The roleplay life size , generally called " Nature" size; , or sometimes roleplay “into live” or Semi Reality by the players (current abbreviations: GN, live) is a Roleplay. The players camp there a character evolving/moving in a defined universe, the time of an adventure. With the difference of the theater, the players, know neither the end of the history nor the role of the other players. The history is born from the interaction of each one and with the elements envisaged by the organizers in the scenario.

Description

Each participant incarnates a fictitious character. He will be able to play a part in the Scénario (or Synopsis) prepared by the organizers. The scenario perhaps more or less directing in order to take account of the means and place, time constraints; but more especially according to the style of play wanted by the organizers.

The objective of the roleplay life size is to recreate the environment of the universe in which is supposed to be held the action. For that the players and the organizers can resort to costumes or Déguisement S, Maquillage, Décor S, Accessoire S and special Effets (Pyrotechnie, its and Lumière…).

The behavior of the players and their interactions can rise from the supposed behavior of their character or the application of rule S which make it possible to simulate conflict real situations, Aléatoire S or Surnaturel them. Certain players, close to the organizers, can see themselves entrusting the task to reorientate the scenario in the course of play via roles of Characters Not Players (PNJ) or agonists or antagonists.

This type of play can last between one evening and several days and gather few tens to several hundreds of participants for the most important Manifestation S. In certain forms, the life size can be permanent, the players intercalating of the episode S of play in their daily activities with the liking of the meetings and the course of the play. This last type of play remains however rare, but was sometimes shown finger by detractors of the roleplay and even by certain rolists who affirm that a too thorough practice of this activity could result in being detached dangerously from reality. No study however never made it possible to support these theories, and criticisms towards the roleplay, virulent in the years 1990, tend to be made rarer to refer on the video games more addictifs, effect of mode obliges.

The interpretation of the character (the “roleplay” in Franglais, RP in summary) holds a very important role in a GN, but the material aspect is necessary to create necessary environment (see but the majority of the players get or manufacture material of time (armor S, jewel X, Costume S). When GNs comprise a share of Combat, for obvious reasons of Sécurité, the participants cannot clash with true blades; they use counterparts of weapons in foam or latex (aesthetically happier).

Various types of roleplays life size

The GN can be declined in various topics:

  • Ancient

  • Celtic
  • Contemporary
  • Futuristic
  • Historical
  • Humorous and parodic
  • Medieval-fantastic
  • Medieval Modern history
  • Oneiric
  • Police
  • Post-apocalyptic
  • Vampiric Set of themes
  • Victorien
  • Western
  • etc

The medieval-fantastic style remains most widespread.

There exist several “formats” of GN. “Door-close”, or “ murder-party ” or “evening investigation” gathers ten people over a few hours, one afternoon or an evening, while the largest GN can gather several hundreds of players on nearly one week.

History of the GN

The Roleplay Life size its origins and its operation

When, at the XVIIe century, the Marchioness of Sévigné organized evening-mysteries during which its guests tried to solve the enigma that it subjected to them, it did not suspect that four centuries later, our contemporaries would endorse the costumes of his time for rejouer the one weekend space the adventures of the Three Musketeers or the epopee of the Masque of iron. For these pioneering days where the intellectual exercise and the aspect society man of the meetings took the step on the theatrical side, while passing by various misadventures, the roleplay life size has followed its usual journey quietly. But it is necessary to acknowledge that between the evenings of the Marchioness and the beginning of the year 1960, there was a great vacuum.

An atmosphere very british

It is indeed at that time that certain luxurious hotels of the southern part of England organized the first murder left. Taking as a starting point the novels of Agatha Christie and in an atmosphere very british, they proposed police weekends during which their fortunate customers played detective-amateur without however really implying itself in a role. Actors dissimulated among the population of the hotel (personal and customers) unrolled the screen of a police intrigue in front of the amazed eyes of the participants, who attended more one film species than they did not take really share with the investigation.

At the same time, the American student mediums took as a starting point the news of Robert Sheckley, It tenth victim, which the film of Carlo Ponti made known (in 1965), to create the Jeu of the assassins (also named Killer ). The players took there this time an active share, but the roles remained very summary: that of the assassin and the victim. The theatrical aspect and the interpretation of a character were there too lacking, even if the play corresponded perfectly to the definition of the term life size .

For the anecdote, let us announce also another play of the assassin , who exists for a rather long time: ten players choose one of them and entrust the role of the police chief to him, temporarily isolated of the play. They imagine then a murder, give each other a whole a role of suspect, find alibis for the innocent ones and an index to designate the culprit (generally indicated by drawing lot). Then the police chief returns and the interrogations start. It must find the culprit by explaining how it arrived at his conclusion…

This time, it is the theatrical side which takes the step on the aspect size-nature.

Roleplay

In 1974, was born Donjons & Dragons, the first roleplay on table. On the basis of a rule of wargame with figurines, Chain Email, Gary Gygax invented the concept of the roleplay: some players incarnated the heroes of a medieval-fantastic universe largely inspired of works of JRR Tolkien, in an adventure created and animated by a leader of play. The first outlines of the play proposed simply a shooting party to the treasure.

Then the roleplay evolved/moved and made a better place with the interpretation of the role. The characters became increasingly alive, had now of a past, a psychology, a nature and motivations other than the victory over magic monsters or the accumulation of treasures and objects.

Keeps & Dragons were followed soon by a pleiad of little brothers. The topic generally treated in the roleplays was the fantastic Médiéval, but of other universes were approached little by little: the Science fiction, the years 1920, Gothic horror, the Western, espionage, pirates, to quote only some of them.

First meeting

It is in 1983 qu ' took place the great meeting between the roleplay, largely practiced on table with the four corners of the world, and the plays life size physically implying their participants in real adventures. In England, some people wishing to try out for truth the stories which they lived via their characters around a table, organized the first live ranges role-playing or live action role-play (Larp).

Drawing from imaginary Keeps & Dragons, they endorsed, which an armor, which a dress of magician, proposed with some friends to play the part of the monsters and explored the undergrounds of the old British castles. In these first true roleplays life size, one found all the ingredients of the very famous roleplay on table: obscure corridors, aggressive traps, monsters and treasures. British having a great number of castles in rather good state (they did not have a cardinal of Richelieu to make them shave.), it was very easy for them to find the decoration of their adventures. At the time of these very first versions of the roleplay life size, the interpretation of the character remained very secondary, and the players endorsed only one generic role, giving right various capacities. The warrior received the benefit of a shield, of a good sword (out of foam!) and of many points of life; the robber could locate the traps which the referee announced to him; the magician had some detonators and other gadgets simulating his magic spells, etc

These plays were generally summarized with a train-phantom where the successive teams of adventurers, guided by a supposedly invisible referee, followed a predetermined route, faced monsters, recovered treasures and gained experiment for the next parts (in the form of a greater endurance in the combat or of new magic spells…).

The arrival in France

In 1984, the first roleplays life size made their appearance in France. Two clubs of roleplays on table, one in Paris (the AJT) and the other in Brittany (Strategists & Evil spells, in Nantes) reflect in place almost simultaneously their first GN. The influence of Keeps & Dragons was always very strong but the adventures proceeded this time in forest (a privileged decoration of this kind of leisures). Then the first part of the Call of Cthulhu life size were organized in old manors with the worrying aspect. This time, the Medieval-fantastic left the place with the horror and the years 1920, thus giving a beautiful opportunity to the players to leave the dresses to spangles and the hat-opera hat. The scenarios proceeded in an environment more felted much and fashionable. until the arrival of the supernatural events and horrific creatures characteristic of the universe of Howard Philips Lovecraft. Little by little, the passion of the players of roleplays increased and of many clubs of play organized their roleplay life size annual or bi-annual. In 1985, the first associations (law 1901) specialized in the organization of roleplays life size were created, then, in 1986 - 1987, the first companies with professional vocation.

Evolution

After some gropings, a “style” with the Frenchwoman makes her appearance on arrival of the GN on the French soil. It privileges the character, his psychology, its personal history (the background ), the roleplay , the improvisation and frames the action by a scenario apparently major. In England, and in the Anglo-Saxon world, the action and the system of play with its race with the advantages and the improvement of qualities of engagements of the characters, persisted like a kind of play physical of strategy. Moreover, they joined together already for great events like “ the Gathering ” of thousands of players for giant battles. One can make parallel, altogether speaking it, of these two kinds with the style of French cinema and action film with American. This is not however true any more, because the development of the GN in the United Kingdom precisely made it possible the Anglo-Saxon GN to be freed from the done everything scenarios and the intrigues pre-written to develop the style " player-led" , leaving a greater freedom to the players (notemment in the system

With the beginning of the year 1990, the roleplay life size took its rise and left the confidential medium of the rolists. He knew an undeniable effect of mode and companies proposed it in the form of murder party with their employees, the agencies into event-driven seized the concept.

Of 1994 with 1997, it undergoes a hostile media beachcomber following three dramatic events. Most tragic was the suicide of a young person with Amiens in February 1994, allotted wrongly to the roleplays by the press and television. The rolists had to deal with annoyances, pressures and refusal of authorizations concerning of the buildings or the subsidies. The “track rolist” of the profanation of the Jewish cemetery of Carpentras in 1995, - which will appear false since 1996 - amplified noxious environment against this leisure. The French federation of the Roleplays Life size (Fédé GN) was founded in 1995, before even the appearance of French federation of roleplay on table, the ffjdr (August 1996) in order to represent the Life size and to defend it. Moreover, this leisure had to endure again suspicions with a new business in Spain (Javier Rosado, 1997). It arose, again, that the implication of the roleplay was not very probable.

But since one can note a Net cleansing of the relationships to the public authorities then in the following years with the press, seems it, thanks to the authorities of the federation and certain players who did not hesitate to write books and to require rights of reply. Organizers/trices of arts centres, educational/trices specialized (E) S and other actors territorial present from now on the dynamics generated by these activities in the villages of France. The old generations include/understand the springboard with the creativity that generates as well as the cultural redécouverte and of the inheritance. To use tunics of GN to take part in a traditional festival is one of the examples of enrichment of the territory by its inhabitants.

Since 2005, the activities of GN were professionnalisées: the craftsmen, campings and techniques are diffused. The clans do not federate culture, nation, races, magics… etc, to give appointment in Germany which proposes a vast forest and equipment to accommodate: http://mythodea.de. They were 3000 in 2005, approximately 4000 participants in 2006,5000 people are awaited in 2007 for the largest gathering of GN in Europe.

The GN today

Today, its simply ludic character and good child are finally recognized - many journalists tested, many positive articles, of the reports and even of the plays of TV-reality being inspired some appear regularly in the media.

Moreover, serious research in psychology and pédopsychiatrie, replacing the phantasms, attests of a certain therapeutic utility near the teenagers having difficulty with sociabiliser, the GN can possibly be prescribed by a doctor with the Denmark. Precautions however are to be respected near certain people reached of severe disorders of the personality, as it would be the same for another activity.

In France

The movement of the roleplay Life size takes again its rise in France. The French federation of the Roleplays Life size (Fédé GN) estimates at 40.000 the number of players in 2007. Municipalities again integrate parts of this play in their medieval festivals. Many parts of the medieval-fantastic kind are organized each year in all France. Some astute scenarios make it possible some to leave the closed places, by opportunely using the cultural events like the science fiction film exits like the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter and the cartoons like those of Lanfeust de Troy, the village f4etes and sets of themes, or even the festivals connected like the Sleepless night in Paris. What can explain partly why many players arrive at this leisure without knowing nor to practice Roleplays on table. Since more than 20 years, the Guild of Brittany, " organization of federation of the ludic forces of the country breton" coordinate and animates the landscape of the GN in Brittany. Currently, the largest demonstration in France east the fault , also called the World of the Fault , with nearly 800 participants over several days.

In Quebec

More the great event in Quebec (and in the French-speaking world) is currently Bicolline with its decorations and constructions permanent, extraordinary, and the great battle including/understanding nearly two thousand participants, the whole on an immense surface. Moreover, the Life sizes inhabitant of Quebec often put in scene adventures uninterrupted, i.e. an adventure where the characters are persistent from one event to another, evolving/moving constantly as well on the level of their statistical competences/as on the level sociopolitic of the universe, the whole in more or less open scenarios allowing a great liberty of action and choice to the players.

---- The cultural variables or the size of a country bring a specificity to the groups of GN of Quebec and here are the notable characteristics: the groups know each other all but associations are not federate because of a competitive culture. One also notes, because of attraction of the video games, a générationnelle deficiency and thus a lack of renewal. Because of an identity search and of its historical relations with the old continent (it is as that which they indicate Europe that they imagine old), the members of its associations carry out historical research very thorough. The craftsmen are numerous and they are professionals very appreciated such as Anuska. The Gothic fashion is curiously amalgamated with the universe vampire. Most worrying remains real confusion between " fantastique" and " historique" near the general public. What increases the extremes in the medium of the GN.

The principal repertory Web of the Québécois life sizes and the Québécois craftsmen working in the field is the Page with Melkor ; this repertory includes the medieval-fantastic life sizes, the life sizes “contemporaries” (with paintball for example) and the Roleplays on table.

In Belgium

The landscape of the GN in Belgium is different according to whether one is interested in Dutch-speaking or French-speaking associations. In the North of the country (Flanders), where one speaks the Dutch (or Flemish) it has there only very few associations (2 or 3) of big size and which in general organize many activities over the year. In the South of the country (Wallonia) and with Brussels, where one speaks especially the French, associations are very numerous (several tens) and of small size, and organize only some activities (even only one) per annum.

The majority of the Belgian clubs organize their activities around the principle of countryside. The scenarios of each activity are dependant between them to form the history of the countryside, and they thus divide a common universe (history, geography, company…). The characters players, and certain characters not-players, are re-used of episode in episode. In general, each player creates itself his character, whom it will be able to make evolve/move activity in activity. The interactions often oppose characters players and characters not-players (characters not-players comparatively numerous).

Let us specify however that some associations also work on the principle of the in one-shot or " theater aventure". Each activity is single, the roles of the characters players are written by the organizers who distribute them to the players according to their preferences. The interactions often oppose the characters players between them (few characters not-players). Two activities organized by the same club can be completely independent one of the other, or divide the same universe (but while being located in a space or a different time).

In 2000, several clubs (mainly French-speaking) meet around a great project: to create an national event intended for all the players of Belgium and adjoining countries. The event MISADVENTURE is born in 2001, partially inspired of other large events, like Bicolline or. The success of this organization offers opportunity of creating the Belgian Federation of Roleplays Life size, which will re-use initially the name MISADVENTURE, for then renaming " BE Larp". The federation gathers the majority of the clubs of Belgium, but is turned towards the French-speaking clubs.

MISADVENTURE is at present the largest event of Belgium, and is always organized by the federation. It is a life size of the type med-fan (medieval-fantastic), supporting the interactions between players. MISADVENTURE, is triple acronym of “Another Life, Another Time, Another Reality”, " nl Andere Vrijheid, Andere Tijd, Andere Realiteit " , and " in Another Come, Another Time, Another Reality " , respectively in French, Dutch, and English. MISADVENTURE joins together approximately a thousand of participants every year, at the end of July. These participants come mainly from Belgium and France, but it is not rare to cross other nationalities.

Methods of manufacture of weapons of GN

Insulator with pipe/Stick of PVC

Simplest, the least expensive but probably the least esthetic. The reinforcement is made up of a PVC tube, and two layers of insulator with foam pipe are stuck around. The whole is covered with gray ribbon sticking ( duct slap ) for an effect which approaches steel. This weapon is inexpensive but potentially dangerous if it breaks, the pieces of PVC being likely to be in the shapes of points, however to limit the damage a layer of duct slap stuck directly on the PVC pipe will make it possible to limit the glare of the dangerous remains.

It should be noted that a good number of association of GN prohibits this type of weapon for questions of security.

Foam/Latex

It is the most popular method. The reinforcement is then made up of PVC or a glass fiber stem (often of the stems of brushing).

The carbon fiber stems are proscribed because very dangerous when they break (splinters and projections). Different types of foams are used; the majority of the players use blue groundsheet for the camp-site, but certain players choose specialized foam ( plastazote or évazote ). Three thicknesses of foam are stuck around the stem, using adhesive contact (neoprene), then foam is carved for the completion. The sculpture can be made with a soldering iron, by taking guard with the harmful vapors.

For the completion, several layers of latex are applied to foam. There exist three methods of “latexage”: with the brush, by steeping or pulverization (rifle with air). The color is built-in the last layers of latex (acrylic painting). A current easy way consists in coating the end product of Talc, to give him a “metal” appearance and to protect it from the rain. Silicone in spray can also be used to protect the weapon. It lengthens its lifespan, returns less the weapon sticking and waterproofs surface.

Foam injected/expanded Mousse

Technology of creation of latex weapons introduced in the neighborhoods of 2005. Instead of sticking foam plates on a glass fiber stem, foam here either is directly injected around the stem in a closed mould, or cast and expanded in a bipartite mould. This method requires more material and time what makes it inaccessible enough for an amateur but it gives weapons definitely more resistant and realistic while ensuring a certain standard at the level of the weapons. This technology would make it possible to manufacture weapons with shaped quasi real but the esthetism is, in the case of the GN, somewhat sacrificed so that the weapons are sedentary for all, including young people.

External bonds

The roleplays life size are generally organized by association S of players. In addition to one possible annual contribution, a participation is generally required at each session in order to cover the expenses of mouth, the possible lease of the places, the Assurance S and the purchase of the accessories and materials.

National federations exist:

  • the French federation of Roleplays Life size (FédéGN in summary) (http://www.fedegn.org)
  • the Belgian Federation of Roleplays Life size (BE Larp) (http://www.larp.be)
  • the Federation Camarilla Frenchwoman (Vampire: The masquerade only) (http://www.camarilla-fr.com)

Directories of specialized players:

  • the directory of the players of Roleplays Life size (French-speaking people) (http://www.annuaire-des-joueurs.com/fiche-Jeu-de-roles-grandeur-nature.html)

List detailed of associations:

  • the sites of the federations give access not only documentation on the GN, but also lists of local associations.
  • repertory DMOZ with the vocation to count all associations (http://www.dmoz.org/World/Fran çais/Jeux/Jeux_de_rôle/Grandeur_nature/).

* Wikipédia not having vocation to be a repertory, this page does not publish a list of local associations. Please refer to the sites of the federations, or DMOZ. (See also the page of discussion.) *

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