Thinking about stories and games and larp
The Peckforten Papers is a collection of writing about UK larp published by the Wychwood Press. You can buy it on Lulu should you wish, or get the pdf here.I wrote a bit for it in a stream-of-conscious sort of way, and it's down here so I don't lose it... I am sat where it... Continue Reading →
Another year, another UK LARP awards, and to my mind there was one totally new standout larp in 2022. I normally blog the larps I've been to, so heaven knows how I didn't manage to write about Second Breakfast. Here I am putting that right. Second Breakfast was brilliant Second Breakfast was a larp about... Continue Reading →
I've played staff once at CoW, and I absolutely loved it. It's precisely my style of play: play to lift, I suspect it's called now. You're helping make other folks’ experience magical, as much as you are making your own, and it's glorious. When I played staff at CoW18, I was inspired by the BBC... Continue Reading →
CoW25 is inspired by the kind of play Seniors have always brought to Czocha. There’s always been an undercurrent of “This is our last year”. (I say “always”, I’ve only been twice. Both times, though, Seniors were bringing their ‘A’ game to themes like “Time to move on”, “Are you the one for me?” and... Continue Reading →
Faust at CoW12: I mean, look at these people. Photo by Defy Gravity Photography I’ve never been a Sophomore at a College of Wizardry, but I’ve felt their game lacked a bit of structure from the organisers. Of course, they go to lessons, just like everyone, might play a bit of Fireball Dragon, and maybe get... Continue Reading →
I'm decompressing from Game of Roses 2022 right now. Thinking started back in 2016, and the first run was in a field in 2018. Since then, it's run twice in St Martin's in Norwich, thanks to Norwich Historic Churches Trust. Seems it's possible not only to get lightning back in a bottle, but back out... Continue Reading →
Magical Defense lesson, my Junior year, CoW12. Credit to Cryssie Jade / Defy Gravity Photography. Every College of Wizardry is magical. It’s a larp about life in a magical college, about that particular college experience. It’s in a castle, so the backdrop is magical. The people are magical. Everything your character studies is magical. If... Continue Reading →
Another gem from prised from the maw of Zuckerberg. Not meant with malice; it casts shade on events and traditions I love and used to love alike. It's a Friday lunchtime, and what are Friday lunchtimes for if not sharing stuff that makes you smile?
Earlier this year, I was asked to be head of the College of Wizardry for its 25th run. I 've written about loving CoW12 as a Junior, frothed about CoW18 as janitor and talked about the role of Janitor itself. I've been a larper as player and crew member for ages, and this is a... Continue Reading →
I've written about Secret Cinema before: Bridgerton and Moulin Rouge and mentions of others. It's fair to say I'm a fan. Guardians of the Galaxy improves on their world-running, but the viewing experience is so-so. Is that important? Not to me - the Secret World was a blast. "Secret Cinema do “immersive experiences” based on... Continue Reading →
When the photos from a larp are released, there can often be a moment of dissonance when how you thought you looked at the time collides with the reality of what the camera captured. When the two don’t line up it can be easy to feel bad and get caught up in negative self-talk about... Continue Reading →
LARP experience 