We’re mostly focusing on how to incentivize/enable larger games to get written, rather than on how to do the writing itself. Also by larger games, we’re talking about a broader definition – maybe 25+? 40 player LARPs would be cool, but right now, a few more 25 or 30 player games would be helpful. And ideally, ones that can run in a single room (though ones that can run in multiple rooms are also helpful if the GM is willing to run in a non-peak time slot.)
Right now, pretty much the only thing we offer to incentivize larger LARPs is membership comps for GMs. We recently swapped our comp system from two comps per LARP to one comp plus an additional comp per 60 player hours. (Eg a four hour, 15 player LARP gets two comps.)
Other reward/incentive ideas have been bandied about (swag, like t-shirts for larger games? Early sign ups for GMs of large LARPs? (This is an unpopular idea.)
In terms of supporting the writing and running of larger LARPs, we also don’t do much yet. The con staff has been creating and providing portable room dividers, so that GMs who want multiple rooms can make a single room work. We’re trying to think about what else we can do as NEIL (the organization behind Intercon) or con staff… Run Iron GM like competitions, but for larger LARPs? (Iron GM is for LARPs that are 5-12 players. There’s another local competition that is trying this out – Oceanic MOLW is a writing competition for larger LARPs.) Create a network for writers to connect? Run workshops on expanding pre-existing LARPs? Offer funding to cover printing costs?
Thank you for the links! I will check out Fall of the Jaguar Gods. Al-Shir Ma, and Sanctuary (and Southernseas if it ends up back online?)
(Your concept of a flagship LARP is an intriguing difference between our communities, by the way. Also this isn’t the right thread for it, but I’d be curious to hear about what happened to Chimera, Hydra’s shift from flagships and what Bucket of Dice is.)