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How Fairweather Manor managed servants and staff; Could prove useful inspiration (feel free to add ideas)
Topic Started: Jan 19 2017, 11:32 PM (35 Views)
Shannon Lopez
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These ideas all come from Fairweather Manor LARP and are *not* rules of THIS game, nor even necessarily correct guidelines for this game (Tom can point out what he does thinks is particularly suitable). They are, however, ideas that come from a game where people play nobility, servants and artists for a weekend without any driving overarching meta-plot like we have so this can be a springboard for some very good ideas for keeping each other entertained.
Sam (CtL) ... that quiet kid with the headphones who is also loud and tries too hard to be friendly.
Evzenia Radovek (SW) ... nothing like a paladin of lies to provide all your surgical needs.
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Shannon Lopez
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Ideas for nobles
1. A private meeting. Invite someone special for a private moment in the bird garden. Maybe a friend, maybe a romantic interest.
2. Blackmail. Threaten to spill a secret if you don’t get a concession of some sort. A promise. A kiss. A lie.
3. Showoff. Dazzle the nobles with your birds. Make sure they know it’s YOUR bird garden.
4. Switch loyalties. Leave a friend hanging and break your word.
5. Payback. Plot revenge over som slight. Real or imagined. Then carry it out, or get others to do so.
6. Saviour. Help out someone who needs it, and make sure they know the help comes at a price later.
7. Explore. Try to use your unique position to gain access to places you shouldn’t be in. Even if it fails.
8. Spymaster. Spy on your fellow servants, and figure out what to do with the knowledge you gain.
9. Relax! Enjoy the fact that there’s a grand party and the house is full of artists. Take in a play or a song.
10. Lose your temper. Over something small or something big. Then try to cover up the mistake.
Sam (CtL) ... that quiet kid with the headphones who is also loud and tries too hard to be friendly.
Evzenia Radovek (SW) ... nothing like a paladin of lies to provide all your surgical needs.
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Shannon Lopez
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Ideas for servants / dealing with servants
• Physical tasks are never done alone, but always in twos or threes. Cleaning the room for the visiting nobles of the Russian Branch is not that fun, but three chambermaids gossiping while they’re making a room look presentable can be very interesting.

• Nobles require lots of personal wardrobe assistance. Brushing off dust on dinner jackets, straightening dresses and combing hair - all these activities lead to private scenes where servants and nobles have a chance to talk (and chatter!). A lot of the work will be keeping the nobles “presentable” in this way.

• “Very good, sir/my lady. The other servants will do it.” If a noble or a guest tells a servant to do something, and the player playing the servant feels that this is either too boring or straight out impossible, the servant can use this phrase to let the other player know that she must do it herself if she wants it done. This is a way for the servant player to discreetly signal to the other player that the task won’t be done.

• We are at an actual hotel. This means that most actual work will be done by the actual hotel staff. Playing a kitchen maid doesn’t mean cooking meals for a large amount of people, but preparing platters of cookies, evening tea and the like, just as playing a scullery maid doesn’t mean washing dishes you don’t want to!

• “I’ll ask downstairs, sir/my lady.” As organizers, we will be dressed in servant’s uniforms and will be clearly marked by a clear visual code (a coloured armband for instance). This means that if doubts arise as to what’s possible and what’s not, you can always find us and ask. The way to discreetly signal this to the noble/guest players is by saying “I’ll ask downstairs, sir/my lady” to let them know you’ll ask us.

• “Very good, sir/my lady. The other servants will do it.” During the larp, you will be giving tasks to servants. Don’t be afraid to do so. This creates play for them, and is part of their experience. But if someone uses that phrase it means that the task you’ve just given will NOT be carried out. This can be because it’s deemed too boring/hard/demeaning/etc. You can now choose to either discreetly take care of it yourself (taking your boots to the offgame room and shining them, if that was the task in question, for instance), or by cancelling the order, e.g. “Ah, forget it. It’s not important!”

• “I’ll ask downstairs, sir/my lady.” Sometimes you will ask a servant player to do something where the player honestly doesn’t know if it’s possible or not. If you hear the phrase “I’ll ask downstairs, sir/my lady.” it means that the servant will ask the organizers for help/permission/advice/etc. Whatever the task/question is, remember to accept the reply that comes back from “downstairs” with good grace!

• Nobles require lots of personal wardrobe assistance. As a noble you need to look your very best at all times. This means frequent pauses for being groomed by your personal servant(s), and creates moments where you can talk more freely with them. While you’re getting your gown re-arranged or your jacket dusted off, don’t be quiet - talk, gossip, complain and let the mouth work while you’re being attended to.

• Servants are invisible most of the time. As a noble, you’ll happily discuss things in front of servants that you’d never talk about in front of relatives or guests - especially ones you don’t like. Unless you have particular reasons to distrust specific servants, ignore their presence if they’re just in the background.
Edited by Shannon Lopez, Jan 20 2017, 01:04 AM.
Sam (CtL) ... that quiet kid with the headphones who is also loud and tries too hard to be friendly.
Evzenia Radovek (SW) ... nothing like a paladin of lies to provide all your surgical needs.
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Shannon Lopez
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From the artist section
• You’re at the mercy of the nobles. As an artist, you do not have stable income and are constantly looking for supporters, admirers and patrons. No artist at Fairweather Manor (even the famous ones) is immune to the pressure of having to be in some noble’s good graces. Not everyone has to like you, but if no nobles do, then you’re in a horrible position. Remember that in your play. Sometimes artists swallow their pride!

• It’s expected that you entertain the nobles and guests. Of course you’re not on call 24/7, but it is expected that you give performances and show off your craft. This can be a reading from your newest novel or poem, a concert in the concert hall or perhaps leading a merry dance. Everyone knows that most of the artist players at the larp are not professional artists, so don’t be afraid of performing - applause will come.

• You should also entertain the servants. Any wise artist knows that while it’s the nobles who pay, unkind words from the servants easily lead to missed opportunities. Doing a folksy piano session with the servants, or letting them see the theatre play’s last test run is considered very prudent. The smart artist knows the value of the good opinion of the servants, and remains on good terms with them.

• Involving other players in activities is good. Apart from performances as such, it’s also expected that you will provide interesting activities that others can partake in. Organising a dancing workshop for the willing or teaching painting classes is part of the price artists pay for guesting the great house. These activities can be either open and scheduled or secret and spontaneous. Perhaps even both.

• Conversation and controversy. Everyone knows that artists are a bit strange and have lofty ideas. This means that you can “get away with” having much more radical ideas than others, and that you should function as a conversation starter. A noble lady opening a discussion by saying that she doesn’t believe in the monarchy is unheard of, while a pompous artist stating the same will lead to fiery debate. Speak out!
Edited by Shannon Lopez, Jan 20 2017, 01:04 AM.
Sam (CtL) ... that quiet kid with the headphones who is also loud and tries too hard to be friendly.
Evzenia Radovek (SW) ... nothing like a paladin of lies to provide all your surgical needs.
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