Braunsteins and freeform larps

According to Google’s AI overview, A Braunstein is a type of experimental role-playing game (RPG) that is considered a precursor to modern games like Dungeons & Dragons. Created by David Wesely in the late 1960s, these games feature multiple players with secret objectives who interact within a fictional town, using a referee to mediate and adjudicate actions that are not predetermined by a script. This model emphasizes player-driven narratives, negotiation, and unexpected outcomes, distinguishing it from traditional war games.

Doesn’t that sound like a freeform? (Or maybe a megagame?)

Anyway, here’s a 2008 blog post by Ben Robbins (he of Microscope fame) which talks about that original 1969 and (not-yet-but-will-be-one-day Major) David Wesely, arguably the world’s first GM.

And this post, also by Ben Robbins, is more interesting as it contains links to details of that first game – including the character descriptions.

Student A

So here’s Student A

Student A

Background: You are a highly patriotic and loyal subject of your king and country (Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia). You have been dismayed to find that the dangerous ideas of the French Revolution are widely repeated by the students and faculty of the University. The Chancellor and the Mayor both refuse to listen to your warnings about the NBB, a radical pro-French student movement. Only the Landwehr major seems to hate revolutionaries as much as you do, but he is lazy and inept, and does not treat you with respect. You have gathered a band of students who will stand with you against the NBB; when asked what you call yourselves, you will say, "We are Prussians. Our honour needs no other name." And as leader of the fencing team, you can (and have) defended your honour on the duelling ground many times.

Recent events: Last night, you were insulted by Student B, the head of the pro-French NBB.  When you challenged him to a duel, he replied, "I accept: Beer steins at two paces!" and emptied his beer on your head! Your friends stepped in, the fight spread, and the Landwehr arrested everyone. You start in jail, with many of your fellow students. The Landwehr took away your sword.

Your objectives

1. Get you and your friends out of jail
2. Have as many of the NBB students kept in jail/hanged/shot as possible
3. Force student B to fight a proper duel with you (and defeat him)
4. Save Braunstein from the French Army, which is rumoured to be approaching

Isn’t that a freeform larp character?

We’d do things a little differently now (if nothing else, I’d give Student A a name), but basically, Braunstein 1 and freeform larps are pretty much the same thing. (The later Braunsteins seem to be a bit more gamey, and are perhaps closer to megagames.)

And while many people think that larp emerged from tabletop roleplaying games (eg, see the Wikipedia larps entry), it appears that it was actually the other way around. Not that anyone realised it at the time.