Overview

Valhalla requires a high level of player participation to create meaningful story. In a LARP which features interpersonal conflict, to do this safely requires a baseline level of emotional maturity and social awareness. We have provided guidelines and tools below to ensure players can communicate effectively with one another.

Upholding the Core Fantasy of the LARP

Valhalla LARP is about individuals who have volunteered to serve as vikings aboard the spaceship Fenris, collecting resources and information to help keep everyone aboard alive. This is the set of facts all players must agree to. It is expected for characters to have complex, even conflicting feelings about this.

However, this is a LARP driven by collective goals. A character who refuses the call to adventure, actively works to undermine the mission objectives, or acts as if they don’t exist, creates a frustrating experience for everyone. While Valhalla features competitive elements, it is ultimately a collaborative effort to craft intense and exciting stories with each other.

Roleplaying Mechanics

“By the Gods!”

If you need someone to tone down the intensity of roleplay or combat, or back off entirely, give a hearty “By the Gods!” to let the other player know to take it down a notch.

The Horns

To propose an in-world truth, make a statement or ask a question while making the following gesture: 🤘

For example: “Remember that time we hijacked that Daihachi hover-dozer and drove it into a ditch?” or “Marigold has plenty of experience with matter recycling systems.”

To accept the proposal as truth, respond in the affirmative. For example: ”’course I remember that! I also remember the sergeant throwing us in the brig after.”

To reject the proposal, answer in the negative or say “By the Gods!” For example: “Just because I’m an engineer doesn’t mean I know anything about matter recyclers.” Another example: “By the Gods, I would never do such a thing!”

The Horns are not strictly required to propose an in-world truth, but they do make your intentions clearer.

Be Kind, Rewind

If players are unhappy with the outcome of PVP, provided everyone affected is in unanimous agreement, they may rewind the action prior to the point of conflict (regain spent resources, lost health, etc).

If the involved players are not in unanimous agreement as to whether to rewind a scene or not, please use the grievance procedure as outlined in the Safety Guide.

Bailing Out

If you need to leave an RP scene for personal safety reasons, go OOC and, ideally, inform the other participants that you’re leaving. Saying “I’m bailing” is sufficient. Bailing out is an OOC action and must not be used as a basis for in-character consequences. If you bail out of a scene, please notify a member of Staff as soon as you are able.

VERUM

“VERUM” is a keyword used by Staff and only by Staff to express that a statement is to be taken as truth, or that players should follow instructions. Examples: “VERUM: please clear the walkway,” or “VERUM: the forest is safe, you don’t detect any threats there.” Consider it the word of God, so to speak.

Staff may also use this keyword to privately compel players to make truthful statements. If another player overhears the answer they should consider it OOG information and roleplay accordingly.

Roleplaying Etiquette

Always React

If you get hit, react accordingly. Make a sound, shy away, or otherwise make some physical indication that you did indeed get hit or took action to avoid the strike. If someone yells “Kaboom!” or walks into the Great Hall covered in fake blood, respond in an obvious way. Failure to do so is considered “no-selling” and makes it harder for others to feel comfortable roleplaying around you. When doubt: err on the side of drama!

Stay In Character

Avoid discussing OOC topics in in-character spaces. OOC talk often cascades into groups of people chatting OOC, which can ruin the experience for others in earshot. If an OOC discussion takes more than a few seconds, move to a private area.

“Yes, and…” and “No, but…”

These are stock phrases used by improv theater, business folks and roleplayers alike to facilitate consensus-building.

In the context of LARP, it means accepting proposals by other players (such as with The Horns) to create story and adding to them, instead of reflexively replying with a hard “no”. In the above examples with the Horns, the affirmative answer builds on the story, instead of just saying “Yes, of course.” In the negative example, Marigold might improve their response by adding “But I know a guy…” and give the name of another character whose player might be interested in that bit of roleplay.

Respect Others’ Property

Don’t touch or move physreps (e.g., boffers, blasters, etc), or OOG items belonging to other players without their explicit consent. You may not abuse this rule in order to create an unfair advantage, eg., placing a tagged Shield on top of an item.

Apologize

You crossed a boundary you didn’t know was there, you bonked someone’s head with your boffer or packet, maybe you accidentally moved someone’s personal belongings. These things happen. Everyone makes mistakes. Apologize and move on.

Dishonorable Conduct

Staff and other players may identify certain acts as dishonorable. While not IC illegal or against the OOC rules, acts such as murder, stealing, lying, attacking an opponent who doesn’t fight back, or reneging on agreements are regarded as dishonorable. This is a signal to the player in question that they’re acting in an anti-social way, which may result in IC consequences.

Player Versus Player

The Anchor NPC’s Favor can be fickle, and there’s only so much to go around. Vikings are expected to compete for Favor, for resources and opportunities. Consider: what kinds of things are you willing to fight over? What kinds of inter-character conflict would not be fun for you, out of character?

As a player, you have an obligation to know your boundaries and speak up when they are crossed.

You are strongly encouraged to check in with one another periodically to ensure there are no OOC hard feelings about IC actions. If you’re not sure how something landed with another player: ask them. If you experienced PVP and are unhappy about it: speak up.

See the Safety Guide. for details on managing player-player disagreement.

Next: The World of Valhalla