Every now and then it happens to find it difficult to talk about a game, not because I don’t like it but because the topics covered remain under my skin and take my breath. This happened with First They Came, the Chaos League chamber larp that I’m going to review today.
However, first of all I want to thank MS Edizioni who provided us with a copy of First They Came; the manual is available for purchase on the Chaos League website at the price of 20 euros for the physical version or 10 euros for the digital one.
“First they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.Then they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me”
The words of Pastor Martin Niemöller‘s sermon on the inactivity of German intellectuals following the rise to power of the Nazis is the premise for this deeply immersive role-playing game that is played blindfolded with the aid of a dedicated soundtrack. It is a game designed for one-shots lasting 2-3 hours for 3 to 5 players. First They Came does not need a game master or particular preparation. This is a game to be faced with awareness, the same with which it is presented by the authors.
The Historical Premise
First They Came is set in a very particular moment in our history and in a specific place. The characters live in Berlin in 1942. It is the period in which the Nazi regime had already deported (or killed) most of the unwanted people if they didn’t manage to take refuge abroad. That was the period in which the few left on German soil, terrified, hid their true identity behind a facade of “normality”. Yet an out-of-the-ordinary behavior is enough for a work colleague, friend, acquaintance, or passerby to warn the Gestapo that investigates the victim. The rest is done by the interrogations of the political police.
It is evident that this game is not competitive, but aims to give players a common experience.
At this point it is necessary to specify what is also underlined by the authors of First They Came: the characters will have to make difficult and dramatic choices, but imagining the choices and sufferings of someone is never the same as living them.
The players takes the role of the unwanted people. Each character has a secret and, in order to escape the Gestapo who is climbing the stairs to look for her, takes refuge in the dark attic, discovering she is not alone. At this moment, the game begins.
The Characters of First They Came
First They Came offers six character sheets. Each character can be played by choosing the gender you prefer. In fact, a male and a female name are proposed on each card. This type of attention denotes care and sensitivity and those who play this game are required to have the same attitude.
Each character has its own sheet and a series of associated documents. Everyone has something to hide or has done something that they should be ashamed of. Everyone has made painful choices that have affected not only their own lives but also those of others. It is important to know that the characters of First They Came are based on people who really existed; the suggestion is to go and discover something more of them, once you have finished playing.
Each proposed character has an archetype, a job, and two themes to represent him. Along with this information, there are three documents to be given to the players when distributing the characters. The choice must be aware, none of the proposed themes are easy to manage, and, once again, it is suggested not to put on the table something that could excessively upset the participants. Once you have chosen your character and obtained the documents concerning her, it is time to proceed with the actual creation.
The Past, the Problem, and the Solution
As we said, each player is given three documents.
The first concerns the past of the character. It contains some fundamental information to get to know her better. Inside you can read about a choice that somehow led her to the situation she is in now.
The second document is related to something the character has done and, whether she likes it or not, is hateful and unforgivable to everyone else.
Finally, the third document contains something that could redeem her in the eyes of those present, of the world, and of herself. Whether it’s a plan, a project, or something else that will help make the world better.
Each character is assigned an apartment within the building they are in. This is their home inside it there are secrets and objects that can condemn them to imprisonment, deportation, or death.
Safety at the Table
There is no doubt that a game like this, which deals with strong and complex themes, which can lead to disturbing moments and situations in which emotion can overflow, absolutely needs security systems.
As we will see in this First They Came review, Chaos League, which has years of experience in this sector, dedicates a specific chapter to this issue. This section is crucial and too often overlooked or underestimated in other games.
When choosing characters, players must read the proposed themes and evaluate them. If there is something that makes one or more people uncomfortable, it can be removed. Similarly, if a character creates discomfort by her own nature, this can be removed for choosing another one.
First They Came has also two specific phrases to suspend the game or even exit it without completely interrupting the experience of the other players. The purpose of the game, remember it, is to make the participant live emotions, not to make them uncomfortable. Chaos League proves to have particular attention and competence, not only in proposing these kinds of issues but also in knowing how to manage them during the game.
How to Play First They Came
The game begins by narrating flashbacks, creating 5-minute scenes. The authors wanted to support the story with useful traces to evoke the place where the narration takes place. In each scene, revolving around each character, the other players will play the extras. Each Flashback focuses on an important choice from her past that will further detail the character.
It is therefore time to stay in the dark, wearing a blindfold. Now the protagonists are in the attic, without knowing each other. The characters are there because the arrival of the Gestapo made them flee in search of refuge in the hope of not being discovered. They have time, during the search of the agents in the various apartments, to get to know each other. Meanwhile, each search will reveal a compromising clue, something that both in the eyes of the Gestapo and those of others hiding in the attic, makes the character expendable for the safety of all others.
The only way for any of the protagonists to survive is to designate a scapegoat from among the players. They know that Gestapo will then arrest her, the search will end and the other characters will be safe. The scapegoat, however, will have a tragic end.
Each player can cast only one vote during the Attic Scene. It is essential to underline that it is not the characters who vote but the players. This distinction is important because voting is a game mechanic and as such serves to evolve the story.
It is important to point out that in First They Came there are no dice rolls, skills, combat, or other elements that are present in most RPGs. It is about being in the dark, together, to tell a mature, touching, and dramatic story.
Review of First They Came Audio Tracks
As you understood from this review, First They Came is a highly immersive game. For this reason, the dedicated soundtrack, downloadable with a handy QR code in the volume, is essential to make the experience complete. Not all tracks are actually music: there are also ambient noises contextualized to each character’s flashbacks. What is very significant, at least in my opinion, is that each track has a precise tempo, so as to make each phase of the game punctual in its realization, preventing the pace or tension from dropping.
I have listened to all the tracks and I can say without any doubt that the research work and the attention to detail are really worth it.
First They Came Materials Review
The game is made of the manual and all the documents of the characters.
From an aesthetic point of view, the whole manual is impactful. Each page could be extrapolated and constitute a game itself. Different fonts and bright colors emphasize topics and passages of the game. The choice in the long run, however, makes reading a little difficult (at least in the paper version). The black text on a dark green background, I admit, was not the best choice, although I didn’t encounter any problems reading the digital version.
Conclusions of the First They Came Review
First They Came, as can be seen from this review, is not a game for everyone and offers the possibility of a single and poignant experience.
It is undoubtedly a particular game and not at all easy to play, especially from an emotional point of view; yet it is a game that I recommend because sometimes it is necessary to remove the blindfold and embrace suffering to better understand some aspects of humanity.