Hi guys! As a former Vampire storyteller for EC, I noticed something; some players are more used to a table top setting than a LARP and could probably use a few tips on how they differ, and how to make a satisfying character in a LARP setting.

First of all, if you're used to a table top game, realize a few things: In a LARP, there just isn't time for a few Storytellers to tell personal stories to every player in a 50 to 100 hundred person game every night, so the players with good characterization and diverse goals and backgrounds will still be role-playing the night away while those with less well developed characters are waiting for direction from an Storyteller when they could be role-playing. Of course there will always be times when an ST is needed, but by making your character as self-sufficient as possible, you'll be able to assure that 90% of the time your character will have people and things to see and other vampires to screw over more often than not.

These aren't requirements to a good character by any means, but I've found that they are things that some of the best role-players I've met commonly do. They're things I have done in the past too and have met with a lot of success with. That's to say nothing of the 'one shot' character's I've played that ended up somehow lasting months and months, but sometimes you have to make your own magic, so here are some tools to do just that!

So here are my Supah Cool Happy Excellent Tips for Zany and Lasting Enjoyment.
(Or SCHETZLE for short.) The top five things to keep in mind when creating a character for this, or any other Live Action game. Enjoy, and good role-playing.

THE TOP 5

Start Simple

Start with a basic concept, a combination of a few characters you liked from books or movies, a twist on a villian, and maybe a general philosophy or goal. Consider characters that are interesting characters, rather than characters that are good at particular powers. Powers should compliment your character, not be their focus. A dedicated occultist is fine, but one dedicated to 'getting all the Paths at 5' is really not going to make for an exciting RP experience.

Have a Goal or Two... Hundred

Decide why this creature has decided to live on. What keeps 'em going in the long long long nights? Does the character want to eventually attain Golconda? Rule the entire west coast? Discover the cure to vampirism? Shatter the veil between the spirit world and this one? Find a Legendary or Holy Artifact? Destroy the empire of the Ventrue forever? Have more than one goal - a Secret goal that drives your character on, one that might never be able to actually be accomplished, and a gazillion little simple goals to further your master plan. Your character may never achieve their ultimate goal, but who cares! You'll always have something to do and everyone will wonder why you've just commissioned the Brujah to get you 54 identical steel rods with lions etched into them placed in specific Thrift Stores throughout Seattle. Make the steps to complete your character's master plan diverse and the kind of undertaking that would take years to complete. Allow people to foil your plans too, even if they don't know they have. Revenge will be sweet, and they'll never see it coming!

Write a Background/Timeline

Once you've got a basic idea of who your character is and what he thinks about the world, start him off in a period of history you've always wanted to know about, and find out a little about it! Then think about what your character's role in those events was. How did they get through the Roaring 20's? what did they do during WWII? Where were they when Kennedy was killed? When the Berlin Wall fell? Read a book about that period. Get on the internet. Know something of the history that your character came from in the countries they would have lived in. What did people think about war, love, death, politics, etc.. in the time where your character 'grew up' as a vampire? What kind of thechnology was your character used to using? Catapults or tazers? Tanks or wagons?

Have Friends and Enemies Before You Ever Walk in the Door

Connect other character's histories with your own to provide a sense of continuity! Who were the important Kindred and mortals in the character's life? What happened to the character's sire during all of those ages? Who taught you about the Masquerade? Who taught you how to feed? What clans do you hate? distrust? feel honor bound to? feel comradeship to? Who in SBC is playing one of those roles? Ask them if they'd like to be a part of your character's history. It will enrich both of your backgrounds. Also, if someone wants to use you as a contact, ally, arch-enemy, hook-up or whatever for their character, get involved! You'll start out ahead of the game if you're in it before you do a stitch of role-playing.

Make the Character Come ALIVE...er Undead!

Some of the best actors can walk in and play a character for several minutes, and sometimes even hours before you go... "Hey, isn't that (Insert Name)? I didn't even recognize them!" Don't be afraid to use accents, walk differently, blink less, stand differently, have nervous ticks, shuffle, raise eyebrows, rasp, sing, crack your knuckles, dangle a toothpick from your lips or do everything you can to make your character unique. Actors call this 'business' and it's the details that make characters really come alive. You can actually borrow tapes at the library for free on how to have an authentic Russian, English, or even Yiddish accent. Actors use them all the time. Dress the part too! Taking time to climb into the suit and tie of your Ventrue will really make you feel like you're getting into character one oxford sleeve at a time. Ink that sharpie tattoo to your Brujah. Apply that face goo to your Nos. Do whatever you can to create a full and complete character and others will respond to that by wanting to role-play with them. Everyone wants to be in a scene with a good actor!

That's it! Hope these tips helped. Follow even a few of these and you'll be well on your way to becoming a better Live Action role-player.

Good Role-Playing;

Written by Chris Schetzle - 2 time former Head Vampire Storyteller