Answering Questions

So, after reading the introduction, I'm sure you still have a million things you're wondering about. That's fine. There's a lot about the game to grasp, and I didn't want to try shoving it all into one post. Over the next few days I'll be posting more details about the setting that should give you a feel for what the game is like, and give you a better clue on what sort of characters you can create. For now, though, I'd like to answer a few questions that might be on people's minds.

Why Changeling?

Dunedin has had five consecutive ongoing LARPs now, and each of them have been Vampire in one form or another. So why the change? A few reasons. I've co-run a vampire game before, and while I would hardly say I've exhausted any ideas I have for that setting, I'd much rather explore something new. Also, I just really like Changeling as a setting. But the real question is, why not do something different? If someone ran another vampire game I'd be happy to play in it, but there's a great variety of settings out there and it's about time we gave them a go.

But of course, the question still remains, why Changeling? There's numerous reasons, but the main one for me would be that I feel it's suited very well for live-action play. There's a huge variety in the stories you can tell with Changeling, and it can accommodate those different stories within the same game. Want politics? It's there - there are four Courts, each sharing power amongst each other yet with different goals and ideals. Want intrigue? There'll be numerous secretive plots, all weaving in with one another. Want adventure? There's an entire other world out there to venture into. Want drama? Changelings can easily have twisted personal stories and difficult pasts. Want horror? There's otherworldly beings who are out to get you, not to mention what other changelings are capable of. Want action? There's bound to be fights, and you're not stuck just fighting each other - there are plenty of creatures that threaten you and your allies. Just want to sit around and have fun? You can do that too. I'm very interested in making sure the game can accommodate the types of stories people are interested in. Don't think that just because the premise is grim you'll be forced  into wallowing in despair or constantly running for your life.

It also allows a great variety of character types. The idea of playing faeries (or part-faeries) might not appeal to some, but the important thing to understand is the game's interpretation of the word Faerie extends to just about any creature from folklore or mythology, and even things beyond it. While in Vampire you were largely restricted to being a vampire, with clans to differentiate you, Changelings are a very diverse lot. You can be a walking corpse, a cunning faun, a large stone man, a living painting, a talking shadow, or just about anything you can put your mind to.

Finally, while it's a different game, it's still World of Darkness. There's still a level of familiarity there, and that makes it a much easier step to take. So then, the other question is...

Why the 1930s?

For a start, it makes a pretty good Changeling game. With the great depression in full swing, it's very easy for people to vanish, it's very easy to have a secret group of supernatural beings living their own mini-society, and it works well for a game about people working together to survive. Also, given that every Vampire game I've played in has had someone with a character involved with gangs, I figure people will appreciate a game set in a time when organised crime was rife.

But the main thing that I think makes it work is that it gives players another aspect to latch onto. With a new setting, it's entirely possible that even after I post all the character creation information people just won't know where to begin. Having a distinct time period gives people some tropes that they can work with in coming up with concepts. Then, once you have that starting point, you can begin looking at the Changeling stuff and picking what suits your character best.

Also, I think "Fae Noir" is a cool genre.

Anyway, I just wanted to get those two things out of the way. Stay tuned over the week for more information about the setting, as well as times and dates for when all of this is coming together.