Hi LARPers, and thank you for visiting! Our names are Hilary Dirks Norton, Steven Townshend, and Nathan Pease, and we are the creators of Auxientia LARP! We want to welcome you and explain what Auxientia is really all about!
Auxientia is a new frontier in interactive steampunk fantasy. Auxientia is a LARP centered around negotiation mechanics and “transparent” play. Auxientia is for those who want an immersive experience with emotional and physical role play in a safe environment with the intention that players are the focus of the story. When we design LARPs, we do so with the intention that they will be intense, both emotionally and sometimes physically. However, we also take important factors into account, such as people’s fears, phobias, triggers, and physical safety. Your choices and the results of those actions shape the overall story and city.
This LARP takes place in a fictional, fantastical late 1800s-style city, which has evolved separately from the rest of the world due to its location and magical qualities. Auxientia tells the story of five factions all vying for power and the ability to shape the city to their desires. Together, player characters explore who they are, what their factions are, and what their city can be at its heart.
We appreciate Piper Peculiar Productions assistance with developing the rules and guidelines for Auxientia. Credit goes to Piper Peculiar Productions for any borrowed language on the website, player’s guide, and discord. A great many thanks to Steven Townshend for all his contributions in the co-creation of Auxientia and photography through Distant Era.
At Auxientia, your registration includes…
- Spending the weekend (Friday night – Sunday morning) becoming a character in a fictional steampunk fantasy world at beautiful La Salle Manor Retreat Center.
- All five buffet style meals provided (Vegetarian and vegan options available upon request).
- Private sleeping accommodations in a dorm style room; linens and towels supplied and accessible community bathrooms/showers on each rooming floor.
- Lift between the 1st and 2nd level.
- Gaming room.
- Meditation labyrinth.
- Wifi.
- Out of Game Area with comfort items and snacks for anyone needing a break.
- Creating stories with your fellow players that will shape your faction and the city.
- Having the opportunity to create your own tales––no matter which faction you decide to join, you choose how you interact and whether it benefits the city, your faction, yourself, or all three. Factions allow for characters of any alignment to join and influence outcomes!
- Opportunities to engage in a variety of activities, including storytelling, spying, politics, innovation, duels, warfare, and magic- all activities are opt-in and dependent on player choices.
Themes and Setting
Auxientia has been deliberately designed to explore and tell stories around the themes of conflict, history, and community––what brings us together and what drives us apart.
However, it must be noted that we designed the world of Auxientia to be inclusive. It is a fictional, fantasy world that never was, not a historical reenactment. It is not subject to the racism, ableism, and misogyny that plagued the historical Victorian era.
To be clear, we strongly condemn racism and misogyny. While the nineteenth century was a violent place filled with tragedy, we have sought to break down social barriers, and will not tolerate the use of real world bigotry or ‘isms.’ Likewise, we want to make it clear that our written factions are not intended to be racial divides. Discrimination based on the color of one’s skin, gender, or sexual orientation does not exist in the world of Auxientia. This underscores our real world commitment to center conflict in Auxientia around ideological tensions, not race, sexual orientation, or gender.
Body modification and prosthetic devices are features in the steampunk aesthetic, and we want to try to accommodate this, however Auxientia is not a world that condones ableism or features discrimination based on physical, mental, or other disabilities. If a character’s design features some element of prosthetic device or other accommodation, it is a personal choice for this character and does not reflect external pressures of the city to conform to remove a disability. Additionally, plotlines in the story will not feature ableism. If you would like your character to have a prosthetic device or other body modification, please reach out to staff and we would love to help you develop this concept!
Participants exhibiting discriminatory behavior will be investigated and may face immediate expulsion from the event.
Through all of this, we seek to provide a safe, consent-driven narrative. If you feel you are unable to participate in collaborative storytelling and creating a safe space, then this experience is not for you.
Story Structure
At the end of every story arc (three events), the story will progress, but NPCs will be slotted into new factions and portray new guides to help you on your journey. Players will also have the opportunity to explore different factions and aspects of the game as a totally new character. However, should you feel you have more to explore with your current character, you may continue until you feel that character’s story has come to an end.
Whether or not you decide to change your character or continue with your current character, it is our goal that all players involved in Auxientia should have agency and influence in regards to their own character, their faction and and the events surrounding the city.
This upcoming event is the third of a three part story arc at Auxientia. We welcome new players to join the established story and collaborate with us to continue the story together in the upcoming event.
Spoiler-Free Schedule
Friday
· 2:00PM – Arrive, check-in, weapons check begins (Please do not arrive any earlier than 2pm)
· 4:00PM – Mandatory workshop begins (out of character)
· 6:00PM – Dinner (out of character)
· 7:00PM – Game start
· 11:00PM – Soft stop
Saturday
· 8:00AM – Breakfast/Game
· 12:00PM – lunch
· 6:00PM – dinner
· 11:00PM – Soft stop
Sunday
· 8:00AM – Breakfast/Game
· 10:00AM – Game end (tentative). Goodbyes & pack up
· 12:00PM – Hard out of all buildings for players & staff
Game Expectations
Game Complexity (LOW) There are no skill trees or levels to be gained, but each faction has unique powers they may use in gameplay. Players “win” or “lose” on their own terms through roleplay. The goal is ultimately to create a fun, magical story together.
Pressure (LOW) The tone of this game is serious with moments of levity. Physical conflicts can arise, but players can avoid opportunities of peril and not opt in to any content they deem unwanted. Our designers take important factors into account, such as people’s fears, phobias, triggers, and physical safety. Some players may opt to portray epic and emotional stories while other players may opt for low stakes personal narratives. Each are valid ways to play. This is also a game that values creative, out of the box solutions. Just because two options are presented, doesn’t mean your third option won’t work.
Transparency (HIGH) Auxientia is a game culture of collaborating stories and scenes together and being open about where they’re going before they even happen. While players will not know everything in advance and should expect some surprises, it is our intent to stay within the boundaries expressed by our players before game and strive to give players opportunities to obtain the narrative they desire. Players are expected to communicate, negotiate, and respect boundaries with both designers and their fellow players.
Physical Representation (LOW) Costuming requirements are fairly low, but players are encouraged to make bold choices in every aspect of the game, including costuming. At all times you, the player, will have access to your necessities. If you need to wear glasses, it’s now part of our collective suspension of disbelief and some Auxientians wear glasses. Our player community enjoys helping and may lend items and advice if desired.
Immersion (HIGH/LOW) While we do value immersion during roleplay, players have the option of breaking character to negotiate scenes ooc. We encourage this to ensure that players are walking away from a scene with a desired outcome that included their consent and respected their expressed boundaries.
Written Expectations (HIGH) The present established lore is thin because the designers want to build a world that fits our players, not make the players fit our world. The design team expects players to rigidly stick to the established written lore, but offer freedoms where lore or customs do not exist yet. We highly encourage players to talk to their designer if interested in offering suggestions where there are gaps in the customs and lore. We will try to yes, and as much as possible but please understand we may not be able to accommodate all contributions. This is a story we write together.
Sounds great! How do I get started?
First, you’ll want to check out the Factions and the stories in The Auxientia Observer newspaper, so that you can figure out more about Auxientia, the factions that influence it, and who you want to become.
For costumes, take a look at our Pinterest for inspiration. While we encourage interesting costuming ideas, we want to ensure we create the atmosphere that Auxientia is set in the late 1800s. This game has a steampunk aesthetic with fantasy elements. As you’ll see, each faction has its own aesthetic. Additionally, faction members show pride in belonging to their found family by wearing their faction colors in their various accoutrements:
Bāhira: Brown
The Gilded: Purple
The Irregulars: Gray
Luciole Ltd.: Yellow
Parastin: Aqua
Please note: Although some Auxientians use wyvern parts for function such as weapons and armor, the wearing of wyvern remains for decorative purposes is considered taboo, especially by the Bāhira, and is often an easy way to identify a poacher. This type of conflict is fine in the game for players that choose it, however we want players to be aware of this dynamic before assembling their costume.
This game is both indoor AND outdoor. The weather is unpredictable in May. Some suggestions are a mid-level coat, closed toe shoes with extra socks, and gloves in case it gets cold.
Next, buy a ticket.
Once you have purchased your ticket, you will be sent a player survey. A staff member will contact you shortly after you complete the survey to chat with you regarding answers and to get to know you better as a person.
You will be invited to join the Auxientia Player’s private group on Facebook for updates and announcements for all players. You will have a separate group to connect out of character with other participants, just in your faction.
Staff will create a character bio with you and place you in one of the five factions in Auxientia no later than ten weeks prior to the game. However, you may opt to write your own bio to submit no later than twelve weeks prior to the game. Anyone missing their bio submission deadline may have a bio written for them by staff. Additionally, your costume must be approved by staff. If you’re at all unsure, please ask before making a purchase.
There will be optional online roleplay with other players and NPCs prior to the game offered through Discord. While not required, it is an important opportunity to become more familiar with the world and others in it before the event.
Finally, show up to the event and have a great time! We will hold an in-person workshop before the game begins to make sure you’re prepared and a feedback session on-site after the game.