Character Development

The Dragonwood LARP is on hiatus as of March 2019.
    • This is a multiverse LARP — your character may come from any genre, era, or story, or spring solely from your own imagination.
      • Fantasy, steampunk, historical (historical realistic, historical supernatural, alternative history), modern, futuristic, post-apocalyptic, horror! Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, Sherlock, Zelda, Avengers! Asgardian, Olympian, Arthurian! It’s up to you.
    • New members (with new characters) are always welcome and will be incorporated into the storyline.
    • Characters may evolve over time, even to the point of becoming completely different people (or completely different creatures)!
    • A LARPer may have multiple characters and may choose to switch characters during a single LARP.
      • A LARPer does need to give fair notice to the other LARPers before doing so.

The basics of character identity include:

    1. Character’s name
      • The Scribe will not record the true name of any of our valiant number onto the web of the wide world as all know well the power of one’s true name and how that power can be misused to cause one grievous harm!
    2. Character’s abilities or strengths
      • Characters cannot be all powerful or all knowing.
        • Invincible characters are no fun for the other LARPers.
        • If younger siblings join the LARP under the watchful eye of their elders, we will waive the invincible rule for those who are too young to understand the concept.
    3. Character’s flaws or weaknesses
      • Your character’s weaknesses must be equal to your strengths (if not greater).
      • All characters must have a weakness or flaw.
      • Be complete! “Water” isn’t a weakness, while “water extinguishes my fire power for 5 seconds” is.

The well-developed character includes:

    1. Character’s species and homeworld (or home dimension)
      • It’s perfectly acceptable to be a human from Earth, but you could also be a dragon, elf, gnome, alien, etc. from anywhere you can imagine! 
    2. Character’s appearance
      • shape (hulking, willowy, bulging, lanky, etc.)
      • height (knee-high to a grasshopper, 3-feet tall, towering, 8-feet 6-inches, of average height, 5½ feet, etc.)
      • weight (90 pounds, scrawny, gaunt, lean, average, stocky, plump, chubby, 2 tons, etc.)
      • color(s) (blue, iridescent, pale, translucent, yellow with green stripes, red with black spots, etc.)
      • appendages (2 arms and 2 legs, 8 legs and 3 upper body tentacles, 3 legs plus 6 arms with pinchers, etc.)
      • covering (fur, feathers, scales, skin, etc.),
      • age (exact or relative — 1015 years, 10 turns, ancient, youngling, several centuries, just hatched, since the beginning of time, etc.)
      • etc.
    3. Character’s background or origin story
      • Where did you live before coming to realm?
      • What was your childhood like?
      • Have you been an apprentice (to whom)?
      • What previous adventures have you had?
      • Was there a momentous event that has shaped who you are?
    4. Character’s occupation or calling
      • Wizard, magician, mage, mercenary, soldier, warrior, shopkeep, trader, wanderer, reluctant adventurer, accidental traveler, dictator, benevolent ruler, demigod, god, survivor, pirate, time traveler, bard, etc.
    5. Character’s skills
      • Spells, weaponry, and wisdom.
      • Be specific! Details are encouraged.
    6. Character’s general demeanor
      • Shy, imposing, fearful, aloof, etc. 
      • Any mannerisms or quirks?
    7. Character’s psychology, personality, and motivations
      • What are your best qualities?
      • What are your worst qualities?
      • What will you risk your life for?
      • What do you regret the most?
      • What do you most desire to achieve?
      • What is your moral code?
      • What do you fear?
      • Do you have an obligation to fulfill?
      • Are you cursed?
      • Are you a traitor?
      • Do you suffer from amnesia?
    8. Character’s relationships with other characters
      • Friendships, allegiances, grudges, enemies, nemeses, rivals, family ties, long lost relatives, evil twins, bounties, obligations, debts, etc.
      • Is your character with Lord Maul or against him?! Put another way, is your character part of the Resistance or part of the problem? 
    9. Character’s reason for being in the realm
      • Accidentally fell through an interdimensional portal. Came to defeat Lord Maul. Came to join forces with Lord Maul. On vacation. Dropped off by parents. Seeking fame and glory. Cursed by a grumpy pixie. Etc.

Meet our characters!