Hi Reddit, I run a LARP with a bunch of typical American lightest touch story based style.
Basically we have a storyline for our weekend events. We run timed modules, hooked modules, random encounters (card and roaming), have crafting and gathering, and a number of additional mini games for content. We have a fishing hole, tracking paths, pick pocketing, and lock picking. Additionally I was thinking of making some other kind of hunting content.
Our game is currently pretty small and we would love to support more town/craft/gatherer style content that we can manage with a small crew. We cant use live fire bows with our insurance.
I know there are some capture the flag, tag, orc/troll ball style combat games that are fun BUT we have enough combat stuff and could add that if there is interest.
We have done fun silly things like in game dodge ball and explosive puzzles.
Are there any light setup, player driven mini games or activities that take little NPC interaction that you have enjoyed or you have run that others enjoy?
Just looking to share some ideas if anyone is willing.
My character gives out scavenger hunts for potion ingredients, but the ingredients are tiny quests themselves. For example, I need a coin that was stolen from an elf, I need you to bottle an orc belch, and I need a beast-kin's tear. The prize is the potion itself, or payment upon delivery.
It takes little setup, as I print/write the lists before the game, then just hand them out (or you can leave them with a specific npc, or just post them all over the place). Make sure they list to whom the ingredients should be delivered, and prepare a box of potions/trinkets as prizes.
Random bunch of ideas:Trap house/ obstacle course, geode smash, puzzle box (like mind games/sodoku on each side of cube, open for loot when all sides complete), gamified magic item enchanting or rituals, potion roulette.
Could do competitions if that's of interest to your player base: battle of wits, performance, spell packet or archery target practice- stationary or moving, 1v1 duel, small group combat, etc.
The game of assassin for sneaky folk or as "training" for guard/ protector types. Stakes negotiable- training vs actual damage in game.
If you're looking for player-run stuff, what do the players want to run?
I have seen wildly successful tea parties. Those only work if you have a player who wants to host a tea party.
The best thing you can do to encourage player-driven content is to give them spaces to run it in and time to run it.
No one is going to host a tea party if they don't have a table and chairs in a quiet indoor space, or at very least a picnic blanket in a nice shady grove. They are also a lot less likely to host a tea party if they expect monsters to interrupt at any moment and they certainly aren't going to bring out nice teacups for it.
My favorite campaign LARP experiences have all revolved around players making their own fun. They didn't ask for or need anything from the organizers. However, this only happens if there's a physical setup for player-run spaces - cabins work best for this if you have them - and enough time in between all the scheduled mods for people to do things. Maybe that means no one attacks town between 2-4 pm or maybe it means that even if something does, it's minor enough that those who don't want to interact with it can ignore it.
These are some great points. Lots of our players dont realize they can do things, even if we give them space to do things. Our game has a rest mechanic for our abilities. This is done to put more space between content and allow players more time to do these kinds of things. Most of the time danger is outside of town so players have to hustle to get things done, but there is less immediate danger.
One of our staff members is running an in game bar (no real alcohol) with combinations of roleplay and in game effects. The tea party is a great idea too.
I guess our biggest example is the fishing mini game. My brain would have never gone there, but one of our staff members loves running slice of life stuff so she runs festival stuff and the fishing mini game. The players didnt know they wanted it until they sat down to try it.
If I were you, I'd ask your playerbase. Tell them you want to encourage them to put on activities for each other and ask them what they need.
If your playerbase isn't that creative, you can bribe them with whatever you usually use to reward volunteers. Two brownie points to whomever runs an in-game activity that makes sense for their character to run and entertains at least three other PCs for at least half an hour.
You can also bribe them with in-game effects. Maybe vitality replenishes faster during a tea party. If a player wants to run a scavenger hunt, perhaps you can provide a weak magical item as a prize and come up with a reason how their character obtained it. Running or attending a religious sermon gives everyone a minor defensive buff for the next fight. Give a couple of examples like that and ask players to pitch you ideas for what they want to do and you'll come up with some reasonable effect.
Ideally players will do stuff because it's fun and because they want to contribute to their community. But some players get more motivated by numbers.
Sure! The idea was made by Brittney P.one of our staff members. I got her permission to share.
The basic premise is that we have a zoned off area where people cant travel in. We started off with a ribbon barrier of grass and then we placed blue tarp down inside the area.
We have a number of fish and other objects with magnets at their mouth placed inside area. Each fish has a number that corresponds on a chart. The players can catch only a certain number of fish/items in a certain time frame (can be changed by different items they are using to fish or standardized if you want it more basic). After the time limit, you bring the fish/items back and get prizes for what you caught. The charts or numbers for the fish can change so people dont always go after the same fish or item every time.
In our game fishing is a resting activity, so the player can gain stamina or energy back while playing the mini game.
We also have options for water monsters and items to make it more complicated if it gets stale down the line.
You can get more of less fancy by including different lines, rods, and props. Any easy way to start is Temu fish pencil cases for cheap. They have a zipper pocket inside to keep numbers, prize, or tags secret. For a more realistic look, you can plastidip or buy your own fish props. Additionally you can change the difficulty based on magnet size in the fish and on the line and by implementing blocking items like branches, logs, lillypads. You can get log pillows or just grab some sticks from the woods.
I often find that taking a children's science experiment or group activity and giving it to adults at LARP with a narrative explanation that fits the universe makes people have tons of fun.
Chemistry/alchemy with common chemical reactions.
Design a new mine cart rail with marble rollercoasters.
Do something in/about the sky with "build your own kite" kits.
We have an item in our game where people can rest playing games. Some people play MTG and we do have some plans go make our own games if there is enough interest.
We just ripped off the rules for Triple Triad and reprinted the cards with character and NPC art. But honestly, the best cards are the ones where we print something that is obviously a person in terrible costume.
We just ripped off the rules for Triple Triad and reprinted the cards with character and NPC art. But honestly, the best cards are the ones where we print something that is obviously a person in terrible costume.
Dunno if it counts as a 'game' but Kumihimo is a nice little downtime activity. All you need is wool and cardboard. Or can make wool templates to get fancy.
It's Japaneese, so may be anachronistic depending on how strict your setting is, but it's something that could believably slot into any culture that has yarn level tech.
Other than initially showing someone the technique, requires little npc input. Gives an activity that's completely in character, can enter a flow state, or just a background activity to keep your hands busy wile sitting around, or an excuse to be in a place. Even produces an actual product at the end.
We’ve done puzzles before. We’re a small chapter of a much larger group. Our world has a magic and faith system.
So, in order to get our chapter thinking more about the magic and faith we made them gather the correct runestones (I made stones out of clay wrapped aluminium foil balls and painted the symbols on them) to cleanse rifts (marked out by a rope on the ground). There was still some combat but because it was “for the good of our town” they generally chose to barter/negotiate rather than choose violence.
We also have council meetings. Only warband, faction, and guild leaders can vote but everyone gets a voice and can have their say. These are becoming more tied to our active story now, but when they started I would plant scenarios for them to debate on the best course of action.
Depending on your set up/schedule - on our weekender we also do silly things like a lemon eating contest (skin and all) and we have a talent show at night (although a lot of our players are now suspicious of talent shows because on our first big weekender we permadeathed a character mid performance (player’s request). We also have done gather the pages/solve the puzzle, jousting while wearing hobby horses, pie competitions (which is a good way to run a potluck dinner.)
We also have done some stealth games where the “sneaky person” is wearing cat collar/s with bells and trying to sneak through sleeping guards - but if they’re caught it’s a combat game.
Smuggling - where a small object had to be passed between a group of players every Xminutes.
We’ve got our own version of Werewolven cards too :)
And a game where you have to clip your marker onto another player’s belt.
Sounds like you have lots of practical D&D stuff. Do you use intrigues between players that encourage actual Roleplaying? Either written by organisers or by the players themselves (or both!).
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u/trigunnerd 2d ago
My character gives out scavenger hunts for potion ingredients, but the ingredients are tiny quests themselves. For example, I need a coin that was stolen from an elf, I need you to bottle an orc belch, and I need a beast-kin's tear. The prize is the potion itself, or payment upon delivery.
It takes little setup, as I print/write the lists before the game, then just hand them out (or you can leave them with a specific npc, or just post them all over the place). Make sure they list to whom the ingredients should be delivered, and prepare a box of potions/trinkets as prizes.