For people who don't do maelstrom (yet)

[redhillian]

The original message here was written by oxfordgirl (happy birthday by the way), and posted by flannelcat. The long version is under the cut.

Many of the role players we know attend a four-times-yearly game called Maelstrom. It's a "fest LARP", meaning that it's a flexible, large-scale game with about 900 people role-playing (and singing, and fighting, and drinking) in a field for three days. Compared to other fest systems like the Lorien Trust, it's low-combat, high-kit-standard, high-immersion roleplay. And it's pretty as all hell - check out http://www.disturbing.org.uk/images/lrp/pd/ for some of the shiny kit and set dressing you might expect to run into.

It is also (in my humble opinion) the most fun you can have with your pants on.

Even better news, if you fancy starting it out, the first event of this year is set to be obscenely cheap. The existing Maelstrom players have just each received vouchers which allow them to get new players a £15 discount on their first event ticket; with the extra £10 drop from a student card [or other concession], that means that the first event will only cost £20 if you talk to one of us nicely. Plus, as an Easter event, it's a four-day game.

(Also, for each of those vouchers that gets used, we get a discount on future tickets too, so I'm more than keen to let you hassle me for the voucher if you're interested :D.)

The official website, with system, setting and event information is here - http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk . If there are several new people interested in starting at the same time, it's well worth considering starting as a shared group concept - groups tend to have more fun (and more effect on the world!), especially at a first game, than independent individual characters. Brand-new groups at their first game have created some of the most fun conflicts and projects I've seen in the world so far - particularly uni groups, for some reason.

Alternatively, if you're looking for someone to hook up with, there's a message board thread here: http://forums.rule7.co.uk/Topic13609-37-1.aspx which details existing groups which are actively recruiting members. (It's quite long, so check the last few pages for more recent info.)

Please do email me if you need any advice or information on the game from the perspective of an experienced player - I'm more than happy to toss kit and character ideas around. Plus, I have plenty of Maelstrom contacts I can put you in touch with if you're looking for more in-depth advice about playing a particular race or culture. I could froth about this game for hours, so it's no trouble :).

And don't be scared by the game, either - it may look very big and impressive, but you honestly don't need much experience or money at all to have fun; a decent set of minimum phys rep costume doesn't need to cost more than £10 (maybe £20 if you're playing a non-human), many of us have plenty of gear we can lend you, you really *don't* need to be able to fight well [here flannelcat adds that "I've gone nine games now and been in precisely three fights for a total of approx. 60 seconds of combat", and the out-of-character atmosphere is universally friendly and welcoming.

The first event is the 21st-24th March, and the cheap booking deadline is the 10th Feb (after which you have to pay extra).

There's also an excellent report on a much earlier Maelstrom event on the Oxford RPGSoc website, here - http://users.ox.ac.uk/~rpgsoc/nf35_3.htm .

Happy hunting, and catch me by email, livejournal comment or in person if you need any more info!"

Also: as _uncle_john_ points out in the comments, don't worry if you can't do Easter - the vouchers are valid for all the games this year.



Of course, most people on my friends list do Maelstrom, but for the few of you who don't...

Comments

[auriol.livejournal.com]

Completely OT, but would I be right in thinking you are something of a Landrover afficionado? One of my unit (rayvanna on LJ) has posted about potentially buying a series 2, and is looking for advice. Could you help her at all? The post is: http://rayvanna.livejournal.com/79502.html

[kurenai-tenka.livejournal.com]

<3 Much love for Maelstrom.

But wait, 4 days now? Is that including the pre-event drinking night?