This is a possible overview page for explaining the various workshops.
Workshop Design
The purpose of the pre-larp workshop is to prepare participants for the game and to give them a common understanding of the setting and background of the larp. In doing so, they should learn how to develop and play their characters and gain a common understanding of the game. To create a good atmosphere, the workshop needs to be a safe space where everyone can test their limits, practice meta-techniques, and build relationships with the other players.
The workshop consists of lectures, exercises, and group discussions. Some of it will be common for everyone, and certain parts of the workshop will be organized separately by species. For the course of the workshops, we assume that the larp will take place from Friday evening to Sunday noon. Right before the game starts, participants will have time and opportunity to fine-tune their characters and relationships or to clarify the last questions.
During the episode breaks during the larp, intermediate Workshops 2 and 3 focus on calibrating the game and give participants the opportunity to reflect on and adjust their stories and relationships. In this, there is no right or wrong way. The goal is to achieve the best possible development for all participants. The effect is both flexibility and ownership of everyone’s story and experience.
Directly after the game, de-rolling takes place with the aim of leading the players out of the fiction. The workshop after the larp on Sunday serves to reflect together on the experience. This involves making a connection between fiction and real life and determining which parts of the experience participants want to keep and which they want to let go of. In addition to structured reflection exercises, the workshop also includes space for individual follow-up.
Workshops Overview
| Workshop | Function | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop 1 Prelude First evening, includes dinner | – Prepares players for participation in the larp and gives them an understanding of how to play together (rules and meta-techniques) – Players learn about the setting, create their characters and workshop relationships – Players try out all rules and meta-techniques – Creates a safe environment for everyone | – Welcome and practical information – Tour of the location – Introduction to the setting of the larp – Information about the schedule – Trust building workshop (all) – Group workshops (per species, NPC) – Character development (in groups) |
| Final Touches Directly before play starts | – Space for clarifying any ambiguities – Space for final preparations before the start of the game | – Info about the day’s schedule – Breakfast – Q&A for (new) larpers – Costume finalisation |
| Workshop 3 Between Episodes 2 and 3 | – Calibrate characters, relationships, and stories – Discuss and practice special scenes | – Info about workshop procedure – Break before game start |
| Workshop 3 Between Episode 2 and 3 | – Calibrate characters, relationships, and stories – Discuss and practice special scenes | – Info about workshop procedure – Break before game start |
| De-Rolling After the game end | – Clearly signal the end of the game – Create transition to off-game party | – Everyone takes off name tags, masks, and other costume items – Everyone says goodbye to their character |
| Workshop 4 Debriefing, out of game | – Exercises and conversations to follow up on the experience – Contextualize the experience – Create space to leave the larp behind | – Silent discussion and/or similar exercise (PAC analysis) – Context lecture – Discussion session |
Workshop 1: Prelude
The goal of the pre-larp workshop is to create a safe space for players to get to know and trust each other, learn the backstory, and thus dive deeper into the themes of the larp. Workshop 1 is designed to build trust and closeness and ensure that all participants are up to speed with play style, storytelling, meta-techniques, and rules, especially for establishing safety. All workshops are mandatory, but you can opt out of an exercise if you feel it is necessary. The larp is “ready to play,” meaning you can just come to the larp without doing anything beforehand.
Schedule Prelude
| Day 1: Time | Content | Target | Place | Responsible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | Arrival: Moving into the rooms, handing out the keys | everyone | Somewhere | Someone |
| 17:00 | Address: Welcome and practical information | everyone | Somewhere | Someone |
| 17:15 | Tour of the location | everyone | Somewhere | Someone |
| 17:45 | Lecture: Introduction to the setting of the larp | everyone | Somewhere | Someone |
| 18:15 | Lecture: Information about the schedule | everyone | Somewhere | Someone |
| 18:30 | Exercise a) on trust building and meta-techniques | everyone | Somewhere | Someone |
| 19:30 | Break: Dinner | everyone | Somewhere | Someone |
| 20:30 | Group exercises b) Introduction species A c) Introduction species B | b) Species A SC + GSC c) Species B SC + GSC | b) Somewhere c) Somewhere else | b) Someone c) Someone else |
| 22:00 | Break | everyone | ||
| 22:30 | Group exercises d) Key scene species A e) Key scene species B | d) Species A SC + GSC e) Species B SC + GSC | d) Somewhere e) Somewhere else | d) Someone e) Someone else |
| 23:30 | End Day 1 |
Acknowledgment
The above way of detailing the workshop design, content, and schedule was inspired by the format used in the larp script for “Just a Little Lovin’.”