Mechanics
Gothic will make use of a limited set of mechanics to enable play. These will be explained and practised during the pre-larp workshops.
Masks
At some point during the evening, masks will be put into play. They can be used by the servants, either on themselves, on one another, and on the poets. If someone is wearing a mask, in the eyes of the beholder, the wearer becomes whoever they claim to be while wearing the mask.
Example of masks in play
Servant placing a mask on Mary: “You are are Shelley’s wife, Harriet”
Mary to Percy, whilst wearing a mask: “Percy, it’s me, Harriet. . . when will you be coming home to me, my love?”
Sex
We will use Theatre Style Sex to represent intimacy in this larp. It involves physical imitation of the acts while wearing clothes. Thus, all in-game scenes that play on sexual themes must include all parties wearing (at least) their underwear. Playing intimate scenes can foster a deeper understanding and connection of the characters and their story and should always be treated with respect and care.
Drugs
There are simulations of drug taking within the larp. Laudanum will be an alibi for the actions of the poets as they move from the real world, to a dream state, and then into the nightmare beyond. No actual drugs will be involved.
Mesmerism and Magic / Monsters
As the larp progresses, there will be scenes where the characters believe something otherworldly is beginning to occur, and some or all the characters will want to explore what is going on. There may be seances, occult rituals, or other acts of ritual taking place in the fiction. There are some characters in the larp with the ability to mesmerise (hypnotise) others. There is no system for this magic. You as players decide the effects. So if it makes for good drama for your character to be hypnotised, or creates play by belief in some act of magic, then we ask you to lean into it. If you believe you are seeing strange creatures lurking in the shadows, then please play on this fear. If someone tells you your fortune, feel free to play to make it come true.
