Hi Keys,
I’ve had a similar starting experience with Empire, only making one or two events per year and never there for time-in on Friday due to work, lots of trudging loops of Anvil where I felt I was getting nowhere. Though I’m feeling like I have turned the proverbial corner at long last (fingers crossed, touch wood and all that) so hopefully some of the following waffle might help. Mostly this is advice that I should have taken sooner.
OC responses aren’t typical in my experience but they can really stand out, sadly. Styles of roleplay do vary though and the sheer number of people in the game means lots of variation. It also means there’re almost certain to be people with a similar style to you somewhere. Finding it can be like panning for gold, admittedly.
For direction, the Imperial Offices have already been mentioned but Senators often need assistants if you’re up for taking a supporting role for a bit. Tracking them down isn’t always easy but watching a senate session from the gallery might find you someone who seems worth helping, even if they’re from another nation. The IC drinking places are sometimes looking for staff too, which is a chance to strike up conversations with punters while you serve them; not every character will welcome the approach but I’ve lucked out a few times with a, “How’s Anvil treating you?”
Visiting the other nations to see their spectacle events can be a useful passtime too. You might find something particular there that grabs your attention and your character might even consider changing nation.
If you go to battles, finding the healers and guarding them will almost certainly earn you some IC friends. Should you like the way they roleplay then ask to visit their camp afterward. When monstering, roleplay like you’re a full character and see who joins in - they could be people worth getting to know too. If you don’t do the battlefield, take the opportunity for a lie-in or have a wander around your nation, try for conversations with the other people who’ve stayed at Anvil.
Player-run PD-sanctioned events are a good deal smaller than a summit at Anvil and usually have a defined purpose. Not something I’ve tried myself but I have read of several people starting at one during the two-year dark, getting to know a goodly number of other characters while there and then finding their niche rapidly once they’d got to Anvil proper. If you can find one that appeals (there’s a thread for them here: Empire Player Events 2022/2023) then it’s worth considering attending, even instead of a main-event ticket in my view, when you’ve been having less fun than we’d all wish for you.
Attending E1 has pros and cons.
Cons: The weather has a higher chance of dampening your mood if things aren’t going well than at E2 or E3. Ticket price is higher at this point. Often there’s more mud than other events. There’s less time to make online contacts if you’re so inclined (see below).
Pros: Everyone is finding their feet again together after the off-season, there’s less metaphorical running to catch up. Groups can also be more welcoming to random lone bodies in need of a campfire, and there is a certain amount of OC camaraderie in enduring the weather together if it does turn foul. Plus it gives you upto three other events left in the year if it leaves you wanting more.
Who knows: There also tend to be fewer players attending than later in the year; this can be a curse or a boon to finding jobs that want doing or particular characters, circumstances depending.
I would suggest trying to make contacts OC when the IC approach is letting you down. At the event, Player Support is at GOD and can radio an Egregore if you can’t find one and as Geoffrey said, helping you into the game is their OC job. Between events, ask online for groups open to having company (accept all offers, make a list and use it to fill any aimless time in the field) or that are actively recruiting. The latter bit assumes that you don’t have a banner/coven/sect yet or could do with a different style of one (and the rules allow for joining one of each simultaneously). The facebook groups seem to get more recruitment traffic than this forum but it’s pretty common to see posts on those pointing players here for any number of topics. Player Support are available between events too; new.player@profounddecisions.co.uk is a slightly misleading address, as they are there for existing players just the same.
And maybe we can help you here in the thread. What are the most appealing aspects of LARP to you? What bits of Empire grab you most? Have you tried any bits of Empire and thought “Nah”? Which nation is your character in? Do they have particular Ambition(s) at present? How would you describe your preferred roleplay? Can you give us any example of authentic IC engagement to illustrate what you’re after?