Live Game Labs

Enigma Live Game Labs will have a large presence at Wyrd Con (Two Wyrd) (http://wyrdcon NULL.com/wp/) again in 2011.

Instead of rocking the penthouse, however, we are moving the Labs closer to the action, in two areas near the main floor. We’ll be running events in the executive board room and Seal Beach June 10-12 at the HIlton Hotel in Costa Mesa.

It wouldn’t be an ELGL larp without alcohol, so YES, THE BAR WILL BE OPEN! (only for 21+ participants of our events, so sign up for our stuff and bring a photo ID)

Some of the activities we are planning (exact schedule and events subject to change):

The return of the extremely popular Limbo! larp
The dead sing karaoke and perform for soul while angels and demons vie for power using smiting and seduction, all set in a tiki-bar in Hell. (Designed by Kirsten Hageleit)

Gatsby & the Great Race, a hybrid larp/table-top Call of Cthulhu RPG
Join Julian Gatsby in the mansion he recently inherited to listen to the running of a horse race on the radio. Enjoy each other’s company, the ever-flowing champagne, and never mind the cosmic horrors in the garden. (Run by Aaron Vanek, written by Paul Fricker)

The next episode in the thrilling saga of the Starship Valkyrie (http://www NULL.starshipvalkyrie NULL.com/), designed by Christian Brown.

Morgan Joeck will open the very dark, intense parlor larp from Shifting Forest Storyworks entitled Mirror Room. Do you dare enter?

Aaron Vanek will debut a new creation he’s remaining tight-lipped about. He says “It’s called ‘Steeds‘, and it’s inspired by Max Headroom and Being John Malkovich.”

We will also open the Labs up for Sunday’s chill-out brunch. Come by and say hi, enjoy mimosas and donuts with fellow larpers.

ELGL also will have a huge, huge announcement to make. It’s big! HUGE! We’ve been planning this for almost a year! What is it?
Come to Two Wyrd to find out!

(or just watch this website)

See you in June!

Monsieur Beauregard’s Hollywood Speakeasyis an ELGL event taking place at WyrdCon on Friday, June 11 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Presidential Suite.

GMs: Ray Lavoie and Richard Becker

You’re invited to an evening of music, scandal, sin, and gin at…

 Monsieur Beauregard’s

An establishment of the highest quality

Monsieur Beauregard’s is rated 18+ for adult themes and mature humor.   Alcohol will be available – proof of legal drinking age will be required to be served alcohol.

The game takes place at M. Beauregard’s, an imaginary speakeasy in the Los Angeles of 1928.  Its proprietor, the eponymous M. Beauregard (either of two brothers, actually) is a large and cheerful fellow from New Orleans who maintains a policy of offering hospitality to all comers.  As a consequence, his establishment has evolved into an informal meeting place for those individuals who might otherwise not feel comfortable meeting each other elsewhere, be they rival politicians, studio heads, or even mob bosses.  This eclectic clientele of movers and shakers in turn attracts the cream (and the dregs) of Los Angeles, as everybody who’s anybody will find there way at some time to M. Beauregard’s. 

Players will be provided pre-generated characters – they may play  studio moguls, gangsters, movie stars,  aspiring starlets or leading men, gossup columnists, spiritualists, any of the many eclectic types that populated Los Angeles in 1928.   The game will focus on social and political intrigue as characters seek to keep their secrets, ferret out scandals, and pursue their dreams in the Golden Age of Hollywood! 

Combat will be extremely limited – les Freres Beauregard wish all their guests to enjoy a relaxing evening, and discourage violence.  Character powers are analogous to player actions – there are no special effects, only the skill by which you acquire information, leverage influence, and use the secrets you know to achieve your character’s goals.

Costuming should follow the styles of the 1920s.  This clothing catalogue (http://www NULL.costumes NULL.org/history/100pages/1928CATA NULL.HTM)from 1928 will give you some idea of the look of the era.  More generally, gentlemen should consider suits or a blazer and slacks.   Ladies should consider flapper-style dresses.  Althogh we appreciate efforts to wear suits and dresses of the appropriate cut, any suit is fine for gentlemen – a hat can do wonders to evoke an earlier era.  For ladies, if a flapper-style dress is not possible, a blouse and skirt of about knee length would suit as well.  

All necessary information about the plots will be provided in the charater write-ups.  No knowledge of LA history from the 1920s is necessary to enjoy the game.  However, some passing familiarity with LA History would certainly enhance roleplaying.  More details about LA History from the ’20s, a cast of characters, and notes on mechanics can all be found at the Monsieur Beauregard Game Page.

Please note that players who preregister will have first choice of roles.  If a particular character looks interesting to you, please preregister for the game and e-mail the game design contact person:  Ray Lavoie

Experimental theater style larp – 12 players – Saturday night, 11pm to 1am, in the private penthouse suite

GM = Aaron Vanek (email ( aaron null@null livegamelabs NULL.com))

The Road Not Taken (v.2) is adapted and inspired by the public domain larp of the same name (http://www NULL.interactivitiesink NULL.com/larps/download/trnt NULL.pdf) created by Mike Young of Interactivities Ink (http://www NULL.interactivitiesink NULL.com/).

I will be creating 12 new scenarios, but the tone, style, and structure will be the same.

There are 12 scenes, one for each participant. In each, a main character is faced with a difficult decision.

They have ten minutes to decide, or not, while the other participants argue different perspectives on the situation as voices in the main character’s head.

It’s emotionally intense, and pushes the boundary of live action role playing deep into psychodrama. However, it is cathartic and exults the power of larp.

For ages 18+ only

No costuming necessary. Wear something muted, not flashy, and comfortable.

4 males, 3 females, 5 of either gender required

Saturday, June 12, 9am-1pm  - 12 players – theater style

GMs = Aaron Vanek & Morgan Joeck

Located in the private penthouse suite

Who killed rock and roll?

You’re riding the wave as one of the hottest bands in the world, on tour for your latest album, partying all night long. But dark shadows lurk behind the spotlights, and silent death beyond the speakers. Players take the roles of musicians (who will prove their worth playing the Rock Band™ video game), the manager, roadies, groupies, record agent, a rock journalist, photographer, and other members of the entourage. The location is a 1-to-1 simulation, that is, the real world setting is the same as the game setting: the penthouse suite of a hotel in Southern California. However, the year will be a few decades prior to today (to avoid cell phones and internet).

Please comment if you are interested or have signed up for this game, as we’ll try to cast the roles before the con. Only four players will perform as the band, so we need a singer, guitarist, bassist, and drummer. These four should have familiarity  with the video game Rock Band is required, but expertise is not required.

In game breakfast (brunch) will be provided.

Mechanics will be very minimal, role-playing heavily emphasized.

This is a “what you do and what you say is what your character does and says” kind of larp game.

Costuming TBD! Email ( aaron null@null livegamelabs NULL.com) or comment if you want tips.

Those who sign up via pre-reg get first choice of character!

The Enigma Live Game Lab will have a strong presence at Wyrd Con (http://www NULL.wyrdcon NULL.com/), a LARP convention to be held in Costa Mesa, June 11-13, 2010. In many ways, this will be our big public debut. We have taken over the presidential penthouse suite (incl. hot tub and wet bar) of the Hilton hotel for the entire convention. There, ELGL designers will contribute an entire track of LARPs:

Friday
4PM-8PM = M. Beauregard’s Speakeasy (designed by Ray Lavoie)
9PM-1AM = Casino Arcana (designed by Mike Tice)

Saturday
9 AM-1PM = Rock Band Murder Mystery (designed by Aaron Vanek & Morgan Joeck)
2PM – 6PM = Starship Valkyrie (designed by Christian Brown & Roselle Hurley)
7PM – 11PM = Snow White (run by Rizwan Kassim, written by Shifting Forest Storyworks)
11PM – 1AM = The Road Not Taken (v2) (run by Aaron Vanek, based on a game by Mike Young)

In addition to these games, ELGL will be assisting and presenting at the LARP Summit, running concurrently with Wyrd Con.

Topics include: “The Art of LARP,” a workshop on better role-playing techniques, and a propmaking workshop. More details to come!

And keep an eye out for our Sunday morning relaxation.

Casino Arcana is an ELGL event that will take place at Wyrd Con, Friday evening from 9PM to 1AM in the presidential suite.

The Major Arcana is a select club of the world’s most powerful occultists: to the outside world, they are known as captains of industry, political figures, movie stars, mob bosses, or crazed hermits. But to those in the know, they hold the strands of arcane power that control the world. Six of them have assembled in modern-day Los Angeles to play in the septenniel “Fool’s Errand” tournament. Despite a resemblance to seven card stud, the rules of Fool’s Errand are quite unusual; magic and death are constant companions at the table, as is the Fool: your Host and Dealer.

Players will either portray a member of the Major Arcana (which requires solid knowledge of the rules of poker) or a helper/bodyguard/concubine of one of the members (no knowledge of poker necessary). 18+ please, for adult language and childish behavior. Suggested costuming: occult millionaire – anything from elegant to eccentric.

For more information about the rules and roles, see the main Casino Arcana Page.
Casino Arcana is designed by Mike Tice. To ask questions, contact Mike (mtice null@null livegamelab NULL.com)