Job/Volunteer Opp - Fighters Guild is looking...

Position: "Director of LARP Alliance Fighters Guild -your location- Branch"

LARP Alliance, Inc. is looking for dedicated, responsible, open-minded people of all experience levels to lead fighter practices in their areas (USA and beyond!).

REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires the director to have at least some experience or a strong desire in teaching, directing, safety, counseling, and creative thinking. 

It also requires the director to run fighter practices on a regular schedule of your choosing without fail, unless special notice is given in special circumstances (see below).

With your application:
1. Please state what style you are interested in teaching, what games you will promote, and what city/state/country you are in.
2. Send your full name, age, and experience.
3. Submit your interest to us via LARPSpace.com (send to www.larpspace.com/falbudna AKA Ramsey Rickabaugh, USA Director of the LARP Alliance Fighters Guild).

Fighter Practice (FP) CANCELLATIONS: You must give advance notice of a minimum 2 weeks to your FP group in order to cancel it or change it's schedule.  If it is an emergency or conflict with work or holiday, you may cancel an FP last minute, but you are required to attempt to find a substitute teacher and notify the central Director of the Fighters Guild, Ramsey Rickabaugh.  We trust you'll find a substitute on very rare occasions who has respect for what you've established and who can direct well.


Thank you!

Adrianne Grady

LARP Alliance, Inc.
~

Rick told me about the new Sony motion control sensor and I looked it up - then also finding two other AGTs online as well.

We often discuss ways of integrating the following technologies into IAR-suits (Interactive Alternate Reality Suits - we named them) for LARP.  It's a project we're currently working on.  Check out these related links...


E3 Sony Motion Control Sensor HQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RXowL_Bk1A

Augmented Reality Zombie Hunting Game - "ARhrrrr"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNu4CluFOcw
Now With Skittles!!!

Star Wars The Force Trainer ("mind control toy")
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMznvnMw-ys


~Adrianne Grady

LARP Alliance, Inc.
www.larpalliance.net
www.larpspace.com

Hello everyone,

I just revamped the LARP Alliance website and I am currently continuing to update it.  Please update your links to forward/direct people to LARPAlliance.Net (I have phased out the elfheads.com site directory string).

www.larpalliance.net

If you would like to contribute to the site, or update a link, please contact me via my yahoo email: xatrian@yahoo.com or my aim: xatrian

We are looking forward to a number of big changes coming soon!

Cheers!
Adrianne Grady
LARP Alliance, Inc.
~

It's time again! Come join us for weapon building and craft making.

We need more weapons! Our last fighter practice was 29-30 people -
with 4-5 people who couldn't make it that day -who usually attend-
(Big attendance! Lots of new folks! And we're still growing). We need
your time more than your money right now. If you need a weapon, come
and build one - If you don't, come and build one for the Fighters
Guild (We need more for our branches! - IE, OC, etc). If you don't
want to build a weapon, we got a lot more to do here besides that...

Materials will be available. If you wish to keep what you make,
please contribute the necessary materials fee minimum (weapons
materials fee est.$10-15). Costumes, Accessories, and Prosthetics
will also be taught to those who want to learn and/or create (material
fee est. $ depending on craft - no fee just to try out techniques on
scraps) will have basic leather-crafting tools and leather on hand for
folks to try as well as patterns and some fabric for cloak-making,
pouches, banners, etc.

Food will be provided, but donations/contributions are always welcome!
(We may relax afterward with a movie)

Monitary Donations to the LARP Alliance are always accepted and go
towards carpool gas, promoting events, player gear (weapons mostly),
training, materials, and more. Contact me for more information.

Date: Jan. 18th (This Sunday)
Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Time: 2pm and on.

Location Details:  http://larp.meetup.com/129

See you there!! :)

~Adrianne

(( This is posted in response to Mark's blog - http://www.larpspace.com/mark/blog/2008/11/10/role_models__a_must_see ))

That's great news, Mark! Thank you for posting your review and I'm
glad to hear that you liked it.

Rick and I have been saying it for many months prior to the movie that
this would be big for the hobby. We also went to the movie in a big
group all dressed up and got some new folk interested in attending our
fighter practices. Imagine what we could have done if all of the
LARPers had gone to the movie and done that.

Regarding how much I was involved in the process; it was a lot. I was
pulled into a few meetings (multi-departmental as well as one just
with the writers) as a consultant prior to the actual shooting days
which I was also hired on to assist with as the Technical Advisor (my
movie credit is listed about halfway through).

The team had done quite a bit of research on their own, but they
needed help - with mechanics, weapons, costuming, and LARPer quirks
(bad, good, funny, etc). I assisted each department with those
aspects and brought in additional items that the writers (David,
Marino, and Paul) could use. They were very easy to work with and
very respectful. I knew this movie would have fun with the hobby and
I was okay with that - more so if they had fun with the honestly silly
aspects of the hobby, than what they might make up on their own. And
yes, the majority of what they made fun of actually happens in many
LARPs. They also added some extras that went well into it. The
writers are incredibly silly and smart guys.

While sitting behind the director during the shoot days, I was able to
direct the extras (all including the real LARPers who I got hired onto
the project as well) with David's approval and assist the prop
department with getting things ready on-set. I could also advise
David and Marino as they needed me with questions as to what would or
wouldn't happen per scene...and contribute suggestions as they popped
up in my head. I was surprised at how comfy and professional the
environment was.

I also was one of the two acting coaches that worked with Ken J. (the
king) over the course of a few days to develop his character and that
was an amazing, educational experience I'm very thankful for. I had
done a bit of that in the past, but with theatre groups - not on this
scale, focus, or with an experienced and talented (and well-known)
comedian. He was incredibly skilled, picked up everything very quick
and developed the king character into something very cute and unique.
A generous man too with a beautiful family who I got to meet later
on. He's also a doctor in real-life.

I was able to get Iron Liege hired in as the official LARP
weapons/shields provider for the movie (the real LARPers in the movie
brought their own weapons - though some already owned Iron Liege
anyway). You can see the Iron Liege banner hanging in the background
of some of the LARP fest scenes. Props department hung it up for us
and I was happy to see that it made it into the final cut of the movie.

The montage of Paul's character learning the basics of LARP combat
with the Xanthians near the end of the movie wasn't scripted.
Everything they're saying is exactly what I had just told them to say
a moment before the director yelled "Action!". They got it down quick
and were so fun to watch! (Paul got into it walking on his knees with
the sword and hopping on one foot - which just reminded me that after
I had a meeting with the writers, I had taken them out to my truck to
see some of the LARP weapons I'd brought and Paul and I got to spar.
I think David and I sparred too but I don't remember. Paul's eyes lit
up though when he started sparring).

They also gave a special thanks to the LARP Alliance in the end
credits. I don't know if that was because I double-checked with them
about it at the last second or if was always in there, but that really
rocked!

The storm trooper folk you refer to were actually Tron folk LOL, and
there were more scenes with them but they were cut. There were more
scenes with the elves as well that were cut. Other scenes that were
cut were of Joe's character losing a contact lens and the group
calling a "Hold" for him to find it - another addition I gave them at
the set. There were also numerous funny scenes with Joe improvising
unrelated to LARP mechanics that I would love to see a montage of in
the DVD. I'm sure they will as we were all laughing so hard when he
did those. And there are some other dirty, funny scenes cut from the
movie to help with timing.

Finally (and I hope I remembered most of it), I was interviewed for
the DVD. That's the part I'm scared about since I'd only gotten two
hours of sleep just about every night. I think I may have said some
stupid or incorrect things and I hope I'm not "rogued" for it. Just
putting that in as a disclaimer. *laugh* Anyway, that's about it.
I'm planning on seeing it again and getting the DVD when it comes out.
Meanwhile, we're just working on uniting and supporting the hobby.
Hopefully more opportunities will come up and through that we gain
more media experience, as well as LARPers.

Adrianne Grady
LARPAlliance.net
LARPSpace.com
~

Join us for the Role Models, LARPers Movie Night!  We will be meeting at the theatre at 9pm to have plenty of time to get organized, get our tickets, get food, and get good seats.  (Please see us first before buying your ticket!!)

Come in costume if you can!  No LARP weapons or any other weapons allowed inside the theatre of course.

Address:
Edwards Ontario Mountain Village 14
1575 N. Mountain Ave.
Ontario, CA 91762

See the meetup group for these and future details - http://larp.meetup.com/129

Call us if you have questions - 619-993-3929 (ask for Adrianne or Rick)  All new folks are welcome to join us as well!

See you there if you can make it (or get a group in your area to go see it) ! :D

~

PS. Look for fellow LARPers in the movie, the Iron Liege banner in the background, the LARP Alliance in the Special Thanks at the end of the credits, and my own name, Adrianne Grady, as Technical Advisor towards the middle of the credits. :D  For more secrets and info regarding behind-the-scenes, feel free to contact me.

We will be going up to the ROC game with a special invite from JJ, the owner, and would love to give others the chance to ride up and game with us!

Though some of our friends are going up on time for Friday's game start...As we have the LARP Haunted House going on every night of Halloween week, we will not be leaving till really late Friday night or reaaaaaally early Saturday morning.

ROC is having a OOG Halloween party on Friday night and then jumping into game from there on. It should be a blast.

So if you want to go up Friday, let us know and we'll get you in touch with the early-bird carpool and if you want to go up with us after the haunted house, tell us so we can fit you into the LARP van for our vanpool up.

This is ROC's traditionally big Halloween game so if you haven't been to one before, we encourage you to go!

NPCs fees are covered by the LARP Alliance (so it is free for you to NPC). As part of a new LARP Alliance project, we are also reducing the cost for a PC to $40. The difference of cost between the reduced fee and the regular fee for the event is being covered by the LARP Alliance (this has nothing to do with the ownership of ROC and is not an official offer from them). There may be conditions in the future that apply to PCs getting the reduced fee, but we will go into those at a later time.

Please RSVP on the Meetup group for this event so we know how many we're bringing up - http://larp.meetup.com/129

Merry travels and good health,
Adrianne
~

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v230/xatrian/SCAGWW/SCAGWW08/ (link to everything)

(password for photobucket account is "secret" - without the quotation marks)

http://www.caid-gww.org/ - for event info

I just got back from a day at the GWW which was held in Taft, CA.  About a two hour drive that was pleasant and the weather was very warm but with a cool breeze.  The location is flat land with little greenery, but next to a gorgeous little lake.

There were probably hundreds of tents everywhere.  I liked that the roads were easy to walk (not crowded), the food and wares were reasonably priced (unlike at typical ren faires), and the atmosphere was very laid-back.

I thought it would be hard to find my friends, but I lucked out and found them all immediately.  Rory was the first I bumped into as I drove up and he'd just gotten back from an awesome battle I was sad to have missed (but his recap was very entertaining and I should let him tell it).  He was really cool introducing me to new folks and was great company as we walked everywhere and explored.  He'd already been to everything since he was there for nearly the entire duration of the event (wednesday through the weekend to sunday I believe).  Anyhoo, I totally recommend him as a tour guide and hang out buddy. *grin*

I stopped by Nick and Robin Baumann's tent area (gorgeously decorated area that was really pretty and calm - those are the pics with the hanging asian lanterns from the trees).  It was nice hanging with both of them for bit.  Nick and friends were playing an interesting card game with goldish coins inside the **** And Bull tavern at the back. 

That's where I also met my friend Joel of Oak,Ash&Thorne Brewery ( http://www.oakashthornbrewing.com ) who I'd been looking forward to seeing again.  I bought one of each of his bottled treats to bring back with me to give samples to friends and potential buyers.  This is the best mead I have ever had.  I dare anyone to try it if you doubt it.  Hey, prove me wrong with whatever you think might be better, I'm totally going to try that too.  But it won't change my mind how awesome his meads are.  I loved the Apple Piety (tastes like spiced apple pie) and the Lingonberry and Elderflower meads.

So then I ended everything by watching a super cute bunch of kiddos fighting with boffers in mini arenas.

LOTS OF FUN!

If I'd stayed later, I would have seen the evening parties and dancing and more.  Also there are a whole bunch of battles to see throughout the event duration.  I liked hearing the mass of warriors shout in unison.

Hello everyone!
It's been awhile since the last newsletter, but I'll try to make this short and sweet. There's a lot of good news!  :)

Topics:
GLOBAL NEWS
U.S. PROGRAMS
LARP ALLIANCE ONLINE
NEW & UPCOMING EVENTS (Global)
...

GLOBAL NEWS

LARPSpace.com :
A growing online community that aims to unite players with one another and with event promoters, provide support, special opportunities, and make LARP information more accessible to everyone.  All are welcome - LARPers, Cosplayers, Historical-Reenactors, Thespians, and others.
If you haven't yet stopped by, please do so and create an account - http://www.larpspace.com
Check out the New FAQ & Help page link in the new top-right menu for Account help.
If you would like to Advertise your event, store, or talent on LARPSpace.com, contact us.

LARP In the Big Media :
The upcoming LARP-related movie by Universal Studios "Role Models" (November release date) is on the watch-list (Rated R).  Iron Liege provided the weapons and shields for the stars and extras.  LARP Alliance assisted with providing real LARPers as extras for the casting calls.  We will be doing heavy promotion alongside this movie and are looking for reliable, well-spoken, and well-costumed LARPers, costumers, weapon-builders, promoters, and more to assist us directly.  Contact us if you are interested.

LARP Con (U.S. West Coast) :
We are currently putting together a west coast LARP convention.  More info soon!  If you would like to do a demo, have a booth, share any other ideas or contributions, please contact us.  We would like to have many LARPers in the world represented.

LARP Album :
This is a slow start as we're working with new equipment, but this project is still in the works.  If you are interested in getting your song, comedy skit, poetry, soundtrack, weird sound or tale on the album, "The Gallivanter's Rhapsody", please contact us.
~

U.S. PROGRAMS

LARP Quests :
LARP Alliance has created this new branch that we hope will be successful and bring in funds to cover our monthly costs for our sites and programs.  We are now running short line-course themed "general-public-friendly" LARP games that are aimed to connect with those who want to know what LARP is, correct misconceptions of the hobby, and to show folks how fun LARP can be. 
We are prepping to run the first of these ventures, "Monster Adventure!" every night during the week of Halloween (LARP Haunted House). Join us!
http://www.larpquest.com
Our next venture is set for the winter season, where folks get to help Santa and the elves!  We will be advertising this new quest soon!

LARP Alliance Programs :
Currently we have many programs in action and more planned for the near future.  For details, please visit our website - http://www.larpalliance.net
~

LARP ALLIANCE ONLINE

Our LARP Alliance Online Groups :
We have a number of online locations where you can find up-to-date info on our gatherings, parties, events, and LARP Game calendars. 

LARP Alliance on Meetup - http://larp.meetup.com/129 (event calendar)
Yahoo - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/larpalliance (discussion and alerts)
Myspace - http://groups.myspace.com/larpalliance (discussion and alerts)

LARPAlliance.net : To contribute to any section on the website, please contact us.
~

NEW & UPCOMING EVENTS

Tribal LA BellyDance convention - Sept 27-28, Glendale, CA - http://www.tribal-la.com
SCA Great Western War XI - Oct 8-13, Taft, CA - http://www.caid-gww.org/index.php
Intercon Mid Atlantic 2008 - Nov 14-17, Rehoboth Beach, DE - http://ima.larpaweb.net/
CONSequences Gaming Convention - Nov 20-23, Dorset, UK - http://www.ishtari.co.uk/consequences/
NEW UK LARP - "Stargate LRP" - More info at: http://www.stargatelrp.com/
More events at LARPAlliance.net - "Directory" - http://www.elfheads.com/larpalliance/directory.html
~

Till next!  Merry travels and good health!
Adrianne Grady
LARP Alliance - http://www.larpalliance.net
LARP Space - http://www.larpspace.com

Before I miss the opportunity, I wanted to give a very quick recap of September's Realm's of Conflict LARP game.

Summary:  F'ing great!!!

This was by far the best month I've had there since the demon-portal-battle frickin' awesome season a year ago.  Not that ROC hasn't roc'd since, but so many AU/ROC veteran friends came back this game and worked together magically to pull off a lot of really enjoyable moments.

There were a good number of NPCs and everyone really listened well to plot.  We accomplished quite alot with a strong team. 

Rick and I got the chance to do every fight (barbarians, rogues, undead, etc) and had a great time!  We really had a lot of fun and got a good workout in.

While Rick napped, I got to get into a special mod where I played one of  a handful of "constructs" who were set up to do an improv play, for the locals' amusement.  There were three Juliettes and one Romeo...  Ok!  Now begin!.... WTF are we doing?  I don't know but this is gonna be funny."

The play was preceded by a few movie-style previews and a commercial.  The previews we constructed quickly as we waited for our audience to arrive were the following: 

1.  Dungeon Siege: The Endless Corridor (movie) - "There's no way out, No Treasure, No Women.  The Horror!  .....Can you escape?" (which basically consisted of myself and Sarah acting as the dungeon walls while our friend attempted to escape and instead went crazy - all mimed to the narrator's voice)

2.  The Mana Patch (Commercial) - "Are you feeling down, Is your Mana waning, Finding it hard to get it up?  Well here's the new Mana Patch! ......Side effects include hemorrhoids, diarrhea, vomiting, rashes...." (which basically consisted of the three of us again, acting out the energy of the mana patch and myself getting excited over my friend's new mana patch and finding him suddenly attractive until the side-effects are named.)

3. Zombie Hero (movie) - "He saved the world and died...and became a zombie.  Then he tried to just lead a normal life as a farmer, but then the world was in trouble again, so he gave up farming to save the world again, as a zombie, to defeat the attacking zombies...again..." (which consisted of Sarah and I as a disapproving zombies, and our friend as the hero zombie)

So then the play commences...

Sam (one of our players who was previously hidden in the crowd so as not to draw attention yet to his attire), was Juliette #2 and he played a very "busty and raggedy-blue-haired woman" in the monty python style.  I was Juliette #3 and Sarah (plot member) was Juliette (the original).  The play consisted of the Juliette's competing to win over Romeo (played by our friend). 

There was a baby in question... and there was a dance competition, arm wrestling, and lots of Sam rolling down the hill into the dark forest behind our "stage".  The players were asked to judge the dance competition and mind-speak their choices (an odd version of Star Search or American Idol).  Very funny stuff.  The narrator and our friend also pulled one of the VIPs in the audience into the play to perform the brief role of Romeo's father, which was done brilliantly.

At the very end, I forgot who ended up getting Romeo.  It might have been my character, but it's hard to say cause suddenly all the Juliette's were grabbing their weapons and fighting eachother.  And Sammy rolled down the hill again I think.  And then we were taking our bows.

And then suddenly we were attacking the audience (which I realized, only at that moment, had been the whole purpose of the play and plan  - aimed on kidnapping this one particular construct-like PC called "Blue Bell").  I just went with it.  Just like the whole improv play that we made up as we went along.  Lots of fun. :D