable, but I also agree with your argument against it. I think a "suggested donation" would work just fine, without violating convention center rules. And it wouldn't stop people from playing and wouldn't deny anyone a character they wanted. The extra money would buy the LARP more clout with the con organizers, and it could get the LARP some space; convention centers tend to have breakaway rooms and smaller conference rooms (100-1000 sqft) that the convention doesn't use ( ... )

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! shinotenshi02 November 19 2008, 04:56:01 UTC

I think charging for the privilege to select your character was my worst idea; it might be tenable, but I also agree with your argument against it. I think a "suggested donation" would work just fine, without violating convention center rules. And it wouldn't stop people from playing and wouldn't deny anyone a character they wanted. The extra money would buy the LARP more clout with the con organizers, and it could get the LARP some space; convention centers tend to have breakaway rooms and smaller conference rooms (100-1000 sqft) that the convention doesn't use.Jon, the problem again with even a 'suggested donation' is that con-Goers already spend ENOUGH MONEY on other things, including GETTING TO THE CON and con-fee. Furthermore, it also will NOT necessarily get you in better with the con-center, and is actually AGAINST some con-regulations ( ... )

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! mediaprophet November 19 2008, 05:06:30 UTC

A suggested donation is not a required fee. You could still LARP without paying anything. The artists at Otakon have tip jars and ask for a "suggested donation" for their sketches. I'd bet soliciting donations for a nonprofit is allowed.

And most con goers can just get one less $7 keychain or $4 box of pocky and make a donation if they want.

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! shinotenshi02 November 19 2008, 05:09:50 UTC

Again, I can see where you're going in terms of thinking with this. However, having attended anime cons since '97, regularly-all-3-days since '99, and NOT JUST OTAKON...I will tell you that based on what I have observed, it is not a good idea. It is more likely to do harm--by driving people away, who might be new--than doing nothing, as well. Not just 'doing nothing, but not doing harm'...but actively doing harm.

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! mediaprophet November 19 2008, 05:23:37 UTC

How so? Newbies would not be required to donate. Nobody would be required to donate, actually. Why would it drive people away?

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! shinotenshi02 November 19 2008, 05:33:47 UTC

From my experience, the newbies will not understand 'how' it is like a donation to an artist, or a tip-jar, and will instead be turned off by the suggestion. Even knowing they aren't "required" to, but instead it is a suggestion--or a tip--will be intimidating.

RP--and LARP by extension--at an Anime Con is not easily understood to be the amount of work and time and effort, by those who do not know what it is well, the same way you can easily look at a print, or a drawing, or a sculpture and see the same thing.

That's why I think it wouldn't work.

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! mediaprophet November 18 2008, 02:16:56 UTC

"you should always be pushing forward with some plot ( ... )

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! shinotenshi02 November 19 2008, 05:03:46 UTC

"I know many GMs do try to sway newbie larpers from taking characters that
will be hard for them to play."

Other GMs have said the opposite: They urge newbies to play their favorite characters, regardless of how hard they will be to fit in, because they see the LARP as a fan experience first. This is a valid opinion. I disagree, and so, it appears, do you. Thus, I can see there is some disagreement among the community on this. I appreciate your reply: My understanding of the situation has been broadened by your comment.
Actually, I'm of two minds about it myself. This year, I did actually counsel a player who has HAD trouble in the past, playing his fav. chars, but his issue was more he didn't get to do a lot of his goals, and didn't get recognition--even though he's done a damn fine job. (In some ways, he's young, naive, and a bit entitled. He's got a good heart though.) I WILL and did counsel him against certain types, even though he likes them. If asked, I'll tell anyone if I know them, and try to work with a player to find them ( ... )

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Re: OH GOD, SO LONG! mediaprophet November 18 2008, 02:17:41 UTC

"And typically if all the GMs are busy, the remaining characters will just get together and work out their own interactions ( ... )

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