Month: June 2015

LARP Game Mechanics

LARP Game Mechanics

Posted by | Jun 10, 2015 | |

Yesterday, we started thinking about our LARP-ing characters by answering some questions. Today, the group will shape the environment and run through the game mechanics we will try to use in the LARP on Day 4. In adapting a traditional RPG to a LARP, the first step is to empower the characters to figure out how their actions impact each other in real time. We don’t want every player to carry and rely on dice to dictate outcomes of each decision they make. Rather, we want the game to be freely played as much as possible, challenging only what cannot be resolved...

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LARPs, Fate and Group Storytelling

LARPs, Fate and Group Storytelling

Posted by | Jun 9, 2015 | |

One of the more interesting workshops I’ve attended came at the 2014 Sigma Play conference here in Bloomington, Indiana. My son and I participated in a “parlor” role-playing session about vampires, werewolves and a murder in the woods. I found it compelling because of the process to set up the characters—done as a group—and the use of different locations to allow you to move to part of the story without knowing everything that is transpiring. Before that conference, I thought of LARP-ing (live action role playing) as a cross between CosPlay and beating the crap out of each other...

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2015 Day 1

Posted by | Jun 1, 2015 | , |

We launched 2015 Geek Camp today. The three projects that attracted campers were the Big Bouncing Ball challenge, in which they watched this video: After watching, they were given a random object to use in creating an ad. They received a plastic ruler, which quickly broke. Watch for that video later this week!   The next challenge was to take a favorite kid book and translate it into video format. They got started with Are You My Mother. As Matilda told the group, “it didn’t really happen.” Sometimes that happens. The last project was creating a city in Minecraft. They outlined some rules ahead of time, including no griefing, and worked on the city, four at a time. I hear there are a lot of emeralds involved. Over lunch they played a scavenger hunt game. You can find more details at the facebook page, but here are a few of my favorites:   We also had a group of campers work on creating superheroes and their own new superhero universe. We’re hoping it provides a platform for future comics, movies and other stories. Tomorrow we’re going to spend some more time on the...

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