Conventions are not the sum of gaming.

From: bjm10_at_cornell.edu
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 17:13:41 -0400 (EDT)

Convention LARPS are one-offs. Thus, a very out-of-character character could be explained as "having an off day". The situation becomes tougher on a regular basis. Likewise, convention LARPS have a fairly selective sieve--those people who would take time to travel, spend money to attend, such a convention and even pay for the privilige of playing in the convention LARP.

Tabletop gaming is a different world, especially in towns and small cities.

I've played in non-convention LARPs with simplified rules. Guess what--the problems that people worry about DO occur. High-powered clueless characters DO damage the game if permitted and that high power includes the presumption that the characters are somehow definative of norms and mores.

Thus, we have your prognostication vs. my direct experience.

Of course, if "Rune Level" merely means "the town's baddest-ass guard dogs", then it's not as bad as it might sound. However, if "Rune Level" is presented as "reflective of the mores and conventions of the culture on a heroic bent", then it is a problem. I had been using the latter in my RQ campaigning, but as a GM, my players don't start off at "Rune Level".

I can't say which way HQ defines "Rune Level". If it's the former, then there'll be no problems.

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