In role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

s, theatre-style live action role-playing (LARP) is a style of freeform

Freeform role-playing game

Freeform role-playing games, also called freeforms, are a type of role-playing game which employ minimal or no rules. Instead, actions are adjudicated on the spot by the referee. There are also several variations, some of which lack a referee....

, live action

Live action role-playing game

A live action role-playing game is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out their characters' actions. The players pursue goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world, while interacting with each other in character. The outcome of player actions may...

 game distinguished by four principal attributes. While not every theatre-style LARP has all of these attributes, strength in these areas distinguishes theatre style LARP:

1. The organizers are likely to have pre-written characters for the players to play; if not, they may provide much more proactive plotting and guidance during the event. The organizers in general provide more direction and are more likely to supply goals for the character.
2. The action is likely to be generated or instigated by the players in what is called "Player versus Player" (or PVP) style game play. "Theatre style" describes an event in which players play in a background, ethos, or environment set up by the organizers, but may have a great deal of latitude in choosing how to behave and what to do within the setting. Organizers are more likely to provide guidance and less likely to prohibit or penalize changes of heart or compromises.
3. It is likely that the game setup will involve elements of character versus character play. This means that characters may have mutually exclusive or irreconcilable goals, and may be in direct conflict, in some cases actually "killing" or sending each other out of the game.
4. It is likely that combat will be symbolic combat, simulated with cards or a numeric system involving dice or some other randomizer such as rock, paper, scissors
   Rock, Paper, Scissors
   Rock-paper-scissors is a hand game played by two people. The game is also known as roshambo, or another ordering of the three items ....
   
   , or other more complex rules methods, rather than by fighting with padded weapons. Historically, the distinction of not involving live combat was seen as paramount, though some modern theatre-style games have used elements of live combat successfully.

Theatre style is not a specific brand or genre of LARP, but rather a style of LARP. Most Mind's Eye Theatre

Mind's Eye Theatre

Mind's Eye Theatre is a live action role-playing game based on the White Wolf World of Darkness universe, sharing a theme and setting originally with the table-top role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade and now with its revision, Vampire: The Requiem...

games could be described as theater-style, for example, though their organizers tend to identify them more heavily by genre than by style.) Typically the term has been heavily used by GMs in the northeastern United States, producing eclectic games, especially those produced at the three Intercon LARP conventions

Intercon LARP conventions

The Intercon LARP conventions are a series of live action role-playing conventions licensed by LARPA and produced by independent groups. The conventions began with the Silicon LARP convention, organized in 1986...

.