Dropping Character

A LARP is an improvisational beast. You will be portraying a character that may be utterly unlike you. When you are interacting as your character would interact, you are ‘in character’. When you are interacting as yourself, you are ‘out of character’.

When you are in a public place where other players are in character, you are expected to be in character too. Interacting as yourself when you are expected to be ‘in character’ is called ‘breaking character’ and is quite rude. Breaking character makes it hard for the other players to concentrate on their role-playing. It is like someone walking onstage during a play and acting inappropriately.

If you want to make an OOC (out of character) comment or ask an out of character question in the live action area, place your hand across your chest so that it blocks your badge.

Try to do this where you can be seen by as few people as possible to avoid disrupting other people’s play.

Whoever you are trying to communicate with in this way should signal they understand by doing the same gesture. Have your out of character exchange as quickly as possible then drop the hand gesture and get back into the action.

Ideally, you should save out of character interaction for designated out of character areas but sometimes it is more efficient to use the OOC hand gesture.

This can be used to get permission for physical contact. 

For example: Jormus wants to reassure his squire Pobb so the player makes the OOC gesture. Pobb's player responds with the gesture. Jormus' player says (quietly enough so that only Pobb's player can hear) "I'd like to set my hand on your shoulder so Jormus can reassure Pobb". Pobb's player agrees, both drop the OOC gesture and the interaction continues.     

You can also use the OOC gesture to pause a scene to let the people you are playing with know that you are having trouble with something. In these situations it is up to you to be as clear as you can be about what the problem is and it is the responsibility of the other players to respect your wishes and accommodate you as best they can.

For example: Ricard is having an interaction with Viscount De Marco. Tensions run high and Ricard starts shouting. The Viscount’s player (Ryan) makes the OOC gesture, Ricard’s player (Kevin) responds in kind and the scene is paused. Ryan says “I understand your characters rage but I get kinda weird when I get yelled at and you are standing kind of close”. Kevin says “understood”, takes a step back and both players uncover their badges. The scene continues and Kevin keeps the rage but tones down the volume

It is vitally important that you never make another player feel bad for telling you how they feel. We are all in this together and the game is only fun if everyone feels safe to play however makes them comfortable. Seriously. Be cool.

Since players who are in character should ignore those making the OOC gesture it can be used to travel through the live action play area unobtrusively. If you want to leave the game or enter without disturbing anything use the hand gesture and move about. When you do this try to stay clear of people playing. This can be very useful for bathroom breaks and costume changes.