Romanesque and roleplaying style
The Romanesque genre relies on detailed characters, written by the organization, often based on literary archetypes. Background and psychology are usually precisely detailed, and serve as the backbone for a narrative arc that will be enacted over the course of the game. It is up to the players to decide how (or if) they will choose to go through it. The only requirement then can be summed up as this: each player should immerse in the character and interpret it to the best of their ability, in a coherent manner, while trying to create the best possible story for all the players involved.
Timing and rhythm
Harem Son Saat will be a narrativist game leading towards tragedy and a downhearted, “end of an era” atmosphere. In that context, players will be asked to take a “play to loose” approach. While the characters will always try to act according to their own interest, players will have to act upon the characters sufferings and failures. Any success will have to be paid.
The game will be divided in three gaming periods, to provide a better escalation in the narrative. However, the gaming time will be the same as in real life (1:1 timing), with no breaks from characters, even during night time (with the exception of the resting space that will be accessible at all times should a break be needed).
Transparency and fateplay
Romanesque usually relies on characters’ secrets, and it is recommended that you should keep the character’s secrets before the game. However, if other participants agree to it, you may establish a measure of transparency yourselves.
The ending, however, is transparent : it is the end of the Sultanate. The game ends when the Sultan steps down from power, and the characters’ progression must work towards this ending.
Violence and physical actions
Harem Son Saat is not meant to have a lot of physical action. A limited number of characters will have access to weapons (firecracker guns or foam/latex knives). Participants might fake punches, but direct confrontation is not in the characters’ culture. Players will be always required to escalate violence.
Sexuality
Sexuality is central in dealing with gender segregation, power imbalance ,objectification and exploitation. These themes are heavily present in the game, so sexuality is an aspect that can be used to develop certain narrative arcs. It is in no way mandatory to play on the theme of sexuality in this LARP. Participants need to be aware that scenes and themes linked to sexuality may be present throughout the game.
For scenes involving sexuality, we will use the « fade to black » technique : when a scene evolves to a sexual act, the players will go off-game to describe the scene and their characters’ behaviour briefly. Play will resume at the end of the sexual act.
Alternatively, if all players involved choose to do so, they can also use the Ars Amandi technique.
Black box
The game will allow for meta-scenes through a Black Box system. However, as there will be no break from the game continuity, the Black Box will exist in the game diegesis, as a « meditation room ». The mystics, as characters, will act as Black Box operators. Participants may choose to opt out of the meta-scenes entirely.