Prawn is 'The live action roleplaying game you play in a swimming pool!' Now that sounds like a crazy concept. How're you going to run a LARP in a pool? But it works. So don't give up on this LARP without reading further. And I won't give away any spoilers.
Physically, the book is a series of pages folded in half and stapled together. That's a positive, because you'll need to remove the staples and photocopy the book to play the LARP. The info is well laid out. Everything that would need to be handed out is on it's own page, or on pages full of cut-me-outs. There are a few cartoony pictures in it. That's about all there is to say about the physical aspects. The writing is funny and ironic. Like fish special abilities are called Fish Shticks.
The game: You're a fish. Well, you're anything that can live in a fishtank and is edible. The game is set for 16 players, 3 tank masters [game masters], and 3-5 NPC-playing people. That's a fair sized group of friends to get together for a pool party. But if you can pull that off, everyone'll have fun. The players can be the 16 premade characters, or create their own. The plot lines are weaved into the premade characters, but are also separated, so you can cut them out and hand them to player-generated characters, if the players go that route. That's a refreshing aspect in a larp. I should also mention that the game is slated to take 2 hours. So 2 hours in the pool, and then have a bbq. I suggest lobster and shrimp :)
The game mechanics are very simple. Here's an example: Food floats in the pool. Eat food, gain 1hp. Combat's just as easy. Each fish also has special abilities, Fish Shticks. They're also easy to understand and use. You can also make up your own Fish Shticks. The rule is that if it takes more than 2 sentences to explain it, it shouldn't be a Shtick.
The game is meant to be light and funny. The plots stay true to that. They give room for the player to play in, while being amusing to everyone else. There's no replayability in these plots. But, the mechanics can be reused, and TMs can make up their own plots.
The hardest part about writing this review is explaining how great this LARP is, without giving away any information about it. The premise of the game made me laugh. Reading it had me chuckling. I'm spoiled for playing in it, but I'd love to TM it. And I know I'd enjoy watching it play out as much as I'd enjoy playing in it. Unfortunately, it's the wrong time of the year to host a pool party, so I haven't been able to run it, yet. I can imagine my friends playing in it, and having a blast. Even those who don't play LARPs.
As someone who's played LARPs for years, this one is special.
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(Due to spamming, old forum discussions are no linked.)