Meine Deutsch ist nicht gut, so ich verstehe nicht all was ist gesagt.
(and I carry on in English, because than I know what I say)
I'm one of the RegenbogenHeinzelmannchen, or Rainbowgnomes and want to put some marks in the discussion.
It's a pity not everybody liked us, but we can't make everybody satisfied. And at the end it's a matter of taste.
As far as I see it (and it could be my bad Deutsch), our clothes are that striking, that our play isn't seen. Some people (I don't know how much) see our clothes and by sight don't want to play with us. I can understand it, I have it somethimes with Drow or Vampires.
But our clothes don't say anything about our play.
Everytime we we're outside our own place at the back of the camp, we were IT. (okay, not when we're on our way to the toilet). In our own place half of the time, and with people of other groups, alway IT. And we wern't more or less IT than the random Middle Age fighter or farmer. IT we were thinking like Fantasy Middle Age people and acting like them. Because we like our characters and it's fun to play them, I think we could stay better in character than otherwise.
We did our Gate duty, we made people fighting better by drumming and taunting the enemy, we made a fire show and a party in the fire camp. We fighted as hard as any other. We did very good alchemistisc brewing (although I say it myself). We did much to promote lagerplay.
In terms of staying in character against mere costume party, we were the whole time in character. If you didn't see it because of the clothes, that is a other discussion. (
I think a psychological one: things you irritate in other people is often a part of your self which you aren't comfortable with)
Second thing is the characters themselves.
I think the first question is, do you like goblins and kenders?
I think you could see us in the row besides goblins and kenders (and some pirates and fairy's). What's the different between us and them, that Rainbowgnomes are a step to far (for some people) and they aren't? Maybe it will help the next year to see us as a group of jesters: hofnarren(because we come back. We had so much enthousiastic reactions.)
Our characters are just happy and make fun about much things. At the party on fridaynight, that was just it what was needed. and we started that party because we were asked for it. People wanted a party, and that we started it was just because we have the freedom. And that is what is fantasy for me. A character what gives you the freedom (to certain degrees, of course) to be and do what you want.
we didn't make party whole the time. we're just happy to be alive and we want to live every second of it as best we can.
Fun fact: The Fantasy genre started with a corpulent man, 55 years old, who's first sorrows on his journey were that he forgot his handkerchief. (some Bilbo guy
)
Our main heroes of fantasy are 5 guy's smaller than 1,30 m who love to eat and drink and party.
Sprachprobleme: certain, knowing English oder Deutsch is needed for everybody, but I also think it very realistic and gives much possibilty's for play. Napoleon build a army of many European nations. (and get slaughterd by the russians, okay
) It's very realistic, not understanding each other.
It is the mentality behind. If people want interaction, they can try to learn the language, or get a translator. If they don't, and you want to have them fight, it's you who has to do the effort.
We're Dutch (often mistaken for Dänisch) and we had lots of fun, just talking in Dutch, when nobody could understand us.
You've got the rights to complain about us, we have the right defend ourselves.
I certain like the discussion. What is Fantasy and is 'allowed', and what isn't? I didn't know it before I did the Gnomes, but even in fantasy there is some sort of standard, and reactions if you don't follow it. It's a wide standard, but still.
Also interesting is that entire purple, yellow, orange, red and blue fairies, of much colored kenders or goblins are accepted, but that many people have some (big or less) problems with Rainbowgnomes.