I would like to think that we tend more to the RP side as a realm, and honestly i think that's the way it should be. In fact if you ask me the question "what's the difference between Dag and LARP," I would say they're the same, and that people need to get over their fear of LARPing. It has always bothered me that we try to distance ourselves from LARPing because of the negative stigma. someone needs to stand up for the good name of LARP in general and drive the point home that LARPing is for anybody and everybody who just wants to have fun, and who better to do that than us here in Dagorhir?

Having said that, I was mostly directing the comment at myself, as I'm definitely an RPer,(at least I lean that way) and I always have to try to stay neutral with new members. It's easy for me to start telling people that they need good garb, and a character name, and that they should be in character, etc. Sometimes I forget that some people just want to wear minimum garb and fight, and I don't want to drive those people away just because they don't play the way I want them to.

If you're not satisfied with that response, see rules 1 thru 4

We kinda jacked Octavious' intro thread. Maybe we should move this discussion to general discussion or something. But I will say that I think a lot of us have garb and character names and bios so we don't look like complete stickjocks. Myself for instance >.> I do Dag because it's a fun way to get exercise and test my physical prowess. I don't put much emphasis on the RP element, personally.

I see dag as having some RP aspects to it, in that you can have a persona and whatnot, but what I consider real LARPing is sutff like Darkon, Nero, and to a certain extent Amtgard.

Also sorry as well about the hijacking of your thread.

The area code "rule" is dumb. if people want such a rule, they should institute a distance rule which is what i've seen used before.

So Octavious, what's your play style? What part of this game do you like the most outside of fighting? (weapon making /shield making/ armor / garb etc....)

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@Crux, I like most styles of play. Outside of fighting, I enjoy weapon making, and I enjoy organization of units. To me, there's something most magical about seeing units break and up and hearing command echo through the battlefield. I really like that aspect.


@Forum Moderators or Admin: Suggestion to move topic to general chat if off-topic talk continues.

I'm a big fan of unit fighting. I've belonged to a Mercenary unit in Amtgard and the realm Arnor in Belegarth. I learned a lot about unit strategy and love being on the front lines of a shield wall. I hope to start or help start a fighting unit some day. We should talk strategies some time.

I would very much enjoy talking strategies. I find that unit fighting to be a very exhilarating process. I've always wanted to get an aerial view of a large battle just to see the units move around.

Oh, that would be beautiful, be in a helicopter with a camera videotaping it.

So what are your views on shield walls?

Shield walls are sexy.

Very sexy indeed. I prefer for myself, and probably recommend for others to use a sturdy strap shield to make it harder for the enemy to move them. Also, it's nice to have everyone with using the same arm for sword and shield. Then have long reds/greens behind them and archers behind their. All pretty standard I know. Though I do like to have some reds/florentine up front on the flanks of the wall.

I was paying more attention to not dying than to on-field tactics, but it didn't seem like individual unit movement was a large factor when I went to Gates last year. We pretty much just went wherever we thought we could be useful. Somebody would shout out where more defense was needed and people who weren't currently occupied would go help. I could be wrong though. Group tactics aren't really my thing. It's nice to have a strategy though.

Sometimes that's all you need, but having a plan as a group can be good, also knowing who to listen to at times.

My actual experience with Units is limited to when I went to Iron Fist IV and what I did with Haven when they were still part of Alterra and I was a member. The other part of the knowledge is only what I've seen, not really what I've experienced, so I daresay some of my knowledge isn't as great as some here who practice in units every day.

That's one thing i enjoyed at Arnor was we practiced unit fighting, though in small units unfortunately.

Sorry for hijacking the thread earlier. On a more positive note, I'm really glad that you're doing what you're doing up there.

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Also, @ both of you: I would love to see more unit battles and scenarios at our practices as well, are there any cool scenarios you guys know of for small-scale unit battles?

I just have to say that though they aren't the best Centrawoven really isn't that bad, they really are a good bunch of peeps. i talk to a couple of them all the time and they are good guys. just kinda rough round the edges

Well, there are a few basic ways you can practice unit fighting. At your practices, you can either just to basic team battles with 2 teams, whoever the captain is gets to call the shots, or have two people who would be the "Commanders" at events and have them on each team to call the shots and just do mini team battles. Also you can run drills for certain aspects. Like i posted in the Rolla area, I'll be visiting over my midterm break which isn't the same as yours so I'd love to come fight with you all and for people who want to, discuss unit fighting.

(It's okay Angus, threads get hijacked. It happens. )

@Angus, That's great! It would be fantastic to have more members. They can come check us out whenever. Official practices (where I go over updates and Chapter information, then we fight) are Tuesdays at 4pm, practiced at Bradshaw field (that's the name we've given to the field behind Bradshaw on campus, it's near the Baseball field), and Fridays at 3pm, practiced at Bradshaw field. We spar on other days, and those practices are unofficial, meaning we don't do things that could affect the majority of the chapter (such as ranking tests). Unofficial practices are usually inside or on the football field (if it's clear) and happen whenever someone wants to go spar. If someone you know would like to practice with us, please tell them to find me on Facebook. Note that all practices take place on-campus.

As far as unit battles go, we just formed into units yesterday, so I have yet to implement any scenarios. For now, the organization of units breaks into Alpha and Beta (first unit and second unit, respectively). I'm commanding Alpha, and I switch out one of my guys with someone from Beta each practice to let the Alpha individual command, and let the Beta individual fight with Alpha. This, in my opinion, will let me see who commands well from Alpha, and let me see how Beta fights. It also allows everyone to get used to the way everyone else fights.

Scenarios I had in mind for next practice were things like Alpha vs. Beta and such.

Scenarios we usually practice at unofficial practices are free-for-alls, Kill your Killer, team battles, and 2v1.

I only have one piece of advice for you. Do not force people into units. Units are meant to be formed within a realm for the sake of individuality and for the sake of a shared group of persons goals and dreams. People who come into the realm should be allowed to be anyone and anything legal within dagorhir. If they want to join a formed unit or start their own, both should be fine. If they want to RP or be stick jocks, both should e fine.

I am a big proponent of personal freedom within the realm because restrictions and things drive people off, and more importantly, people come to Dag to express themselves in way they cannot anywhere else. It is a shame to take that a way from anyone.

Hope that didn't seem offensive, I don't think you do these things, but some new chapters try to and really have a lot more drama and politics than needed.