Finding Plot (Part 1 of 2)

Do you see other players “chasing plot” or finding themselves in the middle of exciting events, and think to yourself “I want to be involved with plot, how do I do that?” Maybe you haven’t found a plot that speaks to you. Or maybe you have, but you always seem to miss it when it comes onstage. Or maybe you’ve felt like plot was kept from you - more on that in a future post. As for this post, here are some tips on how you can find and engage with plot, and feel your character’s impact on the game world.

Defining “Plot”

I’ll be honest, I dislike the term “plot,” and I say that as the principle person responsible for creating it at DR: SoCal. I greatly prefer “story” to “plot.” To my ears, “plot” sounds like what an author or screenwriter does during prewriting - they plot out what will happen. In LARP, we don’t have a single author, and we don’t know what will happen until it does - that’s the beauty of it!

For the purposes of this blog, though, let’s define “plot” as the subsection of story that relates to Leading Characters’ interactions with modules, with Casted Characters, and their influence over the offscreen elements that frame the game world.

Okay. Putting the soap box away now.

Plot Awareness

To engage with plot you first have to be aware of plot. Alert! (Okay, it’s a bit more complicated than that - but not as much as you might think). If you’re a new player, a returning player, or just recently becoming interested in plot, you owe it to yourself to read through the Setting & Story section of our website and recent Game Recaps so that you can get the broad picture. It’s a lot easier to pick up on plot once you start to recognize the names of important people and factions. Don’t worry about absorbing all of it - find the bits that speak to you, and learn those. You can allow your web of plot knowledge to grow from there.

Ask Around

Another way to become aware of plot is to ask other characters what’s going on. Players who are invested in a plot usually can’t wait to tell you all about it. Asking other people about plot has the added benefit of creating ties between your character and theirs. Just be aware that a character’s understanding of plot may not always be accurate or objective. Characters have viewpoints and biases (and Fractures!) or limited information, and even minor miscommunications can amplify over time (the “LARP “telephone” effect). The best way to account for this is to get multiple perspectives, preferably from characters in different social circles (which has many other benefits, too!)

If you’re not sure who to approach about a particular plotline, look for any of the Gamerunners. Our characters are Supporting Characters, and we can point you in the right direction to learn more.

Write Letters

You can attempt to send an IG letter to any story character or faction just by dropping it off at the post office, free of charge. Not all story characters accept mail or send replies, but the Ops Guide will still receive it, and this helps pass valuable information OOG to the story team about what players are interested in. It doesn’t replace a formal Action Request, but it does create a trail for the story team to follow up on while the game is in progress.

Check the Bullet Board

The “Bullet Board” / windows of the post office often have postings from Ops about plot events that are either scheduled or ongoing. Admittedly, sometimes we post a “fetch quest” or the like to keep players busy and maybe put a few Tickets in your supply bag. That said, major plotlines have sprung from less. If Story is promoting a thing by posting about it, it’s at least worth keeping an eye on.

Sign Up for Mods

We post RSVP Mods on the Monday before game, with signups opening that Wednesday. This gives everyone a chance to plan their weekend around certain events. Some mods have capped attendance, or require certain skills, but many do not. RSVP Mods are usually linked to one or more plotlines, so you’re finding plot just by signing up and showing up.

Give Feedback

We’re always looking for feedback on how to improve the event experience. What are your thoughts on finding and engaging with plot? Let us know by filling out the Event Feedback form, or by getting in touch with your local gamerunners.

Next Time

Now that you know some ways to find existing plot, next time I will discuss how you can request new plots, and some ways to engage with plot once you find it. Until next time, survivors, see you in Hell (Dorado)!