![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smokingbootSo. Armed with an outrageous wig and offensive accent, I went out into the world of Maelstrom. This will bore non-larpers to death, so I'll employ the cut:
Maelstrom is amazing. It's bright, big, friendly, dangerous, a world of chancers and romancers, pirates and profligates, debauchees and devotees; this is a flintlocks and frockcoats fantasy, and it feels fresh and vibrant.
It's a reach out and grab world, where characters can pretty much do anything they want if they have the nous and the nerve. Player-led plot, and power in the hands of the players, is an abiding principle behind the game. If you want money, go find some. If you want magic, it's waiting to be understood. If you want a fight, best start it yourself.
Much has been made of the issue of player-led plot; It certainly empowers players and it cuts through the problems of game controller egotism/ favouritism which remains the bane of so many other LARP systems out there. Maelstrom's game control is the very opposite of this. The PD crew are friendly, unofficious and dedicated to giving their players the best time they can.
Player-led plot really does bring freedom, but that includes the freedom to fail, and the freedom to sit and do nothing and be bored. Can players accept that? Or will they expect the plot team to instigate entertainment and success? What, after all, are they paying for?
Personally, I think it's good to enhance and encourage player led plot, but I wouldn't rely on it as a professional strategy; I would have more active plot being rolled out, to cater for all tastes. Or prepare to lose a little business.
And then there was GOD. Despite the intense dedication and hard-working efforts of everyone involved, the queues were endless, and many ex-Omega players looked at it all with a sinking sense of 'Oh Christ, not again.' Apologies were made, players took it all in good faith, good humour and patience was never lacking, but it still won't do for a professional outfit. If PD don't want that word to become a rod for their own backs, they have to specifically identify what's causing the admin problem and remove it. Professional is as professional does.
Strange, how it takes so many words to describe what's wrong, so few to describe what's right with a system.
Could the roleplaying be any better? Could the atmosphere be more condusive? Could the life and spark of it be equalled, could there be more opportunities, could the IC world be improved upon? I really don't think so. There was always something to do, somewhere to go, from the Casino to Grey's Social Club to the Trade Winds Inn (The tavern night was superb) I have only attended two events I enjoyed as much in around 10 years of roleplaying.
This system/world is fantastic. Do what you want with it.
P.S. Maelstrom money is the utter business.
OK, reading that over, it's clearly a review. Maybe I'll stick it on pagga later. Or maybe I'm too knackered!
Maelstrom is amazing. It's bright, big, friendly, dangerous, a world of chancers and romancers, pirates and profligates, debauchees and devotees; this is a flintlocks and frockcoats fantasy, and it feels fresh and vibrant.
It's a reach out and grab world, where characters can pretty much do anything they want if they have the nous and the nerve. Player-led plot, and power in the hands of the players, is an abiding principle behind the game. If you want money, go find some. If you want magic, it's waiting to be understood. If you want a fight, best start it yourself.
Much has been made of the issue of player-led plot; It certainly empowers players and it cuts through the problems of game controller egotism/ favouritism which remains the bane of so many other LARP systems out there. Maelstrom's game control is the very opposite of this. The PD crew are friendly, unofficious and dedicated to giving their players the best time they can.
Player-led plot really does bring freedom, but that includes the freedom to fail, and the freedom to sit and do nothing and be bored. Can players accept that? Or will they expect the plot team to instigate entertainment and success? What, after all, are they paying for?
Personally, I think it's good to enhance and encourage player led plot, but I wouldn't rely on it as a professional strategy; I would have more active plot being rolled out, to cater for all tastes. Or prepare to lose a little business.
And then there was GOD. Despite the intense dedication and hard-working efforts of everyone involved, the queues were endless, and many ex-Omega players looked at it all with a sinking sense of 'Oh Christ, not again.' Apologies were made, players took it all in good faith, good humour and patience was never lacking, but it still won't do for a professional outfit. If PD don't want that word to become a rod for their own backs, they have to specifically identify what's causing the admin problem and remove it. Professional is as professional does.
Strange, how it takes so many words to describe what's wrong, so few to describe what's right with a system.
Could the roleplaying be any better? Could the atmosphere be more condusive? Could the life and spark of it be equalled, could there be more opportunities, could the IC world be improved upon? I really don't think so. There was always something to do, somewhere to go, from the Casino to Grey's Social Club to the Trade Winds Inn (The tavern night was superb) I have only attended two events I enjoyed as much in around 10 years of roleplaying.
This system/world is fantastic. Do what you want with it.
P.S. Maelstrom money is the utter business.
OK, reading that over, it's clearly a review. Maybe I'll stick it on pagga later. Or maybe I'm too knackered!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-07-26 02:48 am (UTC)