Live-Action Roleplaying Theme Park?

[Mkocha]

Hey everyone,

My name is Mike and I'm new to the forum. I've known about LARPing for a few years now but only played in a very few sessions (Mainly due to my location and lack of stable groups in the area). My ambition in life is to design video games however, so the thought of a live-action situation is just straight up intriguing.

Here's why I'm posting here:
Recently a friend and I visited the Renaissance Festival here in Arizona. It was a lot of fun and it got my imagination going. I'm interested in beginning a sort of Live-Action Theme Park. This would essentially be a Ren Fest with a set of combat rules and a wider spectrum of entertainment for all sorts of people or players. The reason I feel this is necessary is mainly the lack of combat at our Ren Fest. I watched people with foam weaponry walk around all day and when there was some action usually one of the staff ran over and shut them down before anything good got brewing.

My questions here are for all of you who live and breathe LARP. I'd like to know how much interest you think I'd draw from LARPers and nontraditional audiences alike.

Do you think it would be possible to run a built in fantasy game with rulesets and storylines while still accommodating touristy individuals without ruining the LARP feel?

How much do LARPers commonly pay/person to use a venue and would a set world be interesting to them or would they eventually grow bored?

I want to include an embedded character list so every player and visitor alike are kept logged and their combat progress is tracked through the staff and a corresponding website. I'd like to add a multiple character registration option so players can switch up their roles at any time by registering a different character under their account.

I'm also interested in bringing in food vendors as well as people interested in making and selling regulation gear for the in-park currency (Which would be gold pieces.) How many LARPers build their own weaponry and what kind of quality could I expect? Would it just be better to hire a group to build my own set of weapons to be used or should I buy bulk from places like Epic Armoury's distributors?

I'd really like to involve actors working on internships or friendly folks who would be interested in volunteering as game masters (guards) or NPC's like quest givers or monsters on special occasions. Would the idea of quests in a park like this be interesting for players or too confusing with dozens of players?

Sorry to type your ears off (Or whatever the phrase should be) but I'm very excited about this new idea. I know my next step after making sure that people are interested would be seeking out funding so any tips for that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any feedback. Critiques are welcome, even if they include valid reasons why this would never work. I can take it. : )

[BaronBlackRose]

LARP theme park would be nice.. Just unfortunately one would not last long here in the states. I know of atleast one that still runs in the UK. since the 80's.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[Mkocha]

Thanks for the reply. At least I know someone might be interested.

Why do you say it wouldn't last long?

[Eldrad]

Not many people have ever really tried to do it.

The main problem is getting LARPers to give up their money. Another is the prevailing mindset (at least in my area) that pay for play is somehow bad. Especially when there are "free" groups in the area.

Free groups CANNOT offer what you are offering though. A complete fantasy experience as opposed to let's pretend in a public park.

Plus you can draw more people due to a private setting.

What you want to do is the dream I had but I gave up on due to many reasons BUT I do have all my ideas locked up in my brain and I would be glad to help you in the building of your LARP Park.

FIRST of all do you have land? At least 10 acres but 40 or more is perfect to better. If not go buy some land. IF you already have land then I can guide you through what to do.
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I know the pieces fit! I watched them fall away!

[Eldrad]

One place to start is the LARP Fest. This is done in Europe but it will inspire you.

Like ConQuest of Mythodea 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7bzF5BKXt4

Start here and look at all the other videos with the walkthrough of the villages. ALL people are in character! No mundanes!


and Drachenfest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZWadBdzyzg&feature=related

You could have a "fantasy LARP festival" like the do in Europe. Normally VERY simple rules to stop confusion.
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I know the pieces fit! I watched them fall away!

[Eldrad]

http://www.larplist.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1340

Read this old post as well.
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I know the pieces fit! I watched them fall away!

[BaronBlackRose]

[quote="Mkocha"]Thanks for the reply. At least I know someone might be interested.

Why do you say it wouldn't last long?[/quote]

A larp theme park had been thought of in the past here in the states. But for whatever reason never got off the ground. I tried holding a major larp fest here in the states but because of the different groups having animosity towards eachother. And wanting it their way. It never happened. Plus all the red tape from the local poltics. Would have cost too much to even hold it.

Now like I said there's one larp in the UK that's been doing this since the 80's. LAbyrinthe is it's name. I used to know another one called Portly Pixie. Till it went under. Just not sure or really don't think it would fly here in the states. Different mind set. Myself I am all for one. Don't get discouraged. And most of all never give up.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[Eldrad]

There is Ye Old Commons.

They are a camp that specializes in different LARPs.

http://www.yeoldecommons.com/

Check them out.

I still think it's an idea if done right would really work.
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I know the pieces fit! I watched them fall away!

[russiasan]

If you started it as a renaissance fair and offered the different larping groups booths, and built it up over time. I could see a whole theme park coming of it.

[BaronBlackRose]

[quote="Eldrad"]There is Ye Old Commons.

They are a camp that specializes in different LARPs.

http://www.yeoldecommons.com/

Check them out.

I still think it's an idea if done right would really work.[/quote]

If you see Dag's Ragnarok as a larp event. Then I would say they have the largest event in north america. Some would say Pennsic of the SCA.. I don't.. Rag comes pretty close though.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[BaronBlackRose]

[quote="russiasan"]If you started it as a renaissance fair and offered the different larping groups booths, and built it up over time. I could see a whole theme park coming of it.[/quote]

I know of a larp ren fair. Called Silverkingdom. Never gone to it myself.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[russiasan]

Well, Then this idea has potential. Get enough people together and I recon you could hold the first one by mid summer if you get things together quickly enough?

[BaronBlackRose]

[quote="russiasan"]Well, Then this idea has potential. Get enough people together and I recon you could hold the first one by mid summer if you get things together quickly enough?[/quote]

Can only try.
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Just when you thought the worse was over. Here I am. :0)

[russiasan]

Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. And if all else fails, be proud that you've tried.

[russiasan]

On the topic of pay-to-play. It could be free to play, but you have to pay to take part in the touristy-thingies. (I.E. rides/"Make a weapon" things/what-have-you.)