Hey all!
Myself and my siblings are looking at attending one of the Empire events this year (probably E2/E3) and it would be our first LARP event.
After much research into themes and looking at specific interests that we have as players we became divided between Navarr and The League. Navarr is due to the kit and camp, its a really simple to obtain but effective looking kit brief that we have seen and we could get several outfits together fairly quickly. League however grabbed our attention due to the use of masks and the unique style, we collect masks and currently have cool skull themed masks being made for us (Don’t ask, great but random purchase), but with this comes the issues… Leagues kit seems to be a little harder to obtain with it being the very specific style and the cool masks we have arriving may step close to other players current themes (I’ve listened to a few podcasts and done enough research to know the Crimson Reapers exist… and I’m sure they don’t need an impostor group ).
My question is should we as new players stick to a nation like Navarr or should we risk the higher entry point of a nation like The League?
If you avoid black and red then you won’t look like Crimson Reapers.
Please could you show a pic of your masks? I’m intrigued.
I play a League banker from Holberg (greatest city in the world). I love the vibe of the League and chose it for my first character. I would consider which nation feels right rather than worrying about meeting kit requirements. A feather in your hat, rings on your fingers and a mask at your belt would go a long way. Many League players wear jodhpurs, a collarless granddad style shirt and then a tunic/doublet.
As Wake has pointed out, there’s a lot of variation and budget options in the outfits for all the nations (and folk put plenty of work into their kit in Navarr when they have the time/money/expertise, I assure you).
The photos you’ll have seen are not the average kit, they tend to be some of the best kit, assembled over years, with pics taken by professionals. Assume they’re the high end
A lot of basic kit (shorts and trousers, boots and belts) can be used in different nations, with accessories to add flash and nationality.
You’ve got a good few months before the events you want. Choose on the basis of nation, and then build a kit to that.
The League is also a smaller nation than Navarr, so may be easier to get started and learn your way about in.
And don’t worry about being an imposter group. I play in a black/gold group in Dawn, as distinct from the black/gold group in Highguard, as distinct from the black/gold group in the League, or even the other black/gold group in the League. Frankly, having another contingent that you get mistaken for can and probably will lead to all sorts of entertainment…
This is the mask we have arriving, even if we dont settle on the league we have other uses in mind for it and thank you for the advice, does your banking background effect how you play/rp?
Firstly I promise I wasn’t attacking Navarr in that way the kit I’ve seen from Navarr plays is some of my favourite (seeing some of the photos of navarr kitted up for battle… terrifying and amazing), was purely just coming from a place of what I have found in RL that suits the brief more.
Secondly your story of the black and gold and advice given is funny and helpful thank you! Put me a bit more at ease with the idea of it!
Those do look great — somewhat Cthuhu-esque, and not like anything I’ve seen in the field.
I’m a banker and trader in character
In real life I teach research methods and statistics to psychology students and support PsychoPy (psychology experimental software), mostly on a discourse forum.
There are traders in every nation, but I particularly like trying to react to/influence the in-game economy, interacting with a network of traders across Anvil. The League is the only nation with public auctions for some of its titles (though the Brass Coast does have something similar). (I currently hold one of these titles)
Yeah we fell in love with that aesthetic and hopefully can translate well to either Empire or one of the other projects I am looking at.
Oh that’s very interesting, never thought of Empire having actual in character banking at the event! Thought it would have mainly been a backstory thing but really cool and interesting that it’s an actual thing. Public auctions? Can’t wait to find out more haha
Oh yes, there is a working in-game economy with all manner of shenanigans.
(The in-game money is little Copper rings, larger Silver crowns, and golden Thrones. Ratio is 140:8:1 for in-setting reasons)
There are folks pooling funds, setting up group ownership of major assets, offering loans, running small banks… above and beyond the expected small scale trading and occassionally hiring of stuff. Major national and imperial assets are held on short-term contracts, and auctioned off, which raises money for imperial armies and projects… it all goes round and round.
Not an area of game I’ve been interested in, but there are quite a few people having fun as medieval trade princes and bankers.
(a previous game by PD had 4 different currencies, and people making fortunes on the exchange rates… which I think is a step too far )
In the trading game the phrase “it takes money to make money” holds true.
I’ve used banking to use other people’s money to make money (out of which I pay interest). I came up with the idea for perhaps my third or fourth event. It also creates interesting RP connections by being someone’s banker.
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and thank you for the advice, does your banking background effect how you play/rp?
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