Live Action Role Playing

It has been a while since we last had our LARP, though others have been run through out the city. Much discussion and thought has been put into starting a new one. At this time I am not sure I want to start a new one. Many of you who have played the game know that there are as many problems as there are joys in the game. The bickering and back stabbing that is part of the game, carries over into real life causing no end of problems for characters and players who happen to have worked their selves into a position of power in the game. There is no such thing as making everyone happy, and if you are as lucky as me, you get a group of jerks who decided that ripping your game and your personal life apart is the greatest thrill around. So why do I consider running another LARP? Well because I do enjoy the role play, and when you get a group of very good players together, there is nothing like live theater. Ther things I have learned and need to find for the next attempt:

1. Setup your rules early and stick with them
2. Don't let the players run the game.
3. Get plenty of help with plot lines and judging, but remain as the final say.
4. Trust no one to do what they say they will. If you can't do it, don't expect it to get done.
5. If you are not a writer, get someone to help you run plot lines. The simpler the better. None of the players want to think.
6. If you ask for suggestions, be ready for a stream of complaints a mile long.
7. Yes I am being sarcastic, though much of this is true. LARPing can be a blast if everyone remembers the cardinal rule