The Objectives:
The primary goal of this experience was to bring the experience of players at the tabletop into the real world, giving them an opportunity to fully step into the shoes of their characters and live within the world of the game for an evening. I sought to encompass all of the senses through the decor and mocktails, as well as providing ample opportunity to interact with NPCs the players had come to know and love from the tabletop sessions. Much of the content of those sessions had been designed to build up to this event, so it was also important to make sure it provided a satisfying conclusion to the overarching story.
Oxford Elysium was a one night only immersive LARP set in the world of Vampire: The Masquerade held as the culmination of a Vampire chronicle held throughout the spring semester by the Miami University Role Playing Guild. Players, as their Vampire characters, would gather at an Elysium (or neutral grounds) in Oxford for a gala commemorating the sesquicentennial anniversary of the current Prince of Cincinnati’s rule, but when one of the vampires in attendance decides to rob the Prince, what was supposed to be a celebratory evening turns into one of political and social intrigue with the player characters at its center. Players could meet and interact with their favorite NPCs from the chronicle, portrayed by local actors. A mocktail bar also served a variety of beverages for all in attendance, including a fruit punch mix served in a blood bag for our vampires to feast upon. I created and directed the experience in my role as the event coordinator for the Roleplaying Guild, with assistance from the rest of the officer team including Percy Robb, Sahara Lawver, Zeta Moening, and bartender Thomas Gurinskas.
The Processes:
Development for this experience started from the tabletop sessions, with the creation of characters and storylines to be pursued there that could be brought together into the LARP. While there was an outline for the story of the event from the beginning, much of the details were plotted as the tabletop sessions went on and we could see what kind of characters players would choose to embody. One of the first things we did was cast all of the major NPCs, to make sure that their depiction would line up in tabletop as well as LARP mediums. For the LARP itself, some decor was custom made by myself and the other officers using equipment in the Miami University Makerspace, while other elements were acquired from providers such as By Night Studios. Our menu was designed by bartender Thomas Gurinskas, with theming consultation from myself. All of these elements came together to allow players to fully experience this vampiric gala full of supernatural intrigue.
