View topic - On theories - Which form of chaotic play is LARP...

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On theories - Which form of chaotic play is LARP...
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unmortal_mind
Boot

Joined: 18 Apr 2007
Posts: 58
Location: Washington DC

On theories - Which form of chaotic play is LARP...
Chaotic Fiction, Chaotic Theatre, or both?

On the Meta thread on Chaotic Fiction, there is a discussion of differences in Chaotic Play and a distinction between what could be classified as Chaotic Fiction* versus Chaotic Theatre.

This leads to interesting philosophical questions:

Could CF be used to describe other forms of Chaotic Play?
(If so, how would the continuum be described?)
Can LARP be described as a form of Chaotic Play, where the curtain is extended to include the audience and certain Architectural** elements?
How do you treat Chaotic Play with a finite history that can be re-interpreted (with every run) or an evolving persistent history?

I will post a little later on, my thoughts on:

How the axes of Chaotic Fiction could apply to LARP
The question of the curtain and if you are inside the curtain, does TINAG still not apply?

*Spacebass' article which provides a definition to the axes of Chaotic Fiction

** Spacebass's article on The communication dynamic in Chaotic Fiction

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:52 pm

unmortal_mind
Boot

Joined: 18 Apr 2007
Posts: 58
Location: Washington DC

Chaotic Fiction Axes as applied to LARP (or Chaotic Theatre)

1st Axis: Authorship -

To quote SpaceBass:
"This defines who has more control over the development of the fiction, the people who produce it or those who engage with it."

In a broad sense, this could apply to chaotic theatre (and LARP).
For example,
A typical "Vampire" game (Axis -> Audience):
The narrative may be more defined by the actions and plotting of the players than the grand motif of the GameMaster/Storyteller.
(In fact, the genre encourages plotting by the players)

A Theatre-Style Convention-based game or a "Host a Murder Mystery" Event (Axis -> Architects):
The narrative may be more defined by the character writeups crafted by the GMs, with the players embodying a persona.

3rd Axis: Coherence -
"This refers to the amount of plot exhibited in the fictional construct." (Spacebass)

I'll address the Ruleset axis in a moment. However, as noted in the Undefining ARGs article, Coherence does have a relation to Authorship.

Narratives with little to no plot will be more reliant on audience authorship.

For LARP, this can also be distinguished.
A game organized by the Camarilla Fan Club will have a significant amount of "plot", especially given that it's part of a network of games across the globe, with a control hierarchy pertaining to narrative elements.

Other LARPs may veer toward "participatory drama". You play a character with a modicum of history but the narrative is a more emotional act. The story focuses on how each character's emotional and personal journey and is derived from the actions and decisions of the player.

2nd Axis: Ruleset -

As noted by Spacebass: "What I refer to are the restrictions the authors impose upon the framework in which they present their campaign and the amount of the campaign itself that has been planned in advance."

As I understand this axis, it focuses on the narrative and the framework for which the narrative is presented and acted upon.

In some degree, LARPs have had this axis defined for years.
It is how we distinguish between an episodic/campaign/chronicle-oriented LARP and a "one-shot" or Parlor LARP.

Parlor LARPs have a pre-defined narrative.

The narrative for a Chronicle or Campaign LARP will be hashed out in episodic arcs.
Often times, such episodic arcs will require continuous adjustment based on the actions of the player.

4th "unofficial" Axis: History -
One can make several arguments as it relates to the axis of "History" and it's relation to narratives.

Do reviews of an interactive narrative (virtual or live) constitute archival evidence?
Can an interactive narrative a persistent gameverse where each chapter is built on the previous, and establishes an internal gameverse archive?
What if the narrative is an ongoing continuous activity?
Does replayability change the evaluation of the construct?

Thoughts?

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:04 pm

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