BTL - The Director's Cut: Logistics

Overall Structure

BTL scenarios are short set-piece LARPs. Games should normally fit into less than 40 mins. (Reading 10-15 mins. Runtime: 10-20 mins, plus setup/tear-down). Games are designed to be run by a single GM, and a small group of players (between 4 and 6 depending on the specific scenario).

The games have short (1-2 sides of A4) pre-written characters. We expect these to be printed in dyslexic-friendly font on off-white paper.

The games will either require no props or possibly a small number of 'easily obtainable/simple props', and require a single small game space with limited furniture (generally a few chairs).

Summary of Signups Process

Some pre-convention signups are possible via the website. These games will run as normal at the specified time, and with the signed up players.

We will also have a "queue of signup sheets" e.g. sheets pegged to a string.

Games at the front of the queue will be the next to run, assuming the players are immediately available.

Detail of Signup Process

We will provide sets of signup sheets for each of the various games listing number of players, and perceived gender balance.

A player can either add their name to any signup sheet which is not yet full, or add a new signup sheet with their name on to the back of the queue. A player should only be on one signup sheet at any given time, but once they have played a game, they can then sign up for another game.

The queue applies to all the available BTL streams i.e. the group with their signup at the front of the queue goes into the room that next comes free.

When a GM using one of the game spaces becomes free they will:

• Run any pre-scheduled game if it is due to start.
• Examine the queue of signup sheets, starting at the front of the queue, until they reach one which is a) full, and b) the players listed are there and ready to play.
• Update the "estimated end of next game" for their play-area, based on the estimated duration of the game.
• Remove the signup sheet from the queue, moving the queue along as required, and show the players to their game space.
• If none of the games have the players ready and waiting then the GM can either wait for the first one that turns up with a full set of players, send a runner to notify someone in the game at the front of the queue that you are ready, or just announce loudly in traditional Barker fashion that BTL is awaiting customers.

Games should be staggered; so that e.g. if there are 3 play areas, and an average play time of 30 minutes, a game will be started approx every 10 minutes.

This way:

• Players can occasionally 'pop back' to see how close their game is to running.
• Based on the "next game starts at approx..." times they can arrange to be there and waiting when the games start.
• Players can spend their time sitting, relaxing, playing a short boardgame, etc. etc. until their game is approx. ready to play rather then standing around in a queue for prolonged periods.
• If players aren't there and ready in time, and another group is there and ready to run, that second group will get to play, but the first group will remain at the front of the queue, and so should only have about a 10 mins delay in when they get to play.

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