The LARP took an excursion to the mystical island of Silverwood Forest where the group trained with orks, trolls, elves and giant snakes to master the art of magical combat. Through daring and ability, no one was eaten by the carnivorous geese nor drowned by the playful but deadly water nymphs. The adventurous but perhaps foolhardy group returns to the mystical island this week for further training and other scholarly pursuits.
Month: July 2016
Crafters Guild: Smartphone Grimoire
To ensure we have sufficient supplies for all guild members, please sign up by noon on Tuesday, Aug 9.
“A grimoire (/ɡrɪmˈwɑːr/ grim-war) is a textbook of magic, typically including instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets; how to perform magical spells; charms and divination; and how to summon or invoke supernatural entities …. In many cases, the books themselves are believed to be imbued with magical powers ….” — Wikipedia
Although the original idea was inspired by the observation that many of the Summertime LARPers have their own Smartphone (a ‘magical’ device containing directions, advice, and funny cat photos), this mystical covering does not need to be for a smartphone — it could cover a regular mobile phone, an iPod, a tablet, or even a (paper) notebook. Whatever you choose, be sure to bring your device along to the Crafter Guild to ensure proper sizing!
Bring provisions (that is, a bag lunch).
My mom and I will bring our supply of tools, but you may bring your own as well if you wish to avoid waiting your turn! Tools in short supply include hobby knives (or utility knives), metal straight edges, rulers, small sharp scissors, and small cutting mats.
You may bring your own project or you may choose to participate in the project my mom and I are leading. If you bring your own project, it does not have to be LARP related. Just come craft with us!
Materials costs will be
• $8.20 for a smartphone-sized grimoire
• $10.50 for a tablet-sized grimoire
That costs includes the clasp, dark brown alligator embossed felt, book board, black or white elastic, thread (we’ll have an assortment of colors), fabric glue, and fabric paint/markers.
Guild members may prefer to select their own felt and clasp for their Grimoire.
If you want to provide your own felt, please purchase 3 9×12-inch sheets of felt and subtract $2.70 for the materials cost.
If you want to provide your own clasp, please purchase 1 closure and subtract $1.75 from the materials cost.
We will using only part of the third sheet of 9×12 felt to make the belt for the clasp, so if you are buying felt for more than one grimoire and everyone is okay with a belt of the same color, you only need 1 additional sheet for up to 4 belts.
You are also encouraged to make a free-will donation to Waite Park Church in appreciation of their generosity in allowing the Crafters Guild to use their space. This is truly free-will! The organizers will not be monitoring these donations but encourage you to consider donating $3 to $5 per family.
The Crafters Guild has the downstairs Junior Chapel at Waite Park Church reserved from 10am until 2pm. We will start at 10am and work on our projects until we are done.
SAFETY FIRST!
Crafters will be using hobby knives, utility knives, scissors, needles, permanent glues, etc. While crafters are expected to use tools safely and responsibly at all times, the potential for accidents exists.
Crafters should wear clothes, footwear, hairstyles and eye protection appropriate for a workshop. That means no loose sleeves or shirt tails, no open-toed shoes, and tie back long hair. Safety goggles are recommended, but you must provide your own.
Crafters who engage in unsafe behavior will be asked to leave.
All crafters are expected to assist with clean up. All crafters are expected to stay until clean up is complete.
Parents are solely responsible for the safety of their own children.
Crafters Guild is recommended for ages 12 and up, but as skills and maturity vary by child, parents or legal guardians are responsible for determining the suitability of projects for their own own children and for determining whether or not their children will require their assistance to succeed. Parents may also choose to participate in the group project — or bring their own project to work on during the gathering.
Story Synopsis for Summer LARP #7 (2016)
Guest scribe!
The LARP started with a mining operation. The dwarves were given five acres of land to mine. As it turns out that land was dead in the way of minerals. The dwarves started to mine outside of their given land. There was one problem. The land was owned by the elves. A stab fest ensued. Everyone was united against a large summoned zombie. And then, suddenly… pineapples! I mean lunch. And then we went swimming.
Story Synopsis for Summer LARP #6 (2016)
Our last LARP started in Dragonwood, but Not-Margaret created a portal to the Old Realm that we went through. There we freed the gods of Mount Olympus, who had been trapped by the elder gods. The Olympian gods set the Old Realm back to how it was, but almost every one’s memory of how things once were was also gone, except for a select few who had magical powers to resist memory alteration.
Suddenly a bunch of talking possessed bunnies with large magical swords attacked. Anyone touched by one of those magical swords was also possessed (By whom?! We don’t know!), but a touch from Duroskk’s holy relic (or sword) or by Not-Margaret’s hand freed you from that possession. Fortunately, those who were re-possessed and then re-freed found they had become immune to the bunnies’ magic, and the battle ended with everyone free of possession.
We then decided it would then be wise to hold a combat practice session to prepare for the next attack.
Crafters Guild: Alchemist Bandolier
Essential equipment for the adventuring alchemist, this bandolier made from duct tape will keep your favorite potions easily at hand!
Guild members will also be bottling up a variety of colored nebula potions! Each alchemist will make 10 to 12 potion vials and 1 bandolier.
There will be an assortment of duct tape colors and patterns to use. 
Bring provisions (that is, a bag lunch).
To ensure we have sufficient supplies for all guild members, please sign up by noon on Monday, July 18.
My mom and I will bring our supply of tools, but you may bring your own as well if you wish to avoid waiting your turn. Tools used include scissors, hobby knives or utility knives, rulers.
You may bring your own project or you may choose to participate in the project led by my mom and I! If you bring your own project, it does not have to be LARP related. Just come craft with us!
If you want to participate in the alchemist bandolier group project, we ask that you plan to reimburse us $5 for the materials cost. We encourage you to also consider making a free-will donation to Waite Park Church of $3 to $5 per family.
The Crafters Guild has the downstairs Junior Chapel at Waite Park Church reserved from 10am until 2pm. We will start at 10am and work on our projects until we are done.
Safety First!
Crafters will be using hobby knives, utility knives, scissors, permanent markers, food coloring, glitter and duct tape. While crafters are expected to use tools safely and responsibly at all times, the potential for accidents exists.
Crafters should wear clothes, footwear, hairstyles and eye protection appropriate for a workshop. That means no loose sleeves or shirt tails, no open-toed shoes, and tie back long hair. Safety goggles are recommended, but you must provide your own.
Crafters who engage in unsafe behavior will be asked to leave.
All crafters are expected to assist with clean up. All crafters are expected to stay until clean up is complete.
Parents are solely responsible for the safety of their own children.
Crafters Guild is recommended for ages 12 and up, but as skills and maturity vary by child, parents or legal guardians are responsible for determining the suitability of projects for their own own children and for determining whether or not their children will require their assistance to succeed. Parents may also choose to participate in the group project — or bring their own project to work on during the gathering.
Story Synopsis for Summer LARP #5 (2016) — The First Synopsis
We did not talk about a name for our realm today. I think we could use Dragonwood until we come up with one that we like better.
We did get some story action today! The story as I recall it follows. There was a lot happening, so I did not get the whole story, so everyone is invited to send more of the story to the group. Or you could also send your character’s story to share.
Summer LARP #5
Dewdrop accidentally released a wraith into our world, and it threatened to take over, but our heroes went to Mount Olympus to appeal to the gods, who stunned the wraith and robbed it of its powers.
Meanwhile, Jonathan made a pact with an elder god and then tried to kill everyone so he could sacrifice the blood of the innocents to that elder god and thus gain immortality for himself and also destroy the world and recreate it in the image of the elder gods. If you were on the side of those innocents and you were killed in battle, then you awoke as a member of the elder gods’ evil army. However, if you were touched by the holy relic, then you went back to the army of the innocents.
Unfortunately, our heroes failed in their quest, and the world was destroyed and recreated in the image of the elder gods, but thankfully Charlie sacrificed himself and in doing so opened a portal which our heroes passed through into a new world, Dragonwood! That portal remains open, and new adventurers fall through it every week.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the same story continue every week?
- Our LARP’s story should continue week to week but also to evolve over time. The next LARP should pick up where this one left off but could end somewhere completely different.
- Do I have to be the same character each week or can the character change?
- Most LARPers have multiple characters that they play and are continuously creating new ones while enhancing existing ones. If a character was critical to how the last LARP ended, the other characters will probably appreciate a reappearance at least at the start of the next LARP or a good story explaining the disappearance of the character.
- Does the character have to be anthropomorphic or can it be something inanimate like “the wind” or “a thunderhead” ?
- This is a multiverse LARP with no restrictions on character types other than the forbidding of “all powerful” characters. Characters that are too powerful make the game boring, so all characters must have flaws, weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Story Development for the Summertime LARP
I’ve invited some experienced LARPers from Planet Homeschool to join us this Thursday to help us with our story development, so please come ready to discuss the story of our LARP including the history of our realm and the roles of our characters. This is the first time I’ve done this, too, so I’m looking forward to the guidance of the more experienced LARPers.
It was easy for me to start LARPing at Planet Homeschool because the story was already developed and the other characters knew who they were and what roles they played in the game. Most of the LARPers at the Summertime LARP are brand new to LARPing. The Summertime LARP itself is also brand new. Since I’m usually the only one there with any LARP experience at all, it’s been hard for me to help the group get the story going. I am hoping that these experienced LARPers from Planet Homeschool can help the group with story development.
I’m asking everyone else to come ready to discuss the story of our LARP including the history of our realm and the roles of our characters.