At the point of booking you are invited to select a character archetype. This is a small element of your game, and you are otherwise largely free to build your character as you see fit. Available tickets for each archetype are limited to ensure a good spread across the player base.

These skills will be specific to a limited number of encounters/quests; as a rule lite system all characters will be able to participate in the vast majority of quests, encounters and game mechanics as they choose.

The suggested phys reps are for you to have something in your costume to represent your archetype - they do not need to be significant or cover the whole of your costume (unless you want them to!). E.g. for the Psychedelic archetype, the phys rep could range from a small neon item, to the whole costume being neon.

Further suggestions on character building are below - these will be requested on the detailed booking form after ticket purchase, but not at the time of booking, so you have a bit of time to work it out. 

Archetypes are split into:

• Mushroom archetypes

• Other archetypes (plants and animals)

Other Character Archetypes

A couple of other non-mushroom archetypes are available. 

These are recommended for players who prefer to play more independently or who don't want to dress as a mushroom!

Here are some questions to start thinking about - we'll request the answers on your detailed character form, which will be circulated once you've bought your ticket.

• What is your character's name?

  • Tip: Try to be original so we don't end up with 15 'Spore's!

• What is your character's role in the community?

  • Example: Herding fireflies to keep the village well-lit. 

• Does your character have any friends or family in the village?

  • This could be fictional or anyone you know OOC who is also coming. 

• What is your character known for in the Glade?

  • Example: Leading songs around the campfire to spread cheer amongst your fellows.

• Name a small and forgotten god of the Glade whom your character honours.

  • Example: Ray, the god of a sunbeam.

• [MUSHROOMS] Mushrooms live for only a season, but the mycelium remembers. Tell us something about who your character is this season, and something about someone they have been before.

  • Example: Inkpot is a studious mushroom who loves nothing more but to read and write - that's probably why they leave a trail of ink wherever they go! In a previous season, they were a sociable mushroom who enjoyed sharing extravagant tales of noble mushroom deeds around the campfire.

• [PLANTS/ANIMALS] Tell us something about who your character is, something that is important to them, and something they'd like to be remembered for.

  • Example: Bramble is a kind-hearted fieldmouse who lives in a woven grass house near to where the Glade has popped up this season. She loves her home and thinks she would always want to be right here. She'd like to be remembered as generous, and is always happy to share the trinkets she finds with everyone she meets, even if they have nothing to give in return.

As mentioned before, we are a rules-lite game, but here are some game mechanics that you may wish to prepare for if you choose to participate in them:

• Quests (overlands) (Come prepared to walk around the woods, bring a small bag!)

• Puzzles (Bring something to write on/with.)

• Trinket trading (We have no fixed currency, please bring things with you if you'd like to trade - this could be something as simple as acorns or pebbles, but equally something more elaborate like charms. Please avoid single-use plastics where possible. NPCs will also have trinkets to trade.)

• Music (We hope to cultivate a warm, inviting festival atmosphere in the evenings - please bring any suitable folk instruments and/or songs to sing around the campfire. We will also have a small stage area for anyone who wishes to perform solo or in a group between specific times.)

• Dueling (This is a low-combat system - you can fight ONLY as a duel using the hero-fighting style, by mutual consent of the other player or NPC. Bring a LARP-safe weapon if you desire to participate. This is framed as play-fighting only and is generally intended to be a bit silly; there is no injury or death in this system.)

• Roleplay (The main mechanic of the game is to roleplay your heart out and the refs will determine if you've done enough to succeed. Please note that although we have nature magic in the system, this will be initiated by NPCs, you can't create game-breaking magical effects ad hoc and expect them to work!)

Costume is purely aesthetic (other than whatever phys rep you choose to display your Archetype). You can play any species of mushroom, animal or plant you wish, including fantasy species, as long as it fits within the overall game aesthetic (more details below).

The rest of your costume could attempt to closely represent the stem of your chosen mushroom (e.g. lace layers for a fly agaric), but equally you can dress to match your mushroom's personality! We suggest going for hobbity or fae vibes to match the aesthetic of the LARP overall.

You could also optionally add a small amount of facepaint/glitter to tie your look together (we don't recommend a full face of Snaz in August, though!!). 

If you don't wish to play a ground mushroom, you could incorporate elements such as bracket mushroom into your costume instead - hats are not compulsory! 

This is a brand new, standalone LARP event, with original locations, NPCs and game mechanics you'll never have encountered before. 

We hope you'll join us in creating for yourselves an original character that allows you to full immerse yourselves in the world of The Glade and experience everything with wonder and newness.

Of course, as with any fantasy we have taken some inspiration from other media, such as the aesthetics of The Shire from The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings, the cosy but emotional world-building of RPGs like Wanderhome, and the joy of anthropomorphism in Redwall. So please feel free to take inspiration from anything you think strikes a chord with The Glade, but make sure to take it in your own, original direction!