We are excited to share photos from the Lumen larp we ran Oct. 2-5, 2025 outside of Florence, Italy! Lumen was a highly experimental educational larp that had the aim of teaching our curriculum in transformative role-playing game design while experiencing a transformative larp. 34 characters engaged in off- and in-game lessons ran by 7 facilitator/Guides. Then, they designed and ran nano-larp experiences for one another in small Gemstone groups based on each other’s stated transformative goals.
Along with archetype and fate cards for character development, the game also included an optional VR element with a specially VRChat environment based on the location, as well as an app for character creation and notes.
We are in the process of boxing our revised version of the game based on feedback from our participants, so stay tuned! As with all our materials, the boxed version will be freely available to the public. Big thanks for all the volunteers and players who took a chance on this experimental design!
EDGE is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership for curriculum development in transformative game design between Uppsala University, Avalon Larp Studio, Chaos League, Dragons’ Nest, and Turku University of Applied Sciences.
Most photos by Camilla Missaglia.
Production: Alessandro Giovannucci and Mafalda Morganti from Chaos League.
Narrative Design: Simon Brind, Sagalinn Leo Tangen, Martine Svanevik, and Halfdan Keller Justesen from Avalon Larp Studio.
Educational and safety design: Sarah Lynne Bowman, Josefin Westborg, and Kjell Hedgard Hugaas from Uppsala University; Angie D. Oronar and Elektra Diakolambrianou from Dragons’ Nest.
Tech design: Taisto Suominen from Turku University of Applied Sciences and Joffe Rydberg, volunteer from Stockholm University of the Arts.
Volunteer Guides: David Bassuk and Clista Townsend.
Safety team member: Pirjoriitta Peltola from Turku University of Applied Sciences, Joffe Rydberg, Kjell Hedgard Hugaas, and Sarah Lynne Bowman.
The Lumen team and volunteers Josephine Rydberg, David Bussak, and Clista Townsend. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.The entire larp and volunteers. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Uppsala University’s Transformative Game Design Master’s students and teachers 2022-2025. EDGE was developed in part to develop this curriculum. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Character-run nano-game. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Gemstone group. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Character-run nano-game. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Character-run nano-game. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Gemstone group. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Gemstone group with Guide. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Gemstone group with Guide. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Guide. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Guide in VR. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Guide at closing ritual of the eveningGuide at closing ritual of the eveningGuide at closing ritual of the eveningGuide at closing ritual of the eveningGuide at closing ritual of the eveningIn-game ritual. Photo by Camilla Missaglia.Organizer testing the VRIn-game VRGuide running in-game VRGuide running in-game VRGuide running in-game VRArchetype cards during character creationOrganizers at workshop
