An Invitation to a new Larp Forum

[Larping_org]

We're starting a forum at Larping.org dedicated to all things larp. At this point in time, the forum is in it's absolute infancy and we are looking for seasoned larpers who have experience in building community offline (ahem, you...) to come and build it from the ground up. Every feature, every section and category still needs to be determined.

We want your help making the next great larp forum!

We would like to offer Administrator positions (complete with a custom title!) to anyone from Shade's that comes and helps us get our forums ready to go. We know it's not much to offer, but what you really get is the opportunity to be a part of something incredible.

We don't want to step on anyone's toes, nor say that we will be able to replicate what happened here at Shade's (in the internet's infancy Shade's was amazing). We just want to serve the larping community the best we can. It's been a while since Shade's has had an update and we think Larping.org is shaping up to be quite the nice website.

The forum is at www.larping.org/forum. If you're interested please email info@larping.org for a password with access to the boards. Like I said we're in our building phase and don't want the forum open to just anyone, it's not ready yet.

We hope you'll see this as a kind invitation and not an attempt to stir up rivalry between our sites. We want to spread the larp love. We hope you'll join us.

-Larping.org Staff

[BaronBlackRose]

Nah.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[Lig]

Could you give us a bit more info? Where are you based, what kind of larp background...etc.

As I said in my post about saving Shade's, you might find it hard going starting a sucessful forum in the current climate - you really need to allow people to sign up via a third party ID like Facebook. The lack of forums isn't a function of lack of interest, IMO, people are just getting less and less eager to create new accounts with passwords...etc, when they can use Facebook groups - even though, as we know, Facebook groups aren't that good for discussion.

I'd definately be interested, so long as there is room for a range of larp approaches, and your forum is pitched as a truly international effort. Somewhere that the the "theatre style" and murder mystery people can rub shoulders with Nordic fest-style larpers, and everything in between. Probably with sub-forums for non-English speakers to get involved.

I don't think another forum is any threat to Shade's, no more than the waves of spam we are currently experiencing - Pagga.net and Shade's always had a good relationship, no reason that this can't be the case here.

Of course, the real test will be whether I get a reply to this post - taking an interest in other forums is a clear sign of an open-minded approach.

[BaronBlackRose]

I would rather try to revitalize an existing larp forum website. Then let someone else cannibalize it for their own website. No thanks. Shade put alot of work in this. And I have been here for quite a while now.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[Lig]

I think you're being a little unfair to them - they're obviously enthusiastic about what they are doing. Shade's just isn't fulfilling the needs of a lot of larpers. I agree that revitalising Shade's is going to be better for us current users, but how can we make that happen? I don't see how things could get any worse here, tbh, so maybe a new forum will have some spill-over and help us out.

[BaronBlackRose]

I'm not being unfair. Just stating a fact. Why let someone else rob this website for their own. I would rather be here and help . I have seen enough people come and go. And people come on and go hey come to this forum blah blah blah. NO. I would rather try and help this website then cannibalize for someone else's website. If you want to go to that "other" larp forum. The by all means do so. I will NOT be going there. kthnxbai.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[Lig]

When I started larping about 15 years ago (yikes!), people were very protective of their games, and were almost in denial of the idea of other larps even existing. Thankfully, that's no longer the case, and the spirit of cooperation and respect is what makes the hobby so worthwhile, to me. I think the same things applies to all aspects of the hobby, including forums.

Obviously, no-one expects you to go join a forum that you don't want to, and the jury is still out on whether I'm interested, but you've taken a dismissive and accusatory tone about people who simply aren't trying to do what you accuse them of.

Want to save Shade's, then be productive. Why don't you start a discussion about an aspect of larp that interests you - that's what forums are for, and that's the kind of thing that will get visitors to stay, instead of breezing on through.

Heck, I might even start one myself later - hopefully you'll engage with that in a slightly more collegiate manner.

[Larping_org]

First, let me say that I appreciate the candid discussion and passion that you both feel for Shade's. It's incredibly admirable.

Second, let me say that we don't want to diminish the work that Shade's has done or simply steal the success that has been had here.

What we're hoping for is exactly what Lig said above. A place where larpers can connect from around the globe to talk about all aspects of larp. We think larp is moving beyond stereotypes and into some really cool and fascinating cooperation and genres.

What we're looking for is people who are passionate about the online larp community to come and help facilitate that discussion. We need ideas both about larp (like good discussions) and also technical (like adding Facebook logins). Love your ideas Lig. We'd love to encourage cooperation among larp groups and collaboration across country borders. Also, places where people can post in their native language is a fantastic idea. That's the kind of stuff we need!

Honestly, we thought we would put the offer out here to Shade's because we knew there were passionate people here that have been dedicated for a long time. But, Shade's is aging and hasn't been updated in a really long time. We have a fully functioning website and a forum that is still a baby. It can become whatever we make of it.

So, if you're interested in making a great larp forum come join us. If not, we totally respect that and won't badger this forum with posts about leaving.

Sign up at: http://www.larping.org/forum.
Email: info@larping.org for the password.

[Lig]

You might also try posting on the UK larp facebook group, and Rule7, which is a UK forum (it replaced Pagga.net, which was like the greatest forum ever, unless you were a bit delicate). There is a little subforum on RPG.net too. Not sure if there is much else - the Scandanavians do a theory journal, but I don't know if there is a forum related to that.

[BaronBlackRose]

Only other larp forums I go to are ones for individual groups. Dag here in t he states. Labyrinthe in the UK and I forget the other UK group at the moment.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)