Hiya,
I've heard mention that Mayfest have invited/allowed Dragon Lore characters to come along to their system...
So I thought I'd make some inquieries on that front.
Firstly: Would going along to Mayfest require any conversion from "our" rule system to "theirs", or does everything just work the same in both systems?
Secondly: Could someone (or, indeed, anyone) who has gone along to Mayfest give me bit of a feel for what it's like?
Things like how the events are structured, what the attendence numbers are like, PvP or Players Vs Crew, what the quality of folks role-play tends to be and that kind of info are all importaint.
I've only ever wandered along to a single fest event and found it very tedious with about 50 players who all seemed to know pretty much what was going to happen when (at least in general terms), about 4 crew (which meant fights were just stupid), many people who just didn't bother role-playing at all and, tediously, a point where half a dozen players all turned up and told me they were going to kill me (and then changing their minds when they realised I was new to the system and didn't have anything worth looting).
I'm keen to avoid a repeat of a weekend standing around a wet field being very bored, but do want to give fest style LRP a second chance...
_
Pete
The rules between the two systems are very similar - some characters will transpose over beautifully - some will actually be more powerful within the mayfest system.
There IS a DLL faction going to mayfest
Email me if you would like info!!
We've been to Mayfest and Augfest and love them both - Mayfest being the biggest numbers wise. Ill let Dave post more about the fests though as they are his babys
All I can say is we thoroughly enjoyed it and are looking forward to this years events
Buffy
Mayfest,is a festival type event as the name suggests. the website like is
http://www.themayfestsite.co.uk/ It has lots of good info on it.
Again, it is a family friendly event. Totally under canvas, but LOTS of fun. Yep we will be there, fighting the good cause
Things like how the events are structured,
events occur twice a year - mayfest and now, recently, augfest as well. events are in 'festival style celebrations' - lord of lands hosting a fayre etc. somehting goes wrong. something needs to be resolved.
long story arc which is not at all necessary to know but can be picked up if so desired. very enjoyable format. very simple but can be more complicated if desired [ie i want a multi class characetr who can research...]
what the attendence numbers are like,
have been to eents where there's 75, other events where theres 125. generally numbers between this range, dependant on people's ability to get time off work usually as quite reasonably priced [mayfest is non profit family organised event and therfore very good on pocket, unlike major larp events which are now almost double price of mayfest - £40...?)
PvP or Players Vs Crew,
both! there is a requirement to monster [if possible] at some time during event so each group of people [factions] can have a major battle/quest etc. If people don't want to monster that is also fine [ might have young children, unwell, not into monstering, new at larp etc] but it is highly welcome to monster - and great fun too!
pvp - faction battles, war even? assassinations, trading, discussions in midle of night - all of this! and then chuc in the npcs and you get a great event - reactionary plot as well - rather than strictly linear.
what the quality of folks role-play tends to be
extremely high - from both kids and adults alike - i've seen an arrow fly through a melee battle and hit a rival archer, someone spend 2 hours standing still because they were paralysed and some fo the best wenches in town. i've been going for about 10 years now and thoroughly enjoy every time. yes it is canvas and yes the weather can be unreliable but the comradry of the event keps it going.
mayfest is yo get out what you put in - i've seen poeple stand around wondering why nothing is happening for them to suddenly realise that there was a huge battle happening in the next field. he grabbed a sword and ran! [towads the battle i hasten to add!]
plot hapens as much as you want - some people go and just enjoy the atmosphere, some are neck high in clues, hanouts, severed fingers from corpses and loot...
great for the newb or seasoned roleplayer but it is not for the 'serious' roleplayer - the person who metagames and wonders why the ref is not there immediately with lots of handouts and an immediate answer as to where the tracks lead [from someone elses plot].
it works well because it is family friendly, has a good horror element in the late evenings [sometimes], has a good team and crew who work hard and is non profit.
if yo want fun, wellorganised but slightly chaotic reffing, with excelent landscape and variable areas to roleplay in, mayfest is for you.
[if you want epic battles and 300 peole and faction leaders to only tell you something because you have status and are the best buddy ooc with the ref then maybe not - try cp or lt.]
Mayfest was my baby - then it became my toddler and is now a wayward junior!
Mayfest was started for families and folk on low income (like students).
Its numbers have varied between around 50 to 250 (too big!).
We would like the numbers to be about 150 as this is a good size.
Standard of role play? Most folk are better than me!
Standard of costume is generally pretty good through to excellent.
Size of monster crew? 1 to (number of players less 1) at any time.
For the majority of skirmishes etc there tend to be as many monsters as players. Most folk take a turn or three at monstering and the teens, especially, enjoy it.
Standard of monstering - generally as good as or better than most events I go to.
Plot is run on a number of levels, is reactive to what players do rather than proactive - i.e. forcing the players to 'follow the script!' This leads to occasional panic in the command area as the plot is swung into an entirely new direction but so far the panic has gone no fiurther.
Yes! I run it along with a dedicated team and assisted by virtually every player there, so I am bound to say nice things about it. So believe me and book in the whole family and a load of friends!
Mmm... Sounds good.
Certainly you've managed to whet my interest.
Will have to look at dates, travel time and so on, but am fairly keen.
_
Pete