Empire
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Playing a barbarian
 
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Monstering one battle is a requirement for each battle you play in Empire, so even if you don't want to volunteer at other times it still makes sense to approach monstering in a way that will make the experience more enjoyable for you and the other players. Everything that follows is completely optional - but getting enthused about the opportunities to play barbarian roles doesn't just improve the event - it makes the experience of monstering more fun.
Monstering one battle is a requirement for each battle you play in Empire, so even if you don't want to volunteer at other times it still makes sense to approach monstering in a way that will make the experience more enjoyable for you and the other players. Everything that follows is completely optional - but getting enthused about the opportunities to play barbarian roles doesn't just improve the event - it makes the experience of monstering more fun.


==The Orc Tribes==
The Empire setting has been deliberately designed to create opportunities for players to be creative and get involved in making the battles cooler - for themselves and everyone else - if they want to. Getting more involved is completely optional - it's for those players who want to get more out of the event (and put more in for everyone else).
In Empire, barbarians are classed as any people that the Empire is currently at war with.
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrcsCharging.jpg|width=500|align=right}}


There are several distinct barbarian powers which represent hostile tribes, kingdoms, and nations. The barbarians are designed to look cool in massive numbers in battles; to provide immersive, exciting and dramatic combat encounters; and to allow a range of interactions outside of combat. Most of the barbarian powers that currently surround the Empire are [[orc|orcs]].  
==Roleplaying as a barbarian==
During the battles at Empire, players will normally be roleplaying as the mainstay troops from one of the major barbarian nations - the heroic Jotun warriors, the disciplined Grendel soldiers, or the cruel Druj fighters. This is a great chance for you to try something new at LRP; fighting with different weapons, portraying a new character, exploring orc behaviours, and roleplaying as a barbarian intent on destroying the Empire.


There are scores of different orc tribes, all of whom have members spread throughout the barbarian orc lands and even some living as brigands within the Empire's borders. The four most powerful tribes control lands as large as a nation in the Empire and rule over the other tribes that live there.
Our Battle Team have put together the following briefing sheets to guide roleplaying as the barbarian orcs you monster as during a battle:
* [[:File:Jotun_brief.pdf|Jotun brief]]
* [[:File:Grendel_brief.pdf|Grendel brief]]
* [[:File:Druj brief.pdf|Druj brief]]


* The [[Jotun]] are warlike but honourable, and occupy a large swathe of land to the west of [[Wintermark]] and [[The Marches]].
These briefs will be displayed during Battle Prep before each battle, with members of the Skirmish Team available to answer questions about the orcs and clarify how we expect you to roleplay these briefs. These briefs provide an idea of the attitudes and behaviours of the different orc nations, what motivates them, and how they should act in the field. We hope these provide interesting hooks for roleplay with the other monsters and against the Empire on the field, and convey our vision of the barbarian orcs.
* The [[Thule]] are dominated by their magicians, and engage in merciless reaving of any lands they invade. They are found across the mountains to the north of [[Varushka]] in an area called [[Otkodov]].
* The [[Druj]] are a comparatively small tribe that uses fear to exert influence over a number of smaller tribes. They are found in the swamps and forests to the east of [[Dawn]] and [[Highguard]] and known for their treachery and their love of terror-tactics.
* The [[Grendel]] primarily occupy a land-mass to the south of the Bay of Catazar, and are kept at bay by the activities of the [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] [[corsair|corsairs]]. They are also found in numbers on the Broken Coast to the south of Urizen.


The orc barbarians are not a monolithic threat - the tribes may form temporary alliances, but they sometimes fight each other with as much ferocity as they show to the Empire. Smaller orc tribes are scattered across the Empire as bandits, or live outside its borders in numbers. The orcs of the hills between the Brass Coast and their foreign neighbours ([[Faraden]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]]) are a case in point.
===Playing a low-combat role===
We know that not everyone who takes to the battlefield - as their character or a monster - wants to play a frontline combatant in the middle of the fighting. Many players' characters already take to the field without wanting to be fully involved in combat, instead supporting their fellows with ritual magic, support spells, their skills as an artisan, or most often as some sort of magical healer or physician. We want players to fulfil similar roles when they come to monster a battle as well. In such cases, you might portray a Grendel surgeon, Jotun metalsmith, or Druj herbalist. Our Battle Team have put together the following guides that offer overviews of different roles that you can play as a low-combat character for each of the three main orc barbarian forces:
* [[:File:Jotun low-com support.pdf|Jotun low-combat support]]
* [[:File:Grendel low-com support.pdf|Grendel low-combat support]]
* [[:File:Druj low-com support.pdf|Druj low-combat support]]


==Creating a Minor Tribe==
==Playing an Elite Orc==
Because there are many lesser tribes spread throughout all the barbarian lands, the armies of the Thule, the Druj, the Jotun and the Grendel will normally be led by two or three units drawn from the dominant tribe (played by our skirmish team) but include units from all the other tribes that exist. We have quite deliberately not listed all these minor tribes, so that players who want to get more involved in playing a barbarian can have the opportunity to create their own tribal identity.
The Empire is surrounded by four powerful orc nations, each of which fields their own elite forces on the battlefield, alongside their rank and file clan warriors. Players who are interested in getting more involved in monstering are encouraged to look at the elite forces and see if one of them appeals. Initially we will aim to phys-rep the elite troops using our own dedicated monstering team, but our hope is that some players will group together to create their own elite monster unit. These special units are more skilled than the regular tribal warriors and they will often be given key roles in the battle - our goal is to make them as much fun as possible to play to reward players who make the effort to get invested and bring them to life.


Creating your own barbarian tribe works best if you are involved with a group of players who like to come and monster together at the events. You can agree a name and a simple background concept for who your tribe are, you can even write some simple history if you want to. You can [mailto:empire@profounddecisions.co.uk email us] if you want to check anything or discuss any ideas with us. When you volunteer to play your barbarian characters we'll encourage you to form up together as a unit so you can develop some common experiences from the battles your tribe has fought in.
It's a good idea to think about which of the barbarians your nation is likely to be going to war against. At present, the Empire is at war with the [[Jotun]], the [[Druj]], and the [[Grendel]]; battles against these three nations are likely to form the mainstay of encounters at present. If you think your nation are keen to engage the Grendel - then you are likely to be fighting as a Jotun warrior when you volunteer - therefore it makes sense to look at creating an elite Jotun unit if you want to get more involved.


Because of the way the setting has been created, if you are playing a member of a minor tribe, that tribe can still appear in every battle. There will be members of your Black Lion tribe living in the lands of every major tribe, so there is no reason at all that your tribe won't be fighting for them on the battlefield.
To be useful in a battle, an elite unit needs to be pretty large - ideally 30+ members. Everyone is encouraged to make good monster kit for the battles, but our generals will base their battle tactics on the groups of troops they have available to them - not on individual warriors. We know that people like to fight together with their mates on the battlefield - so the best way to get more involved in monstering is to create an elite orc unit together with your friends. That way there will be a mob of you that can be deployed together on the field. Few player groups number 30+ in size, so it's worth asking round friends in other groups in your nation - if a few groups create an elite monster unit together then you will be able to play something really terrifying on the battlefield!


==Making Barbarian Kit==
==Communication==
Planning and running a battle requires a lot of logistics. We want this to be as streamlined as possible, so if your group is excited about the idea of portraying an elite unit then there are things you'll need to do to work with us to make that as simple as possible. You'll need an OOC liaison who can communicate directly with PD, so that we can exchange information and ideas back and forth quickly and efficiently.
 
You'll also need an IC unit leader who can lead your elite unit on the battlefield. That person will need to come to the battle planning meeting the night before the battle you are monstering - this is a quick meeting to let everyone know what will be happening on the battle the next day - it's usually late in the evening and lasts around ten minutes. It's war-war - not jaw-jaw!
 
Tom Hancocks - is our current point of contact for everyone interested in this - you can [mailto:tom@profounddecisions.co.uk email him] with any questions or queries you have about playing a barbarian on the battlefield. Ideally we want player groups to choose different elite troops options - so liaise with the skirmish team early and we can give you help and advice on what options are available.
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrcArmy1.jpg|width=500|align=left}}
 
==Creating Barbarian Kit==
One of the best ways to get the most out of live roleplaying is having nice kit for the characters you play, and many players enjoy making kit. We spend a lot of money buying new kit for our barbarians - but you don't have to rely on what Profound Decisions can supply - you can create your own costume for your barbarian role just as you might for your own Imperial player-character.
One of the best ways to get the most out of live roleplaying is having nice kit for the characters you play, and many players enjoy making kit. We spend a lot of money buying new kit for our barbarians - but you don't have to rely on what Profound Decisions can supply - you can create your own costume for your barbarian role just as you might for your own Imperial player-character.
If your group have created their own minor tribe - then that creates many opportunities for creating costume for that tribe. You could choose appropriate tribal symbols for your group and create shield covers or tunics emblazoned with the symbol - you can create a banner with the device on it. Obviously this involves time and effort, but your group will look awesome when they are playing barbarians - and that means you'll get more prominent roles and you'll enjoy the experience more.


It doesn't have to cost much, there are guides online that show how to create a barbarian orc costume very cheaply. Even just adding a few touches to the armour provided to all the volunteers playing barbarians will make your group look amazing.
It doesn't have to cost much, there are guides online that show how to create a barbarian orc costume very cheaply. Even just adding a few touches to the armour provided to all the volunteers playing barbarians will make your group look amazing.


[https://www.facebook.com/jack.slack/media_set?set=a.10151443701199809.563325.560834808&type=3 how do make a very basic orc monster kit for £10] - photo tutorial.
[https://www.facebook.com/jack.slack/media_set?set=a.10151443701199809.563325.560834808&type=3 How to make a very basic orc monster kit for £10] - photo tutorial.
 
==Playing the Tribe==
The Imperial characters who take the battlefield are the strongest heroes in the Empire - they are not always victorious on the field of battle, but they are never outmatched by their barbarian enemies who usually fall like wheat before them. Realistically if you are playing a barbarian you can expect to die a lot. There isn't there much point in creating a detailed character identity with a complex back story and a long list of character goals - you won't have much chance to do anything but fight and you'll likely die quickly. Creating a detailed individual character is what playing an Imperial player-character is all about.


Playing a barbarian is about getting invested in the idea of your tribe's identity and not worrying about the individual characters. The character you are playing is going to get killed - but the tribe you are creating will have a place in every battle. They have a history that endures from one battle to another. If you capture a banner from an Imperial group during a battle in Karsk - you can carry that battle onto a later Varushkan battle to give them a chance to claim it back. By creating a strong idea for the group, you have something to roleplay with whenever you are playing your barbarian tribe that will make the experience more fun.
For many experienced LRPers, the starting point for creating any character is to look at what existing costume you can reuse. We have updated the wiki pages with information on the look and feel of the barbarian nations, which includes explicit advice on how to reuse existing kit you may have to get the best look.


[[Category:Monstering]]
{{Monstering Further Reading}}

Latest revision as of 14:13, 10 April 2024

Overview

It is not possible for anyone to play a barbarian character as your player-character. All the players at Empire are playing Imperial characters or characters welcome in the Empire. Barbarians are not welcome at Anvil and there are few long term roleplaying opportunities for them there. However everyone has the opportunity to play a barbarian at the event by joining the monster team for one or more of the big battles or the smaller quests.

Monstering one battle is a requirement for each battle you play in Empire, so even if you don't want to volunteer at other times it still makes sense to approach monstering in a way that will make the experience more enjoyable for you and the other players. Everything that follows is completely optional - but getting enthused about the opportunities to play barbarian roles doesn't just improve the event - it makes the experience of monstering more fun.

The Empire setting has been deliberately designed to create opportunities for players to be creative and get involved in making the battles cooler - for themselves and everyone else - if they want to. Getting more involved is completely optional - it's for those players who want to get more out of the event (and put more in for everyone else).

OrcsCharging.jpg

Roleplaying as a barbarian

During the battles at Empire, players will normally be roleplaying as the mainstay troops from one of the major barbarian nations - the heroic Jotun warriors, the disciplined Grendel soldiers, or the cruel Druj fighters. This is a great chance for you to try something new at LRP; fighting with different weapons, portraying a new character, exploring orc behaviours, and roleplaying as a barbarian intent on destroying the Empire.

Our Battle Team have put together the following briefing sheets to guide roleplaying as the barbarian orcs you monster as during a battle:

These briefs will be displayed during Battle Prep before each battle, with members of the Skirmish Team available to answer questions about the orcs and clarify how we expect you to roleplay these briefs. These briefs provide an idea of the attitudes and behaviours of the different orc nations, what motivates them, and how they should act in the field. We hope these provide interesting hooks for roleplay with the other monsters and against the Empire on the field, and convey our vision of the barbarian orcs.

Playing a low-combat role

We know that not everyone who takes to the battlefield - as their character or a monster - wants to play a frontline combatant in the middle of the fighting. Many players' characters already take to the field without wanting to be fully involved in combat, instead supporting their fellows with ritual magic, support spells, their skills as an artisan, or most often as some sort of magical healer or physician. We want players to fulfil similar roles when they come to monster a battle as well. In such cases, you might portray a Grendel surgeon, Jotun metalsmith, or Druj herbalist. Our Battle Team have put together the following guides that offer overviews of different roles that you can play as a low-combat character for each of the three main orc barbarian forces:

Playing an Elite Orc

The Empire is surrounded by four powerful orc nations, each of which fields their own elite forces on the battlefield, alongside their rank and file clan warriors. Players who are interested in getting more involved in monstering are encouraged to look at the elite forces and see if one of them appeals. Initially we will aim to phys-rep the elite troops using our own dedicated monstering team, but our hope is that some players will group together to create their own elite monster unit. These special units are more skilled than the regular tribal warriors and they will often be given key roles in the battle - our goal is to make them as much fun as possible to play to reward players who make the effort to get invested and bring them to life.

It's a good idea to think about which of the barbarians your nation is likely to be going to war against. At present, the Empire is at war with the Jotun, the Druj, and the Grendel; battles against these three nations are likely to form the mainstay of encounters at present. If you think your nation are keen to engage the Grendel - then you are likely to be fighting as a Jotun warrior when you volunteer - therefore it makes sense to look at creating an elite Jotun unit if you want to get more involved.

To be useful in a battle, an elite unit needs to be pretty large - ideally 30+ members. Everyone is encouraged to make good monster kit for the battles, but our generals will base their battle tactics on the groups of troops they have available to them - not on individual warriors. We know that people like to fight together with their mates on the battlefield - so the best way to get more involved in monstering is to create an elite orc unit together with your friends. That way there will be a mob of you that can be deployed together on the field. Few player groups number 30+ in size, so it's worth asking round friends in other groups in your nation - if a few groups create an elite monster unit together then you will be able to play something really terrifying on the battlefield!

Communication

Planning and running a battle requires a lot of logistics. We want this to be as streamlined as possible, so if your group is excited about the idea of portraying an elite unit then there are things you'll need to do to work with us to make that as simple as possible. You'll need an OOC liaison who can communicate directly with PD, so that we can exchange information and ideas back and forth quickly and efficiently.

You'll also need an IC unit leader who can lead your elite unit on the battlefield. That person will need to come to the battle planning meeting the night before the battle you are monstering - this is a quick meeting to let everyone know what will be happening on the battle the next day - it's usually late in the evening and lasts around ten minutes. It's war-war - not jaw-jaw!

Tom Hancocks - is our current point of contact for everyone interested in this - you can email him with any questions or queries you have about playing a barbarian on the battlefield. Ideally we want player groups to choose different elite troops options - so liaise with the skirmish team early and we can give you help and advice on what options are available.

OrcArmy1.jpg

Creating Barbarian Kit

One of the best ways to get the most out of live roleplaying is having nice kit for the characters you play, and many players enjoy making kit. We spend a lot of money buying new kit for our barbarians - but you don't have to rely on what Profound Decisions can supply - you can create your own costume for your barbarian role just as you might for your own Imperial player-character.

It doesn't have to cost much, there are guides online that show how to create a barbarian orc costume very cheaply. Even just adding a few touches to the armour provided to all the volunteers playing barbarians will make your group look amazing.

How to make a very basic orc monster kit for £10 - photo tutorial.

For many experienced LRPers, the starting point for creating any character is to look at what existing costume you can reuse. We have updated the wiki pages with information on the look and feel of the barbarian nations, which includes explicit advice on how to reuse existing kit you may have to get the best look.

Further Reading

General Information

Barbarian Tribes

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