I’m beginning to understand that I need to blog more. I am
coming across the fact that people not only respond to what I have to say at
times, what I have to say is a different perspective to what most perceive or
write about.
First off, I have to say I hate the way ‘influential’ people
in LARP – names well known across a variety of LARP platforms – write as if
their way is the only way. Not because they necessarily do influence people,
but because there is very little to challenge them – challenges are also not
responded to often, cited or shared. There seems to be one platform that these
well-known to speak from – responses and reviews are constrained to groups on Facebook
meaning the majority of responses are well out of public eye.
This invariably leaves many people assuming what is written
or said here by these people is the only way. It’s not. It’s far from.
For example, I notice that the forum has been removed from
the CP website. Almost like they don’t want people to read what is questioned
and responded to there. One wonders what LARP has to hide.
There’s a lot more I have to say about this – from DrowGate
to the way such discussions have been moved about many times – to the way I’ve
seen acts like DrowGate attempted to be kept out of public eye – to the way
large systems respond to their players.
So, it should be no surprise that I hate this article in its
approach.
The article is, I agree, correct. What it says is totally
right. Players do moan about costs and the organisers do pay out of their own
pocket, which isn't really fair.
But that’s not what this article is about. It might be
informative – but what it’s saying is “shut up moaning about it” – because it
doesn’t address other issues. It doesn’t approach anywhere near the
understanding of what players mean when they say “its’ too expensive”.
As much as the term “I’ll pray for you” transfers the
discussion from your pain to my faith, this article is just as condescending in
its lack of empathy – and shows the total disconnection the writer has with
what “common” players perceive during a LARP – in a similar way to MPs having
no idea about everyday life for a working class or a person that can’t work for
whatever reason.
First, the article uses inflated numbers in the hopes of
getting something across. £600-£1,200 for 30 weapons –individual designs not
batch? Well, get batch. “Most sites in the UK that I have approached vary
between £500 to £1750 for a three day hire” – really??? I’ve previously paid £5
per night per player. At 30 players I paid £750 for 5 nights. “Cost of toilets
range from…” Why are you buying toilets? They don’t have them on site? … Wait,
how many players are you attempting to demonstrate this for?
Seriously, write one article for 30 players and one for
‘fest’, whatever number you deem to be ‘fest’. Confound the scale, and it
confounds issue and muddies the numbers involved too.
The article cites Mythlore charging over £100 a ticket – “and
if you have seen any of the photos from those events it’s very easy to see why.
The standards of kit are incredible.” One comment even agrees saying that LARP
has suffered by making events too cheap! Sorry – but when did LARP become about
just costume and how something looks? Use your imagination for heaven’s sake –
especially for smaller events - not everything is about kit! Plot first, props second. Snobbery over how a LARP looks is affecting
smaller games – players don’t want to attend because it “doesn’t look cool”.
One wonders why LARP started at all if it’s just about looks – that’s Cosplay
surely? (I know it’s not, but hey, tongue in cheek…)
But the main thing is this. You didn’t understand what a
player meant when they said “it’s too expensive”.
CP to me is too expensive. So is Alrune, Empire and LT are
too expensive.
I’ll say it again – they’re too expensive for me.
First, you have to understand that different people have
different commitments and money issues. LARP needs to start recognising that
people sometimes need help and should start looking into alternative means of
settling people’s money. Sites like GoCardless, for example, allow people (not
companies) to set up Direct Debits with each other. In the modern age the
number of people that know how to deal with money are dwindling. Some people
need help, and if you’re providing a service you should consider ways to help
get that service to them.
Second, I’m not forking out money for nothing in return.
With these games I’m essentially buying “air”. That’s too
expensive for something I get for free in my daily life.
To put it another way, many game systems have players that
feel left out, let down or ignored. That’s not every player, no – but a
portion. This portion spends money to come to any event you run. They are
buying from you the service of having a game to play. What they feel like they
get is pretty much the end of the first season of LOST – shafted.
I know, I get it. You try to do your best. Not every
experiences the same things. Games can be what you make them. Some players do
like to sit back and whinge but not do anything about it. Some players get
missed out because you have a lot of players.
Tough. Some players will moan, some will leave because they
don’t feel like they’re getting anything.
Some will tell you that it’s too expensive. Because, to
them, it is.
And that’s why I hate this article. It’s reductionist,
dismissive of concerns and divisive in trying to convince you why LARP has to
be expensive.
And now I’m going to get a cup of tea and muse about LARPs I
know that do very well for £4 for a day event… yum! Cookies!
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