Over the past several years, I have seen a meme circulating in the D&D community on Facebook that some may find funny, “When the DM smiles, it’s already too late.” While it may seem harmless, I’ve seen this toxic “us versus them” mindset carried into LARP. We’re always on the lookout for it at Myth because we don’t want it to poison the fun of the game.
In games like Dungeons & Dragons, the Dungeon Master runs the game and has a lot of power over the players by deciding what works and what doesn’t. Similarly, at Myth, the director guides the story created by a team of over twenty writers. The writers have considerable power, balanced by a diligent team of Executive Directors who read and approve storylines that follow the game’s plot guidelines.
When the players see the writers and cast as an adversary, it can lead to them trying to “win” Myth. They may try to exploit loopholes in the rules or argue whether their actions should succeed or fail. These disagreements can lead to ruining the fun for everyone involved.
Furthermore, if new players come to see the LARP staff as an adversary, they may be hesitant to join a game where it feels like they are constantly fighting against the person who is supposed to be making it fun.
Myth’s directors and NPCs are not out to get the players. Their assignment is to create a fun and engaging game for everyone involved. While they may create challenging obstacles for the players to overcome, they are not actively trying to make the game harder than it needs to be. They are simply creating a collaborative story that everyone can enjoy.
We hope our players see our directors and NPCs as collaborators trying to make a fun and engaging game for everyone involved. By working together, everyone can have a great time playing Myth. See you at the fun!
