As a member of the Dragonwood LARP, you create a character, make a costume, build some props, and then come in character to work cooperatively with the other LARPers to create a story within an immersive fictional world.

LARPers choose to LARP for many reasons, including a love of …

• • Character creation
  • Storytelling
  • World building
  • Costume design
  • Prop crafting
  • Weapons foamsmithing
  • Mock adventuring
  • Mock magic
  • Mock survival
  • Mock combat
  • Friendship forging

Our group encompasses a wide and everchanging range of interests, and our goal is to accommodate all aspects of LARPing.

While we are not a battle group, we recognize that some LARPers may prefer to focus exclusively or nearly exclusively on mock combat. That’s totally okay, but please do not let this desire interfere with the larger group’s storytelling and world-building efforts. If you are disinterested in those aspects of the LARP, you may step aside to enjoy some playfighting with others who prefer to focus on mock combat. This will allow those interested in creating and maintaining a complex storyline and detailed world to be better able to focus on that task.

Other LARPers prefer to avoid mock combat altogether. Those engaging in combat should take care to not attack neutral parties. And those not engaged in combat should steer clear of any field of battle.

We strive to create a judgment-free environment that embraces diversity and inclusion.

We are serious about inclusivity and welcome everyone regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or handicap, neurodiversity, economic status, religion, or homeschooling philosophy or style.

If someone makes a choice with which you disagree, whether it be what they’re saying, what they’re wearing, or what they’re doing, take it as an opportunity to practice generosity, kindness, understanding, and global citizenship.

Commonsense playground rules apply: Be kind and stay safe.

Because LARPing is a complex game, we do need to have some shared understandings of the “rules of the game.” We’ve crafted these guidelines (and stolen many ideas from others) to help keep everyone on the same page and reduce the possibility of the misunderstandings that can lead to conflict and disagreement. These guidelines are important to know because they put everyone on the same page.

Like any group of kids playing together, we create ad hoc rules and guidelines as needed and resolve conflicts as they arise.

• • Encourage each other to be understanding.
  • Do not assume malicious intent.
  • Remember that we are all still kids.
  • Everyone is always learning.
  • If an error is made, remember to be kind.
  • Be as forgiving of the mistakes of others as you would want them to be of yours.
  • Admit you’re wrong when you’re wrong.
  • Treat others as if your mother was watching.

We ask that parents do their best to allow the teens to handle any conflict negotiations on their own (unless specifically asked for assistance). We recognize that sometimes we do need adult guidance, but when parents get involved when they have not been asked to assist, they may inadvertently escalate an already or almost resolved conflict because they sometimes act before having listened to everyone’s perspective and so they fail to understand the full story behind the conflict.

To avoid the festering of resentment and misunderstanding that can lead to further disagreement, conflicts should be addressed as they arise. If you do find yourself holding a grudge after you get home, it is best to wait until the next gathering to address your concerns face-to-face as text-based communication is too often misinterpreted in tone, content, and intention.

A successful LARP relies on everyone’s creativity and calls for improvisation, repartee, stand-up comedy, strategizing, and more.

You create your own character and determine your own path while working cooperatively to build a story of adventure, friendship, and survival with other LARPers.

Because our characters have self-determination, LARPers should refrain from dictating what the characters of others are doing or how they are reacting. Of course, you may always ask other LARPers to cooperate with your plan, but you cannot require that they do so. On the other hand, this is a cooperative LARP, so everyone is encouraged to agree to cooperate — or to suggest any alterations to the proposal that would make their cooperation possible.

To help us build a rich story and create a complex world, we also engage in cooperative text-based storytelling on our Discord server.

LARP Story Synopses

Read a partial storyline of the LARP. Synopses only get written up when I have the time, which mostly means only during the summer months.

• • Most recent
  • From the beginning

Travel to the deeps woods, open fields, and winding paths of sprawling urban parks and experience the thrill of LARPing in the multidimensional realm of Dragonwood!  We search for magical objects and hidden bases, discover long lost friends and encounter forgotten foes, forge treaties with the elves … or the dwarves, cast spells and deflect aspersions, and defend ourselves, our allies, and our loot against all invaders including rampaging trolls, nefarious gnomes, and untrustworthy humans.

Come prepared … for the unexpected!

While the story for this LARP is continually evolving and is written cooperatively by all players, in order to facilitate the setting of the day’s plans, the LARP elects a Storyteller for the day. To give the Storyteller plenty of time to prepare, the LARPers aim to make this selection for the following week during the Council Gathering.

It is the responsibility of the Storyteller to …

• • respect the history of the LARP’s ever-evolving story
  • incorporate the day’ plot into the LARP’s overarching storyline and the multidimensional Realm of Dragonwood
  • listen to and consider everyone’s ideas

It is the privilege of the Storyteller to …

• • choose where and when the LARP begins within our fictional world of Dragonwood
  • choose the minions set upon the group by Lord Maul
    • …or to allow the group to slip in unnoticed and unchallenged
  • set the mission to be accomplished
  • establish what is happening in the story at the start of the LARP
    • including which characters are doing what
  • to declare the start of the LARP after the council gathering, by shouting, “It’s a good day to die … and by revived!”

It is the honor of all LARPers to follow the lead of the Storyteller.

If there are challengers for the role of Storyteller, a brutal rock-paper-scissors battle will commence. The count will be “rock, paper, scissors, shoot” with the warriors’ choice made on “shoot” and the victory going to the winner of two out of three battles. An evenly matched battle will trigger sudden-death rounds until a victor is found.

Should the elected Storyteller be ambushed on the way to the LARP, the group will swiftly appoint a Deputy Storyteller.

• • This is a multiverse LARP — your character may come from any genre, era, or story, or spring solely from your own imagination.
    • Fantasy, steampunk, historical (historical realistic, historical supernatural, alternative history), modern, futuristic, post-apocalyptic, horror! Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, Sherlock, Zelda, Avengers! Asgardian, Olympian, Arthurian! It’s up to you.

• • New members (with new characters) are always welcome and will be incorporated into the storyline.

• • Characters may evolve over time, even to the point of becoming completely different people (or completely different creatures)!

• • A LARPer may have multiple characters and may choose to switch characters during a single LARP.
    • A LARPer does need to give fair notice to the other LARPers before doing so.

The basics of character identity include:

• 1. Character’s name
     • The Scribe will not record the true name of any of our valiant number onto the web of the wide world as all know well the power of one’s true name and how that power can be misused to cause one grievous harm!
  2. Character’s abilities or strengths
     • Characters cannot be all powerful or all knowing.
       • Invincible characters are no fun for the other LARPers.
       • If younger siblings join the LARP under the watchful eye of their elders, we will waive the invincible rule for those who are too young to understand the concept.
  3. Character’s flaws or weaknesses
     • Your character’s weaknesses must be equal to your strengths (if not greater).
     • All characters must have a weakness or flaw.
     • Be complete! “Water” isn’t a weakness, while “water extinguishes my fire power for 5 seconds” is.

The well-developed character includes:

• 1. Character’s species and homeworld (or home dimension)
     • It’s perfectly acceptable to be a human from Earth, but you could also be a dragon, elf, gnome, alien, etc. from anywhere you can imagine! 
  2. Character’s appearance
     • shape (hulking, willowy, bulging, lanky, etc.)
     • height (knee-high to a grasshopper, 3-feet tall, towering, 8-feet 6-inches, of average height, 5½ feet, etc.)
     • weight (90 pounds, scrawny, gaunt, lean, average, stocky, plump, chubby, 2 tons, etc.)
     • color(s) (blue, iridescent, pale, translucent, yellow with green stripes, red with black spots, etc.)
     • appendages (2 arms and 2 legs, 8 legs and 3 upper body tentacles, 3 legs plus 6 arms with pinchers, etc.)
     • covering (fur, feathers, scales, skin, etc.),
     • age (exact or relative — 1015 years, 10 turns, ancient, youngling, several centuries, just hatched, since the beginning of time, etc.)
     • etc.
  3. Character’s background or origin story
     • Where did you live before coming to realm?
     • What was your childhood like?
     • Have you been an apprentice (to whom)?
     • What previous adventures have you had?
     • Was there a momentous event that has shaped who you are?
  4. Character’s occupation or calling
     • Wizard, magician, mage, mercenary, soldier, warrior, shopkeep, trader, wanderer, reluctant adventurer, accidental traveler, dictator, benevolent ruler, demigod, god, survivor, pirate, time traveler, bard, etc.
  5. Character’s skills
     • Spells, weaponry, and wisdom.
     • Be specific! Details are encouraged.
  6. Character’s general demeanor
     • Shy, imposing, fearful, aloof, etc. 
     • Any mannerisms or quirks?
  7. Character’s psychology, personality, and motivations
     • What are your best qualities?
     • What are your worst qualities?
     • What will you risk your life for?
     • What do you regret the most?
     • What do you most desire to achieve?
     • What is your moral code?
     • What do you fear?
     • Do you have an obligation to fulfill?
     • Are you cursed?
     • Are you a traitor?
     • Do you suffer from amnesia?
  8. Character’s relationships with other characters
     • Friendships, allegiances, grudges, enemies, nemeses, rivals, family ties, long lost relatives, evil twins, bounties, obligations, debts, etc.
     • Is your character with Lord Maul or against him?! Put another way, is your character part of the Resistance or part of the problem? 
  9. Character’s reason for being in the realm
     • Accidentally fell through an interdimensional portal. Came to defeat Lord Maul. Came to join forces with Lord Maul. On vacation. Dropped off by parents. Seeking fame and glory. Cursed by a grumpy pixie. Etc.

Costumes, accessories, and props help you embody and portray your character and can also be used to communicate more about your character to the other LARPers. While not required (especially for new LARPers), they are strongly encouraged.

Your character’s costume can start with a single simple piece to be expanded over time with additional items or enhancements. This could be as simple as a hat, a jacket, a bag, or ….

This is an all-weather LARP taking place outside over the course of the entire year, so plan your character’s outfit accordingly. Characters should come dressed for hiking through deep forests or deep snow! Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended for all characters, regardless of species, special abilities, humidity, or ambient temperature!

Characters should also consider protection spells against swarming insects and burning sunlight. These can be obtained from your local apothecary.

Wood, cardboard, and plastic weapons may not be used for mock combat but are allowed for costuming purposes. If your costume includes wood, cardboard, plastic, or any other non-padded weaponry, it is your responsibility to ensure you never use it to strike another LARPer. Only boffers (padded foam weapons) may be used in combat.

For everyone’s safety, realistic-looking modern-day weapons and costumes that resemble modern-day law enforcement and military uniforms are discouraged and some parks we visit have rules banning them.