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©1998 by Matthew Strumpf and Mark Christopher

This page last updated Tuesday, 06-Sep-2005 12:28:16 EDT.

Role Playing News

News:

• Forgotten Realms Play by Mail
  
• Live Action Role Playing
  
• RPN is on the Web
  

Forgotten Realms Play by Mail

Greetings and well met to all brave adventurers who have opted to take part in the soon to start FORGOTTEN REALMS AD&D play by mail. This is your DM saying, 'Time to create your characters!' for the Realms await your adventurers! The first turn will be at the end of this month. SURPRISE!

Player Races: Human, 1/2 Elf, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, and Gnome. Absolutely NO Kender!!!!

Elves (These are the more common names): Gold (High Elves), Silver or Moon (Grey Elves), Green (Sylvan Elves), Sea (Aquatic Elves), Drow or Shadow (Dark Elves).

Each has it's own advantages which you'll have to ask me about if you decide to play an elf and I'll help you put the elf together.

Deities are going to be very important so I have sent down to Milt and Matt a copy of the Gods or Goddesses of the Realms. Elven, Drow, Dwarven, Halfling, and Gnomish deities are available on request. Please send with your first turn a copy of your character, a description of your character's physical appearance and personality, clothes typically worn, equipment carried, etc., so I can describe it to my other characters.

Further, I ask 5 simple favors:

1. Please send an S.A.S.E. with your return.
2. Please type or neatly print your turns (type preferred).
3. Make 2 copies of your character, send me one.
4. Keep a journal in character for my reading and for RPN. I have found that later reading these is an interesting experience and helps players and DMs improve by seeing how the characters react to the world in which they live!
5. Have FUN damn it!!!!

I hope you will enjoy your journey into the world of the Forgotten Realms and look forward to hearing from all of you.

Swords part
Elminster the Sage
Any questions:

Keith Wilson
89 Beach Road
Salisbury, MA 01952
(508) 463-0156

Live Action Role Playing

Five months ago, I was introduced to live action role playing. Some friends of mine invited me to join in a White Wolf[TM] Vampire Chronicle. I had recently developed an intense interest in vampires after reading the Vampire series by Anne Rice, so I was excited about the chance to be a vampire for a night. I was converted to the point of view that role playing has more dimensions than a table top in that single event.

I became the character of Jasmine, a member of the Tremere clan, and a loyal follower of the chantry (the haven of the Tremere, also their base of power in a given city). Not only did my position entitle me to some power, it also allowed me to become one of the hunted members of the chronicle over the course of the event.

The advantage to playing the character in the LARP was that I had the chance to become Jasmine in my style, not only on paper, but in the flesh as well. I developed her appearance and speech and I actually had the interactions with other characters during the night. I was no longer just the name and person on the character sheet, I was Jasmine. And I enjoyed the experience so much that I went back a second time as Jasmine. That was the night I was truly destroyed, but I had a great time. Now I'm looking forward to another LARP later this spring.

Live action role playing gives you the ability to have more depth and feeling in a character than a table top game can. Not to say that table top gaming isn't conducive to character development, but physically it just doesn't have the same impact as challenging your enemy, face-to-face, in a darkened hallway. The rush of adrenaline is much stronger as you engage in combat when your enemy has a physical presence.

Live action gives a much better sense of the rules in a gaming system because the impact is felt directly on the actions. It also allows improvisation in a manner consistent with reality. The best part is that everyone generally likes the live action because you are a player, not just a spectator. I recommend live action role playing to anyone who currently enjoys table top role playing games and to those who are interested in learning about role playing.

RPN is on the Web

Role Playing News has its own web page. If you are on the internet, check it out. The pages include past issues (currently only the last issue) and complete series.

To reach the RPN home page, point your World Wide Web browser to:

• ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/ty/typo/rpn.html

Editor's note: As you might guess, since this issue, RPN has moved a few times, it also has been given a new look. RPN is located at:

• http://www.shore.net/~typo/rpn/