Objects, relations, empathy

Designer: Lloyd Smith

Number of participants: 6–12

Duration: 3 hours

The presenter feels that this larp IS suitable for young people aged 16+

About the larp

So you’ve stumbled across this LARP description, buckled by the temptation to choose to participate, but how do you decide? Decisions, decisions, decisions. But I’m just gonna go for it, what’s the worst that could happen? But what if I don’t like it? I can’t get that time back. But we learn through our choices right? I’ve just gotta go with my gut. Is it even my choice anyway? Am I autonomous?

Get Bandersnatch out of your head, this isn’t quite that vibe. PAWS ON PERCEPTION is for those curious to delve a little deeper – to listen to those internal dialogues. But you’ll need to go on an outward journey of illusion, imagination and play to get there – with some trust support from your ambiguous object relations.

In a time not-so-distant from whenever, you will undergo a not-so-surgical procedure that allows you to perceive completely from somebody else’s perspective. A truth detector if you will. The choice is, obviously, yours though.

Content Warnings: The LARP could lead to players exploring introspective themes that may be triggering. There will be a briefing before the LARP to explain this and to consistently remind participants that they can stop at any point. There will also be a de-briefing at the end and possibility of speaking in a 1-to-1 format.

There will be a workshop before going into the LARP to help build the engagement and themes of the LARP. There will also be a short break in the middle of the LARP.

Costume (optional): There may be a request nearer the time for players to bring an object or selection of objects of their choice.

Presented by

DUNNO: I’m still pretty new to LARP – a baby, if I should say so myself. But as D. Winnicott says “there’s no such thing as a baby.” My experience has been informed by involvement in a number of different group design process and experimental workshop style series of sessions leading to either a LARP/game/interactive performance/immersive theatre piece. I’m excited to present and explore a LARP influenced by some of these experiences, in parallel with research interests in my contemporary art practice and trainee psychotherapy practice. I’m particularly interested in performative behaviours, the power of illusion, alibi and metaphor at getting closer to a self-truth and actual ‘true’ perception. This feeds my decision to currently be studying on an MA Art Psychotherapy. Although, as my pseudonym name suggests, I’m not the most decisive of people.

Parameters

Physical contact	Light contact; touching hands or forearms
Romance and intimacy	Demonstrations of affection; e.g. hugging, holding hands
Conflict and violence	Themes of conflict, but not enacted by players; e.g. quiet threats and vengeful stares
Communication style	A combination of talking, being silent and potentially making noises using the voice or objects
Movement style	Walking
Characters	Players build their characters around a predesigned skeleton or archetype
Narrative control	Players have some influence over story, but there is basically a script or structure that they’re within
Transparency	Transparent design, but players can create secrets during play and keep them from each other / reveal them when wished
Representation level	Scenery and props will be used to make the play space look something like the fictional space
Play culture	Players are individually trying to achieve goals, such that not all can succeed
Tone	Moderate

Saturday morning, Studio 1