All posts by: Tara M. Clapper
14 Myths (and Truths) About Larping
Whether you’re a veteran larper or new to the hobby, you’ve likely been exposed to the many myths about larping from other gamers and some films about live action role play. In truth, ‘larp’ encompasses a variety of experiences and styles, so even the truest of stereotypes only apply to a limited amount of larps.
So what are these myths and how do we move past them? Let’s take a lighthearted look at the facts. (more…)
Transparency in Larp Design: Risks and Rewards
As a larp designer, I struggle with the concept of transparency in game design, or how much I should reveal about the game design process. In business branding in general as well as in larp, there are pros and cons to announcing concepts (and selling larp tickets) before you fully develop the process. The determination about the level of transparency can be a very personal one for the designer (and/or design team) – and one that can affect your larp’s bottom line.
If you debut a design concept without full documentation, you may come under fire for having unanswered questions, or for having no clear strategy about certain topics – everything from inclusion to rules systems, safety issues, and even the types of characters participants can play.
Larp Ticket Cost: What Goes Into Pricing?
Larp participants are often taken aback by the ticket costs. From the perspective of the larp organizer, ticket pricing often leaves a tight margin. Let’s take a look at what causes the sticker shock – and what organizers can do to be transparent about the reason for the larp ticket pricing.
As both a game designer / organizer and a larp participant based in the United States, I empathize with every side of this issue. As an organizer, I’m discovering that profit margins are usually slim with larp, and breaking even on expenses isn’t even always a result planned in to some blockbuster larp efforts.
As a participant on a budget, sometimes I feel entirely priced out of the hobby, even at local games. In my country, the cost of goods and services rises, but the income unfortunately does not – and it’s really starting to impact what people are able to spend on nonessentials. (more…)
6 Ways to Accommodate LARPers with Chronic Illnesses
Live action role play has changed considerably for me over the years. In addition to attending a wider variety of
The Force of Feedback: Tips for LARP Organizers and Players
Written with Joe Hines A LARP can be an experience, a work of art, a competitive game, or all of the above. A
