The rulebook for the 2024 event is here: https://tinyurl.com/DFUSRulebook2024 Over the next week, we may fix typos and make small clarifications. On 4/18/24, the posted version will be final, and the Mobile/PDF versions will be available via the website. Change Log Fighting Rules (p8) - Clarified that hitting an opponent multiple times before they’ve had time to give a reaction only counts as 1 hit. This addresses questions related to “drumrolling”, and engaging against fight

aka Why it’s hard to “cycle” back to the front line Tl;dr: (1) to limit exhaustion (2) to lift up “support” characters In many roleplaying games, when your character is injured in combat, some game mechanic lets you get you up and back into the action immediately (often called “cycling”). This assumption can lead to frustration, because recovery at DrachenFest is slow. In this post, we’d like to clear up misconceptions about the spirit of the healing rules, and talk about ho

When we face an oversized monster at a larp, it awakens some inborn prehistoric fear of things bigger than us. Large monsters are awesome - literally, they inspire awe! We love the oversized costumes people bring to DrachenFest battles. And we want to encourage more people to join the fun. But in order to do that, we need to make a better, safer space for them. In 2023, some of the people inside those costumes were subject to rough play. And most monster lifespans were very s

After the 2023 event, we collected a lot of feedback and data about Ranged Attacks at DrachenFest. In order to make good decisions about how to update our rules, we assembled an Archery Safety Panel composed of both player and referee archery experts. Numerous types of arrows were tested, data was collected and analyzed. This post will talk about their mission, the updates we've made, and centralize information about ranged attacks. This will continue as an ongoing iterative

This year, as part of our global safety concept (a comprehensive examination of our safety rules, training, and practices), we’re introducing a series of blog posts which will include the following topics: This Overview Archery rules and gameplay Large Monster rules and gameplay Game design of “cycling back to the front line” and its relationship to exhaustion How each camp’s General manages combat culture at the camp level Hazard Awareness To create a safe atmosphere for us

In the world of live-action role-playing (LARP), the DrachenFest is a legendary gathering that takes place in one of the dragon worlds where adventure awaits at every turn. But how can you find yourself summoned to this extraordinary festival? Let's delve into the mystical ways in which you can answer the call of the DrachenFest. The Metaphysical Call Before every DrachenFest, the all-powerful dragons sound a call that transcends the boundaries of space and time. This call is

In this post, we’d like to talk about the “Crafter” role and our goals for crafting at DrachenFest. “Crafting”, in larps, has meant a lot of different things. Depending on the larp, “crafting” might include an economy of crafting components, a big list of special items with their own rules, or maybe a way to “cycle” fighters in and out of the front line as their armor is repaired. So we recognize that people who choose the Crafter role might have a wide range of expectations.

DrachenFest-US will be returning to Cooper's Lake! The next event will run from June 17th through June 23rd, 2024. The campsite is located at 205 Currie Rd, Slippery Rock, PA 16057. The closest airport is Pittsburgh International. Monday and Tuesday (17th-18th) are "Early Arrival" days for game setup and light roleplay. The full "Game On" takes place on Weds June 19th - the competition begins with the Opening Ritual. The Final Battle will be on Saturday the 22nd. We intend to

Hi DrachenFesties! Here’s an update about what’s been going on, and what’s ahead. The Survey Roughly 200 people answered the player feedback survey, providing TONS of helpful data! Thank you so much for this incredibly valuable insight. We spent two months analyzing your feedback. We ran thousands of hypothesis driven statistical models in addition to qualitative analyses. We read and included every comment. This produced a 240 slide comprehensive report, using quantitative &

THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, for making DF-US 2023 such a spectacular experience. Arriving at Cooper's Lake, we considered this our "second first event". From the opening ceremony to the final battle, it was unforgettable. We were so impressed with the learning and growth we witnessed during the event, as players learned to re-calibrate and play better with each other! After the “Week of Joy” (a traditional 1-week-long post-event recovery period) it’s natural for people to focus on

You wish to know the prize for victory? I can tell you what I know of what was won by the Red Dragon’s mortal champions the very first time they took the field. I can tell you what I know of the first victory of the DrachenFest. Is it all true? To know for sure you would have to ask one of the few, the happy few that were there the day that the Red Dragon’s mortal champions prevailed. But this is what I was told: The Dragons’ world was dead - covered in a black and lifeles

It can be fun to roleplay characters who sway into a life of banditry, theft and other illegal vices. And it's also fun to hunt down thieves and make them pay! This pilot project is about creating an opportunity space for these types of characters to play with each other. Why "pilot project"? This might not work, or it might not be enjoyable - or it may need fundamental re-design. Simply put, we want to make everyone aware: we are testing out this system at DrachenFest for t

At DrachenFest, we strive to create an immersive environment full of phenomenal kits, breath-taking action, and striking sets. In so many words, we want the festival to be picturesque! And, we know that folks love reminiscing on the fantastical world that they lived in for the week, so we aim to document our time together through professional photographers, videographers, journalism, etc. However, in order to keep the world as immersive as possible, and also to respect the pr

The DrachenFest calls champions from many and varied realms: the goal is for one of the five dragons to reign supreme for a full year’s time. The DrachenFest becomes remade in their image, and it is said that this conflict is key to maintaining the cosmos. Each Dragon has a place in the greater world, and each camp is representative of the virtues and vices of their Dragon. Each camp is vying for control in a masterful contest, using diplomacy, trickery, magic, competitions,

After the first DrachenFest-US event in 2022, we asked you to share advice for next year’s players. By far, the most common pieces of advice were: Read the Rulebook and Warbook Thoroughly Drink Water, Take Breaks, Take Care of Yourself We would like to add: The term “First-Year DrachenFest Syndrome” refers to how new players often get overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion or frustration. Our advice is to not worry about having a ‘perfect’ first year–make peace with the fact

(Seems familiar? This content appeared on the forums in 2022) Welcome, honorable diplomat, to the world of politics at DrachenFest! So you’ve been chosen & empowered by your camp, to speak on behalf of your camp, politic with others and trade in the most valuable of currencies at DrachenFest: Alliances. In the Dragon World, most alliances fall into two types: war alliances and defensive alliances. Although, with your creativity and finesse, there are no options barred from yo

We are proud to release the DrachenFest-US 2023 War Book! Because this year’s game features gates and sieges, and incorporates feedback from last year's game, our war rules have significant updates. Please re-read the war book thoroughly. Here are the highlights: Reorganized and Clarified wording throughout the text. Clarified what Battle Refs do. Emphasized that they may move people around for safety reasons, and should not be argued / haggled with during battle. Last call t

This year will be DrachenFest’s first time at Cooper’s Lake. We hope this will be our “forever home”, and are ready to share some details about where we’ll be on the campsite this year. We’ve agonized over the decision about where to center DrachenFest. Our ideal space has… relatively flat ground for battles and camping a central battlefield shade minimal flood risk easy access to water points access to power points for the bazaar enough room for everybody But not so much roo

We hear your feedback about wanting more transparency about skills, progression, and the crunchy side of mechanics. We find this absolutely warranted and want to help how and where we can in this dialogue. We also want to explain why we choose to keep some features of the game ‘find out in game’ only, and the opportunity costs associated with each decision. Part One - Why Discovery is so Important To Us TL;DR: We believe discovery in-play is more meaningful than reading about

by Arden Mercury Alchemy at DrachenFest US is a multi-step system, and includes lots of opportunities to collaborate with people in your camp, and exercise your prop-making skills and storytelling abilities. The main Guild of Alchemical Arts tent in the Bazaar is certainly a destination for information and skill courses, but gardens and labs within each individual camp are the real centers of activity: this is where you’ll do most of your herb-gathering, potion-making, and ex