Game Concepts
On this page, we quickly go through the various representational techniques, calibration mechanics and other game concepts that are used in Indenture. They will be expanded upon in the player material later on.
Calibration Mechanics
The larp uses the traditional set of Atropos mechanics: Tap out, Off-game and Lookdown. They will be shown at the workshops.
Representational Techniques
For the most part, Indenture is a larp where real things are real, but there are a few exceptions.
Sex is represented through realistic theatrical sex with underwear on, as well as the hand-technique as used in Lord of Lies, Nocturne and more.
Violence is highly restricted to private, calibrated settings and can be played out as either couple prefers. Violence between non-calibrated characters will be played out using a controlled force + wrestling mechanic and is only allowed in certain spaces.
Playing Poker is done through regular plays, but there is a meta-technique for telling the better characters that you do not have anything good in hand. This is called ”Feeling Brave” and is a way to tell others that they can safely follow your raises etc, and it symbolizes how better players might read poorer players and their telltale signs.
Alcohol is available in game, but since it is generally self-served, there is no meta word to show if it is real alcohol or not. If you want to drink non-alcoholic, then fetch a non-alcoholic bottle.
The Gambling System
This will be detailed further in the player material, but uses Texas Hold’Em as a base. The main changes all involve what we call Hold Tokens, which are representations of the right of Indenture over a specific person. Each person added as a stake at the start of the tournament has a Hold Token. The Hold Tokens have a few uses that are all designed to maximize player interaction and emotional impact.
The system has been tested in order to create interesting play throughout the entire larp, without immediately reducing the chance to play for some characters while giving others a too great advantage.
Characters have some degree of control over whether anyone can get the Hold Token of the stake character, or whether it will be lost to specific people at the table.
The outcome of the entire tournament depends entirely on the events of the larp and the card games. Depending on where the Indentured end up and how many people still have chips at the end, it could be completely different endings. Some people have no interest in an Indentured but might want to trade them to someone who does. Some want as many as possible for their own destructive purposes. Others still will be happy just to get away with a bit of money, and in the worst of cases, someone’s fate might be such a terrible one that others try to negotiate for their contract.