Revision as of 16:40, 19 January 2010

Introduction

The Dreaming is a persistent 24/7 semi-decentralized LARP. Players portray characters in a dream world which shares geography with the real world. In the Dreaming, you can engage in politics, fight monsters and other players in real-time boffer combat, and help decide the fate of the Dream Country.

What do we mean by "decentralized"? The game is operated by a small team of people, but they are not needed to play the game. You do not need a storyteller to run plot, nor do you need dedicated NPCs to play monsters. The content and activities for the game are supplied by other players. You can start playing no matter where you live - just find a few friends to join you in the Dream World, and then begin exploring.

When / Where Can I play?

The Dreaming is always going on. Any time you wish to play, put on the Game Badge. This signals to other players that you are "in-game", and are a character who they may interact with. Generally, you will want to play at the same time as other players. We recommend the evenings, at a pre-agreed on spot.

The Dreaming runs a social-networking site for its players. Check it out and find out if there are any players near you. Generally, players will gather at an agreed on time/place. It is common to play in local parks, a college campus, or other relatively secluded spots where one can get into a boffer fight without accidentally clocking someone.

How do I play?

You build a character using our game rules. Among other things, you will pick a race, a class, and a few skills. This gives you the ability to fight with boffer weapons, throw spells, or perform other game actions which can harm other characters.

Everybody has to keep track of their own skills and injuries. The Dreaming is run on the honor system. If you are caught cheating, or your play is otherwise disruptive, other players will avoid you. It's possible for a local rules committee can ban you from the game for a period of time.

While in-game, you will portray a character in the Dreaming. Unlike many LARPs, you do not have to wear a costume or talk in a funny accent. Your character will make friends and enemies with other characters, and participate in ongoing stories and adventures. Much of the game's story is generated by other players.

Certain places are hotspots for the game, and may be points for action or intrigue. A park, restaurant, or trail through the woods can have a special meaning to characters in the Dreaming. They may be able to take special actions there which affect the Dream Country or its residents.

What Happens During Games?

In many ways, the Dreaming is a social game. For some, the Dreaming involves politics. There are a variety of public offices, and a player-run government.Each race has its own role within the dreaming society. You might be interested in participating in guilds or organizations, or just socializing with other characters.

Boffer combat is allowed in certain game areas. Characters can attack and kill one another. Death in the Dreaming is not permanent -- if someone is killed, their character merely "phases out" of the Dreaming for the night. While incapacitated in this way, you might have the opportunity to be summoned and play the game as a shade, a weak minion who does the bidding of his summoner.

Dream Walks

Dream Walks are special, structured game activities. You might think of one as an adventure. The Dreaming website houses a list of Dream Walks. Each Dream Walk is a pdf file. If you want to go on one, print it out and gather up your friends. You will wander around the world, looking for places to have the next encounter. Each page of the Dream Walk writeup is another encounter. The encounters may involve varying types of scenarios and encounters. They often involve combat, and physical or mental challenges. During Dream Walks, some players will turn into shades, hostile monsters which the others must fight off. By going on Dream Walks, you can earn rewards and magic items.

In order for a Dream Walk to count, somebody must "archive" it. This means posting photos, videos, or blog entries about the adventure. This documentation is also a check against cheating. If you suspect someone has some item that they shouldn't have, you can easily check the website to see if they went on a Dream Walk to get it.

Locations

The Dreaming takes place at locations chosen by players. By doing special rituals, you can turn a location into an arena, performance hall, banquet hall, sanctuary, or several other types of locations. Combat may take place in areas designated as such.

Whoever creates a location may take ownership of it. The owner of a location is imbued with special powers they may use while there.

Players can challenge each other to take control of territory. Boffer fights, chess matches, foot races, and other types of challenges are allowed to contest a location. Though you may only own one location at a time, a group of people you can take over large portions of the Dreaming.

Someone who wins the trust of five property owners can become a Shaper, a type of Dream Royalty.

Combat

Combat takes place using foam boffer weapons and spell packets. Generally, characters can take between three and five hits from a weapon before they lose consciousness. Certain characters will have special attacks they can use with their boffer weapons.

Some characters can deliver ranged attacks or spells using spell packets.

Combat is based on the honor system. You are expected to play fairly, only use what skills you have available, and die when you've run out of hit points.

How do I make a character?

1. pick a Dreaming Race. Each race has a unique skill or feature which you get automatically.
2. pick a Dreaming Class. Each class has a few skills available. You will choose a few of them. Some skills are "rechargable", meaning that after they are used, you cannot use them again until you rest for five minutes. Other skills can only be used once per 24 hour period (beginning at sunrise).

Rulebook Index

Setting Basics - an introduction to the Dreaming's setting

Basic Rules - the basic rules of the game which everybody must know

Dream Walks - special actions or adventures that players can initiate

Rewards