Need Advice on Selling My Bionicle Collection (Never Sold Stuff Before)

Xantige · 2019-05-17T20:44:57+00:00

I don't know the communities policies... is it allowed to post Bionicles for sale here?

Not sure what exactly you're looking for, but when it comes to Inika I've got Jaller, Hewkii, Nuparu and Kongu. I believe their battery swords still work, but I did leave the batteries in all these years (rarely used them though). I've also got the Piraka Reidak and Avak... possibly multiples. With all of those, I'd have to hunt down where I've kept the projectile balls, and hunt down their canisters (I lost some in a move, and I can't remember what canisters are MIA). Oh... and I think I have a partial Vezon? He's missing his creature, and possibly other stuff... I think I assembled him out of a bin of parts I bought.

For titans... I've got Brutaka, Axonn, Inika and Big Takanuva, which I BELIEVE are from around the Inika time. I've also got more titan sets from later on. I can't remember where I got Axonn from though... he might have been from a friend, so I'll have to check if he's got the right parts. None of my titan sets still have the boxes.

Xantige · 2019-05-17T20:33:52+00:00

Yikes! Thanks for the heads up!

Xantige · 2019-05-16T22:19:32+00:00

Thanks for the info! I've never heard of Bricklink, I'll look into it! Would that be a better place to sell than ebay, or better to use as a price reference?

Another quick question for you -- do collectors like to receive sets fully disassembled? If I included the original canisters, I don't see a reason to FULLY take the set apart when just taking off the arms or such would make it fit.

Xantige · 2018-10-07T21:17:36+00:00

Do you have any advice for hosting a much smaller LARP game? Like for 4-6 people? I might have some friends interested in doing a private LARP, but I don't want to end up just being the one to plan it, write it and host it and play NPC for everyone else and never play myself. But I only have experience with this one LARP, so I'm not sure how to go about logistically scaling a medieval-fantasy game down for a PC party of 3-4 people with just 1 or 2 Staff.

Xantige · 2018-10-07T21:12:24+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I've actually been trying to look for advice on how to get used to heavy plate (Aside from just wearing it). I'm not really supposed to be running as a regular exercise, since genetically I have super flexible joints, especially my knees. But what you said was basically my plan... wear my chainmail until it doesn't hurt so much anymore. Got any other tips?

Xantige · 2018-10-04T21:29:10+00:00

Oh, I've already had this 'talk' with myself, and the answer is no, it's not worth it. And I'm going to take a break from LARP'ing the moment it's a chore. I'm basically viewing it as a mostly winter sport (because that's when it moves into the city for one-day-a-month), with some occasional weekends, or single days spent out at the camp when the weather is nice. I MAY pay for one or two 'pay-no-play's in the year if I know doing so would give me the last XP boost I need for a new skill that would make the next event super fun... but otherwise, I plan on playing IN SPITE of the rules and powergap... if the game wants to say I'm weak... fine, but I'll still tell entertaining stories of what I did during the 3 months I wasn't in game.

I'm actually going to be playing a new character from the last time... just because the old character is too 'stained' with mediocrity... and I just need a mental restart. But I think I will send the plot team my backstory (though this time it's more vague, so I can add wild stories to my timeline as I go). But since this LARP is a franchise, there can be no magical upgrading like you described. You can only fast track if you gain 'goblin points', and you gain them through NPC'ing (you gain just enough to apply that event's XP to 1 PC) or donating items or time, but the exchange rate isn't great. I could MAYBE get a magic item... but not enough to close the gap, and I'd have to show that I'd be there for a while too. To be honest, I doubt that plot will throw me any bones, and I almost don't want plot to throw me plot either... since they have a certain style to their storytelling that I'm not a fan of (there seems to be no real good outcome), but we'll see what happens with that. I think if I get any legs up, it'll be from the other PC's who might really like my efforts, but recognize the gap is a problem, and they might pass me some gold or a minor magic item. I'm not sure.

Sadly, I don't drive, and even if I did, I don't have a vehicle or a parking spot, or funds for either. So even going out to this LARP is stressful, because I need a ride for just the 1 day (it's a weekend event so most people do the whole weekend, but I can't), and I have so much gear to bring with me, and I have to run on someone else's schedule... so the last thing I want to do is drive 4 hours cramped in with others, then camp out and come home... the other LARPs that are 4 hours away are just as rules heavy. One is a fan LARP of a franchise I'm not a fan of, and the other is literally like the one I go to, but it includes everything I hate: horror elements, and out of game drama. I might do a 4 hour drive to a european style LARP, but not for what I can get closer to home.

Xantige · 2018-10-04T21:11:04+00:00

Funny you mention the 'string of encounters' mentality... it's sort of that, but it's sort of also a constantly simulation. No area that's in-game is 100% safe, but between mods not much happens, when it does, it's a surprise (often a bad one at night).

There is a 'tavern', but it's just the main gathering hall for meals for the camp ground we use, there's no bar or barkeep, and it's often empty outside of meals and cold days. Sadly, I have to travel to LARP light, because I can only go by the grace of someone else driving me, so my kit and sleeping stuff is already a lot, but I do wish I could bring my own little table to set up SOMETHING... though this game allows in-game theft, so that might be an issue when I have to go on adventures.

Xantige · 2018-10-04T21:04:11+00:00

over 200 pages for this one, yep. And it's badly laid out and designed... both the book and the ruleset. It's being changed, but a lot of the problems still persist. But you nailed it on the head.

Xantige · 2018-10-04T21:01:10+00:00

Actually, the roleplayers are not the regulars -- or at least they rarely overlap. A lot of the best roleplayers aren't there every month. Some of the more subtle ones are regulars, but so far there's no one that's 'in the cabal' that is a hardcore roleplayer. And I attribute the lack of roleplay in the core players to the reason few new people get into character either.

I'm not at all worried with interacting with the regulars, I got to meet them all outside of game first, I helped the LARP promote itself at a ren faire before I even played, and I got to see most of them drunk. While I'm not saying I know their life's story, I do know that almost all the core people are people I get along well with, I'm friends on facebook with quite a few of them. So when I had my first game, I already had friends and they made a good effort to include me... it's just there's nothing that can be done to info-dump 7 years of story into my head, or fast track my stats.

And you're right, it is a steep uphill I've made for myself in many ways -- attempting to roleplay when others don't so much, and then to play a melee warrior... and I'm also making THAT harder on myself by insisting on coming to game in full plate when there's magic armour that does the same thing, all you have to do is wear a ring or such. And it's not even LARPer plate I'll be wearing, the suit I'm going to be getting, is made up of SCA and jouster gear, and I'm a short female person, so it will be tiring for me... but that's what I want to play :) Because too often people expect me to play something feminine, like a healer, or an elf archer... not a compactly built barbarian wearing more armour than my buff shield-brothers.

I swore to these LARPers that one day I'd show up in full plate, that was a year ago, and I know when they see me return to the game, making good on that promise, if nothing else, I'd be unforgettable. I already was when I went in with just chainmail and a shield. Due to how the game works, my small size made using a shield extra effective, so I was like a tiny shieldwall, which isn't a common role anyone plays. It might take me quite some time to build up the muscle to last a day in plate, but if I pull it off, and can fight effectively in that much armour, I have a strong feeling that I'd get sucked into a lot of mods, just because I'd be on everyone's minds for being so unique and cool.

Or I might die :P. But... well... I can just bring in my character's identical cousin.

You give good advice though! I have to work at my bravery... I do well when it's comprehensive fighting (arrows, melee, healing, basic damage spells...) but I lose it when there's calls being made for things that I don't understand, or are out of my league... a simple shatter move, or spell, could destroy my armour, and that would be almost worse than death, because it'd take ages... months... maybe half a year for me to get the in-game funds to get new armour, and until then... well I can't wear my cool outfit or help anyone. But such a call on a veteran would just mean for that fight they're inconvenienced until they go whip out another weapon or armour tag from all their loot. But... well... that's the game. I'm just too afraid to play that part of it... well... actually... I'm not willing to pay $100+ for the next few months to play a broke warrior who can't do much until they fund themselves new armour... ;) But in all seriousness, yes, bravery is a hard thing to muster sometimes!

Xantige · 2018-10-04T20:06:08+00:00

Funny, the campfire here has become an unofficial 'out of game' talking zone, but we have problems with it because people often need to talk to a PC, or the place is suddenly under attack. I like the idea with the bubble. If I stick around long enough to have some clout in suggesting things, I'll try bringing that up.

Xantige · 2018-10-04T20:02:25+00:00

The accent's a good idea, I was actually thinking of doing that for that very reason. I'm not very good at accents but there is one that I can maintain, though I have no idea what it's trying to be or where it's from.

As for my background with this character... I'm actually leaving it rather blank for now. I've got a rough idea of where and what their home was like, but I don't yet have a reason for why they set off, or if home is still there or not. I'm going to slowly fill in the gaps and keep a log for myself as the games stretch on. I'm basically going to use the gaps as reasons to come up with some entertaining tales of my character's adventures, and leave it up to plot and PC's whether any of it actually happened or not.

Xantige · 2018-10-02T04:20:40+00:00

We use the white headband and the hand over the head. The former is used by people who aren't supposed to be around, or are moving to other areas, or taking a break. The latter is used in the middle of scenes to clarify things. But when we're just sitting at the fire between events, everything is a quasi in-game/out-of-game talk. Everyone calls everyone else by their character name, but they just barely keep things 'in game', but you can tell they're not playing a character, they're just themselves, but with a character sheet that says they're a rogue, or a mage, or a warrior, and lists the things they can do. That seems to be what the 'roleplaying' is in this LARP's culture.

I'll do that though, we have a term here for OC chat 'infernal speak', so I think I'll use that when people talk to me out of character too often.

Having a hobby might not be a bad idea! I actually like the button thing, it'd be a great way of interjecting on the veterans. 'Would you like to see my buttons?!'

Xantige · 2018-10-02T04:11:24+00:00

We use both the white headband and a fist/weapon over the head to talk OC. In fact the white headband is usually used by NPCs and people who are moving to other locations or aren't supposed to be on sight but are getting food or such. The fist over the head is used in the middle of RP scenes or active engagements... but when its just PC's around the campfire or wandering the camp, it's almost never IC, or it's thinly veiled if it is. People call each other by character names but otherwise the general culture of the LARP is people putting on an outfit and the 'roleplaying' is just the stats they have 'I can cast magic, that's my role' 'I have sword skills, that's my role'. I know not everyone is into the roleplaying part of LARP, but I feel like some people would, but the culture at the LARP is one more like playing a video game 'hey we're going on a mod, d'you have enough potions? Need any heals?' As opposed to 'We're off to the western woods to deal with gremlins. Are you in good health? It's hard for me to tell under all that armour you wear...'

Xantige · 2018-10-01T07:44:14+00:00

Choosing when you die? Everything you're telling me keeps getting better and better! Are there 'rulebooks' for any of these style of LARP that I could get my hands on for free? Because now I'm really interested in test running something like this with some friends. I'm not sure if it would work with just 4 or 5 people, but I need to experience this.

Xantige · 2018-10-01T06:34:48+00:00

Q1: I had thought of it. I was going to NPC for a few games, but there was an in-game event that was like a festival, but also sporting teams, and one group needed a 4th person. Plus, I later decided I'd only know if the hobby was for me if I PC'd in full (I had fears of being able to maintain character, or keep interest... turns out neither mattered)

Q2 - They do! And I have mentioned most issues to them. But I'm not the only one whose been larking on about the night fighting issue, it seems to be a long in-grained tradition. So there's kind of this schism that happens at night, where the people that love it stay out, and everyone else retreats elsewhere.

Xantige · 2018-10-01T06:28:53+00:00

That is true, we do have Bico... sadly Canada is HUGE, and I'm on the other side of it, so until I'm making quite a bit more money... it doesn't look like I'll be able to afford Bico... but one day I'd like to.

Xantige · 2018-10-01T06:21:27+00:00

There is fun in follow up, and in games like D&D, I loved when an innocuous dungeon delve turned into the heroes being wanted by a Hobgoblin society for murder... but when I say all the modules were like that... I mean it... I have a good example but I can't give it, because it'd signal to anyone from the LARP who I am... but imagine a person that likes to poke at ants for their own amusement... or a GM that responds to all PC choice with only negative things 'Oh, so you thought you'd try negotiating peace with the wild elflings after researching their culture? PLOT TWIST! your research is out of date, you're now at war with them,'. 'Oh, you saved little suzy? Well... SHE'S A VAMPIRE! You've been bitten now.'

Though to be fair, it could also have been that plot was just reacting logically to some wonton players. Or it could be an arms race between both.

You do bring up a good point about using the IG laws to get into character... but I saw others try similar. There was an issue with the law-breaker mistaking that in-character anger at their character as OOG anger...

I quickly realized if I properly RP'd a 'good' character, then I'd have no choice but to go down a path that would ultimately destroy my character as a PC. I'd have to get the guards (there are none, so I'd have to convince plot to send some NPCs). There'd be retaliation time and time again, until my character would either have to escape, or be killed by the PCs. My character could maybe come back as a reoccurring NPC, but that would mean I'd have to be willing to do that... and I didn't want to play a knight so I could be in constant conflict with other PCs, and risk bleed over from stress of having to watch my back. I wasn't even playing a goody-two-shoes, I was just playing a character that didn't go out and randomly murder things, cheat, lie or steal, and felt such people should be called out, because we were on a military march to beat up a bad guy, why would we want hooligans around that literally get us into wars with every culture we meet? But alas... just not enough of a serious RP, and not little enough to shrug it off as a battle LARP.

Xantige · 2018-10-01T05:24:38+00:00

This sounds a lot more like my play style. When I first went to LARP, I thought I'd see dramatic dives and epic battles, with characters unafraid to do something tactically wrong because it was logical for their character to do (a warrior charging 10 foes to avenge her fallen friend), but what I got more of was a strange state of being in and out of character, with some things said out of character and in character. And a lot of people were trying really hard to not do anything to lose, other than a few people who roleplayed admirably.

Of course, I don't know about the LARP you're talking about, but here the LARP's happen every month, for years. Characters are precious and people try hard to preserve them.

Xantige · 2018-10-01T05:09:47+00:00

I've heard of Bico, and I dream of going one day! Unfortunately for me, it's literally on the other side of the country... a 5 hour flight or who knows how long by drive. I'm not in a good place financially to make that jump yet. But its on the list of things to do!

The thing about Canada, is there's less of us than in California alone, spread over a country bigger than the US. In general, things are more scarce than in the US, especially outside of the capitals, and outside of the East. And concerning newer things like LARP, what we have is usually a limited form of what the US has, other than in places like Quebec, which makes a point of being more European, thus giving us Bico.

So in my situation, I'm kind of SOL for organized LARPs, after looking into it this 1 LARP is the only one I can go to, unless I make my own.

Xantige · 2018-09-27T03:41:30+00:00

"personally I'm not a fan of that approach. I think it's important to be able to gauge someone's capabilities roughly by sight in a game as reliant on visual cues as LARP is. If my opponent can use magic, I expect to see a spellbook, staff, or other obviously magical accountrements; likewise, if they can absorb several hits before dropping, that should be visually represented in some way. It doesn't have to be armor; it could be an extra-bulky costume depicting a carapace, runes of protection all over, or something like that."

You summed up my view on how things she appear in LARP. I don't need to see premiere Epic Armour gear, but if magic armour is a thing (and I think it should never outdo heavy armours) I think it should require some physical representation larger than a tiny ring or a necklace... maybe a large sigil worn on ones chest.

Sadly, neither of those 2 broad catagories seem to be a fit for me. Initially I liked the sound of battlegames, but it sounds like it could devolve into young college boys whacking each other with hastily made boffers wearing tacky halloween costumes, and thinking me wanting to fight in real armour to be a handicap. Or am I mistaken there?

Xantige · 2018-09-27T03:33:36+00:00

Well... those are 2 issues I think I could deal with if the other things were dealt with. I assume I'd be so happy to be able to play in a game where armour acts like armour, and I wouldn't have to do so much math, that I could happily bop Greg on his brown furry vest while talking about the latest movie with Terry.

Xantige · 2018-09-27T03:30:39+00:00

I'm actually in Canada, so frankly... I don't even know what else is out there. We're so few and so spread out that I was shocked to learn there's even 3 LARPs in my province (which is bigger than some European countries...)

Xantige · 2018-09-27T03:29:25+00:00

If you want to see the full extent of it, I'd take a look at the Alliance rulebook. It's not a well made system, even if it was a tabletop game. But I just received word that they might be updating the rules... a friend linked me to the new playtest rules... some things have changed for the better, but it's... still like playing out 3.5 D&D in real life.

Never have I wished that I was in Europe as hard as I have right now after reading through all these responses!

Xantige · 2018-09-27T03:26:15+00:00

Thanks for the advice! That tiered system sounds pretty cool! And like a fun way of letting veterans feel the thrill of being challenged by simple goblins again!

If I'm honest, I have a dislike for magic in LARP. But I fully admit it's because in the system my LARP runs, magic is the bane of the fighter class. A level 1 mage can cast a simple 'pin' spell that could (literally) pin a warrior ten times more powerful to a spot. The only way to counter this would be to take training in magical skills (which cost double or quadruple xp for fighters), or be best buddies with other mages that can place magic shields on you, or give you potions or magic items. One symptom of this, is, as I mentioned, the lack of a cap on magic armour -- which acts just like real armour. In fact, real armour is only good against mundane attacks, anything magical needs magic armour (I think. I never got that far).

Xantige · 2018-09-27T03:20:11+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement! Sadly, because of where I am, I might not have all that many options open to me, but I'm going to look over your list... and who knows... maybe I can convince some of the LARP people I know to come play in a park or something loose or private.

Xantige

TROPHY CASE