a) Trust and Techniques

Description

The first exercises together are meant to create trust between the participants and offer them space to learn the basic meta-techniques. This part of the workshop is about creating a safe space for everyone. Game mechanics and rules, such as energy balance, will be explained later in the group exercises or interludes.

Brake

• If someone says “brake”, the scene is de-escalated without ending the game.
• It is fine to talk about it later with the person who said “brake” by asking for a conversation with “By the colours…” to renegotiate the way of playing the larp together. However, this is not compulsory.

Cut

• When someone says “cut”, everyone in the scene stops their play. Everyone means everyone who has heard the signal word.
• If someone breaks off a scene like this, you should briefly discuss what they need. You can talk now or arrange a conversation at a later time. It is up to the person who said “cut” whether they want to talk about their reasons or not.
• If there is a need for discussion, please contact the organisers or one of the safety contact persons.

Escalation

• It is important to remember that the “initiators” are responsible for taking things slowly and paying attention to cues from the other players.
• The “addressees” are primarily responsible for non-verbal refusal (e.g. through hand gestures in-game) or the use of the safety words “brake” or “cut”.
• It is important to know that the roles of the escalator and addressee can change during a scene.
• Do not start an escalation if the addressees have their backs to you. Always maintain eye contact.

Escalation exercise

The participants now practise an escalation once, which they are to de-escalate with the help of “brake”. Form pairs who take turns playing the roles. Ask them to act out the following scene:

What kind of scene?

• As an in-game reason for leaving a scene, you could say, “By the colours of the light, I need to lie down”.
• If you don’t want to leave the scene but there is a reason for discomfort, you could say, “By the colours of light, are you Terrans always standing so close?” to alert the other person that you want a little more distance.
• Leaving a scene or even the game completely is perfectly fine if you need a break.
• All players are responsible for withdrawing from a scene they do not want to see or be a part of.
• It is, again, the responsibility of the players to ensure that it is not difficult or uncomfortable to leave a scene should this be necessary.

Then ask all participants to express their Lines & Veils. A Line is something that should never be brought up or played out within the larp, while a Veil ensures that an action or event takes place, but rather “off-screen.” That is, it may be mentioned in passing but not played out in detail as an essential part of the plot. As there may be very personal reasons for Lines & Veils, ask participants to write their Lines & Veils on slips of paper (provided beforehand) and put them in a collection box (approx. 5 min). Then read out the Lines & Veils without comment.