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Welcome to a whole new level of role-playing fun with plenty of
adrenaline! Wanderlust is a fantasy role-playing game that's
live and in-person. It's kind of like improvisational theatre, where
you are given a framework or setting, and develop your character
as you interact with other players and the game itself. There is
a collective history from which you can draw, and a number of plots
or story lines beginning, growing, and ending at any given event.
I can assure you, it is a lot easier to play than it sounds, because
most of the details are taken care of by the Yarnspinners (the folks
who come up with most of the stories or "modules" and facilitate
their play). Many stories and plots flow naturally from the interaction
of townsfolk, adventurers, and others.
You may hear gossip around town, witness or overhear something
interesting, or you may accept a commision from someone like the
Adventurer's Guild. If the adventurer's life is not your style you
could play a townsperson, like a merchant, a town guardsman, a tavern
wench, and so on, or you can play a monster, or possibly even a
cast member (sort of like a non-player character).
Here you experience the grand days of high fantasy in a game environment
that is fun and, above all, safe. Here you will find mystery and
magic, treasure and treachery, monsters and wonders beyond your
dreams, live and up close. All you need is a little imagination.
Wanderlust is played in formal or informal groups of practically
any size and composition. For more information about contacting
a registered group in your area, or to register your own group,
see the LARC Registration Page.
What is a Wanderlust Game Like?
In Wanderlust, a "company" of monsters and cast members
(Non-player characters) provides a framework for the game and helps
set the fantasy medieval mood. In the Wanderlust group based
in Portland, Oregon (LARC), the Kingdom of Sylvus is trying to make
a shaky recovery from the rash of wars (giants, troglodytes, and
goblinoids) and nasty undead festation, with all manner of people
and creatures thereabouts seeking their individual pleasures and
agendas, ripe for discovery.
Wanderlust uses padded boffer weapons in actual hand-to-hand
combat, and a magic system that uses spell packs (made from loose-woven
cloth and filled with corn starch) to represent the hurling of spell
energy. Costumes and armor, whether real or "just for looks", is
worn to enhance the ambiance.
After creating a player character (PC) you are given a set of cards
or tags that represent your character's skills. As a rule, the player
does not necessarily have to have a certain skill for their character
to be able to use it. For example: Jason cannot cast magic, but
Binkasha (his Kith PC ) can and does. And although Kaare has never
tried to wield an actual metal blade in combat, Chade (his human
PC) is a devastating swordsman. When you learn new skills you get
additional tags. Any time you use one of your skills, the other
players involved may ask to see the appropriate skill tag (although
we expect that none of the Wanderlust players would pretend
to use a skill they don't have...we are on an honor system for the
most part). A reeve (game referee) may ask to see your skill tags
at any time. You will also be givin tags that represent your life
points, spell points, and armor points, and any other pertinent
information. These skill rings may be worn or carried (they are
usually fairly small, at least until you build a high level character).
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