Freeforms
Freeforms, also known as Live Action Roleplays (or LARPs), are the 'other blue meat' of roleplaying.
- The Community — by Mark Kramarzewski
(1 session, 20 players) - Crisis of Infinite Batman — by Evan Paliatseas (1 session, many players)
- A Darkened World — by Random (1 session, many players)
- A Feast of Kobolds — by Stephen Justice (1 session, 16+ players)
- The Fine Art of Politics — by Jason Chappel and Penny Sullivan (1 session, 10-30 players, Vampire: the Requiem)
- Min Min — by Fi McConachie (1 session, 11 players)
- Ravenloft: Holy Lands — by Joe McNamara (1 session, 20 players, Ravenloftish)
- Tales from the City: Exogenesis — by Simon Boot & Alicia Cameron (1 session, 19 players, A|State)
- (Back to the RPGs page)
The Community
By Mark Kramarzewski
"It has been just over three weeks since the winds brought death and chaos to our happy little town. Death from a hell I could never have imagined. Hundreds lay in the street, like they'd been struck with a curse, screaming, groaning, coughing and soon dying. It all took just three days. Three... is that significant? Somewhere in the chaos a fire started, and there was nobody to even think about putting it out. The fire did us a favour, there were too many to bury, too few to do the digging.
"My house was just outside the town, I gathered the survivors there. The phone lines are down, the TV and Radio stations are down, nobody is on the radio waves at all. I spent hours on the radio equipment in my barn at first, then less, but I still give it an hour a day. A few more survivors from the surronds straggled in with stories the same as ours.
"For weeks nothing, but then this morning in the distance we can see a small convoy of cars travelling towards us. Some of us lift our hopes, others raise their rifles. I simply wonder what news these newcomers will bring."
A plague has torn through the USA, killing over 99% of the population within days. Some survivors have found their way to a small home outside a ruined town. Can these survivors live through starvation and illness? Can they do more than just survive? Can they restart civilization in this Community?
A 20 player freeform set in post-plague middle USA.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 3 Good character representation is important, but strict adherance to character write up is not enforced. | Genre 4 The genre is important, the characters' survival through post apocalypse is the main driver | Rules knowledge 1 There are few rules beyond simple conflict resolution and a simple food tracking system. |
| Story/plot 3 The setting should be respected and players should engage in the story that organically grows from this | Seriousness 4 While I hope there will be plenty of space for laughter and fun, players should not ignore the bleakness of the setting | Advisory rating MA While there is little explicit in what has been written, the context could lead into adult territory |
Crisis of Infinite Batman
By Evan Paliatseas
You are Batman.
A dark, expansive cellar or dungeon. Strange music piped in from outside. A huge clock is visible on one wall. Many people trapped here with you. They are all dressed as Batman.
But you ARE Batman.
There is a sudden, terrible wrenching sound, a smell of ozone and the crack of lightning. At the centre of the crowd of costumed people one screams, and falls to the ground, smoking. Two people dressed as Batman near him bend down to assist.
"He's been electrocuted" says one.
"It was the ground: the metal flagstone he was standing on was the conductor. They have all been wired up." says the other.
The first figure unmasks the fallen man. "No..." he says in a deep voice. "Lucius..." You look at the fallen figure and recognise your business manager, Lucius Fox.
A loud, disembodied voice fills the dark space. "Every fifteen minutes, one of you will volunteer to be unmasked. If there is no volunteer, a random person will be killed. It is time. Time to show who you really are."
One of the other figures in the costumed crowd pipes up. "Are you retarded? I'm the Goddamn Batman!"
A one session freeform for many people of any gender (and at least one robot) dressed as Batman, some of whom (perhaps mistakenly) believe they ARE Batman.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 3 ("I'm Batman") | Genre 2 (You should know something about Batman) | Rules knowledge 1 (freeform with simple home rules) |
| Story/plot 3 (You are in a deathtrap. There are twists, but let's face it, it's pretty clear how this is going to go.) | Seriousness 2 (It's a room full of Batmans.) | Advisory rating PG (there is at least one Batman who isn't afraid of swear words) |
A Darkened World
By Random
The Caramilla is an international social organisation sanctioned by Albino Lupine, Inc. which revolves around the gothic-horror genre set in Albino Lupine's A Darkened World. We are world-renowned for our continuous Live Action Role Playing (LARP) game that spans 43 countries on every inhabitable continent.
The Caramilla has been running in this country for a number of years, and has just arrived in your city. So come along and experience Live Action Role Playing as its meant to be™!
A Darkened World is a Freeform set at a Live Action Role Playing game. Players will be playing character, and most of those character will occasionally be playing characters.
Further information and a character list
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 3 | Genre 2 (Knowledge of Old Style World of Darkness will mean you can laugh at the jokes) | Rules knowledge NA |
| Story/plot Up to the ST! | Seriousness 3 | Advisory rating PG |
A Feast of Kobolds
By Stephen Justice
No no no, not that sort of feast. Kobolds may indeed taste like chicken but the only thing that will eat them is other Kobolds. This is in fact a feast FOR Kobolds and not just any of their numerous feasts they hold at any and every opportunity.
This time it is King Torg’s (ALL HAIL KING TORG) birthday feast and Kobolds from all over the land have gathered for this special occasion. For to not make it to King Torg’s (ALL HAIL KING TORG) birthday feast is an act likely to get you thrown in the closest cooking pot.
All four of the Kobold clans have sent their finest representatives and as much gifts as they can carry. Meals of all sorts have been planned and raiding parties to the local villages have tripled as they search for enough Babies to keep everyone happy.
Of course with this many Kobolds in one place something must go wrong. The clan of FolloVor have seen omens that their Big Red Angry God is not happy as he stubbed his toe and wants Veterans to seek the Baby Ointment of Pricklyless to appease him.
There is also a rumour that Tabriz, The Evil Arch-Warlock for hire, will be making an appearance to show his support for King Torg (ALL HAIL KING TORG) in thanks for all the Adventure fodder he has provided over the years in the way of young Kobold warriors.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 2 | Genre 2 | Rules knowledge 2 |
| Story/plot 2 | Seriousness 1 | Advisory rating PG |
The Fine Art of Politics
By Jason Chappel and Penny Sullivan of Beyond the Sunset (the Organisation Formerly Known As The Camarilla)
A vampiric court meets at the command of the tyrant Invictus Prince. Rumours abound that the delicate balance of local Damned politics is going to be upset by whatever the Prince plans to announce.
The traditional alliance of Invictus and Lancea Sanctum have held the Tyrant in place for many years, and where they once worked together seamlessly, cracks are now starting to show. Could it be that the Ordo Dracul might be legalised, despite the Sanctified hatred for them, or will the Tyrant seek to strengthen that relationship by giving the Sanctified the free hand against the Circle of the Crone that they have previously asked for? Or perhaps this will simply be an attempt to weaken the growing power of the Carthian Movement in the city and secure his own position?
This is a game of politics and intrigue, with the conflicting pulls of Clan loyalty, Covenant politics, personal relationships and private ambition as factors for each character.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 4 | Genre 4 World of Darkness: Vampire: The Requiem | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 3 | Seriousness 3 | Advisory rating MA |
Min Min
By Fi McConachie
"Min Min now is nothing but the light. History tells that it was once a roaring shanty notorious for 'lambing down' the shearers on sunset run, with a 'dead house' and a graveyard nearby. So many were its crimes and murders of kerosene and brimstone, that in righteous anger they burnt it to the ground. The place was stories and desolation- but the dead men would not be forgotten on their stoney plain. Just as a rider was passing by, out of that graveyard came the biggest Jack-O'-Lantern in Australia!"
“Four days ago 3 young children at Lawson Station were reported missing. It appears that the children wandered away from the homestead during the night. It is unclear why the children would leave their rooms at this time. Bill Lawson the father of the missing children has been helping police with enquires but to date no further information to their whereabouts has been discovered. Police are also talking to Jack ‘Gulgulli’ Jones a local black”
“And can I be the Min Min Light
and take some people in the night
without a trace”
A mystery surrounding 3 vanished children for 11 set in the Australian Outback.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 5 | Genre 3 | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 4 | Seriousness 4 | Advisory rating M (possible supernatural, racist themes) |
Ravenloft: Holy Land
By Joe McNamara
A generation ago, the Blessed Army of Ezra swept across Gevurah, conquering the places our prophet once walked. Our enemies scattered before us – we broke the back of the Hazlani armies, chased the jackal-men into the desert, wiped out the Children of the Sacred Mountain and salted the earth of their gardens so that nothing would ever grow there again. It seemed as though nothing could stop us, so righteous was our cause.
But time passed, and we fell from grace, and the Goddess turned her face from us. Today, Gevurah faces the worst famine it has ever known. Bandits and monsters crawl out from under desert stones and strike at us. Our leaders spend their days obsessed with arcane matters of theology rather than acting, and, behind it all, the Sacred Mountain plots its revenge. One of us was murdered last night, and, though we’ve sealed the fortress and trapped the assassin here, I do not think that we will all survive what is to come.
A Ravenloft-inspired freeform for 20 crusaders, assassins, bandits, civilians and others.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 4 | Genre 3 | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 2 | Seriousness 3 | Advisory rating R (Violence, Horror, Adult Themes) |
Tales from the City: Exogenesis
By Simon Boot & Alicia Cameron
Longcoat Jack Kills Again
By Muriel Halliday, 06/04/997
The eighth known victim of serial murderer "Longcoat Jack" was discovered by TCMAA provosts late last night, just inside the border between the Three Canals Metropolitan Area Authority, and Mire End. The victim has not yet been identified, but is reported to be a young man, who had been flayed alive before the signature removal of his organs.
Mire End mayor, Herbert Goreshiny, has called an emergency meeting for all interested citizens, to be held in Shale Hall on the 13th of this month at 1900.
Exogenesis is a 19-player freeform set in A|State's The City. Please note: Exogenesis involves adult concepts and possible trigger material, and is entirely unsuitable for those under the age of 18.
| Pheno ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Characterisation 5 | Genre 3 | Rules knowledge 1 |
| Story/plot 5 | Seriousness 5 | Advisory rating R18+ (Will be strictly enforced) Violence, horror, drug use |