What is a Freeform?

In a nutshell

A freeform is a roleplaying game that takes place in a room. It lasts about 3 hours and focuses on players, who have prewritten characters, moving around and talking to each other in small groups rather than on character sheets and dice.

A longer explanation

A freeform is a type of live roleplaying game in which each player takes on the role of a prewritten character, usually in costume, and explores a situation and/or attempts to achieve some suggested goals. At least one referee (AKA GM) will be on hand to answer questions and help resolve conflicts (both real and in-character).

Before the game each player will receive a briefing document which describes their character, what they know about the other characters, the setting, and the situation. It will usually provide some suggested goals. Since it takes some time to digest all this information, the briefing is usually provided at least a week before, and it is considered perfectly acceptable to keep the briefing document handy for reference during the game. A shorter briefing is normally provided further ahead to allow players to source suitable costume.

A typical freeform lasts around 3–4 hours, caters to around a dozen people, and takes place in a single room.

Freeforms are non-contact games with almost all play taking place through players breaking up into smaller groups and talking in-character. If a randomisation mechanic is needed — such as if two characters get into a fight — then stone-paper-scissors is often used. It is a format that emphasis roleplaying over mechanics.

Some games give significance to items which may be represented by props or cards, and some grant characters special abilities (so a character who is a boxer may have a card that lets them automatically win a fight up to three times during the game).

There are exceptions to these guidelines. For example: Some games workshop characters at the start of the session instead of prewriting them. Some games are larger in scope (one annual event caters for around 80 people, takes over half a dozen or so rooms in a hotel and runs for a whole weekend). Any such exceptions for games run at Bristol Games Day will be clearly noted in the game description.