“Mölders (D 186)” by Monty Edwards is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Scandinavian LARP has got some kind of cult status in the UK, famed for its government funding and high quality (although, probably less LARP’s have government funding than many Brits suspect).But now Germany have joined the club, they’re funding a five-day, 80-person LARP based on Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica. The even cooler thing? It’s being played on the German Destroyer Mölders which will be temporarily renamed as the Hesperios. Awesome.
This is Projekt Exodus
Projekt Exodus follows in the footsteps of the highly successful LARP that ran in 2013 on a Swedish battleship – The Monitor Celestra. However there’s a crucial difference between the two LARP’s in that Projekt Exodus is entirely educational. Participants will explore the political issues raised by the show with key themes of freedom, safety and humanitarianism. The organisers say that ‘the players will get to experience problems of our society from a completely new viewpoint’. As well as the actual LARPing, there will also be workship to help the players with their characterisation and will end with a whole day of analysis.
The Germany Federal Agency for Civil Education is funding Projekt Exodus, the agency spcialises in providing citizenship education and information on political issues. The UK really has no equivalent agency so I would speculate that any funding for LARP here would have to come from Arts funding, but it’s interesting to speculate if there are alternative sources for money when it comes to LARP.
I have to admit, when I saw that this LARP was running I considered if I could afford to travel to Germany to take part. However the whole thing is being run only in German and my language skills are rusty at best. Perhaps I should get practicing for the sequal?
However if you’re lucky enough to be near Wilhelmshaven on February 8th you can visit the open day on board the ship to see it fully dressed and with some of the ‘crew’ on board. If you do go, send us pictures!
Image: “Mölders (D 186)” by Monty Edwards is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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