The Luminary Roleplay Society (LRS) is a community of roleplaying enthusiasts in the San Francisco Bay Area. We seek to use Live Action Roleplaying games (LARPs) as a tool to allow players and writers to explore improvisational roleplaying, story writing, characters, emotions, and new experiences.
If you are interested in joining us, please send us an email at luminaryroleplaysociety AT gmail.com.
Code of Conduct
We request that LRS members and others who participate in LRS sponsored events adhere to both the spirit and the letter of the following:
- Do not harass other participants, observers, or non-players. Help maintain the LRS as a space where everyone feels comfortable.
- Prioritize safety and comfort, both your own and that of others.
- Respect the GMs and their decisions. Help them run the best games possible.
- Respect the physical spaces where events are held.
- Do not initiate physical contact without permission, except as mandated by public game mechanics.
If you are concerned about violations of the code of conduct or other behavior at an event, please contact any of the board members individually or email us at the email listed at the bottom of this page. If you’d prefer to do so anonymously, a link to an anonymous complaint form is listed on our private forums here. Complaints will be handled on a case by case basis – for an example of what to expect see this document.
FAQs
Q: So what is this “LARP” thing I keep hearing about?
A: LARP stands for Live Action Role Playing, and may refer to both a game of that type and the act of playing in one. If you are already familiar with tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons, then imagine physically acting out many of the actions of your character, throw in some optional costuming and props, and you have a LARP. If you aren’t already familiar with roleplaying, imagine a group of people doing improvisational theater with preestablished setting, characters, and rules to govern conflicts, all adjudicated by a referee or gamemaster (GM). When we LARP we play characters assigned to us beforehand and act out stories together without knowing how they’re going to end.
The games that the LRS runs focus on the roleplaying and storytelling aspects of LARPing and use abstracted mechanics to govern physical conflict. They are ways for players to improve their understanding of new characters, settings, and ideas.
For more detail on the types of games we run, feel free to peruse our Grimoire or contact us. If you are curious to know more about LARPing in general, the Wikipedia page offers a good overview.
Q: How frequently does the LRS run events?
A: We do not have a set schedule, but we hope to ramp up to running an event once every other month. The current schedule is here (locations not shown).
Q: Does the LRS run pencil-and-paper tabletop games?
A: LRS members play a wide range of roleplaying games, including one-shot and campaign tabletop roleplaying games. Due to their smaller scale these games are not officially organized through LRS, but attending LRS events is a great way to connect to the local community if you are interested in Bay area tabletop games.
Q: I am interested in hosting a LARP. Can the LRS help me find players and game space?
A: Yes, the LRS is happy to help GMs host games, including dealing with issues like room reservations and funding. Please fill out the LARP request form HERE or send us an email or talk to us at one of our events. After filling out the form, you should expect an email from one of our coordinators within a couple of weeks (time can vary, we do our best, but we are all volunteers).
Current LRS board:
- Aaron Sunshine, Chairperson
- Matt Fisher, Secretary
- Zev Trubowitch, Treasurer
- Acata Felton, Board Member, LARP COR coordinator
- Chris Chelburg, Events Coordinator
- Amanda Stowers, Webmaster
- Arike van de Water, GM Coordinator
- Andres Santiago, GM Coordinator
Acknowledgements:
- Rachel Reddick (Logo/Artwork)