Brisbane Post Game Debrief

Brisbane is currently experimenting with a post-game debrief. The script below is subject to change as we gain experience.

This process is to be run immediately at the conclusion of the game. It takes 15-20 minutes regardless of the number of players involved (It may take longer with a particularly emotional game). It is lead by a facilitator. Its their job to give clear instructions on what is expected and to act as timekeeper for the entire process.

The Purpose

The purpose is about processing your experiences. It is not about figuring out what really happened or telling war stories. (That can be done at drinks.)

The Rules

The third person rule: When talking about something avoid the use of the first and second person. Not “You threatened me” but “Your character threatened my character” or (even better) “Lothar threatened Tybalt”.

Don’t interrupt: Let people say their piece. (The facilitator can break this rule to keep things moving)

All experiences are equal: LARP is different things to different people.

The door is open: You can opt out of anything at any time without giving an explanation. If you don’t want to talk, don’t.

The Process

Individual -> Pair -> Group

Individual

“Everyone find a space to sit or stand comfortably with your eyes closed. Close your eyes and don’t open them until I say.

“The game is over. I want you to take off your character.

“Imagine your character is standing in front of you. I want you to silently thank them for their service.

“From now on I want you to refer to your character, and everyone else’s, in the the third person.

“When you open your eyes you will no longer be in the game. You will be in an upstairs room of the Red Brick hotel surrounded by your fellow players.

“Open your eyes.”

Pair

“I want you to pair up - try and find someone you do not know well. If you have no partner hold your hand above your head until you have one. Get close enough to talk to each other.

“I want you to take turns talking about your experience. I want to answer one of the following questions, the one that speaks the most to you.

“What did you learn about your character this game?

“What was the most important, intense or emotional situation you experienced?

“What was low point of your game? What was the high point?

“I will give each of you one minute to tell your answer then we will swap. Remember the third person rule. When you are listening you can ask them questions, ask them why.”

We can change the questions and the time given to this with experience

[After two minutes]

“Before we leave our pairs I want everyone to think of the player you most need to thank, or forgive, or apologise to from tonight’s game. I then want you to tell your partner ‘I am going to thank/forgive/apologise to [insert player’s name] before I leave tonight.’ That is all you need to say.”

Group

“Everyone form a circle.

“You all just made a promise to go talk to someone. That talk does not have to be public - you can do it at drinks. You can also do it now in front of everyone if you want.

“If you lost a character, or caused someone to lose their character I would encourage you to talk about it here.”

[Opportunity for people to talk - remember no one has to]

“Thanks everyone. Remember you can still talk to people at drinks, on Facebook and between games. There still may be people you promised to talk to.”

This last part, the group part, seems open ended. I imagine some nights very few people will be moved to say anything to the group. Other nights, when something huge happens, we might have a lot of stuff to process, and that might have to continue at drinks and throughout the month.