Fans of LARP (live-action role-playing) and other forms of interactive storytelling will want to know about the newly-published Wyrd Con Companion Book 2012, a free online anthology about interactive storytelling being featured March 1–3 at Intercon, outside of Boston, one of the nation's largest conventions devoted to LARP.
The Wyrd Con Companion Book (WCCB) is connected to the Orange County, Calif., LARP convention Wyrd Con, so you might say the two conventions join forces at Intercon when WCCB editors and contributors will speak at the "pre-convention" Thursday, Feb. 28 to present an overview of their anthology.
>"I truly believe we're now experiencing an interactive storytelling renaissance."
"There's something in the Wyrd Con Companion Book for everyone," wrote co-editor Aaron Vanek, in an email, "from live action role players intrigued by LARP history to educators wondering about the power of role-playing in the classroom. There are tips to good role-playing for players as well as studies on the psychology and motivations behind role-playing."
For those unclear on the terminology here, "interactive storytelling" is catch-all term for games where the audience and actors are both part of the performance. Wyrd Con's mission is to entertain and educate about interactive storytelling in all forms – LARPs, transmedia, alternate reality games (ARGs), pervasive games, interactive theater, and everything in between.
Vanek wants to "increase and elevate the discussion of role-playing games in the national discourse." In explaining the thinking behind the book, Vanek said, The Wyrd Con Companion Book 2012, the third in a series of anthologies, is part of that educational mission.
"We aim to highlight not just what's going on now, but role-playing in the past, and, ideally, inspire others to innovate for the future. I truly believe we're now experiencing an interactive storytelling renaissance, and all aspects of it are starting to converge and influence one another. Wyrd Con is a pool for that convergence, as is the Companion Book."
The anthology is divided into two sections: the "journal" section (edited by Vanek) and the "academic" section (edited by Sarah Lynne Bowman). The essays in the non-academic section range from personal reflections on the power of role-playing games, essays on RPGs in the real world, design and play advice, the history and documentation of LARPs, and the future of interactive storytelling. A small sampling includes such intruiging titles as "Good Play for Game Designers," "Warcrack for the Hordes: Why Warcraft Pwns the World," "Yearning for the Hero Within: Live Action Role-Playing as Engagement with Mythical Archetypes" and Vanek's own fascinating reportage, "Inside The Box, the United States Army's Taxpayer Funded Larp."
"While the academic section of the book does feature more specialized language than the journalistic side," said academic editor Bowman, in an email, "I think any reader with an interest in role-playing theory should find the articles useful regardless of education level."
The panel will include Vanek, academic editor Sarah Lynne Bowman, layout/design director Kirsten Hageleit, and contributors Emily Care Boss, Nat Budin, Epidiah Ravachol and Evan Torner. Leaving Mundania author (and WCCB contributor) Lizzie Stark, who was profiled here on GeekDad, will also be at Intercon, giving talks and running events (but she won't arrive in time for the panel, alas). [Note: This correspondent is also a contributor, and I live near Boston, but sadly I cannot attend the event.]
Vanek said he's been LARPing for almost 25 years and playing table-top RPGs for 30, "but only in the last six have I understood live action role playing's power as its own art form." After "toiling for years in journalism," he added, and working in the video game industry, "I finally found a medium of human expression that I deeply enjoy that can also affect profound changes in the participants." He also recently founded Seekers Unlimited, a non-profit company (pending) that designs and produces educational larps for schools. He's also "heavily involved" with Wyrd Con 4, which will be held on September 12th—15nd, 2013.
Most of all, Vanek is "very curious to hear from the readers" of his anthology. So check it out and come to Intercon and let him know what you think. Or read the Wyrd Con Companion Book 2012 here.
[NOTE: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that Intercon was this coming weekend, Feb. 14-17. The correct dates are Feb. 28–Mar. 3.]
