In a boffer larp, monsters are easy to handle as a player - hit them until they stop moving. But when your storytellers send out NPCs… sometimes things go a little sideways. Maybe an NPC meant to promote roleplay turns into a joke, or an NPC provided as a “hook” doesn’t spark interest, or the players just can’t figure out how to engage with that political NPC. While it’s the responsibility of the storytellers and the people playing the NPCs to make them compelling, larp is collaborative, and we all work together to make the game fun and interesting. So how can you help NPCs show you a good time? Here’s a few specific tips (and a couple warnings) to help you make the most of the NPCs you meet.
Do - Try to “get” something from the NPC
Conflict creates drama, and drama is good for role-play. When you talk to an NPC, ask yourself “what do I want from this person?” This isn’t necessarily nefarious - maybe you want to take care of them, or trade with them, or maybe you just want company. Figure out a reason to engage that involves a personal motive. “What do I want?” is the answer to “why should I talk to this NPC?
Don’t - Quiz the NPC on lore
The person playing the NPC might be new to the larp, or maybe they just got a brief talk to prepare them for play. Don’t assume they’ll know a bunch of details about history, religion, or economics. Asking them detailed questions about the world might be immersive when it works, but it puts the portrayer on the spot and can often fail. Keep your questions relevant to the here and now… what’s currently happening in the larp.
Do - Ask the NPCs about how they feel
Instead of quizzing an NPC on their personal history, forcing them to make up stuff on the spot, ask them about their personal feelings. This could be questions about their personal opinions, or something as simple as “are you hungry?” Asking them open-ended questions that don’t have a “correct” answer lets the portrayer “yes, and…” much more easily, and allows them to flesh out the NPC as they talk to you.
Don’t - Treat the NPC like a plot device
The NPC may very well be a quest-giving plot device… but that’s not terribly interesting for you or for them. If a portrayer was told to provide players a hook, don’t worry, it’ll come out. Instead, try to treat the NPC as another character with whom you want to have a conversation. Let them guide you to a point; the more casual conversation before you get to the point, the more satisfying it will be for both of you.
Do - Talk about yourself
When an NPC enters the world, they’re there for you: this is your chance to shine. This is your chance to make an impression on a character who’s there to pay attention to you. Introduce yourself to the NPC, and talk about what’s important to your character. If the NPC has something specific to do, they’ll get it done, but if they have the time, this interaction could help define your character.