Live action role-playing game and Mission San Juan Capistrano: Difference between pages

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Revision as of 08:16, 7 June 2007

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:''Another mission bearing the name '''San Juan Capistrano''' is the [[Mission San Juan Capistrano (Texas)|Mission San Juan Capistrano]] in [[San Antonio, Texas]].

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{{RPG}}

A '''live action role-playing game''' (or '''LARP''' as it is often known) is a form of [[role-playing game]] where the participants perform some or all of the physical actions of the characters they are playing. LARP may be considered a form of [[storytelling]]-based [[improvisational theater]]. LARP is alternately called '''live action role-playing''' or '''live role-playing'''.

{{Infobox Missions|

==LARP basics==

image=Mission San Juan Capistrano 4-5-05 100 6588.JPG|

===In character vs. out of character===

caption=A view of Mission San Juan Capistrano in April of 2005. At left is the façade of the first adobe church with its added ''espadaña''. Behind the ''campanario'', or "bell wall" is the "Sacred Garden." The Mission has earned a reputation as the "''Loveliest of the Franciscan Ruins.''"|

In traditional [[tabletop role-playing game]]s, a player usually describes the words or actions of his or her character, framing the descriptions with introductory statements such as "My character says..." or "My character does..." In a LARP, since the actions of a player become the actions of the character, a special distinction must be made between actions a player takes as himself (out-of-character, or "OOC" actions, sometimes called "off-role" , "out-of-game" or "offplay"), and actions a player takes as his character (in-character, or "IC" actions, sometimes called "in-role" , "in-game" or "inplay"). There are often symbols, such as [[cards]], ribbons, or gestures, to symbolize that a player is out-of-character, so the other players know not to interpret his actions as his character's actions.

name=Mission San Juan Capistrano|

___location=[[San Juan Capistrano, California]]|

originalname=''La Misión de San Juan Capistrano de Sajavit''&nbsp;<ref>Leffingwell, p. 37</ref>|

translation=The Mission of Saint John of Sajavit|

namesake=[[Giovanni da Capistrano|Saint John]] of [[Capestrano]]|

nickname="Jewel of the Missions"&nbsp;<ref>Young, p. 26</ref><br>"Mission of the Swallow"|

founded=[[November 1]] [[1776]]&nbsp;<ref>Leffingwell, p. 37</ref>|

foundedby=Father Presidente [[Junípero Serra]]|

foundingorder=Seventh|

militarydistrict=First|

nativetribe=[[Acjachemem|Juaneño]]|

owner=[[Roman Catholic Church]]|

placename=''Quanís Savit, Sajivit''&nbsp;<ref>Ruscin, p. 195</ref>|

currentuse=Chapel / Museum|

Coor dms={{coor dms|33|30|10|N|117|39|42|W|}}|

NHL=[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/CA/Orange/state2.html #NPS&ndash;71000170]|

NRHP=[[September 3]] [[1971]]|

CHL=[http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21445 #200]|

website=http://www.missionsjc.com|

}}

'''Mission San Juan Capistrano''' was founded on [[All Saints|All Saints Day]] ([[November 1]]), [[1776]]. Named for a 15th-century [[Theology|theologian]] and "warrior priest" who resided in the [[Abruzzo]] region of [[Italy]], San Juan Capistrano has the distinction of being home to the oldest building in California still in use, a [[chapel]] built in 1782; known alternately as "Serra's Chapel" and "Father Serra's Church," it the only extant structure wherein it has been documented that the padre officiated over [[mass]].<ref>Young, p. 23</ref> The founding document on display within the Mission is also the only known surviving founding paper signed by Father Serra. One of the best known of the Alta California missions, the site was originally consecrated on [[October 30]], [[1775]] by Father [[Fermín Lasuén]] but was abandoned due to unrest among the indigenous population in San Diego.<ref>Yenne, p. 72</ref>

Some LARPs encourage, if not demand, total immersion into the game lore and setting. This requires players not simply "play" their characters, but instead to "be" them. If a player wants to attack something or someone, they may simply do so, but they do so with ramifications: such acts may have political or social effects on the player. In this setting, players strive to stay true to their characters. Many players indicate that the more in-character a player gets, the more complete the experience is. In such LARPs, during the event running times, out-of-character references to the "mundane" world are discouraged and may lead to a deduction in the number of points awarded to the character.

The success of the settlement is evident in its historical records. Prior to the arrival of the missionaries, some 550 natives were scattered throughout the local area; by 1790, the number of converted [[Christians]] had grown to 700, and just six years later nearly 1,000 "neophytes" (recent converts) lived in or around the Mission compound. 1,649 [[baptism]]s were conducted that year alone, out of the total 4,430 souls converted throughout the Mission's lifetime. An estimated 2,000 former inhabitants (mostly [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]) are buried in unmarked graves in the Mission's [[cemetery]] (''campo santos''), as are the remains of Father (later [[Monsignor]]) [[St. John O'Sullivan]], the man credited with recognizing the property's historic value and working tirelessly to conserve and rebuild its structures. Father O'Sullivan is buried at the entrance to the cemetery on the west side of the property, and a statue raised in his honor stands at the head of the crypt. The surviving chapel also serves as the final resting place of three padres who passed on while serving at the Mission: Father José Barona, Father Vincent Fuster, and Father José Rafael Oliva are all entombed beneath the sanctuary floor.

===Character Life and Death===

Like most [[tabletop role-playing game]]s, such as [[Dungeons and Dragons]], many LARPs feature character growth and progression, where points are awarded to players for various criteria, such as attendance, interactions, or role-playing. These points are then applied to the character, allowing a player’s character to "grow". Points may also affect a character's strength, affect resistance to magic or other effects, or afford additional abilities and powers.

The Mission entered a long period of gradual decline after [[secularization]] in 1834. Numerous efforts were made over the years to restore the Mission to its former glory, but none met with great success until the arrival of Father O'Sullivan in 1910. Restoration efforts continue to this day; "Serra's Chapel" is still used for religious services, and over half a million people visit the [[landmark]] every year. In 1984 a modern church complex was constructed just north and west of the Mission compound; the design is patterned after the old stone church, but twenty percent larger. Its 85-foot high main [[rotunda]] and 104-foot high bell tower make it the tallest building in town; [[Pope John Paul II]] conferred the rank of [[Minor Basilica]] to this facility on [[February 14]], [[2000]].

Characters may also die in most LARPs. In some systems, this is merely a temporary phenomenon, putting the character out of play for a time. In most, it is a major setback, forcing a player to create a new character at base level and keeping the game system in balance. This ongoing life-and-death cycle within LARPs keeps them in a constant state of fluctuation, and can add emotion and excitement to each event. Most people who participate in LARPs will tell you that, at one time or another, the fear of character death has left them legitimately frightened, angry, happy or frustrated within game-play.

[[Image:1916 Rexford Newcomb sketch -- Mission San Juan Capistrano.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Artist Rexford Newcomb's conception of Mission San Juan Capistrano in its heyday. The intact "Great Stone Church" is depicted at the far right.<ref>Newcomb, p. 16</ref>]]

===Physical vs. symbolic combat===

[[Image:Live action role play battle.jpg|thumb|300px|A physical combat [[LARP]] battle at a [[Lorien Trust]] event]]

In traditional role-playing games, conflicts are usually resolved with charts, graphs, and [[dice]] to produce a random outcome. In LARPs, many players feel that dice-based systems interrupt the flow of the game, and use a variety of methods to replace them.

====Live Combat==Prehistory==

The first humans are thought to have made their homes among the southern valleys of California's coastal mountain ranges some 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. The earliest of these people are known only from archaeological evidence. Relatively much is known about the native inhabitants in recent centuries, thanks in part to the efforts of the Spanish explorer [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]], who documented his observations of life in the coastal villages he encountered along the Southern California coast in October of 1542.<ref>Yenne, p. 8</ref> Fray Gerónimo Boscana, a Franciscan scholar who was stationed at San Juan Capistrano in 1812, compiled what is widely considered to be the most comprehensive study of prehistoric religious practices in the San Juan Capistrano valley. Religious knowledge was secret, and the prevalent religion, called ''[[Chinigchinix|Chingichngich]]'', placed village chiefs in the position of religious leaders, an arrangement that gave the chiefs broad power over their people.

One major method to resolve combat is to use actual physical combat. Firearm combat can be simulated either with thrown [[bean bag]]s, or with toy, [[Airsoft]] or [[Lasertag]] guns. To ensure safety, some systems use [[Boffer]] weapons made of [[Polyvinyl chloride|PVC]] with foam-rubber coating, or [[latex weapons]]. The objective is never to hurt the opponent, but to score hits, which deal fake damage often quantified based on the type of weapon used in the attack. [[Magic (game)|Magic-using characters]] either throw "spell-packs" (usually small [[bean bag]]s) at opponents, serving as a physical representation of magic hitting its target, or simply pointing at their target and shouting some words describing the effect. Games using this method of combat are often known as "Boffer" or "Live Combat" LARPs.

==History==

Some LARPs have their own crew for special effects (FX) rigging effects of magic-using [[pyrotechnics]], smoke machines and smelly material. These crews are often recruited from young film and theatre technicians wanting to create a total film experience with the effects engulfing the participants. These crews might have in-character [[first aid]] roles acting making sure wounded people look bloody and wounded as they are carried from the scene of battle back to their camps, so that storylines based on healing and caring might develop.

===The Mission Era (1769 &ndash; 1833)===

[[Image:Mission San Juan Capistrano 4-5-05 100 6535.JPG|thumb|250px|right|A statue of Father Junípero Serra and an Indian boy, sculpted by '''Tole van Rensalaar'''; the work was commissioned in 1914 by Father St. John O'Sullivan to depict the meeting of the two cultures. Father O'Sullivan acted as the subject for Serra, and local resident Clarence Mendelson was the model for the boy.]]

Father Juan Crespí authored the first written account of actual interaction between Franciscan friars and the indigenous population after his expedition traveled through the region on [[July 22]], [[1769]]. The group officially named the area after [[Mary Magdalene|Santa Maria Magdalena]] (though it would also come to be called the ''Arroyo de la Quema'' and ''Cañada del Incendio'', "Wildfire Hollow").<ref>Kelsey, p. 9</ref> The Mission site was chosen as a logical halfway point between [[San Gabriel]] and [[San Diego]]. San Juan Capistrano is one of the few missions to have actually been founded twice (another being [[Mission La Purísima Concepción]]); the site was first established Father Fermín Lasuén and Father Gregório Amúrrio on October 30, 1775 near an [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] settlement named ''Sajivit''; unfortunately, [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]] came under Indian attack eight days later.<ref>Wright, p. 37</ref> Since it was feared at the time that any hostile action by the natives against the few burgeoning outposts might break [[Spain]]'s tenuous hold on [[Alta California]], the fathers quickly buried the San Juan Capistrano Mission bells and the expedition returned to [[Presidio of San Diego|El Presidio de San Diego]] in order to quell the uprising.

An extreme form of Live Combat is where all damage is real. For some Nordic LARPs the 'Two Week Rule' applies - people can receive any damage that will heal in less than two weeks. Sprained ankles are allowed, broken legs are not.

One year later Fathers Serra and Lasuén returned to once again begin work on the Mission at San Juan Capistrano; once there, they uncovered the bells and discovered that a wooden cross that had been erected during the original dedication was still standing. Due to an inadequate water supply the Mission site was subsequently relocated approximately three miles to the west near the Indian village of ''Acágcheme''.<ref>Kelsey, p. 10</ref> According to a report filed in 1782 by Father Pablo Mugártegui, "''...the site was transferred to that which it occupies today, where we have the advantage of secure water...this transfer was made on [[October 4]], [[1778]].''"&nbsp;<ref>Mission San Juan Capistrano; retrieved on March 29, 2006</ref> The new venue was strategically placed above two nearby [[stream]]s, the [[Trabuco Canyon, California|Trabuco]] and the San Juan. [[Mission San Gabriel Arcángel]] provided [[cattle]] and neophyte labor to assist in the development of new the Mission.

====Symbolic Combat====

The other major method in use is symbolic combat. The LARP, such as the recent ''[[Mind's Eye Theatre]]'', might use a system like [[Odd or Even|Odds and Evens]] or [[Rock, Paper, Scissors]], where two players throw hand symbols to generate a random outcome. Other LARPs use cards or dice, although one major advantage of symbolic combat is that you don't need any physical objects to do it. Yet another method is entirely deterministic, every character has a fighting ability score and in the prelude to a fight they quietly compare scores and then act out the fight with the outcome already known. Another benefit of symbolic systems is that conflicts other than physical combat can potentially be resolved using the same mechanics. [[Freeform role-playing game|Freeform role-playing games]] typically feature symbolic combat.

In 1778, the first [[adobe]] ''capilla'' (chapel) was blessed. It was replaced by a larger, 115-foot long house of worship in 1782, which is believed to be the oldest standing building in California. Known proudly as the "Serra Chapel," it has the distinction of being the only remaining church in which the padre is known to have officiated ([[Mission San Francisco de Asis|Mission Dolores]] was still under construction at the time of Serra's visit there). Father Serra presided over the confirmations of 213 people on October 12 and 13, 1783; divine services are held there to this day. The centerpiece of the chapel is its spectacular ''[[retablo]]'' which serves as the backdrop for the altar. A masterpiece of [[Baroque]] art, the altarpiece was hand-carved of 196 individual pieces of cherry wood and overlaid in [[gold leaf]] in [[Barcelona]] and is estimated to be 400 years old. It was originally imported from Barcelona in 1806 and later donated by Archbishop John Cantwell of [[Los Angeles]] (the building had to be enlarged to accommodate this piece). Although the ''retablo'' had been relayered over the centuries, most of the original gilding remains underneath the modern materials; extensive restoration was begun in June, 2006. By the time of the chapel's completion, living quarters, kitchens (''pozolera''), workshops, storerooms, soldiers' barracks (''cuartels''), and a number of other ancillary buildings had also been erected, effectively forming the main ''cuadrángulo'' (quadrangle).

====Steel Weapon Combat====

A lesser-known combat alternative is steel weapon combat system, developed in [[Scandinavia]] in the [[1990s]]. This system employs unsharpened [[steel]] weapons, which may only be carried and used by players trained and tested by the organisers prior to the game, and therefore limits physical fighting to a weapon-carrying minority while other players pursue other goals and stimuli. Proponents of the steel weapon system claim that it encourages style and realism, rather than the competitiveness they see as a feature of the 'boffer' system.

[[Image:1916 Rexford Newcomb plan view -- Mission San Juan Capistrano.jpg|thumb|300px|left|A plan view of the Mission San Juan Capistrano complex (including the footprint of the "Great Stone Church") prepared by architectural historian [[Rexford Newcomb]] in 1916. <ref>Newcomb, p. 15</ref>]]

Blunt steel weapons are often used in [[Historical reenactment]] groups, so the weapons and the skills to use them safely are readily available, especially given that many historical reenacters also play in LARPs.

California's first vineyard was located on the Mission grounds, with the planting of the "Mission" or "[[Criollo]]" grape in 1779, one grown extensively throughout Spanish America at the time but with "an uncertain European origin." It was the only grape grown in the Mission system throughout the mid-1800s. The first winery in Alta California was built in San Juan Capistrano in 1783; both red and white [[wine]]s (sweet and dry), [[brandy]], and a port-like [[fortified wine]] called [[Angelica wine|Angelica]] were all produced from the Mission grape. In 1791, the Mission's two original bells were removed from the tree branch on which they had been hanging for the previous fifteen years and placed within a permanent mounting. Over the next two decades the Mission prospered, and in 1794 over seventy adobe structures were built in order to provide permanent housing for the Mission Indians, some of which comprise the oldest residential neighborhood in California. It was decided that a larger, [[European]]-style church was required to accommodate the growing population. Hoping to construct an edifice of truly magnificent proportions, the padres retained the services of expert [[Mexican]] stonemason '''Isidoro Aguílar'''.<ref>Camphouse, p. 30</ref> Aguílar took charge of the church's construction and set about incorporating numerous design features not found at any other California Mission, including the use of a [[dome]]d roof structure made of [[Rock (geology)|stone]] as opposed to the typical flat wood roof. His elegant roof design called for six [[Vault (architecture)|vaulted]] domes (''bovedas'') to be built.

====No Combat====

Some LARPs, such as [[Murder mystery game|murder-mystery]] games, focus specifically on social interaction and intrigue, avoiding combat whenever possible. These role-play oriented LARPs utilize simplistic combat systems, generally designed to mediate the conflict as quickly as possible without disrupting the focus of the game overly (eg: Pointing a finger at a target and loudly shouting "bang!").

Work was begun on "The Great Stone Church" on February 2, 1797. It was laid out in the shape of a cross, measuring 180 feet long by 40 feet wide with 50-foot high walls, and included a 120-foot tall ''campanile'' ("bell tower") located adjacent to the main entrance that could be seen for miles around. The building sat on a [[foundation (architecture)|foundation]] seven feet thick. Construction efforts required the participation of the entire ''[[Wiktionary:neophyte|neophyte]]'' population. Stones were quarried from gullies and creek beds up to six miles away and transported in carts (''carretas'') drawn by [[oxen]], carried by hand, and even dragged to the building site. [[Limestone]] was crushed into a powder on the Mission grounds to create a [[mortar (masonry)|mortar]] that was more erosion-resistant than the actual stones.

===Genre and setting===

LARPs can have as many genres and settings as novels, plays, or movies. However, there are some standard genres that comprise the most common LARPs.

[[Image:Mission San Juan Capistrano 4-5-05 100 6583.JPG|thumb|300px|right|A close-up view of the majestic ruins of Mission San Juan Capistrano's "Great Stone Church," dubbed the "[[American Acropolis]]" in reference to its classical [[Greco-Roman]] style.]]

[[Fantasy]] genre LARPs are usually set in pseudo-historical worlds that are inspired by legends and fantasy literature. These settings generally have very low technology, some magic, and non-human species based on myth and legend. Examples include [[Elf|Elves]], [[Dwarf|Dwarves]], [[Orcs]], [[Faery|Faeries]], etc.

Unfortunately, Señor Aguílar died six years into the project. His work was carried on by the padres and their charges, who made their best attempts to emulate the existing construction. Lacking the skills of a master mason, however, led to irregular walls and necessitated the addition of a seventh roof dome. The church was finally completed in 1806, and blessed by Fray Estévan Tapís on the evening of September 7<ref>Yenne, p. 75</ref>. The sanctuary floors were paved with diamond-shaped [[tile]]s, and [[brick]]-lined niches displayed the statues of various saints. It was by all accounts the most magnificent in all of California and a three-day feast was held in celebration of this monumental achievement. Tragedy struck the settlement when on [[December 8]], [[1812]] (the "Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin") a series of massive [[earthquake]]s shook Southern California during the first Sunday service. Twelve years earlier a minor earth [[tremor]] had hit, causing only superficial damage to the work in progress.<ref>Chase and Saunders, p. 27</ref> The 1812 [http://www.data.scec.org/chrono_index/wrightwd.html Wrightwood Earthquake] racked the doors to the church, pinning them shut. When the ground finally stopped shaking, the bulk of the nave had come crashing down, and the bell tower was completely obliterated. Forty-two worshippers from the local [[Acjachemem]] Nation (referred to as Juaneños by the [[Spaniards]]) who were attending mass were buried under the rubble and lost their lives, and were subsequently interred in the Mission cemetery. This was the second major setback the outpost had suffered, and followed severe storms and flooding that damaged Mission buildings and ruined crops earlier in the year.

[[Science Fiction|Sci-fi]] genre LARPs such as the Massachusetts based Alpha Colony are a little less common but take place in futuristic settings with high technology and possibly aliens but usually without magic. Examples include combat-heavy [[post-apocalyptic]] LARPs, [[Dystopia|dystopian]] LARPs, [[utopia|utopian]] LARPs, [[space opera]] and [[cyberpunk]].

[[Image:San Juan Capistrano 1880 painting.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Misión San Juan de Capistrano'' by [[Henry Ford (illustrator)|Henry Chapman Ford]], 1880. The work depicts the rear of the ruined "Great Stone Church" as well as part of the mission's ''campo santos''. A portion of "Serra's Church" is also visible at right.]]

Historic LARPs take place in our world, at some point in history. They can vary from a [[1930s]] murder mystery to a [[Feudalism|feudal]] [[Japan|Japanese]] [[Samurai]] story. Historical accuracy is often prized in these LARPs, and there are similarities with [[Historical reenactment]].

The padres immediately returned to holding services in Serra's Church. Within a year a brick ''campanario'' ("bell wall") had been erected between the ruins of the stone church and the Mission's first chapel to support the four bells salvaged from the rubble of the campanile. As the [[transept]], [[Sanctuary#Sanctuary as a sacred place|sanctuary]] (''reredos''), and ''sacristia'' ([[sacristy]]) were all left standing, an attempt was made to rebuild the stone church in 1815 which failed due to a lack of construction expertise (the latter is the only element that is completely intact today). Consequently, all of the construction work undertaken at the Mission grounds thereafter was of a strictly utilitarian nature. Father José Barona and Father Gerónimo Boscana oversaw the construction of a small infirmary ([[hospital]]) building (located just outside the northwestern corner of the quadrangle) in 1814, "for the convenience of the sick." It is here that Juaneño [[Medicine man|medicine men]] used traditional methods to heal the sick and injured.<ref>Engelhardt, p. 57</ref> [[Archaeological]] excavations in 1937 and 1979 unearthed what are believed to be the building's foundations.

Published by [[White Wolf, Inc.|White Wolf Game Studio]] under the brand name [[Mind's Eye Theatre]], [[Goth|Gothic]]-[[Punk culture|Punk]] setting LARPs take place in the [[World of Darkness]], a world much like our modern world, but with players taking on the roles of supernatural creatures, like [[vampire]]s, [[werewolf|werewolves]], [[ghost]]s, [[mummy|mummies]], and [[Changeling: The Dreaming|changelings]]. White Wolf also publishes a number of Historic Gothic-Punk style games, such as Dark Ages: Vampire and Wild West: Werewolf.

On [[December 14]], [[1818]] the [[France|French]] [[privateer]] [[Hippolyte de Bouchard|Hipólito Bouchard]], sailing under an [[Argentina|Argentine]] flag, brought his ships ''La Argentina'' and ''Santa Rosa'' to within sight of the Mission and sent forth an envoy with a demand for provisions. The [[garrison]] [[soldiers]] were aware that Bouchard (today known as "California's only [[pirate]]") had recently conducted raids on the settlements at [[Monterey, California|Monterey]] and [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], so the demand was rebuffed and threats of reprisals made.<ref>Yenne, p. 77</ref> In response, ''Pirate Buchar'' ordered an assault on the Mission, sending some 140 men and a trio of cannon to take the needed supplies by force.<ref>Jones p. 170</ref> The Mission guards engaged the attackers but were overwhelmed, and the privateers left several damaged buildings in their wake, including the ''Governor's house'', the ''King's stores'', and the barracks. A celebration is held annually to memorialize the event. Between 1820 and 1823 an ''estancia'' (station) was established a few miles north on the banks of the [[Santa Ana River]] to accommodate the Mission's sizeable cattle herd. The adobe structure built to house the [[Majordomo (domestic staff)|mayordomo]] and his men is known today as the [[Diego Sepúlveda Adobe]].

"Espionage" LARPs - For a number of years in the late 1980s, the [[IFGS|International Fantasy Gaming Society]] ([[IFGS]]) ran "Undercover", a role-playing game set in the real community. Though many games were inspired by [[Ian Fleming]]'s [[007]] novels, "[[UNCLE|The Man/Girl From U.N.C.L.E.]]" TV series and even the "[[Get Smart]]" TV series, some were more related to realistic espionage adventures such as the "[[Three Days of the Condor]]" movie (marked down from "The Six Days of the Condor" novel). Player characters typically were formed in nation/state teams and pursued their missions in real world corporate offices, hotels, bus stations, doughnut shops, universities, movie theatres, parks and street corners, etc., where NPCs had been salted or were recruited, dead drops located, surveillance established or traps set. Combat, usually a minimal part of the game, was mostly by use of neon-colored water guns or spray bottles, water balloons and tagged items which served as poisons or explosives. Action sequences were usually reserved for venues controlled by the game organizers. Events such as escapes and car chases were resolved by a comparison of numbered cards, modified by player ability levels. There was an event, possibly an urban legend, involving a couple of exceptionally talented players in one game, who proved to have false real world names and addresses, and were reputedly a couple of agents of a real intelligence agency evaluating the game.

[[Image:Mission san juan capistrano0001.jpg|thumbnail|300px|right|A [[Islamic architecture|Moorish]]-style fountain inside Mission San Juan Capistrano's central courtyard, built in the 1920s through the efforts of Father St. John O'Sullivan.]]

"Contemporary" LARPs occur in the present without the presence of the supernatural or supertechonological. Some are set in social situations easily recognizable to most players, such as a wedding, a family dinner or a high school class. Others are set situations that few players will have had direct experience of, such as organized crime, a [[Hollywood]] movie set, the [[United Nations|UN]] security council.

[[Mexico]] gained its independence from [[Spain]] in 1821. The 1820s and [[1830s|30s]] saw a gradual decline in the Mission's status. Disease thinned out the once ample [[cattle]] [[herd]]s, and a sudden infestation of [[Mustard plant|mustard weed]] made it increasingly difficult to [[cultivate]] [[agriculture|crops]]. Floods and droughts took their toll as well. But the biggest threat to the Mission's stability came from the presence of [[Spanish people|Spanish]] settlers who sought to take over Capistrano's fertile lands. Over time the disillusioned Indian population gradually left the Mission, and without regular maintenance its physical deterioration continued at an accelerated rate.

Adapted LARPs are a sub-genre that can be found in any of the above types of game settings. Although other LARPs are often inspired by works of popular fiction, adapted LARPs are based entirely on a specific, usually well-known, fictional world. In these games, players may take on the roles of characters from the source material or those characters may appear as [[non-player character]]s. Examples of this sub-genre would include fantasy LARPs set in the [[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz|World of Oz]], the [[Lord of the Rings]], or the [[Arabian Nights]]; historical LARPs set in the world of [[The Three Musketeers]], the movies of [[Sergio Leone]] or the plays of [[William Shakespeare]]; or gothic-punk LARPs set in the worlds of [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]], [[Dracula]], or [[The X-Files]].

Nevertheless, there was sufficient activity along [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] to justify the construction of the [[Las Flores Asistencia]] in 1823. This facility, situated halfway between San Juan Capistrano and the Mission at [[Mission San Luis Rey de Francia|San Luís Rey]], was intended to act primarily as a rest stop for traveling clergy. During the same period the '''Diego Sepúlveda Adobe''' was established as an ''estancia'' (way-station) for the ''[[vaquero]]s'' ([[cowboys]]) who tended the Mission herds, in what today is the City of [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]]. Following secularization, ownership passed to Don Diego Sepúlveda.

===Game format===

The style of LARP varies from game system to game system. Many of the regional LARPs are continuing campaigns, where a storyline is run and coordinated by members of the game. Other LARPs, including some of the largest ones such as [[Amtgard]], do not have continuous or comprehensive storylines. The cohesion of the storyline of each character is left to the individual player to determine, and only special games or events contain an over-arching storyline.

Although Governor [[José Figueroa]] (who took office in 1833) initially attempted to keep the mission system intact, the [[Congress of Mexico|Mexican Congress]] nevertheless passed ''An Act for the Secularization of the Missions of California'' on [[August 17]], [[1833]]. Mission San Juan Capistrano was the very first to feel the effects of this legislation the following year.

A related element is the number of players playing at a time. Many LARPs (such as [[NERO]], [[Amtgard]] and the [[Mind's Eye Theatre]] line) present most of their story with all of their players gathered together, perhaps several dozen players politicking at a gathering or defending a besieged town. This gives player interaction more rein to create much of the plot, and lets expenses be concentrated on the most reusable props. Other LARPs such as [[IFGS]] rely more on courses made up of separate encounters, that teams of perhaps four to eight players take turns making their way through. These more tightly-knit player groups make the adventure less social but more traditionally dramatic.

===The Rancho Era (1834 &ndash; 1849)===

The timing of the LARP also varies from LARP to LARP. Some LARPs, and most notably those most-oriented towards continuous stories, only get together to play on specific occasions, usually about once a month. ([[NERO]], which has its own splinter groups and spin-offs, is one such LARP.) Other LARPs meet every week. These groups, such as [[Amtgard]], tend to have less focus on an over-arching storyline. Yet others, such as [[Maelstrom]], organise events on the basis of three or four events a year, while even other systems run only once a year.

[[Image:CHS.J3075.jpg|thumb|300px|left|The caretaker chats with guests beneath the shade of one of Mission San Juan Capistrano's courtyard arcades. The facility's advanced state of decay is evident.]]

The [[Mexican Congress]] passed ''An Act for the Secularization of the Missions of California'' on [[August 17]], [[1833]]. The Act also provided for the colonization of both Alta and Baja California, the expenses of this latter move to be borne by the proceeds gained from the sale of the mission property to private interests. Mission San Juan Capistrano was the very first to feel the effects of this legislation the following year. The [[Franciscans]] abandoned the Mission, taking with them most everything of value, after which the locals plundered the Mission buildings for construction materials. By 1835, little of the Mission's assets remained, though the manufacture of hides and tallow continued as described in [[Richard Henry Dana, Jr.|Richard Henry Dana's]] classic novel ''[[Two Years Before the Mast]]''.<ref>Young, p. 24</ref>

Many LARPs charge a fee to participate, which varies considerably from group to group and from region to region. For instance, the fee for Nordic LARPs ranges from a few euros for a half day event to upwards in excess of €150 for weeklong events; in the USA, a typical weekend-long [[Freeform role-playing game|freeform]] LARP might cost around $40 to $90. In Holland LARP fees can range from €5 for a one-day special to €120 for a four-day weekend event. Many organisations use a system that has fees of around €40 for early-paying participants and 65 for late (or gate) paying participants. Included in the fee are often food, tourist-tax, use of accommodations and some extra for the organisation to buy/make props.

San Juan Capistrano was officially designated as a [[secular]] Mexican [[pueblo]] in 1841, at which time those few who still resided at the Mission were granted sections of land to use as their own. Four years later the Mission property was auctioned off under questionable circumstances for $710 worth of tallow and hides to [[Englishman]] John "Don Juan" Forster (Governor [[Pío Pico]]'s brother-in-law, whose family would take up residence in the Friars' quarters for the next twenty years) and his partner James McKinley. More families would subsequently take up residence in other portions of the Mission buildings.

There are no hard and fast rules on LARP categories, however. There are LARPs that are free and have little emphasis on plot-development that only meet once a month, while there are LARPs that meet every week that have an on-going, scripted storyline.

===California Statehood (1850 &ndash; 1900)===

==History==

[[Image:Mission San Juan Capistrano 4-5-05 100 6553.JPG|thumb|300px|right|Father José Mut's dining room as it is thought to have looked during his twenty-year stay at the Mission. Some years later, furniture maker and architect [[Gustav Stickley]] (the leading spokesperson for the American [[Arts and Crafts movement]]) would develop a reputation for fine, hand-crafted furnishings that were inspired by pieces such as these.<ref>Cathers, p. 45</ref>]]

Technically, many childhood games are simple LARPs (even though they don't bear that name), and so in that sense LARPs may have been around since the dawn of humanity.

In 1860 an abortive attempt at restoring the stone church was the cause of its additional disintegration, forcing the dome over the [[transept]] and its ''[[cupola]]'' (lantern house) to collapse. A [[smallpox]] [[epidemic]] swept through the area in 1862, nearly wiping out the remaining Juaneño Indians. [[Abraham Lincoln|President Abraham Lincoln]] signed a proclamation on [[March 18]], [[1865]] that returned ownership of the Mission proper to the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. The document remains on display in the Mission's barracks ''cum'' museum; it is one of the few documents he ever signed as "Abraham Lincoln" instead of his customary "A. Lincoln." The Mission's sole resident from 1866 to 1886 was its pastor, Father José Mut. Father Mut made certain changes in order to accommodate his own needs, but little was accomplished to prevent further deterioration of the Mission buildings. By 1891 a roof collapse required that the Serra Chapel be abandoned completely. Modifications were made to the original [[adobe]] church (including the addition of a cross-topped ''espadaña'' at the south end, a feature that has been retained in the present iteration of the Mission compound) in order to render it suitable for use as a [[parish]] church.

Fantasy LARPs (as distinct from pure historical re-enactments) probably originate with the founding of the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]] in [[Berkeley, California]] on [[May 1]], [[1966]]. A similar group, the [[Markland Medieval Mercenary Militia]], began holding events on the [[University of Maryland, College Park]] in [[1969]]. These groups were largely dedicated to accurately recreating [[medieval]] history and culture, however, with only mild fantasy elements. It was only after the publication of the first role-playing game (''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'') in [[1974]] that LARPs truly came into their own.

In 1894, the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] constructed a new depot in the emerging "[[Mission Revival Style architecture|Mission Revival Style]]" mere blocks from the Mission. It is rumored that the stonework, bricks, and roof tiles were salvaged from the decaying buildings.<ref>Duke, p. 241</ref> The following year, a group calling itself the '''Landmarks Club of Los Angeles''' made the first real efforts at preserving the Mission and restoring it to its original state in over fifty years. Over 400 tons of debris was cleared away, holes in the walls were patched, and new [[Shake (roof)|shake]] [[Thuja plicata|cedar]] roofs were placed over a few of the derelict buildings. A mile of walkways were repaved with asphalt and gravel as well.

Since LARPs rarely rely on print publications the way tabletop roleplaying does, but is dependent on local ideas and expertise, live roleplaying has been "invented" almost from scratch several times, though usually with the rumour of foreign LARPs as an inspiration. This has led to LARP practices and histories being extremely diverse. However, some LARPs, like [[Mind's Eye Theatre]], have numerous manuals.

===The 20th Century and beyond (1901 &ndash; present)===

===American history===

[[Image:Historic American Buildings Survey Photographed by Henry F. Withey June 1936 VIEW OF SANCTUARY OF SERRA'S CHURCH colorized.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The "Golden Altar," an early [[Baroque]]-style ''retablo'' (altarpiece) situated at the north-end sanctuary of "Father Serra's Church."]]

American LARPs have no single point of origin, although many of the groups still in operation can claim a lengthy history.

After Father Mut's departure in 1886 the parish found itself without a permanent pastor, and the Mission languished during this period. Father St. John O'Sullivan arrived in San Juan Capistrano in 1910 to recuperate from a recent stroke, and to seek relief from chronic [[tuberculosis]].<ref>Wright, p. 39</ref> He became fascinated by the scope of the Mission and soon set to work on rebuilding it a section at a time. Father O'Sullivan's first task was to repair the roof of the Serra Chapel (which was being employed as a granary and storeroom) using [[sycamore]] logs to match those that were used in the original work; in the process, the roof of the [[apse]] was raised to allow for the inclusion of a window so that natural light could be brought into the space. Other refurbishments were made as time and funds permitted. Arthur B. Benton, a Los Angeles [[architect]], strengthened the chapel walls through the addition of heavy [[masonry]] [[buttress]]es.

Among the live-combat groups, Dagorhir Outdoor Improvisational Battle Games ([[Dagorhir]]) was founded by Bryan Weise in the [[Washington, DC]] area in [[1977]]. The International Fantasy Gaming Society ([[IFGS]]), also live-combat but with a complex rules system more clearly influenced by Dungeons and Dragons, was started in [[1981]] in [[Boulder, Colorado]]. (IFGS took its name from a fictional group in the novel ''[[Dream Park]]'' by [[Larry Niven]] and [[Steven Barnes]], which described highly realistic, futuristic LARPs.) At about the same time (but before [[1981]]), the [[MIT Assassins' Guild|Assassins' Guild]] was created at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT) in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], to pursue "killer" or "assassin"-style live-combat games with toy guns, but also to encourage creative design in LARPs. While [[NERO]] is currently one of the more widespread live-combat groups, with over 50 chapters in the US and Canada, it was founded only in [[1988]].

It is rumored that [[silent film]] star [[Mary Pickford|Mary Pickford's]] secret marriage to fellow [[actor]] [[Owen Moore]] in 1911 took place in the Mission chapel. The third act of [[John Steven McGroarty|John Steven McGroarty's]] ''The Mission Play'' (1911) is set "''...amid the broken and deserted walls of Mission San Juan Capistrano (the Mission of the Swallow), in 1847''." Severe flooding destroyed a portion of the Mission's front arcade in 1915, and heavy storms a year later washed away one end of the barracks building, which Father O'Sullivan rebuilt in 1917, incorporating minor modifications such as an ornamental archway in order to make the edifice more closely resemble a church. In 1918 the Mission was given [[parochial]] status with Father O’Sullivan as its first modern pastor. It was on [[April 21]] of that year that the [http://www.data.scec.org/chrono_index/sanj1918.html San Jacinto Earthquake] caused moderate structural damage to some of the buildings. In 1919, author [[Johnston McCulley]] created the character "[[Zorro]]" and chose Mission San Juan Capistrano as the setting for the first novella, titled ''[[The Curse of Capistrano]]''.<ref>Yenne, P. 79</ref>

The more theatrical style of LARP began in America at around the same time. In [[1981]], the Society for Interactive Literature (SIL) was founded by Walter Freitag, Mike Massamilla and Rick Dutton at [[Harvard University]]. The club's first public event was in February [[1983]], at the Boskone [[science fiction convention]]. A substantial part of the SIL membership broke off from that organization in 1991 and formed the Interactive Literature Foundation (ILF), which in 2000 changed its name to the Live Action Role-Players Association (LARPA).

In 1920, the "Sacred Garden" was created in the courtyard adjacent to the stone church, and in 1925 the full restoration of the Serra Chapel was completed. Father O'Sullivan died in 1933 and was buried in the Mission [[cemetery]]. His tomb lies at the foot of a [[Celtic cross]] the Father himself erected as a [[memorial]] to the Mission's builders. In 1937 representatives of the U.S. [[National Park Service|National Park Service's]] [[Historic American Buildings Survey]], as a part of the [http://www.cr.nps.gov/local-law/FHPL_HistSites.pdf Historic Sites Act of 1935], surveyed and photographed the grounds and structures extensively. Their efforts laid the groundwork for future excavation and reconstruction of the west wing industrial complex.

The northeastern US plays host to many, smaller, fantasy-based LARPs, such as [[Lione Rampant]], [[Quest Interactive Productions]] and [[Mythical Journeys]], all formed in the early 1990's by fantasy enthusiasts with a love for character roleplay and adventure, but without large player bases or complex rule systems. Some of these LARPs were formed as splinter groups of larger, more franchised LARPs, such as NERO. Such LARP groups tend to run in the spring and autumn, utilizing summer camp facilities (such as 4H and group campgrounds) in their off-seasons.

The prestigious [[World Monuments Fund]] placed "The Great Stone Church" on its ''List of 100 Most Endangered Sites'' in 2002. The most recent series of [[seismic]] retrofits at the Mission were completed in 2004.

===UK history===

<br style="clear:both;">

[[Treasure Trap]], formed in [[1982]] at Peckforton Castle, is generally recognised as the first LARP game in the UK, and most of the many hundreds of clubs and systems now active in the UK can trace their descent to it.

==Mission industries==

The largest and best-known of these groups is the [[Lorien Trust]] system, which grew out of [[Summerfest (LARP)|Summerfest]] in the mid 1990s and hosts events with up to 4,000 players.

[[Image:Brand-mission san juan capistrano.png|thumb|300px|The cattle [[Livestock branding|brand]] used at Mission San Juan Capistrano.]]

The goal of the missions was, above all, to become self-sufficient in relatively short order. [[Farming]], therefore, was the most important [[industry]] of any mission. [[Barley]], [[maize]], and [[wheat]] were the principal crops grown at San Juan Capistrano; [[cattle]], [[horses]], [[mules]], [[sheep]], and [[goat]]s were all raised by the hundreds as well. In 1790 the Mission's herd included 7,000 sheep and goats, 2,500 cattle, and 200 mules and horses. [[Olive]]s were grown, cured, and pressed under large stone [[wheel]]s to extract their [[Vegetable oil|oil]], both for use at the Mission and to trade for other goods. [[Grapes]] were also grown and [[fermentation (food)|ferment]]ed into [[wine]] for [[sacramental]] use and again, for trading. The specific variety, called the ''Criolla'' or "[[Mission (grape)|Mission grape]]," was first planted at the Mission in 1779; in 1783, the first wine produced in Alta California emerged from San Juan Capistrano's winery. [[Cereal]] grains were dried and ground by stone into [[flour]]. The Mission's [[kitchen]]s and [[bakery|bakeries]] prepared and served thousands of meals each day. [[Candles]], [[soap]], [[Grease (lubricant)|grease]], and [[ointment]]s were all made from [[tallow]] ([[kitchen rendering|rendered]] [[animal]] [[fat]]) in large [[vat]]s located just outside the west wing. Also situated in this general area were vats for dyeing [[wool]] and [[tanning]] [[leather]], and primitive [[loom]]s for [[weaving]]s. Large ''bodegas'' (warehouses) provided long-term storage for preserved foodstuffs and other treated materials.

[[Image:Mission San Juan Capistrano 4-5-05 100 6559.JPG|thumb|300px|right|A view of the [[Catalan forge]]s at Mission San Juan Capistrano, the oldest existing facilities (''circa'' 1790s) of their kind in the State of California. The sign at the lower right-hand corner proclaims the site as being "''...part of Orange County's first industrial complex.''"]]

The UK now has an extremely wide variety of games and styles of games, covering genres from traditional swords-and-sorcery to science-fiction, gothic horror, pulp action adventure, wild west, and styles from story-telling to entirely player-led.

Three long ''zanjas'' ([[aqueducts]]) ran through the central courtyard and deposited the water they collected into large [[cistern]]s in the industrial area, where it was filtered for drinking and cooking, or dispensed for use in cleaning. The Mission had to fabricate all of its construction materials as well. Workers in the ''carpintería'' ([[carpentry]] shop) used crude methods to shape beams, lintels, and other structural elements; more skilled artisans carved doors, furniture, and wooden implements. For certain applications bricks (''ladrillos'') were fired in [[oven]]s ([[kilns]]) to strengthen them and make them more resistant to the elements; when ''tejas'' (roof tiles) eventually replaced the conventional ''jacal'' roofing (densely-packed reeds) they were placed in the kilns to harden them as well. Glazed ceramic pots, dishes, and canisters were also made in the Mission's kilns.

[[Curious Pastimes]] is a game that originated with a large number of players who aimed to create a similar fest-style system to the [[Lorien Trust]] with the aim of improving on the basic design to make a more enjoyable game. It was founded in the mid 90's it is a popular alternative to the Lorien Trust.

Prior to the arrival of the missions, the native peoples knew only how to utilize bone, seashells, stone, and wood for building, tool making, weapons, and so forth. The [[foundry]] at Mission San Juan Capistrano was the first to introduce the Indians to the [[Iron Age]]. The [[blacksmith]] used the Mission’s [[Catalan forge|Catalan furnaces]] (California’s first) to [[smelt]] and fashion [[iron]] into everything from basic tools and hardware (such as [[nails]]) to crosses, gates, hinges, even [[cannon]] for Mission defense. Iron was one commodity in particular that the Mission relied solely on trade to acquire, as the missionaries had neither the know-how nor the technology to [[mining|mine]] and process [[metal]] [[ore]]s.

More recently, [[Profound Decisions]] has set up the [[Maelstrom]] game and gameworld as a large-scale alternative to the styles of game run by the older [[fest]] events. It is extremely popular and generally regarded as the herald of a new age of professionalism in LARP. It is also singular in that it is defined as [[player-led]], where plot is eschewed in favour of players determining the events which take place. This system depends on large numbers of players with a wish to involve in politics, economics ([[Maelstrom]] possesses a complex and credible economic system) and personal interaction, but is seen by many players as very rewarding. [[Profound Decisions]] is run by [[Matt Pennington]], who had formerly helped run another widely popular system called [[Omega LRP]].

==The Mission bells==

Originally created in 1986 by Mark Roberts, Heroquest is an experienced Live Role Playing company in the UK. The campaign is rich and original.<!--But what is it?--> It has developed since the very first dungeon, being shaped by character interaction as well as plot. Characters are points based, starting from basics to become folk of heroic stature. The pinnacle of a character's career is a Heroquest; this is the ultimate challenge in your character's career, and will last a minimum of 5 days.

[[Image:Mission San Juan Capistrano 4-5-05 100 6548.JPG|thumb|300px|right|A view of Mission San Juan Capistrano's "Sacred Garden" that was developed in 1920. The four-bell ''campanario'' was erected a year after the bell tower at "The Great Stone Church" was toppled in the 1812 earthquake.]]

Bells were vitally important to daily life at any mission. The bells were rung at mealtimes, to call the Mission residents to work and to religious services, during births and funerals, to signal the approach of a ship or returning missionary, and at other times. All four of Mission San Juan Capistrano's bells are named and all bear inscriptions as follows (from the largest to the smallest; inscriptions are translated from [[Latin]]):

Evolution of LARP in the UK has been largely separate from US systems, with notable differences including the invention and widespread use of [[latex]]-covered weapon designs. Some UK players also play games in other Western European countries, which has led to some exchange of ideas between various European systems.

* "''Praised by [[Jesus]], '''San Vicente'''. In honor of the Reverend Fathers, Ministers (of the Mission) Fray Vicente Fuster, and Fray Juan Santiago, 1796.''"

One major off-shoot of LARPs in the UK is the proliferation of [[freeform role-playing game|Freeforms]].

* "''Hail Mary most pure. Ruelas made me, and my name is '''San Juan''', 1796.''"

These are events that typically last from four hours to three days, and are marked by little emphasis on either combat or character development, but more on plot development, and player interaction. There almost no [[NPCs]], with [[gamemaster|GMs]] typically taking an overview role only. Most UK freefom characters are written specifically for that game, and tend to run to half a page for a short game, to ten or twelve pages for a weekend game.

* "''Hail Mary most pure, '''San Antonio''', 1804.''"

Major UK freeform events are [[GenCon]] UK, [[Dragonmeet]] and [[Continuum (event)|Continuum]]

* "''Hail Mary most pure, '''San Rafael''', 1804.''"

In the aftermath of the 1812 earthquake, the two largest bells cracked and split open. Due to this damage neither produced clear tones. Regardless, they were hung in the campanario that went up the following year.

===Russian history===

LARP has been played in [[Russia]] since at least the [[1980s]]. The Russian word for LARP translates simply as "role-playing", since tabletop RPGs were unknown in Russia at the time LARP was invented or introduced there. Russian live role-playing is often practised under the banner of "[[J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkienism]]" or [[Tolkien fandom]]. Regional traditions vary greatly in their history and practice, though the now defunct [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] "[[Young Pioneers]]" organisation and the networks between former members seems to have played some role in spreading and coordinating the idea of live role-playing.

On [[March 22]], [[1969]] [[Richard Nixon|President Richard M. Nixon]] and [[First Lady]] [[Patricia Nixon]] visited the Mission and rang the Bell of San Rafael. A bronze plaque commemorating the event is set in the bell wall. In celebration of the new Mission church being elevated to minor basilica status in 2000, exact duplicates of the damaged bells were cast in the [[Netherlands]], utilizing molds made from the originals. The replacement bells were placed in the bell wall and the old ones put on display within the footprint of the destroyed Mission ''campanile'' ("bell tower").

===Nordic history===

In the early 1980s, the [[Sweden|Swedish]] LARP group [[Gyllene Hjorten]] [http://www.larp.com/hjorten/] started a LARP campaign that is still going strong. This is probably the first LARP event in the [[Nordic]] countries. LARP in [[Finland]] started in 1985 and [[Norway]] was initiated in [[1989]], more or less simultaneously by groups in [[Oslo, Norway|Oslo]] and [[Trondheim, Norway|Trondheim]].

=="The return of the swallows"==

The Nordic LARP traditions, though usually invented independently of each other, have developed striking similarities and are also notably different from [[English language]] and [[German language]] LARPs. These differences are most obvious in the Nordic LARPs' [[skepticism]] towards [[game mechanic]]s, a tendency to limit combat and magic - seeing these as "spice" rather than a necessary ingredient in LARP - and an emphasis on immersive environments where [[anachronism]]s and out of play elements (off-elements, such as visible cars or paved roads in a historical or fantasy setting) are avoided. The setting and roles may be given to the participants by the organizers, or suggested by the player to organizers, in either case usually based on a dialogue between the player and organizer. "[[character sheet]]s", in the manner of tabletop RPGs, are for the most part not used.

[[Image:Mission San Juan Capistrano 4-5-05 100 6552.JPG|thumb|250px|left|Looking down the [[Arcade (architecture)|arcade]] at Mission San Juan Capistrano's old adobe chapel. Cliff Swallows, annual visitors to the Mission, typically build their nests here. Note that much of the [[plaster]] finish has come off, exposing the [[brick]]s beneath to the elements.]]

The [[Cliff Swallow]] (''Petrochelidon pyrrhonota'') is a [[migratory]] bird that spends its winters in [[Goya, Corrientes|Goya]], [[Argentina]] but makes the 6,000-mile trek north to the warmer climes of the [[American Southwest]] in springtime. According to legend the birds, who have visited the San Juan Capistrano area every Summer for centuries, first took refuge at the Mission when an irate innkeeper began destroying their mud nests. The Mission's ___location near two [[river]]s made it an ideal ___location for the swallows to nest, as there was a constant supply of the [[insect]]s on which they feed, and the young birds are well-protected inside the ruins of the old stone church.

When the game starts it lives its own life, wholly directed by the players (some predetermined events are often scheduled). A typical Swedish or Norwegian game lasts 2-5 days and has anywhere from fifty to hundreds of participants. A typical [[Denmark|Danish]] or [[Finland|Finnish]] game lasts between four hours and a few days. Rules are designed for combat injury simulation and normally emphasize roleplaying of damage rather than abstract hitpoints (though this was not always so), featuring either padded weapons or blunt steel weapons. Each gaming organization uses custom rules, but simplicity and similarities make this less cumbersome than it would at first seem.

Father O'Sullivan made note of the birds' annual habit of nesting beneath the Mission's eaves and archways, from Spring through Fall, during his two decades in residence. On [[March 13]], [[1939]] a popular radio program was broadcast live from the Mission grounds, announcing the swallows' return. Composer [[Leon René]] was so inspired by the event that he penned the song ''When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano'' in tribute.<ref>Leffingwell, p. 39</ref> During its initial release the song spent several weeks atop the ''[[Your Hit Parade]]'' charts. The song has been recorded by such musicians as [[The Ink Spots]], [[Fred Waring]], [[Guy Lombardo]], and [[Glenn Miller]]. A glassed-off room in the Mission has been designated in René's honor and displays the upright piano on which he composed the tune, the reception desk from his office and several copies of the song's sheet music and other pieces of furniture, all donated by René's family.

The annual [[Knutepunkt]] conference, first held in 1997, has been a vital institution in establishing a Nordic live role-playing identity, and in establishing the concept of "Nordic LARP" as a unique approach. A live-roleplaying [[avant-garde]] movement, which pursues [[radical]] experimentation and the recognition of role-playing as a form of [[art]], has been connected to the Knutepunkt conferences. The scope of the Knutepunkt conference has expanded rather rapidly over the last few years with participants showing up from numerous non-Scandinavian countries. The last 2 or 3 years has seen participants from USA, Germany, [[France]], [[Italy]] and [[Russia]] as well as from the main Scandinavian countries.

Each year the City of San Juan Capistrano sponsors the ''Fiesta de las Golondrinas'', a week-long celebration of this auspicious event. Tradition has it that the main [[flock]] arrives on [[March 19]] (''[[Saint Joseph|Saint Joseph's Day]]''), and flies south on ''[[Giovanni da Capistrano|Saint John's Day]]'', [[October 23]].

===German history===

[[Image:LARP_Grosse_Turney_2005-09-02.jpeg|thumb|right|Knights at a german LARP (The Great Tourney, Sept. 2005)]]

The [[Germany|German]] LARP history is most easily found, by going to the German Larp calendar at [http://www.larpkalender.de Larp Kalender]

<br>

The First LARP that has been cataloged is Samhain's Quest II on [[April 14]], [[1995]], although Draccon 1 in [[1991]] is generally held to be the first event of significance. LarpWiki.de has a [http://www.larpwiki.de/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?LarpHistorie page on history].

::::::::::::'''''When the swallows come back to Capistrano'''''

===South African history===

::::::::::::'''''That's the day you promised to come back to me'''''

LARP in South Africa is mostly single evening events of fewer than four hours in length, with 8 to 20 players. Larger, longer-term campaigns are occasionally run, most using World of Darkness: [[Vampire]].

::::::::::::'''''When you whispered, "Farewell," in Capistrano'''''

::::::::::::''''''twas the day the swallows flew out to sea'''''

:::::::::::::<small>excerpt from "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano" by Leon René</small>

There is a heavy emphasis on roleplaying. In the single evening events this means that there is little use of non player characters, costumes are the norm, and simple game mechanics are used. The standard conflict-resolution systems are symbolic, usually involving dice and very simplified character proficiency statistics. Special abilities are generally handled using cards that the player using the ability shows to those affected by it. Players are usually given detailed character sheets, sometimes of up to eight pages. These included background, goals and knowledge of other characters.

==Other historic designations==

[[Cape Town]] is reputed to be the LARPing capital of South Africa, and there is a large archive of LARPs written by Capetonian designers (see under External Links). In recent years, there has been an increase in LARP activity in other communities, such as [[Johannesburg]].

* [[California Historical Landmark]] [http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21445 #227] &mdash; Diego Sepúlveda Adobe ''Estancia''

* [http://www.asminternational.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Membership/AwardsProgram/HistoricalLandmarks/Landmarks.htm ASM International Historical Landmark] (1988) &mdash; "Metalworking Furnaces"

* [http://wmf.org/html/programs/ussanj.html World Monuments Fund ''List of 100 Most Endangered Sites''] (2002) &mdash; "The Great Stone Church"

==Notes==

===New Zealand history===

[[Image:San Juan Capistrano circa 1910 William Amos Haines.jpg|thumb|300px|right|An overall view of "The Mission of the Swallow" around the time of Father St. John O'Sullivan's arrival in 1910.]]

New Zealand has a growing community of LARPers. Several long-term campaigns have been and are currently running. Typical genres include vampire, medieval fantasy, science fiction (including popular single-evening events of live [[Paranoia (game)|Paranoia]] and post-apocalyptic settings), horror, and 1920s/1930s gangsters.

[[Image:Fray Engelhardt SJC 1915.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Clerical historian Father [[Zephyrin Engelhardt]], O.F.M. visits Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1915.]]

Emphasis in long-term campaigns varies depends on the setting. For example, [http://www.mordavia.com Mordavia] is a medieval dark fantasy which emphasises roleplaying very strongly, where [http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mikaere/Skirmish.html Skirmish] is more combat-based, and games such as Vampire: The Requiem are strongly political.

<references/>

Many games are non-contact, while some encourage live combat with foam weapons. Magical effects are most often symbolised by reading of scrolls, throwing of spell packets, and circles outlined in rope for traps and magical portals.

==References==

Level of costume varies. In long-term campaigns, great care is often taken on player character costumes, as the character (personality, abilities, and background) will most often be invented by the player themselves. Non-player character costume is sometimes less detailed, but favourite monsters or villains may reappear frequently as they become well-loved by the players.

[[Image:MSJC_by_John_Gutzon-Borglum.jpg|thumb|300px|An 1894 painting by [[Fred Behre]] and [[Gutzon Borglum|John Gutzon Borglum]] depicts the intact Mission. Watercolor and gouache.]]

* {{cite book|author=Camphouse, Marjorie|year=1974|title=Guidebook to the Missions of California|publisher=Anderson, Ritchie & Simon, Los Angeles, CA|id=ISBN 0-378-03792-7}}

* {{cite book|author=Cathers, David M.|year=1981|title=Furniture of the American Arts and Crafts Movement|publisher=The New American Library, Inc|id=ISBN 0453003974}}

* Chase, J. and Saunders, C. (1974). "Mission San Juan Capistrano." ''American West'' '''40''' (7) 22-29.

* {{cite book|author=Duke, Donald|year=1995|title=Santa Fe: The Railroad Gateway to the American West, Volume One|publisher=Golden West Books, San Marino, CA|id=ISBN 0-87095-110-6}}

* {{cite book|author=Engelhardt, Zephyrin|year=1922|title=San Juan Capistrano Mission|publisher=Standard Printing Co., Los Angeles, CA|id=}}

* {{cite book|author=Kelsey, H.|year=1993|title=Mission San Juan Capistrano: A Pocket History|publisher=Interdisciplinary Research, Inc., Altadena, CA|id=}}

* {{cite book|author=Jones, Roger W.|year=1997|title=California from the Conquistadores to the Legends of Laguna|publisher=Rockledge Enterprises, Laguna Hills, CA|id=}}

* {{cite book|author=Leffingwell, Randy|year=2005|title=California Missions and Presidios: The History & Beauty of the Spanish Missions|publisher=Voyageur Press, Inc., Stillwater, MN|id=ISBN 0-89658-492-5}}

* {{cite book|author=Newcomb, Rexford|year=1973|title=The Franciscan Mission Architecture of Alta California|publisher=Dover Publications, Inc., New York, NY|id=ISBN 0-486-21740-X}}

* {{cite book|author=Ruscin, Terry|year=1999|title=Mission Memoirs|publisher=Sunbelt Publications, San Diego, CA|id=ISBN 0-932653-30-8}}

* {{cite book|author=Wright, Ralph B.|year=1950|title=California's Missions|publisher=Hubert A. and Martha H. Lowman, Arroyo Grande, CA|id=}}

* {{cite book|author=Yenne, Bill|year=2004|title=The Missions of California|publisher=Thunder Bay Press, San Diego, CA|id=ISBN 1-59223-319-8}}

* {{cite book|author=Young, Stanley and Melba Levick|year=1988|title=The Missions of California|publisher=Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, CA|id=ISBN 0-8118-3694-0}}

* {{cite web|title=Mission San Juan Capistrano|work=San Juan Capistrano Historical Society|url=http://www.sjchistoricalsociety.com/missionsjc.html|accessdate=March 29|accessyear=2006}}

==See also==

There are LARP communities in all the major cities, especially [[Auckland]] and [[Wellington]].

* [[Spanish missions in California]]

* [[Diego Sepúlveda Adobe]]

The [[New Zealand Live Action Role-Play Society]] is an umbrella organisation created to promote and support LARP throughout New Zealand. It is a parent organisation of [http://www.mordavia.com Mordavia], and is affilliated with other groups such as [http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mikaere/Skirmish.html Skirmish].

* [[Las Flores Asistencia]]

* [[USNS Mission Capistrano (AO-112)|USNS ''Mission Capistrano'' (AO-112)]] &mdash; a [[USNS Mission Buenaventura (AO‑111)|''Mission Buenaventura'']] Class [[Oiler (ship)|fleet oiler]] built during [[World War II]].

==Research and theory==

===Nordic LARP theory===

Nordic LARP theory is mainly bound to the annual Knutpunkt conventions. For an introduction to Nordic LARP theory see the following publications:

*[[Morten Gade]], [[Line Thorup]] & [[Mikkel Sander]] (eds.): As Larp Grows Up. Knudepunkt 2003. ISBN 87-989377-0-7. http://www.laivforum.dk/kp03_book/

*[[Markus Montola]] & [[Jaakko Stenros]] (eds.): Beyond Role and Play. Solmukohta 2004. ISBN 952-91-6842-X. http://www.ropecon.fi/brap/

*[[Petter Bøckman]] & [[Ragnhild Hutchison]] (eds.): Dissecting Larp. Knutepunkt 2005. ISBN 82-997102-0-0 (print) ISBN 82-997102-1-9 (online) http://knutepunkt.laiv.org/

===Academic works===

*[[Geir-Tore Brenne]] Making and maintaining frames - a study of metacommunication in laiv play[http://fate.laiv.org/pub/gtb_opp.htm]) . Graduate degree thesis, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo 2005. The study focus on the Scandinavian tradition, being centred on the larp community in Oslo from 2001-2002. The text is in English, and is oriented towards introducing and presenting the activity to people who do not have much knowledge of Scandinavian larp in advance. It employs a sociological theoretical perspective.

==External links==

[[Image:Basilica San Juan Capistrano 1987.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Basilica at San Juan Capistrano, designed after the "Great Stone Church," in 1987.]]

*[http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~richc/lrp/faq/faq.html The rec.games.frp.live-action FAQ]

* [http://www.larpwikimissionparish.org/ LarpWiki.org]Official -parish an international wiki style LARP repositorywebsite]

* [http://www.paggamymission.netorg/wikiimages/juancap.gif The Pagga WikiElevation -& aSite WikiLayout forsketches LARPof andthe LARPMission theoryproper]

* [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhdatapage&fileName=ca/ca0400/ca0449/data/hhdatapage.db&recNum=0&itemLink=D?hh:73:./temp/~ammem_y9wL:: Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record]

*[http://home.clara.net/arianrhod/Aldebaran/DoItYourself/index.html The DIY Guide to LRP] Guide for making foam weapons, costumes, and props

* [http://virtualguidebooks.com/SouthCalif/LosAngeles/Capistrano/CapistranoStoneChurch.html Virtual Reality Panorama of "The Ruined Stone Church"]

*{{dmoz|Games/Roleplaying/Live_Action/|Live-Action Roleplaying}}

* [http://virtualguidebooks.com/SouthCalif/LosAngeles/Capistrano/CapistranoColonnade.html Virtual Reality Panorama of the "Cloister Colonnade at Mission San Juan Capistrano"]

*[http://www.darkonthemovie.com/ Darkonthemovie.com] '''Darkon''' - the movie based on the [[Darkon Wargaming Club]]

* [http://virtualguidebooks.com/SouthCalif/LosAngeles/Capistrano/CapistranoCourtyard.html Virtual Reality Panorama of "The Inner Courtyard"]

*[http://www.owbn.org One World By Night] - World-Wide organization of [[Mind's Eye Theatre]] LARPs.

* [http://virtualguidebooks.com/SouthCalif/LosAngeles/Capistrano/CapistranoSerraChapel.html Virtual Reality Panorama of "Father Serra's Chapel"]

*[http://www.white-wolf.com/ White Wolf Publishing] - Publisher of [[Mind's Eye Theatre]] and various table-top games.

* [http://www.missionsjc.com/pdf/edu/DailyLife.pdf Daily Life at Mission San Juan Capistrano] ([[PDF]])

*[http://www.heroquest.org/ Heroquest] - Live Roleplaying Club

* [http://www.missionsjc.com/pdf/edu/MissionIndians.pdf Indians of the Mission] ([[PDF]])

===LARP portals===

* [http://www.octhen.com/Landmarks/Mission/lca/index.htm "Little Chapters about San Juan Capistrano" by Father St. John O'Sullivan, 1912]

*[http://www.larp.eu.org/ ELF] - The European Larp Federation

* [http://www.webroots.org/library/usahist/ca/cahaoto0.html "Chinigchinich; a Historical Account of the Origin, Customs, and Traditions of the Indians at the Missionary Establishment of St. Juan Capistrano, Alta California Called The Acagchemem Nation" by The Reverend Father Friar Gerónimo Boscana, 1846]

*[http://www.larpaweb.net LARPA] The Live Action Roleplayers Association (formerly the Interactive Literature Foundation) - a non-profit organisation in the US dedicated to LARP in all its forms, including a number of free "ready-to-run" games. LARPA also promotes Intercons see: *[http://www.larpaweb.org/intercon/ Intercon] for upcoming conventions.

* [http://www.larpjuaneno.com/ LARP.COM]Official -website Anof internationalthe LARPJuaneño portal.Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemem Nation]

{|

*[http://www.larpfun.com/ LarpFun.com] - Information and tips, primarily for players of fantasy-based LARPs

[[Image:CHS.J3074.jpg|thumb|300px|left|One of the earliest examples of "Mission Revival Style" architecture, the Sante Fe Railway depot in San Juan Capistrano (with its 40-foot high dome and bell) was considered to be one of the railroad's finest when it was completed on October 8, 1894.]]

*[http://users.iafrica.com/m/me/melisant/rpg.htm Jessica Tiffin's list of Cape Town LARPs]

|

*[http://www.pagga.net/ Pagga] - open discussion of role-playing, UK.

[[Image:Mission San Juan Capistrano circa 1921.jpg|thumb|300px|right|This ''circa'' 1921 view of the Mission San Juan Capistrano complex documents the restoration work that was already well underway by that time. The perimeter garden wall, including the ornate entranceway, is an early-20th century addition.]]

*[http://www.larplist.com Shade's LARP List] - An international LARP portal

|}

*[http://www.skaro.com/larpdex.html Unsolicited, but Useful, Advice for LARPers] - Advice for creators and players of LARPs - plot management, set building, character development, costuming

{{California Missions}}

*[http://diatribe.co.nz/ DIATRIBE] - The New Zealand online LARP community

*[http://www.septimus.co.uk/ Septimus' Chronicles of LARP Knowledge] An online LARP resource (UK)

[[Category:Live-action role-playing games| ]]

[[Category:1776 establishments]]

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[[Category:California Historical Landmarks]]

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