Playing to lose

Playing to lose means choosing what makes a better story over what is best for your character, a value in many story-focused larps.

When a scene could go either way, you sometimes let it go badly for your character because failure, setbacks and vulnerability often make the most memorable play for everyone. It does not mean playing badly on purpose; it means putting the story ahead of winning. The idea is especially associated with Nordic-style larp, but many games use it. It might mean letting a rival outwit you or letting a sad scene land rather than dodging it. Games treat it differently, so check how your organisers expect it to work.