Under The Rock

Aaron Cross · Joined: 22 Mar 2010 Posts: 198 Location: In your mom's bed

Your first game: ^_^ YAY
The first game does a lot to set the tone of the character for its entire run. You want this game to be a good one for your character, but at the same time you really don't want to overreach and be too ambitious. Get your character out there, get things going, and start out slow

Listen a lot:
There is a rule about human nature that I think everyone in LARP should know: nobody cares about you. Well, that's not entirely true. Some people care about you. But they certainly care a lot more about themselves than they do about you. This is true even in conversations. People love to talk about themselves and look good, and they love it a lot less when you do these things. It's just how it goes.
When your character is making his or her first appearance, this is going to go double. The other characters don't know you, and they are going to be especially more interested in themselves than they are in you. This is a good thing, however, in that it gives you a clear mission: to get them to do exactly what they are already inclined to do and talk about themselves to you. Listen a lot. Chime in if you think that what you have to say is interesting enough to the other person for them to care. Lay low, and let them give you the information on the ground that you need.
If you're playing the character that just absolutely has to make a splashy, flashy entrance, then you have to use a modified version of this rule. That is, talk as much as you want, as grandiosely as you want, so long as what you say and do provides a good answer to everyone else's implicit question: "what's in it for me?" People want to be entertained, they want someone to make them feel good, they want to be recognized, and they want people to do things that will advance their interests. Aim to do these things, and you can be as loud as you want. Just don't overextend yourself, or set too ambitious goals and pursue them too quickly. You start to really risk stepping on other people's toes, and causing people to put up reflexive roadblocks in front of you. That is a no-no.
Make one friend
Among whatever other goals for the first game, I think that every character without exception should have the goal of making one friend or at least a good connection the first game. Pursuing this goal, even if it is not achieved, helps in numerous ways. It focuses your efforts and your thinking on something that is firm and solid. It is a strong motivator to interact with the other characters. It is a very realistic goal for any character to achieve. If successful in achieving this goal, it puts your character in a better position to pursue almost any other goal. It gets your character involved in the game, in the other characters, and in the plot. Even for virulently anti-social characters, this one is a real winner.

gts0507.jpgTake it slow
Remember, you have lots of time. You don't need to push yourself to grab that brass ring immediately. The first game is the time that your character will probably be in the worst position that they ever will be in to achieve large, important goals. Think about building that foundation before you start aiming for the roof-mounted Christmas lights. Pace yourself realistically, and break down the things your character is trying to achieve into smaller, manageable milestones. This way you won't feel the pressure of trying to race after something that you haven't defined, barely understand, and have no way of measuring your progress.

Don't reveal much about your character's back story and aims
I know that this may seem counter-intuitive, but you definitely do not want to reveal too much in your first game. Usually, you go into your first game with only a little bit of knowledge, if any, about your character's big goals, why they're in the city, what they did in the past, and so forth. Keep that little bit in reserve. Don't put it out there, or, if feel you have to, put it out there in a way that doesn't get you locked in to anything (i.e., lie about it or equivocate). Look, the fact of the matter is that people know that you are playing a new character. They believe that you don't know much about what your character is doing. A little bit of a clueless look and some stammering will generally make them feel bad enough to back off of a line of questioning you don't like or are not ready for. I know it could be considered "bad citizenship" for me to be suggesting this borderline metagaming, but let's face it: new characters need all the help they can get.
For the more paranoid out there, I want to clarify one thing. The reason that I think it's unwise to "blow your load" so to speak on the first game is not, as you might believe, because that gives other characters an advantage of knowing how to manipulate you or whatever. The danger of that is really overstated. The bigger danger is the danger of getting pigeonholed on your first game. Give up too much of your limited knowledge about what your character is about on the first game, and two things will happen. First, people will look at you as "that guy/chick who [insert simplistic thing about your character here]." Nobody wants that. The only thing worse than being "the guy/gal who �" is to be given a pejorative nickname, which is also something to watch out for. Secondly, you will have committed yourself to the early, ill-defined and immature version of your character's goals, habits, back story, etc. As time goes by this will become a painful straitjacket to your character's development and you will be unhappy.
_________________
Aaron Cross Warlord, SNY, Knights of Rockland
X-Enforcer "KOR"
X-GangLeader/Enforcer "Rapid Blaster"
X-GangLeader/Enforcer: "Chow Time""
X-GangLeader: "Something Violent", Lord of the North"
Gorgeous-6, Bruiser, Silence,

Alura · Joined: 22 Mar 2010 Posts: 369

All good advice. The other thing I'd like to add is never be afraid to ask for advice. In character or out of character. If one person didn't answer your question feel free to ask someone else.

Some characters and players are more likely to answer questions. Some have better ways of explaining things. It works the same way.