Starfighters

RPG system: LARP
Participants: 8-16 players

By

The Smoke (2022), Theatre Delicatessen, London, United Kingdom

Craig Edgar

Retford Moot B (2023), Retford Hotel, Retford, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom

Ewan Munro

Description

Introduction

Become a space fighter pilot in the Outworlds Alliance and fight against the tyranny of the Terran Commonwealth. Between missions you try to relax with your fellow pilots, knowing that death could be around the corner. Will you survive the coming war? Even if you do, what will you lose?
Background

Set in the far future, this game takes place on the fringes of human space where a small alliance of independent colonies, that have been self-governing centuries, have banded together to fight off an invasion from the Terran Commonwealth, a corporate run government which dominates most of human space. The Commonwealth has recently launched a major offensive against the Outworlds Alliance hoping to conquer them and bring them into Commonwealth rule for various economic and political reasons. So far, the Outworlds alliance has been barely holding the Commonwealth back.

You are all space fighter pilots. The fighters you fly are called T-41 Tempest’s. They are not as fast as the Commonwealth’s Condor fighter but are more manoeuvrable, have superior armour and are better armed. The down side is the Commonwealth can field twelve Condor’s for every Tempest.

This is an unrealistic science fiction setting. The battles are in the vein of Star Wars, Buck Rogers and The Original Battlestar Galactica. Rather than using real world physics and distances that would apply in a real space battle.

As such a lot of modern fighter pilot talk still applies. Think Top Gun or Iron Eagle.
Costuming

The Outworlds Alliance has an official uniform which is suspiciously close to Theatre Blacks, but these are desparate times and some flyers may just have their civilian clothes.

The fighters are equipped with dampening fields which mean that flight suits, helmets and armour should not be worn.

Some ranks may be indicated by badges and players will temporarily change their nametags to their callsigns.
Gameplay

Gameplay consists of three segments:

The fighter combat segments are dialogue driven. Players are seated and collectively narrate the battle as well as speaking prompts that are provided by the GM. Close your eyes and imagine the space battle! Character death can happen during this segment.

In the recreation room segments, characters relax, banter/flirt, deal with their issues, celebrate success, compete for status and sometimes argue.

The mission briefing segments advance the story and may give characters the opportunity to plan strategy and delegate roles.

Gameplay is mostly the players imagination but may be supplemented by audio or visual effects.
Casting

Players will build their character during the workshop. This will include drawing character prompts and choosing their own callsigns as well as the name of the squadron.

During casting a Squadron leader and several flight leaders will be selected.
Movement

Players must be able to move short distances
Content Warnings

Lighter Themes: Space Combat, Fighter Pilots, Teamwork/Camraderie, Veterans school Rookies,

Darker Themes: Character Death, Combat Fatigue, War Trauma, Loss.

Content Warning: Loud Noises and Alarms, Profanity

Played at