Self-adjudicating

A larp is self-adjudicating when the players are able to resolve in-game conflict between each other's characters through an out-of-game method, without the assistance of a gamemaster or any other kind of referee.

This might involve consent-based negotiation/play, using other mechanics such as paper-scissors-rock, or comparing character sheets to determine which characters' skills should succeed in a head-on contest.

Many larps use self-adjudication as a first port-of-call for players to reduce the need for GMs to supervise play everywhere that it happens, giving players some amount of trust and ability to tell stories independently of the GM. But due to conflict that can arise from challenges in game balance or interpersonal differences, many larps use both self-adjudicating methods as well as GM-adjudicated ones at the same time. In those games, players who are unable to agree on an outcome are usually encouraged to raise the matter with an organiser, either within the duration of the larp in which the conflict took place, or shortly after.

See also

• GM-adjudicated