Mystwood Raising Funds for New Site in Southern ME

Mystwood: The Chronicles of Burgundar, a new chapter of the Mystwood LARP, is raising money to construct a new 40-acre LARP site in southern Maine near Harrison. From the Indiegogo page:

Hello!

I'm Noah Hersom and this campaign is to raise the funds I need to construct a brand new LARP site in Southern Maine. There isn't a single LARP site within 50 miles of Southern Maine, including Portland! This needs to change, and with your help and my labor, it can. I'm going to build this site from the ground up on 40 acres of land that has already been procured. I just need to raise the money to buy purchase the building materials.

If you want to know more about the organization I represent, and LARPing, take a look at this great news report about The Maine Adventure Society that aired a couple years ago:

http://www.wabi.tv/news/20263/theater-meets-athleticism-in-growing-state-trend

What We Need & What You Get

We're looking to raise $3000 for our project.

The donations will cover the costs of the tremendous amount of lumber and the extensive list of necessary equipment needed to build the site.

Our unique perks will hook you up with useful gear that also shows off your support of LARPing. The perks even set you up with a nice adventurer's pack that help's prepare you for an unforgettable LARPing experience.

They have the land already, and the slideshow says they have a matching donor, so the $3000 will become $6000 to go towards the construction of four or five buildings in a village surrounded by a wall. They're hoping to do construction this summer and be open for the 2014 season.

You can donate here.

Steam On at the Watch City Festival in Waltham!

The Watch City Festival Returns!

For two days only, the beautiful and historic city of Waltham, Massachusetts will travel back in time and throw open its doors to the world! The Watch City Festival is a living exhibit of the artistic and cultural movement of Steampunk, fusing Victorian style with modern-day technology.

This year, the festival celebrates Francis Cabot Lowell, and the bi-centennial of his founding of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the first integrated factory in America, forerunner of the Industrial Revolution, and current home to the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation.

Join us May 10-12, 2013 as the Charles River Museum presents an immersible experience like no other! Enjoy special events throughout the city, see Steampunk musical and theatrical performances, watch Steampunk films at the local cinema, interact with wandering actors and entertainers, enjoy the ambiance as Waltham's main streets fill with amazing costumes (or dress up yourself!), dance the night away at a ball, and see art and Steampunk creations from around the world!

The Watch City Festival is pleased to announce 2013 Guest of Honor Evan Michelson, co-owner of Obscura Antiques in New York and star of the hit show "Oddities".

For more information visit WatchCityFestival.com or call 781-893-5410. Presented by the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation and the City of Waltham.

The flyer I picked up identifies major events as the Mayor's Inaugural Bash on Friday, May 10, 6p to midnight and Steampunk After Dark on Saturday, May 11, 6p to midnight. Weekend passes (10a-6p) are $20 for adults and $10 for children 4-12, daily buttons are $15 and $7 respectively.

I wandered around (in costume, of course) for an afternoon a couple years ago and it was a lot of fun.

CORRECTION! "The Quest" event April 19

I'm informed today that the Boston-area event for the "The Quest" reality series is Friday, April 19, from 8-10p at Bocelli's Restaurant and Pizzeria (374 Main St, Medford, Massachusetts), not April 16 as previously reported. If you're interested, check it out!

Reality Show "The Quest" Seeks LARPers

Do you believe there is a hero inside of you just ready to come out? Have you ever thought you were meant to live in another world where fantasy and adventure go hand and hand? Have you ever desired to become a legend? Do you feel more at home losing yourself in the movies you watch or the games you play than in the real world that surrounds you?

Via Tammy Nguyen and Jasmine Davis via e-mail:

The executive producer from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is teaming up with the creators of The Amazing Race to give people the opportunity to go on a real life adventure. The show will be featured on a major network, and except for what the flyer alludes, all the details about the shows are being kept under wraps until a big reveal. Soon the show will have a website where people can apply, but for now they can just email the address on the flyer.

Our casting team will be traveling to various locations around the countries going to different conventions and events and meeting with potential people for our show. We will be in Boston, Seattle, New York, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Dallas hosting events.

Unfortunately the only Boston-area event was tonight, April 16th, at 8pm at Bocelli's Restaurant and Pizzeria (374 Main St, Medford, Massachusetts). (I'm sorry for my delay in posting this -- Festival this past weekend and work have been eating my brain. To say nothing of, uh, yesterday.) [CORRECTION: The Boston-area event is being held this Friday, April 19th, from 8-10p at Bocelli's Restaurant and Pizzeria (374 Main St, Medford, Massachusetts).]

You can still check out the Facebook event page and apply online.

We are searching nationwide for adventure seeking, fantasy enthusiasts of all kind who are ready to go on the epic journey of a lifetime!

If this sounds like you or someone you know please email the following information to TheQuestCasting@gmail.com:
Name
Age
Phone
Email
Current location
Current photo
Your hobby/fascination (ie. LARP, Game of Thrones, CosPlay, etc)
What makes you perfect for a show like this!

A show like this would be a heck of an experience.

Xephyr Inkpen Reviews March Larp

Xephyr Inkpen, curator of the Ultimate Larp Calendar which is my go-to guide for boffer larp dates, reviews their March larping experience:

March is a slow time for larping in general, with only the intrepid adventures traversing the snowy cold, or larpers in New England traveling down south to wander the lands in warmer weather. This month is a review of a new larp – Invictus – with a Roman atmosphere, traveling for Dave to play a prince a-way down south Nero, and a new larp added to the calendar for this year.

If you've got a review of your New England larping experience this month or any month, please send it to me!

Battle the Undead Hordes at MA's "Dystopia Rising"!

From Katherine Chartier via e-mail:

I run Dystopia Rising Mass, LLC and our game has 8 events this year. I was hoping to give you dates for your website!

Larp name: Dystopia Rising Massachusetts
Website: Mass.DystopiaRisingLARP.com
Location Camp Marshall: 92 McCormick Rd, Spencer, Massachusetts
Dates: (full weekend events):
April 26th-28th
May 17th-19th
May 31st- June 2nd
July 19th-21st
August 2nd - 4th
September 13th - 15th
October 4th - 6th
November 1st - 3rd

Cost: $20 for first game, $45 thereafter, free all weekend NPCs

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/DystopiaRisingTheMass

From their web site:

Dystopia Rising is a role playing game that takes place in a post apocalyptic world, long after the fall of civilization to a worldwide zombie plague. This world, many generations after the Fall, takes place in a new dark age where the remains of lost cultures linger in a world without direction. No global governments survived, no armed police to serve and protect, no organized educational systems, and no guidance to pull the world out of the spiral it has fallen into. The world is a dark, dangerous place where humanity is as much of a threat to existence as the undead horde is.

There are, however, some glimmers of light in the darkness of this grim future. On occasion a person manages to hold onto their moral compass, and uses it to navigate in this hopeless world. Sometimes a small spark of humanity shows itself in the most irradiated of survivors trying to piece together the mysteries lost to he wastelands. You may fi nd a new purpose or establish a role in someone else’s life, and because of that you find it hard to simply go it alone.

Dystopia Rising is a game that is not centered on the undead. It is a game that is centered on what becomes of the human condition when forced into an environment where survival could very well be your only concern. Do you decide to become a ruthless warlord, an amoral sociopath, or a monster much uglier inside than any zombie is on the outside? Perhaps you take the high road as a nameless wanderer, find higher purpose in faith, or do everything you can to force civility into a chaotic world. No one can tell you what you will do once the bombs drop and the dead rise. No one will guide you but your own conscience.

The world died many generations ago, and it is your turn to build the new world from the ashes.

As stated above, new players get a discount their first event, and the next event this year is April 26th-28th. Everybody I've heard talk about this says it's a great game.

Dare You Venture into MA's "Witchwood"?

Witchwood is...

A new fantasy live-action roleplaying game starting Spring, 2013! We will be running at Camp Lincoln in Kingston, NH, approximately one hour north of Boston.

Those who dwell in the Witchwood are wracked by unending nightmares. These dreams incite rage, turning friend against friend and disrupting the cycle of life and death. This forest has long been kept from the world, but it now entreats even outsiders: come to the woods and seek a cure for this curse. There are dangers, certainly, but when will such an opportunity come again to see the wonders of the Witchwood? Read more about the World of Evren.

We are drawing on years of experience to continue the chronicles of the characters of the frontier and bring you fresh adventures. Deep immersion, cohesive world design and open gameplay set Witchwood apart. Read more about our values.

Continue your story or begin something new; either way, welcome to the Witchwood.

If you're interested in staffing, contact the Staff Director, Jon W.

If you'd like to play, the rulebook is up and character creation is now open!

Contact Logistics if you have any questions.

The people behind this are friends of mine -- they're awesome people, and they run good games!

Edited to add: Witchwood's first event is April 19-21 at Camp Lincoln in Kingston, NH.