nexus-6...2.practical information dates the 2017 english language run of nexus-6 will take place on...

NEXUS-6

PLAYER DOCUMENT

ENGLISH LANGUAGE RUN

11-13 AUGUST 2017

Version 5

CONTENT

1. APPROACH & EXPERIENCE

2. PRACTICAL INFORMATION

3. BACKGROUND

4. THE BLOC ARMED FORCES

5. RULES

NEXUS-6 - Paranoia & Comradeship in a Hopeless, Totalitarian War - 2/32

1. APPROACH & EXPERIENCE

NEXUS-6 is a simple larp about paranoia and comradeship in a hopeless,

totalitarian war.

Influences range from the WWII and its totalitarian states to the works of

Philip K. Dick, with their reality-bending Replicant theme (later used in

Battlestar Galactica). In a nutshell, it’s “Blade Runner” meets “Stalingrad”.

In terms of atmosphere, we’re aiming for bleak, grim and gritty, not heroic or

humorous.

NEXUS-6 is very much in the Nordic larp tradition,

stealing ideas from “Monitor Celestra”, “Life Is Cheap”,

“Robota”, “Last Will” and many others. The approach is

narrativist (sometimes called “play to lose”), placing

emphasis on collaborative story creation rather than

competition or coherence. This is neither a military

simulation nor a shooting contest, and there is no plot

to solve.

The larp has some transparency: you can read all

character sheets before the larp, character development

is collaborative and there are some written monologues

during the larp.

The target experience for NEXUS-6 is hardcore-ish: limited food and sleep, no

running water or electricity, pressure from the racist/paranoïd/repressive

totalitarian setting, etc. Basic physical fitness is required, even if this

larp is, by no means, a sports challenge.

Participants will spend most of the larp amongst themselves, inside their

OUTPOST (shouting at each other, shooting at the enemy), with occasional

“missions” outside (such as re-checking the NUCLEAR SILOS or bringing a

report to HQ). This places quite a bit of responsibility on players to

pro-actively carry the larp and its themes.

No previous experience is required: larp- and airsoft-beginners are totally

welcome.


2. PRACTICAL INFORMATION

DATES

The 2017 English language run of NEXUS-6 will take place on 11-13 August.

A French language run will take place on 28-30 July.

SIGN-UP

Each run will have 24 player slots in total. A link to the sign-up form will be

posted on http://experiencejdr.free.fr on March 1st 2017.

If too many people sign up for a given run, a lottery will

determine who participates (you may sign up for both

runs but will not get two spots). The objective of having

balanced sex- and nationality-ratios may influence the

lottery.

You will know whether you got a spot or not by April 1st

2017. If you did, you get assigned a character at that

point, and have until April 15th 2017 to pay the 100 €

participation fee via bank-transfer.

Before you pay, if you don’t like the character, you can

drop out of the larp (the character then goes to the next

person in the lottery) or swap characters with another participant (if both

agree, obviously).

Since player cancellations and replacements are a big problem for this kind of

larp, participation fees will not be refunded in case of player cancellation.

NEXUS-6 is not a big-budget high-production larp. Expect simple things,

in-line with post-apocalyptic gritty aesthetics. Money is mostly spent on the

location, food and airsoft gear.

LOCATION

The larp will take place in Courdimanche, near Paris (France). The site is

called Mirapolis and used to be France’s largest amusement park (all rides

have today disappeared). Local participants will help those coming from

farther away to reach the site from Paris via public transport or car (and back

again after the larp).


http://experiencejdr.free.fr/

Site address: Avenue des Navigateurs 95800 Courdimanche

There is no running water or electricity on-site. Toilets will be a tent with a

bucket of sawdust.

LANGUAGE & LARP CULTURES

The only language used during the workshops and larp will be English. This is

not their first language for most participants, so please be clear and explicit

when expressing yourself. Also keep in mind that participants will come from

different national larping cultures, so please be extra open-minded.

TIMING

DON’T BE LATE. Seriously, DON’T BE LATE. And once more: DON’T BE LATE. All workshops are mandatory (you may opt-out but must remain present).

Friday:

- 4 PM at the latest: participants arrive on-site. - Participants are welcome to arrive earlier to help with setting up.

- 4 PM until 5 PM: participants change into their costumes, sew various

patches onto them (see below) and receive gear specific to their

character.

- 5 PM until 7 PM: workshops.

- 7 PM until 8 PM: military rations workshop (aka “dinner”).

- 8 PM until 10 PM: workshops resume.

- To increase immersion, participants sleep on location in their larp

costume and sleeping gear.

Saturday:

- 8 AM until 8.45 AM: another military rations workshop (aka “breakfast”).

- 8.45 AM until 10.45 AM: last workshops.

- 11 AM sharp: the larp starts. It will last 24h non-stop.

Sunday:

- 11 AM: the larp ends (exact time depends on character).

- 11 AM until 12 noon: post-larp workshops.

- 12 noon until 1 PM: players and organizers clean out the location

together.

- From 1 PM: we all have lunch together, then those who need to drive take

a nap.


- 4 PM at the latest: everyone leaves the site.

- 8 PM: optional meetup in central Paris for dinner and drinks.

FOOD AND DRINK

Organizers will provide military rations.

Participants with special diets are welcome but

will have to bring their own food and eat it

off-game. Participants will also have to monitor

their own allergies.

Lack of food will be a dramatic tool and

characters will steal each other’s food, but extra

rations will be available in the decontamination rooms (see below) if

necessary, and participants may also keep snacks there if they wish (just don’t

bring these into play).

Organizers will also provide water. As dehydration is dangerous, water will

NOT be part of gameplay: you may not keep someone from drinking (in fact,

please remind people to drink regularly). Also please note that this larp is

100% alcohol-free (with the exception of a few beers after the larp).

As we’ll basically be larping outdoors, smoking is permitted, unless it makes

those around you uncomfortable (if unsure, ask).

Sandwiches will be provided by the organizers for the after-larp lunch on

Sunday, but feel free to bring something to contribute if you like (do keep in

mind we won’t have a fridge).

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE THE LARP

First, learn to sing the BLOC’S GLORIOUS ANTHEM!

Bad singing is OK, but everyone sings.

Next, flesh out your character before July 31st.

Your character sheet contains some basic

information, but it’s up to you to make this

character into a real human being with a past,

loved-ones, habits, etc. The more you develop

your character, the more other players and organizers can create drama for

you. Discuss relationships (positive and negative) between characters with

the other players. Strong relationships usually make for a stronger larp. If


you feel the need to contradict something in the sheet, check with the

organizers first.

Character sheets and character development will be in a single shared

GoogleDoc. Please make sure all important decisions you make about your

character are recorded in that GoogleDoc, so that all organizers and players

can read them.

Think about what your character does when they’re not

fighting. Do they read PROPAGANDA books, clean their

REGULATION WEAPON, cry in a corner, draw, play cards,

trade rad-pills for food, tell stories, do something

related to their special function or RANK? These small

things will make the OUTPOST come alive during the

larp.

Finally, write a letter to at least one character in each

of the two OUTPOSTS (see below). These letters can be from

one of their loved ones or from someone else (the PARTY

?). Get in touch with the characters’ player to get any

information you need. Coordinate with other players to make sure all

characters get at least two letters. When you arrive at the larp, pin the

letters to the OUTPOSTS’ POSTAL BOARDS (see below) and clearly label to whom

they are addressed.

Oh, one last thing: start learning the different characters’ NUMBERS,

especially your own. Otherwise we’ll have to workshop this to death the night

before the larp ^^

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING

Metal spoon + metal canteen.

Something to sleep on (bed/mat) + something to sleep in (sleeping bag/blanket).

Pen.

Trinkets your character wears, keeps in his pockets or next to his pad.

Personal belongings specified in your character sheet.

Photograph of someone/something important to your character.

One or more books considered subversive by the BLOC, to be burned during the

larp (literature, schoolbook, science, spiritual…).

Phone + backup battery.

Sewing kit.

Flashlight.

Sling for your gun (a 1m piece of string will do) (holster for COMMISSARS).


Cheap wristwatch (in case it gets hit by a BB).

Tick repellent.

Any real-life medication you might need (kept in decontamination room).

Makeup to look dirty/sick/exhausted/hurt.

Compass to navigate the site (optional).

GoPro camera with charged batteries (optional).

Your own airsoft grade protection glasses (optional).

You also need to bring a costume that you don’t mind

getting full of fake blood:

- Green military helmet (WWII-style peak-cap for

COMMISSARS)

- Green military jacket

- Green military pants

- Green military bag or satchel

- Black military boots (or similar) with good

ankle-support

- Black gloves

- Green knee and elbow-pads (optional)

Mismatched uniforms are OK for characters who have

been fighting for a while. Some of these characters

might even be wearing black pants for example, scavenged from a dead

Federation soldier. Just please avoid camouflage patterns.

Please keep any knives in the decontamination rooms (see below).

WHAT WILL BE PROVIDED

Rations, water (including Friday night and Sunday lunch).

Airsoft guns (without a sling), ammo (biodegradable BBs), protection glasses,

lower face-mask.

Badges (with lanyards), patches, medals.

PRS, MEDKITS, rad-pills, MORPHISONE shots (see below).

Some organizer phones/speakers will be placed in the OUTPOSTS for ambient

sound. Please leave them alone.


PHOTOS & VIDEOS

Photos and videos taken during the larp will be

sent out to participants. Any distribution

outside this circle (Facebook…) is subject to

approval by people recognizable in the footage.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Main organizer (JC): +33 7 60 77 97 22 Emergencies: 112


3. BACKGROUND

RETRO-FUTURE

A world just a little bit different from our own

during WWII. Armies have nuclear weapons. Robots

are used for heavy/dangerous work like

construction and, well, war.

The initially crude NEXUS-1 robotic soldiers

have gradually been refined into today’s heavily

armored NEXUS-5 MECHANIZED INFANTRY UNIT.

Visually, think Robocop: humanoïd but clearly a machine.

THE BLOC

The BLOC is a huge totalitarian state, controlled by the PARTY’s

COMMISSARS and led by the SUPREME LEADER. Everyone is

indoctrinated from a young age - singing the BLOC’S GLORIOUS

ANTHEM daily and reading the OmniBLOC newspaper is mandatory.

Public burning of seditious books is frequent.

PROPAGANDA is omnipresent, and so (apparently) are the ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE.

Instead of being executed, thousands of them are sent to REHABILITATION CAMPS

(such as An-Khour) by the PARTY’S SECURITY ORGANS, never to be heard of again.

All BLOC citizens are expected to constantly and actively search for ENEMIES

OF THE PEOPLE, no matter who they are, and report them to their COMMISSAR (who

may sometimes reward them for it). Those who do not are reported themselves.

THE RELIGION

“Religion is slavery.” [The SUPREME LEADER]

The only cult allowed is that of the SUPREME LEADER. However, despite

the PARTY’s efforts, some citizens develop spiritual inclinations and

secretly practise what is known as The Religion. Its adepts draw

crosses as a signal to each other.

They share a faith in a superior being (God) who has created humanity, whose

Angels watch over each person and who welcomes those who deserve it into

Heaven. The faithful search for remnants of ancient worship to confirm and

strengthen their abstract beliefs. What little holy texts they have found, they


study daily, searching for a path to Heaven. Prayer (talking to God),

candle-burning and making an oblique cross gesture accompany lonely and

important moments alike.

Practicing The Religion is a PUNISHABLE OFFENSE that must be reported to a

COMMISSAR immediately.

THE AUXILIARY DISTRICTS (ADs)

The BLOC is divided into CENTRAL DISTRICTS and miserable AUXILIARY

DISTRICTS. Citizens from the AUXILIARY DISTRICTS are called “ADs” or

“Scrapers”. Although they are not officially discriminated against,

they are effectively second-rate citizens and official PROPAGANDA

often mentions their past crimes against the BLOC. ADs must wear a distinctive

patch at all times.

In the ARMED FORCES, ADs are usually more readily exposed to danger, required

to stand in the back line when a UNIT is assembled, sleep in separate quarters

and receive their share last in food or rad-pill distributions.

ADs have tattoos and different cultural mores:

- Thank fortune when it smiles on you. When

something is obtained thanks to good fortune, ADs

give some of it back to express gratitude. For

example, if they find a bag of rice, they will throw

a handful in the nearby bushes.

- Respect your elders. The young are expected to obey

older ADs and do what they can to assist them (for

example, by giving them the more comfortable seat

or bed).

- An eye for an eye. Letting an insult or attack go

unpunished is dishonorable. Once revenge is

obtained, the matter is settled.

- Fear the ghosts. ADs believe the spirits of the dead sometimes return at

night to torment the living.

AD players may collaboratively make up additional cultural specificities

before the larp.

Failure by an AD to wear an AD badge is a PUNISHABLE OFFENSE that must be

reported to a COMMISSAR immediately.


THE SUPREME LEADER

“The SUPREME LEADER is the BLOC.” [PARTY Doctrine]

Here’s an extract from the BLOC’s Official History:

“In the name so-called freedom, the traitors of the Old

Regime had led our great NATION to the brink of

disaster. To save our NATION from itself and from the

enemies about to invade it, one person rose above the

others to unite us and show us the way. After having,

with infinite kindness, forgiven the AUXILIARY

DISTRICTS for their support of the Old Regime, our

SUPREME LEADER returned our NATION to its past glory.

That is how our SUPREME LEADER saved us, building for

future generations a BLOC that is eternal, united and

pure.”

Any criticism of the SUPREME LEADER or the PARTY is a PUNISHABLE OFFENSE and

must be reported to a COMMISSAR.

THE FEDERATION

“Life forgives no weakness.” [The SUPREME LEADER]

The BLOC has been at war for three years now with another world

power: the Federation.

At the beginning of the war, both armies used MECHANIZED INFANTRY

(robots) to fight alongside their soldiers. However, soon after, the Federation

managed to seize control of most of the BLOC’s robots, including the BLOC’s own

MECHANIZED INFANTRY. This disaster, unofficially called the “Federation

Hack”, has resulted in thousands of BLOC soldiers getting slaughtered battle

after battle. Since then, the Federation has steadily increased its

technological advantage (even including some bullet-proof vests).

Although official PROPAGANDA denies it, the BLOC

is very clearly losing the war, with fighting now

increasingly taking place inside the BLOC’s own

cities. The BLOC’s soldiers are proud to be

holding on but they are exhausted and the

Federation has stopped taking prisoners a long

time ago.


Federation soldiers (“Feds”) and MECHANIZED INFANTRY wear black uniforms.

They use powerful whistles to coordinate their attacks and intimidate the

enemy.

Any contact with the Federation (such as exchanging light signals) is a

PUNISHABLE OFFENSE and must be reported to a COMMISSAR.

LANGUAGE

There is only one language on this planet: English.

The PARTY regularly bans certain seditious words. The most recent one is

“relative”. Using banned words is a PUNISHABLE OFFENSE and must be reported

to a COMMISSAR.

GENDER & SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Gender and sexual orientation are not important in the BLOC: everyone fights.

THE CHARACTERS

The characters are soldiers in the BLOC ARMED FORCES.

They belong to various UNITS located in QUADRANT

SOUTH-EAST. Each UNIT is stationed in an OUTPOST that

each protects two critical NUCLEAR SILOS from the

advancing Federation army.

Soon after the start of the larp, each character will be

stationed either in OUTPOST ALPHA-14 or OUTPOST

ALPHA-19. These OUTPOSTS are isolated from HQ and from

each other. They are both practically surrounded by

enemy troops, so characters don’t venture outside their

strict perimeter without a very good reason. Now, with

reinforcements and supplies slim to non-existent, their situation is grim,

and tensions between comrades in arms are starting to boil over.


4. THE BLOC ARMED FORCES

YES/NO, NUMBERS & POSITION

You say “Affirmative/Negative” (not “Yes/No”).

You say “ALPHA ONE NINE” (not “ALPHA NINETEEN”).

You say “Enemy at 3 o’clock” (not “enemy on the right”).

REGULATION UNIFORM & EQUIPMENT

In all circumstances, a member of the BLOC ARMED FORCES must wear a

REGULATION UNIFORM (including REGULATION HELMET - WWII style peak-cap for

COMMISSARS) and carry a REGULATION WEAPON. Their proper condition must be

inspected regularly by the UNIT’s CORPORALS.

Insignia must be located as follows on the

UNIFORM:

- BLOC patch: left shoulder

- RANK patch: right shoulder

- Medals: left breast

- AD/OPERATOR/MEDIC/PROPAGANDA patch:

right breast

- Badge with RANK & NUMBER: around neck

Failure to wear the correct UNIFORM (for example: not wearing a REGULATION

JACKET) is a PUNISHABLE OFFENSE and must be reported to a COMMISSAR.

RANKS & NUMBERS

A member of the BLOC ARMED FORCES is identified by his RANK and NUMBER, never

by name.

The NUMBER consists of: [“AD” ou “CD”] - [one letter] - [three digits]

RANKS go as follows: SUP. LEAD. > GENERAL > COLONEL > LIEUTENANT > SERGEANT > CORPORAL > SOLDIER

SERGEANT CORPORAL MEDIC OPERATOR


A full UNIT of 20 people includes:

- A SERGEANT: Takes all important military decisions for their UNIT,

leaving the practical implementation to the CORPORAL.

- Two CORPORALS: Advises their SERGEANT and “makes the SERGEANT’s

decisions happen”. They also have responsibility over discipline and

over their UNIT’s stock of REGULATION RATIONS.

- A MEDIC: Patches up the UNIT’s wounded. They have responsibility over

the stock of RCMs, MEDKITS and MORPHISONE (see below).

- An OPERATOR: Handles the UNIT’s PRS (see below) and keeps NUCLEAR SILOS

activated.

In theory, OPERATORS and MEDICS have the same RANK/status as regular

soldiers. In practice, they are often protected by their superiors.

Failure to obey orders or to protect the life of a superior is a PUNISHABLE

OFFENSE and must be reported to a COMMISSAR.

INTERACTION WITH SUPERIORS

Stand at attention when a superior is talking to

you until they say “Dismissed”: stand straight,

feet together, arms along sides and head up.

When a CORPORAL yells “Assemble UNIT!”, all

soldiers form two lines in the OUTPOST’s radio

room (see below) and stand at attention (one guard

stays at each guard post). CORPORALS stand in the

front right corner. The SERGEANT faces the lines. The COMMISSAR stands

wherever they like.

Any interaction with a superior starts and ends with a salute: stand at

attention and strike your left breast with your right fist.

When speaking to a superior, always finish your sentences with their RANK

(“Affirmative, COMMISSAR!” or “Awaiting orders, CORPORAL!”).

When presenting yourself to a superior for the first time, stand at attention

and tell them your RANK and NUMBER, ending with “Awaiting orders!” and then

their RANK.


Off-game, while all participants share a responsibility for creating

military/totalitarian/interpersonal pressure, this is especially true of

those playing officers.

IDEOLOGICAL PURITY

“Without purity, there can be no victory.” [The SUPREME LEADER]

The BLOC ARMED FORCES war-cry is “For the BLOC!”.

The ARMED FORCES are under PARTY control. Each

UNIT has an assigned COMMISSAR who embodies the

SUPREME LEADER’S will and makes sure orders

from HQ are fully applied.

COMMISSARS also supervise the singing of the

BLOC’S GLORIOUS ANTHEM. When the ANTHEM is

heard on the PRS, the UNIT has until the end of

the music (2 minutes) to assemble in the

OUTPOST’s radio room (see below). When the music ends, the COMMISSAR plays the

ANTHEM again on a loudspeaker and the UNIT starts to sing.

In addition, a COMMISSAR must dedicate at least one hour each day to their

UNIT’s ideological hygiene. Sessions might include speeches about important

or banned terms, self-criticism exercises and Federation-hate exercises.

Finally, a COMMISSAR must interrogate members of their UNIT on a regular

basis and undertake any measure they deem necessary to discourage and

eradicate seditious behaviour. Frequent punishment of the UNIT’s least

politically sound member is standard practice.

COMMISSARS are not required to participate in GUARD DUTY or combat

operations (their REGULATION WEAPON is a pistol instead of a rifle).

COMMISSARS have no authority over military operations, but have the RANK of

LIEUTENANT in case of disagreement with regular military personnel.


COMMISSAR HIGH-COMMISSAR PROPAGANDA SERVICE

Off-game, all players have a responsibility to have their character engage in

denunciation to help COMMISSARS maintain pressure.

PARAMETRIC RADIO-SENSOR (PRS)

All UNITS have a radio room with a PRS to receive coded messages. These

messages can either come from QUADRANT HQ, or be automatic messages directly

from the battlefield sensors around the UNIT (thus bypassing HQ).

Off-game, the PRS is a walkie-talkie with a headset. When

someone hears “Message incoming - Prepare to decode” on

the PRS, they get an OPERATOR (only specifically trained

soldiers can decode messages). The OPERATOR plugs the

headset into the radio, answers “This is UNIT-XX - Ready

to decode” and writes down the message on the appropriate

form. When finished, they say “Message decoded - UNIT-XX

out”, unplug the headset from the radio, and bring the

form to the SERGEANT.

If the SERGEANT orders a mission, a CORPORAL selects 2 or

3 soldiers. The OPERATOR then uses the PRS to calibrate

the battlefield sensors by informing them when the

soldiers are being sent (this helps organizers to manage NPCs).

In-game:

- The PRS cannot be moved or damaged.

- It can only receive messages, not send them (off-game, the player can

actually talk back to request that the message be repeated, if needed).

NB: If a walkie-talkie goes dead, get a new battery from the decontamination

room (see below).


MAP

Characters have a map of the surrounding area,

divided into squares. Each square has

coordinates. To help characters navigate on

site with the map, pieces of orange tape attached

to walls and trees will have the coordinates of

the square they are in written on them.

NUCLEAR SILOS

The two NUCLEAR SILOS that each OUTPOST is protecting are critical to the

BLOC’s military operations and must remain activated at all times.

The accessible part of a NUCLEAR SILO is its

CONTROL SYSTEM: a metal box with an external

battery, external wires and some lights. If the

wires are connected in the correct order, all

the lights are on and the SILO is activated.

OPERATORS have a MANUAL with instructions on

how to connect the wires correctly. SILOS

cannot be moved.

To make sure they are constantly activated, both SILOS must be checked at

exact times every 3 hours (an automatic PRS message will alert the UNIT

OPERATOR). It is only at these exact times that an OPERATOR with a MANUAL has a

few minutes to verify or re-activate a SILO.

Anyone can deactivate a SILO at any time by disconnecting some random wires

or stealing the power-supply (external battery). Federation soldiers and

saboteurs repeatedly try.

Missing a SILO verification or damaging/losing a MANUAL are PUNISHABLE

OFFENSES and must be reported to a COMMISSAR.

GUARD DUTY

An OUTPOST functions with 2x2 guards on duty at all times. Guards are

designated by a CORPORAL and are on duty for 30 minutes. The PRS will beep

loudly every 30 minutes to signal a change of guards.


On guard, your mission is to protect the NUCLEAR SILOS. If

you spot an enemy, yell “Contact!”. If unsure whether they

are friend or foe, yell “For the BLOC!” - a BLOC soldier

should reply the same thing.

Guards fill out a GUARD DUTY FORM at the end of their

GUARD DUTY. Failing to do so, abandoning your post or

sitting down whilst on GUARD DUTY are PUNISHABLE

OFFENSES and must be reported to a COMMISSAR.

If you’re not on GUARD DUTY but don’t know what to do, go

check on the guards.

SITUATION REPORTS (SIT-REPS)

At exact times every 5 hours, the UNIT’s soldiers must hand over a completed

SIT-REP form at the HQ CONTACT POINT (an automatic PRS message will alert the

UNIT OPERATOR). The form contains:

- an Equipment section, filled out by a CORPORAL after inspection

- Morale and Tactical sections, filled out by the SERGEANT

- an Ideological section, filled out by the COMMISSAR

SIT-REP forms are not expected to contain disappointing results.

Once the SIT-REP form is completed, a CORPORAL sends exactly 2 soldiers to

bring the form to the HQ CONTACT POINT. This HQ CONTACT POINT is situated

halfway between the OUTPOST and QUADRANT HQ (in enemy territory).

A soldier from HQ with a red and yellow flag will

be at the HQ CONTACT POINT at the exact timing to

get the SIT-REP form and bring it back to HQ. To

avoid enemy interception, the HQ soldier will be

in the same general area, but not exactly in the

same location. Being late at the HQ CONTACT

POINT is a PUNISHABLE OFFENSE and must be

reported to a COMMISSAR.

PUNISHMENT

Frequent punishment is a normal part of life for BLOC citizens, and is

necessary to discourage seditious actions, especially in times of war. A UNIT


must therefore maintain a minimum rate of one punishment per hour. The only

hope of avoiding punishment is actively reporting others.

Punishment can be ordered by anyone ranked

CORPORAL or higher (including COMMISSARS,

naturally). Unless otherwise instructed,

specifics are at the CORPORAL’s discretion

(including having other soldiers execute or

supervise the punishment).

Options are endless, but classics include:

- Cleaning the PARTICLE FILTER (off-game low-intensity default option)

- Beatings

- No food at next meal

- Push-ups (off-game: let the punished one count/fake them if needed)

- Extra GUARD DUTY

- Any of the above applied to the entire UNIT except the guilty soldier

The most severe crimes are punished by sending the offender to die a very slow

and painful death in a REHABILITATION CAMP, rather than by execution.

Off-game, punishment is a great tool to oppress characters who go against the

system (rebels, deviants, traitors…) and bring them back into the fold.

Players should consider that, in this larp, going against the system will

ultimately fail. Continually being oppressed by the totalitarian system

creates cool drama, whereas eliminating the oppressor characters would take

away from your own experience and prevent their players from further

participating in the larp.

MEDALS

Black ribbon - MEDAL OF THE SUPREME LEADER

Exceptional services rendered to the BLOC

White ribbon - MEDAL OF IDEOLOGICAL PURITY

Exceptional ideological rectitude

Purple ribbon - MEDAL OF BRAVERY

Exceptional bravery in combat

Blue ribbon - MEDAL OF THE QUADRANT NORTH CAMPAIGN

Veteran of the (officially victorious) QUADRANT NORTH CAMPAIGN


Participants playing characters that have taken part in the QUADRANT NORTH

CAMPAIGN are encouraged to collectively determine some anecdotes about it

before the larp.

MEALS

“In the BLOC, every meal is a feast.” [PARTY DOCTRINE]

Meals are decided by the SERGEANT (usually three times a day). A CORPORAL then

proceeds with distribution.

Meals must be taken in the OUTPOST’s radio room and must be preceded with

singing the BLOC’S GLORIOUS ANTHEM. Guards will be grateful if you bring them

something to eat as well.


5. RULES

STARTING THE LARP

Players will start the larp in groups, at different times and different

locations, as described in the character sheets. The BLOC’S GLORIOUS ANTHEM

will be used as a transition into the larp: when the music stops, play begins.

FALLING INTO HOLES

Be careful where you walk. The most dangerous

places (holes, barbed wire...) will be marked with

red & white tape and glowsticks.

During the night, ALWAYS keep your light on when

moving. Enemies might spot your character, but

that just makes for a cool scene. You may turn off

your light when not moving.

DECONTAMINATION ROOMS

Each OUTPOST has an off-game “decontamination room”. Players may use it to: - temporarily isolate themselves from the larp without leaving the

OUTPOST

- have a quiet off-game discussion with a player or organizer

- get off-game or replacement gear

When a player is unavailable for an off-game reason, they are

“decontaminating”. There will be no negative consequences for the character.

LANYARDS

The color of the lanyard holding your badge conveys to others how tough you

(as a participant, not a character) would like your larp experience to be:

green for easy, yellow for regular, red for hard. Participants can change

lanyard color at any time (extra lanyards will be in the decontamination

rooms). NPCs use lanyards too.

Everyone has different comfort-levels and that’s cool. A red lanyard doesn’t

make you a better larper.


Comfort-levels will be collaboratively calibrated

during the workshops, but here are some starting points:

- Green: minimal physical contact, no prolonged

direct shouting, leave my food alone, punish with

particle filter, don’t wake me up… Be careful with

these participants.

- Yellow: some weak-ass wrestling, shout all you

want, take away some of my food, punish with

push-ups, wake me up...

- Red: hit me (not too hard!), make me crawl, take all

my food, wake me up with water… Really push these

people, it’s what they want!

When sleeping, place your lanyard on your shoes or helmet. A green lanyard

means your character is “decontaminating”.

SAFEWORDS

“Deep, deep” or “Deeply, deeply”: A request for more physical/emotional

intensity. Used by itself or as part of a sentence.

Example: “I’m deeply, deeply sorry!” = Please increase scene intensity.

“Brems” (slow down in Norwegian): A command to reduce intensity, by staying

in-game but steering play away from its current focus. Used when you are

exceeding your own limits. People monitor their own limits, so please don’t

“brems” for others.

Example: “Brems - I’m sorry!” = You must leave my character alone now.

“CUT!!!”: Stops the larp immediately for those present until the issue is

resolved off-game. Used in case of off-game danger or emergency.

Using safewords is good. If in doubt, use the

safe-word. Also, using a safeword will never have

negative consequences for your character.

Please really do go for aggression, pressure or

intimacy, but do so gradually, to give the other

player a chance to opt out by using a safe-word if

they wish.


POSTAL BOARD

Participants can have their character receive a letter

whenever they like: just take one with your character’s

name on it from your OUTPOST’s postal board.

Participants are also encouraged to have their

characters write letters during the larp. Sending these

letters is represented by pinning them on the postal

board, where any participant (but not characters) can

read them. The letters act as written monologues, giving

access to the characters’ private thoughts (and creating

physical mementos of the larp).

In-game, there is no functioning mail censorship (it

relied on machines and has not yet recovered from the Federation Hack), so one

can write freely. We also don’t care how letters are delivered - they just are.

The bottom part of the postal board can be used to pin off-game requests and

messages on, such as “Please play more on anti-AD discrimination” or “Has

anyone seen my spare socks?”.

SHADES

Anyone wearing red clothing (or a red light in the dark)

is a Shade and is therefore invisible to characters. This

allows organizers or off-game photographers to move

around without creating misunderstandings or being

shot at.

If a Shade speaks to you, what they say are thoughts your

character forms in their mind. The character can of

course resist these thoughts, but they do feel them as

their own.

If a Shade grabs your arm and makes you do something (eg:

raise you hand), your character does this without thinking about it, as if by

instinct. If the character thinks about why they’re doing this, they will try

and rationalize their action.

If a Shade touches your forehead, your character can see them and interact

with them until the Shade touches their forehead again. The Shade will appear

to the character as a day-dream might, perhaps as someone they know.


A player can always simply ignore a Shade if they prefer.

PHONES

Phones will be used during the larp for off-game communication between

players and organizers (normally just a few text messages), so keep them on and

in vibration mode (in a pocket where you can feel them vibrate).

Feel free to text the organizers if a problem arises, or call if it’s serious.

In-game, phones are RADIATION METERS (or “rad-meters”) so it’s perfectly

normal for people to fiddle with them from time to time.

REPLICANTS

Replicants are machines that are indistinguishable

from normal people.

At the start of the larp, they don’t exist. The most

advanced robots the characters have faced thus far are

the heavily armored NEXUS-5 MECHANIZED INFANTRY.

During the larp, one or more characters might be

revealed to be Replicant sleeper agents (think

Battlestar Galactica). Which character(s) exactly will

be determined by the players themselves through a

simple voting system.

Voting works like this:

- During the first half of the larp, each participant sends a text message

to the organizers, telling them which character they think would make

the most dramatic Replicant (that is: the player selects a character). You

may vote for your own character.

- During the second half of the larp, organizers will send instructions

via text message to players whose characters got the most votes.

This means that your character’s fate may be determined in part by the larp’s

other participants.

Playing a Replicant is NOT a signal to assassinate all the other characters as

soon as possible. Use it to create drama instead.


HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT

Hand-to-hand combat is a great way to bring violent conflict into play

without risking serious character injury. It will be simulated using

stage-fighting (which will be workshopped).

Basic tips:

- Progressively build up from insults to shoving to fighting

- Use the first phases to identify corners, stairs and other participants

- Take your time, make the fight last

- Make slow, obvious movements

- When you grab someone, let them take control of your movements

- Scream!

Decide who wins based on what makes the most dramatic scene (not on actual

player strength or size). Losing the fight means ending up KO or controlled.

Saying “I’m gonna fuck you up!” is an off-game way of telling the other player

you want your character to lose the fight.

For safety reasons, all fights are 1-on-1. A third person joining must pick a

side and immediately makes that side win.

GUNFIGHTS

Gunfights will be simulated using airsoft guns. Safe use will be demonstrated

in a video and workshopped. No previous airsoft experience is required and

actual shooting abilities will have only a limited impact on the larp.

Participants must wear eye-protection at all

times during the larp, as a BB can permanently

damage an eye. Participants are encouraged to

wear lower face-masks (or a scarf), gloves and

helmets during firefights.

Please be gentle with the guns, as some parts are

made of plastic and can easily break.

If your target is closer than 10m, yell “BANG!” instead of shooting because

short-range shots can be painful.


Finally, please don’t take away someone’s gun unless it makes for a really cool

scene. Federation guns are not useable by BLOC soldiers.

GUNSHOT WOUNDS

When hit by one or more BBs, or when someone yells “BANG!” at you, fall to the

ground screaming to show you’ve been hit (and splash yourself full of fake

blood if there’s a bottle nearby). Then, based on what makes for the best story,

decide if your character is seriously wounded or not.

If you decide the wound is serious, let the others know through roleplaying.

From then on, you are physically impaired until a MEDIC heals you with a

MEDKIT.

“Impaired” means whatever you want it to, depending on what’s more

interesting to play (example: maybe a really bad limp, or maybe people need to

carry you around). In exceptional circumstances, a seriously wounded

character might very briefly be able to overcome their injuries to accomplish

something simple that is very important to them.

Organizers follow the same principles as players: if you shot them and they get

back up, they are only doing so to make the scene as cool as possible.

HEALING FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND

A seriously wounded character needs to be treated by a

MEDIC with a MEDKIT. They also need MORPHISONE or they

will hurt like hell. Once treated, the character is good

to go again as soon as the player likes. Off-game,

treating a gunshot wound involves using the bandage

from a MEDKIT and plenty of fake blood.

If a wound is not treated, blood-loss and pain will lead

to fever, hallucination and delusion. Eventually the

character will go into shock: they’ll start shaking, then

go unconscious. If they are still not treated, they will

at some point die. Timing is up to the player. Go for

drama.

To sum up:

- A character is either “OK” or “seriously wounded”.


- If they’re seriously wounded, they are impaired and need medical

treatment or they will eventually die.

MORPHISONE

MORPHISONE is a powerful painkiller designed for

combat surgery. It is also used on troops to reduce

anxiety or make them execute orders without empathy or

hesitation.

Soldiers sometimes inject it illegally to escape the

horrors of combat for a while, despite the side-effects.

These include disorientation, shaking, attention

lapses, paranoïa, panic-attacks, headaches, nausea,

emotional instability, hallucination…

How long a dose lasts or what kind of side-effects

happen are up to the player.

Warning: unless treated with a MEDKIT by a MEDIC, injection of three doses of

MORPHISONE in rapid succession can result in a fatal overdose!

NEXUS-5 ROBOTS & EMP GRENADES

Bulky armor, “full auto” rate of fire and robotic movement will make it very

obvious to players when their characters are facing a NEXUS-5 MECHANIZED

INFANTRY UNIT.

To destroy one of these combat robots, soldiers have to throw an EMP GRENADE

within 5 meters of it, before shooting them (very) repeatedly in the chest. All

characters have done this before, at least once in training.

Off-game, EMP GRENADES will be colored airsoft smoke grenades. They are

simple to use but become quite hot, so throw them once activated. Safe use will

be demonstrated during workshops.


RADIATION

The use of nuclear weapons has saturated the combat zone with deadly

radiation.

Anyone in the combat zone must swallow a RADIATION COUNTER-MEASURE (RCM or

rad-pill) every 5 hours (an automatic PRS message will alert the UNIT

OPERATOR). Failure to do so will lead to radiation poisoning (rad-poisoning),

with consequences similar to MORPHISONE side-effects.

A character missing a second RCM will eventually

go into shock and, after some time, die.

Taking an RCM will bring you back from

“rad-poisoned” to “OK”, or from “dying” to

“rad-poisoned”. Barring that, MORPHISONE can

ease your pain, if you manage to get some…

Off-game, RCMs are blue and white empty gelatin

capsules, safe to swallow.

To sum up:

- A character is either “OK”, “rad-poisoned” or “dying”.

- Missing a pill at a 5-hour mark makes the character one level worse.

- Taking an RCM at any time makes them one level better.

TORTURE & IMPRISONMENT

To torture someone, you basically beat them up

using stage-fighting, with the tortured

character restrained in some way (don’t hesitate

to use fake blood). The player of the tortured

character gets to decide if they reveal or

promise anything.

In the totalitarian BLOC, torture is a way to

punish people or make them confess things. A citizen or soldier might be

tortured, then return to their post. Off-game, the player of the torturing or

imprisoning character has the responsibility to ensure that the victim does

not get stuck in a narrative dead-end.


SEX & INTIMACY

Given the setting, sex and intimacy are unlikely. If players nonetheless wish

their characters to have an intimate relationship, a short off-game

discussion about peoples’ limits is mandatory. Any sexual violence is

prohibited unless explicitly agreed to.

HIDING STUFF & SEARCHING

A character can search anything (excluding the decontamination room). If you

hide something, make it easy to find. Organizers will do the same.

CHARACTER DEATH

Your character can die only if you want them to.

A miraculous survival is always possible.

Conversely, if your character tries to murder

another, let that player decide if their

character survives or not.

Only have your character die before the larp’s

ending if this strongly enhances your experience through a really dramatic

scene.

If your character does die before the end of the larp, play dead for as long as

there are other players around, then contact the organizers.

If someone else’s character dies, it’s a big deal: one of your last comrades has

just disappeared forever, so make the most of this opportunity to create an

emotional scene.

ENDING THE LARP & “CODE BLUE”

The larp will probably end at different times for differents players

(approximatively between 9 AM and 11 AM on Sunday).

Participants may end their larp in three different ways:

- Taking part in the pre-planned ending-sequence. This is the

recommended default option. Organizers will indicate that an order

leads to this ending-sequence using the “CODE BLUE” phrase.


- Staying in their OUTPOST until the bitter end. The Feds will eventually

storm the OUTPOSTS, killing all those left inside around 11 AM on

Sunday.

- Setting up their own separate individual ending. If you go this way,

please notify the organizers at some point.

A specific off-game song will be used to signal that the current scene will be

the character’s last. When they exit this scene, your larp is over. The MP3 will

be distributed so that participants setting up their separate individual

ending can play it on their phone.

Listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/jSZZm0fxtXQ (Hourvari - II)

RECAP OF META-PHRASES

“Decontaminating” = off-game

“Deep, deep” = please increase intensity “Brems” = decrease intensity now “CUT!” = stop larping now!

“I’m gonna fuck you up!” = my character will lose this brawl “BANG!” = I’m shooting you at short range

“CODE BLUE” = this order will lead to the pre-planned ending scene

* THE END *

Photos:

Rémi Lapcinelle

Philippe Carrère

Jérôme Verdier

Joram Epis

All photographs were taken during previous runs of NEXUS-6.


https://youtu.be/jSZZm0fxtXQ

ADDENDUM

THE BLOC’S GLORIOUS ANTHEM

VERSE 01 The BLOC arises glorious

Our struggle unto death

The enemy – The last of us

To sigh their dying breath

CHORUS Our anger – Our pure command

Is our beacon in the dark

By our LEADER's guiding hand

To victory we march!

VERSE 02 As one – Defeat those who oppress

Our passionate ideals

The plunderers – The merciless

The people's will reveals





VERSE 03 The BLOC arises glorious

Our struggle unto death

The enemy – The last of us

To sigh their dying breath






nexus-6...2.practical information dates the 2017 english language run of nexus-6 will take place on...

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