Freeforms
Freeforms, also known as Live Action Roleplays (or LARPs), are the 'other blue meat' of roleplaying.
- A Night to Remember, A Night to Forget
– by
Angela & Ben Kemp (1 session, 26 players) - A Personal Apocalypse – by David James & Xole (1 session, 20 players)
- Faenor – The Freeform – by Sim Lauren (1 session, 6-18 players [15 preferred])
- Gilbert & Sullivan: The Trial – by Liz Waldock (1 session, 20 players)
- Lost the Plot? – by Eric Henry & James Walker (1 session, 25 players)
- The Heron's Riddle – by
Stacey Payne (1 session, 20-30 players)
- The Princess's Pleasure – by Fi McConnachie (1 session, 17 players)
- Star Wars: Overtures of Peace – by Laurie Flower (1 session, 15-30 players)
- (Back to the main games page)
A Night to Remember, A Night to Forget
Or, "Gin and tonics, anyone?"
By Angela & Ben Kemp
The natives are restless, the tea crop is dubious but at least the gin and tonics are cold.
"Next time less tonic and more gin, boy!"
Mystery, romance, intrigue, espionage, and handlebar moustaches. Beautiful women and daring men of different fortunes and fates. All thrown together for a weekend house party on the steamy Indian subcontinent. Set in the spring of 1878 at the height of the British Raj.
A systemless freeform for 26 players by Angela and Ben Kemp. Costuming encouraged.
Character list is available from the writers on benk <at> vurt.net,
or tel. (02) 9613 1514. This freeform previously ran at MacquarieCon 2005.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 3.5 | Genre 3 | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 3.5 | Seriousness 2 | Advisory rating PG |
A Personal Apocalypse
By David James & Xole Karman
The Apocalypse was foretold; it came and went. The world we know was destroyed, civilisation and all its trappings blasted into memory. The skies burned, the seas boiled, and all this happened so long ago that those who remain know it only as legend.
As a creation myth of sorts, if you will forgive the conceit.
The last few pockets of humanity (those who can still be called human) face a short, demanding, and often ugly life, at least by the standards of their ancestors. Humans however, have an amazing ability to find beauty and even love in the most remarkable of places.
But just because the Apocalypse is over, don't think that the world won't end. Because in its final moments, the end of the world will be a very personal thing...
A freeform for 20 post-apocalyptic shut-ins.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 5 | Genre 3 | Rules knowledge 0 |
| Story/plot 4 | Seriousness 4 | Advisory rating M |
Faenor – The Freeform
By Sim Lauren
Faenor has always attracted certain types of people... Faenor meant freedom, opportunity, new beginnings.
Then they broke the curse.
Faenor began to get very important again. No longer overlooked as the desolate outpost it had been for centuries, our home has been torn apart by war.
But we have a chance to end it all.
Set things right again.
A meeting is called in the Hot Hearth Tavern. All members of the Town Council are requested to attend. Other parties with interests in this matter are invited.
We have a decision to make.
Freedom. Opportunities...
Perhaps a new beginning.
This game is based on events that occured in a unique Neverwinter Nights world that was hosted on www.aussienwn.com from August '04 till August '05. (Translation: sorta D&D). Players don't need to be familiar with the Neverwinter Nights series of games, but it would help to have basic knowledge of MORPG terms, as they will be used during play. (PvP, Spawning, etc...)
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 4 | Genre 2 | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 3 | Seriousness 1-5 | Advisory rating PG |
Gilbert & Sullivan: The Trial
by Liz Waldock
"Now, Jurymen, hear my advice —
All kinds of vulgar prejudice
I pray you set aside:
With stern judicial frame of mind
This trial must be tried."
Koko is in trouble for flirting again. This time it has gone to trial. Koko is defending himself, Princess Ida is prosecuting and the various characters from Gilbert and Sullivan's plays are the jury.
A single session freeform for around 20 players. Costuming would be appreciated, knowledge of Gilbert & Sullivan will add to the fun but is not necessary.
From Liz, the writer:
An explaination of Gilbert and Sullivan: The Trial
In the land of the Mikado - Gilbert and Sullivan - flirting is considered a Capital Offense punishable by beheading. Fortunately no-one has been convicted, or even arrested for Flirting since the last time Koko [being the Lord High Excutioner] was caught out. However, Koko is a three time offender and if he gets convicted this time will be a head shorter.
Princess Ida, the prosecutor, has a general dislike and mistrust of men and is one of the firmest supporters of the No Flirting law. She also, has a strong distrust of Koko on general principle. Thus she aims to ensure Koko is convicted.
The Mikado, who is the judge, does not really care and is willing to go which ever way the people want. Thus the Trial.
The characters are various people from different G&S plays, each with their own agendas. They have been written so that someone with absolutely no knowledge of G&S can play them and still enjoy themselves. I.e. they have been written like anyother freeform character. There are a full range of character types available, from heros through villains, damsels in distress, strong females, fairies, wizards and demons.
A lot of the characters are in disguise and "not who they seem to be" and sorting out who is whom should be a lot of fun. For anyone who enjoyed "Bride Finding Ball" or "Who Killed Cock Robin" this is written in the same style and should be very enjoyable. Ham acting is encouraged.
To pre book characters contact Liz Waldock on dreamriderau <at>
yahoo.com.au.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 3-4 | Genre 1-2 | Rules knowledge 0 |
| Story/plot 3 | Seriousness 1-2 | Advisory rating PG "Some discrete naughty bits which should go straight over a child's head and not offend any but the most puritanically minded, but the plots themselves would be too convoluted for the child players to really enjoy." |
Lost the Plot?
By Eric Henry & James Walker
You exist within the confines of an unpublished novel of dubious literary merit. The story is a pale imitation of another, much better book and is inhabited by characters that are tawdry copies of other, far more interesting characters. Now you have learned that your novel is to be broken up for text. But not even a one-dimensional stereotype wants to die.
Your one hope for survival is to find other characters from other (equally bad) unpublished novels and hopefully construct a new plot around yourself which will be interesting enough to get published. After all, you can't be any worse than your author. Can you?
Lost the Plot? is a single session freeform for 25 literary stereotypes desperate for survival, inspired by the 'Thursday Next' novels of Jasper Fforde.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 3 | Genre 2 | Rules knowledge 0 |
| Story/plot 3 | Seriousness 2 | Advisory rating PG (sexual references, stylised
violence) |
The Heron's Riddle
By Stacey Payne
Tokyo. 2006.
The Emperor Mei-Yu has held the throne for ten years, despite his increasing tendency towards the realms of insanity, his mental state clearly unbalanced. For he rants publicly, endlessly about demons, the gods of death — the shinigami, and the machinations of Tenkai, the heavenly realm — and those closest to him have tried to keep the impact of these ravings far from the world at large. They have been generally successful, and most view the Emperor as an aging eccentric, certainly no worse, and his words have not been marked.
Until now.
All over the city, strange and horrific creatures begin to appear, causing the deaths of many as their attacks strike seemingly at random. Most of these attacks have been rationalized as rabid animals or the like — no citizen wants to recognize the supernatural element behind the events. In response to this, the Emperor has issued a proclamation that 'all those with the will or ability beyond that of the average citizen' present themselves before the throne and pledge their service before Tokyo is reduced to ruin. He warns that if the 'Eight' are not located, that some calamity will come upon the world and chaos will reign for all time.
This 'order' makes very little sense to most who read it, and it is largely ignored by the ordinary members of the populace — just another one of the mad Emperor's tirades. But to some, to a mere handful — within the words is the call for which they have waited. A motley group of high school students, middle-aged businessmen, housewives, and a smattering of those somewhere in between arrive at the Court of Herons, awaiting this new twist in their fate.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 4 | Genre 3 | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 4 | Seriousness 4 | Advisory rating M |
The Princess's Pleasure
By Fi McConnachie
An old man is dead. The world stops to mourn his passing.
He helped build an empire of trade and power.
A young man is dead. His body lost to the sea and none mark his passing.
The chains of love dragged him beneath.
A woman has been hunting. At last her prey is in her grasp.
He will not escape justice again.
A man sits in room far away. He examines the chess board.
The pieces are in place and he awaits the outcome.
A woman holds a party on a swift schooner. The Princess's Pleasure awaits your company. As you board, the ship sets sail and thus adventure begins.
A 7th Sea based freeform for 17 brave souls for whom heroism is a way of life.
Action, Romance, Revenge, Power, Love, Lust, Greed, Honour and Faith
Will you be there?
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 5 (Watch Errol Flynn) | Genre 3 (Watch Errol Flynn) | Rules knowledge 0-1 (Watch Errol Flynn) |
| Story/plot 4 (Watch Errol Flynn) | Seriousness 3 (Watch Errol Flynn) | Advisory rating 3 (Watch Errol Flynn) |
Star Wars: Overtures of Peace
By Laurie Flower
In a galaxy far, far away
The Republic is over, the Rebellion Begins
The Empire has finally rid itself of the last pretences of democracy. Order and prosperity are sweeping the galaxy. Imperial Governors have taken charge and the senate has been dissolved, Humanity's time has come.
With transition of course comes unrest and a number of former Senators have been leading a rebellion against Empire. The Empire is stretched but is pressing order and control. Only a few systems remain outside the New Order.
The rebellion has struck a major blow by destroying the death star, but it cost them dearly in men and equipment.
Both sides need time but can't afford it.
Representative Namar Boshont of the Draknar Cluster, which have been so far neutral and outside the control of either side, has proposed a neutral meeting on a space station in their sector.
Star Wars™ — Overtures of Peace is a freeform live role play game in the Science Fiction Film Genre. It has been designed for between 15-30 players. You may play one of the characters on the three sides or even personages with their own special agenda.
Contact the Storyteller at laurieflo <at> grapevine.net.au,
for more information or character preference.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 4 | Genre 4 | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 3 | Seriousness 3 | Advisory rating PG |
(No challenge to any existing copyright is intended or should be construed.)