Non-Player-Characters (NPCs) and Playmakers
NPCs (non-player characters) can experience just as intense and exciting game play as (free) players. Though they have a fixed set of rules for the appearance, behavior and history of their roles. You help the organizer to bring the intended plot to life, set the framework for the players and provide the desired atmosphere at the event. That is why we are gradually starting to call them “play-makers”. Because through their own play they make the game possible for others.
The largest group are the battle-intensive NPC factions (Undead Flesh, Black Dynasty, Skargen)
Read on to find out more!
You can find information on the player-friendly NPC factions with a less combat-intensive roleplay (Tribes, Guilds, Atteron, Sarkan, etc.) here:
Player-friendly NPC factions
Background and Style
Extensive game manuals and style guides tell the story of the NPC/playmaker factions and explain how we imagine the appearance of a member of the respective army or group. We always start with the minimum required. Based on this, suggestions or ideas for expansions of the concept are offered.
Costume
In LARP every character wears a costume that fits to the setting and represents the background of the character. For example, a mage often wears long robes with ornaments, while a knight wears armor and a tabard. For you, this means that when creating the costume or robe, you should keep in mind the corresponding character and story. You can also start with the costume and then design the character’s story. Perhaps it’s best to remember that it’s your costume that’s the first thing people see about you. What kind of first impression do other participants get of you? Is this the impression you intended to achieve?
Keep in mind that objects or materials that do not fit into the setting should not be used or covered up. For example, a plastic raincoat would be disturbing in a medieval setting.
Plot
Every story has its plot. In LARP there is a starting point from which the story begins and then further develops. The actions that players perform and the decisions they make have an impact on the course of the game. The consequences are usually recorded in the plot of the event. The NPCs are our guiding actors of this story. There are guidelines about what can and will happen, but how the story unfolds is basically up to the players and their efforts.
NPC-Armies
Battle NPCs are a central element of one of the most impressive aspects of ConQuest – the huge battle simulations with several thousand participants at once! If you are one of them, you play for the story, for the experience of the players, and to enrich the whole setting with your presence and play. Battle NPCs are tireless, great “supporting roles” that help turn players into heroes and provide them a counterpart for their game. The threatening, adventurous scenario would not be possible without them!
They go on patrols, they fight in battles and they enliven the IT camp of the NPC factions. Their game is for the players and participants, they don’t take cling to the center of attention and instead set the stage for the big picture.
When you are not on “duty”, you can choose to have a real OT break or continue to roleplay in a more relaxed way. Eager participants are of course allowed to jump into other roles and go even deeper into the story. This can be specified in a questionnaire in advance or decided at the event. Of course it is important to have enough break, to eat, drink and sleep so you are ready for new battles and plots. In order to make this work, there is a schedule plan.
The OT NPC camp is usually out of sight of the players and therefore does not need to be camouflaged. It is also allowed to have cooking utensils or sleeping places that look completely “non-ambient”. If you want to contribute to the IT camp as a battle NPC, please contact us – we are happy for each and everyone who wants to do so! This is still quite new, so please contact us directly (regie@mythodea.de).
Playmakers
Playmakers are exactly what the name suggests: it is their job is to “make” or “push” the game along. They are NPCs who act as guided player characters, as they dedicate their entire game to the goal of the plot and the event. How they do this in detail is up to them. Playmakers transport plots, quests and atmosphere. They are the supporting roles to the players, or sometimes the enemy factions, whom you can hate with fervor. They are the damsel in distress, or the great sorceress from whom one can learn. You are a mentor or servant, a failed knight, or a queen who makes the right – or exactly the wrong – decision, depending on what the deepest, best, most dramatic, or most exciting experience brings out in the participants. Outside of the game, they always know the goal of the event and help the players along the way. If possible, they play in a way that automatically pulls participants along and provide what is needed for other players to find their way into the game. They also experience deep emotional moments with the participants within the game, which makes their task particularly fulfilling and exciting. Both playmaker himself, as well as for everyone around him. They invisibly direct the action and ensure maximum immersion, i.e. the setting in which the participants’ game takes place.
NPC Factions
The Skargen
The Skargen are an army of northerners, which incorporates both historic and fantastical elements. They are also the newest NPC army of Mythodea! The Skargen are mostly blue and petrol colored. As a Skargen, the Skargen collar is an obligatory garment element. Think of dark, mysterious Vikings when you think of the Skargen!
Information about the Skargen can be found in the Facebook group (Die Skargen – Eine Mythodea NSC Fraktion) and via mail (skargen@burgschneider.com).
The Black Ice
The Black Dynasty, formerly Black Ice, is the oldest NPC army at ConQuest. Dressed in black and blue, the Black Dynasty often marches into battle heavily armed. The Black Dynasty will experience interesting changes over the course of the campaign!
Information about the Black Dynasty can be found in the Facebook groups (Essence of the Black Ice, Mythodea NSC) and via mail (schwarzeseis@burgschneider.com).
The Undead Flesh
The Undead Flesh
The Undead Flesh (German short UF) is a kingdom that has become undead. Stylistically, the UF is based on England around the 12th and 13th century with a portion of fanatical, undead fantasy. Imagine undead knights, soldiers and peasants in dark colors. Make-up is a must, as are many broken layers of clothing and rusty armor.
Information about the Undead Flesh can be found in the Facebook Lairdom groups (Silent Hill, Corpsedale, Barrenbay and Flowerfield, Mythodea NSC) and via mail (untotesfleisch@burgschneider.com).
How to join an NPC faction
Buy a NPC-Ticket from the actual batch at https://skald.com/
From spring you can register your NPC-Tickets for a NPC-faction and Unit your choice soon:
1) Log in to your account at https://skald.com/.
2) Now you can select the tickets individually under “Tickets” (dropdown menu top right), select one of the NPC-factions and Units with “Pick Location” and confirm “Select”.
If you don’t have an account yet, create a new account at https://skald.com/ with the e-mail address you used to buy the tickets.
If you have any questions, just send an email to info@skald.com.