What is "LARP"? It stands for "Live-Action Role Play", a game where you'll be playing as your favorite anime and manga characters. Hundreds are available for you to play! The game will run the course of the convention, featuring an overarching plot and scheduled events, so you can attend as much or as little as you like. LARP is not a cosplay event, meaning you do not need to be in costume to attend. You don't even need to be dressed as the character you'd be playing. But if you want to, you're more than welcome to!
ZenkaiLARP is played using the Nexus game system. An informational meeting will be held early on Friday of the convention about game mechanics, and the LARP staff will always help show you how to play! Check your schedule for meeting times. If you have any other questions, feel free to send an email to larp@zenkaikon.com. You can also join our Facebook group, where we'll have information, and updates leading up to the game!
While character pre-registration is closed for our 2018 LARP - you can still join in at the convention! Just come anytime on Friday from noon to close, or on Saturday morning from 10AM to noon, and you can register there.
Theme: Aliens and Test Subjects
Alien:
An alien is a non-terrestrial life form that has distinct aspects that differentiate them from an average human. So, a 'standard human' from the Star Wars galaxy (like Luke Skywalker) would not count, but a Sebacian/Peacekeeper (of Farscape), Kryptonians, Ultramen, Jaffa (of Stargate), or Mork from Mork and Mindy would as they have aspects of their biology that render them distinct from humans. Alien half-breeds are acceptable if they meet similar criteria, as well as 'culturally' being more alien than human. Ergo, Spock from Star Trek is acceptable because he has green blood and exhibits multiple abilities that a Vulcan normally has, and aspires to the highest aspects of Vulcan culture. However, Peter Quill/Star Lord in either comic or movie form is not because what 'special abilities' he has required extremely specific circumstances to activate and he considers himself human first and foremost.
Test Subjects:
A Test Subject is a character who has had scientific things done to them intentionally by others. Test subjects are often early versions or prototypes of things that are later mass produced. So the first of a series is good, but latter models are not. Self-experimentation is not accounted in this, as those characters are scientists first and foremost. A simple example would be Captain America and Frankenstein's Monster are acceptable but not Spider-Man or the Hulk.
How to Pre-Register Your Character
So with that, email the following to larp@zenkaikon.com:
- Your real, full name
- Your top three character choices in the order, 1 to 3, of who you would like to play.
- How much you would like us to mess with each of those characters on a 1-5 scale, 1 being very little and 5 being LOL all the messing with.
Please remember, we GMs are only Human. We will do everything we can to accept any theme-based character but there are limitations, based on the character and how they will scale to the system or plot, as well as limitations of our time if none of us have watched/read/etc. what this character comes from. We have the last say on if we believe a character is acceptable or not.
First Teaser
An unknown location. Seven aliens look down upon an area below them.
“Isn’t that the species that rips their opponent’s arms out of their socket during the last experiment?”
“Yesss. They did poorly in that experiment, but let’s see how he does in the Cube. That will truly test their value.”
“They're not /bad/ but I found the ones who worshiped heights to be the most interesting. I can appreciate their tastes.”
(A muttered “of course you would” can be barely heard.)
“Well, /I/ liked the logical ones the best. Slow, but efficient.”
There’s an eye roll that follows. “Needs a better sense of humor, though.”
“I heard there’s a new batch coming in soon, several will be from that planet… what’s it called?”
“Oh yessss, Dirt, was it?"
There’s a confused, surprised sound. “They did /terribly/ the last time they were here! I thought we had given up on them!”
“Our scouts said it’s time to re-evaluate them. They’ve stopped sacrificing each other to ‘invisible beings’.” Complete with a sarcastic tone.
A heavy, somewhat angry scoff follows that statement. “I still think we should have annihilated them when they started feeding people to the lions.”
“We don't annihilated species. We aren't like /them/.” The voice is cross and sharp in rebuke.
“We need the most indicative examples of their species otherwise it's all a waste.”
The aliens look slightly ashamed of whatever ‘a waste’ might mean, but they clearly all understand what it does.
There is some sniffing, then, very excited, “Lunch is here!”
The other aliens quickly perk up from their moment of contemplation. “Oh, lunch!” and begin to shuffle out.