events
Here are some of the events you can look forward to at Solmukohta. The programme has been organised in six distinct categories: Game Milieu, Immersion, Theory, Larp around the World, Fun, and Art.
For information on the timetable, please see the preliminary schedule.
game milieu
solving classic design problems
Larp scenarios are notorious for their vulnerability. If the number of participants changes, you are in trouble. If plot hooks are missed, you are in trouble. If you design a game for random participants, you are in trouble. After battling these weak spots when designing commercial live action games, ELF Vesala leads audience discussion on possible solutions: dynamic designs, modular mechanics, scalable scenarios and common plot hook interfaces.
pyrotechnics
Heiko Romu lectures on the history, techniques and possibilities of pyrotechnics. How to choose safe and impressive pyrotechnics for larps; how to get the qualifications to use and make effects yourself; includes demonstrations and a small show.
fantastic music
A workshop and a jam session open to all. Folk music students introduce and teach using of different kinds of forgotten instruments and singing in fantasy and historical larps. Feel free to bring your own instruments, tunes and wild ideas. Anni Tolvanen conducts.
latex weapons
A show and tell on making latex weapons. Sadetta Postareff of the Finnish weapon maker and dealer LatexDragon gives a master course to those interested in quality and ultimate art in their swords and daggers. Both working techniques and designs are introduced in detail.
do you like red herrings
The French chick Florence Darthenay leads a discussion on the role of food in larps and the role of larp in choosing proper feed.
folk and historical dances
Taisia Gelikh teaches folk and historical dances.
immersion
peak experiences in larp
Antti Salovaara presents preliminary results of a study in which larpers have been interviewed on their peak gaming experiences. The findings are based on interviews and observations as an NPC in 4 (mostly scifi) larps held in various parts of Finland in the autumn of 2003.
beginnings and endings workshop
A practical workshop from Eirik Fatland continuing on the 2002 Ropecon lecture beginnings and endings. Includes a one hour demonstration of methods used in enhancing psychological security and immersion under the Europa Model.
body painting
A show and tell on body painting: professional make-up artists Nina Kalugin and Nina Hämäläinen introduce some basic techniques and designs. Also participants get their hands dirty - techniques are used on both live models and brave volunteers.
positive power drama
Half talk, half workshop based on Emma Wieslander's article in Beyond Role and Play; the workshop includes techniques used in the immersion exercises that preceded the larp Mellan Himmel och Hav.
immersion on a dime
JiiTuomas Harviainen explains how to arrange immersion-focused larps with next to no money.
theory
real magic
The English child psychiatrist D.W Winnicott says that there is an ìintermediate spaceî between the outer objective world and the inner psychic world. It is where ìtransitional objectsî (teddy bears and the like) are to be found, and it is the place where playing starts, and the base for creativity, art and culture. Elge Larsson asks, what the ramifications are for larping: are we expanding the intermediate space or are we just unwilling to grow up?
genesi: discussing larp-theories
An in-depth presentation and debate on larp theory from the perspective of Genesi, continuing Christopher Sandberg's article in Beyond Role and Play. The presentation focuses on the joy of creating and entering the fantastic. Theories and tools are selected for their actual usability - to the most childish participant, as well as to the serious author.
What is participation?
Participating by thinking, choosing or acting? Gabriel Widing of the Association of Interacting Arts presents a three step theory on what participation means. A seminar on why artists are authorative, new media artists are false prophets and live roleplaying is a democratic mean of making art. The seminar is based on an upcoming book on participatory arts and culture.
on the shoulders of gygax
Henri Hakkarainen and Jaakko Stenros trace the history of role-playing studies from early 70's fanzines to the present day. The focus is on the Nordic tradition from panclou and Manifestos to the new Solmukohta Book.
responsible larping
Thomas Duus Henriksen leads a discussion and a debate on the psychological aspects of larping. Psychological safety is one of the main issues of this discussion and it is analysed from a social psychological as well as a structural perspective. Empirical histories from the larp scene are used to ground the theoretical analysis.
role play as an educational tool
A lecture on the possibilities of rpg in education with special attention to the theories of role play and education. Thomas Duus Henriksen bases his talk on his article in Beyond Role and Play.
some thoughts on reality
A discussion on reality and larp, roles and play.Gabriel Widing of the Association of Interacting Arts approaches reality from various viewpoints.
larp around the world
old enemies united
Since the beginning of the 90:s Swedish free-form role playing games have been and continue to be one of the most vital and experimental role playing scenes around. Capitalising on the strengths of the non-larp setting, free-form roleplay explores the space-time continuum, the meta-play and the roles themselves. The Iron Chefs of Swedish role-play, Martin BrodÈn, Olle Jonsson and Tobias Wrigstad of Vi Âker Jeep/Vuxenspel and Thorbiörn Fritzon of Köksmixer bury the hatchet and join forces in pursuit of new styles of play. Olle Jonsson will contribute with Danish insights with focus on Frederik Berg Olsen's symbiotic drama.
The event will constitute of mostly actual gaming interwoven with discussions on styles of play, constructing adventures, and exploiting the meta-play. The goal is to show that there are no real differences between larp and free-form, just a slight difference in angle of approach.
four larps on the panoptic society
A lecture with a presentation including various types of documentation of the larps Kybergenesis, Europa, inside : outside and PanoptiCorp, all of which Eirik Fatland played some role in organising. Half of the speech is dedicated to an analysis of these larps in the light of Foucault's theories on the panoptic societies.
larp around the world
Mike Pohjola chairs a Q&A panel discussion on larping manners, styles and cultures in different countries with an attempt to continue from the issues discussed in Knudepunkt 2003. The panel includes speakers from all nationalities represented in Solmukohta.
dragonbane
The first Dragonbane meeting for the whole team. Thursday day-time is reserved for discussions about the project, and a promotional session begins at 5.30 pm. Contact info@dragonbane.org for further information.
gender equality in larps
Emma Wieslander's lecture continues the discussion on gender equality issues of previous KP:s. The lecture includes a presentation on a Swedish project on gender-equality in larps.
larp in finland
An introductory Q&A panel discussion on larping in Finland. The panel represents several Finnish gaming cultures and crowd participation is expected. Mike Pohjola navigates.
vreden
A promotion for the Swedish larp Vreden. The game will take place in August 2004 in Gothenburg.
the making of roulin' moose
Timo Multamäki's documentary and recollection on the making the larp Roulin' Moose.
documents from panoptic larps
Eirik Fatland's show and tell with various types of documentation from the larps Kybergenesis, Europa, inside:outside, and PanoptiCorp.
fun
speculative larps
Scuba diving murder mysteries, politics of Orang-utan art critics, dinner parties on the planet of zombie letter-openers? This is your chance to learn about hitherto unknown larp classics and still forgotten new success stories from an international all-star panel of nordic larp experts with Syksy Räsänen in the lead. Questions from the audience are welcomed.
a rich bitch crew exclusive
At Solmukohta 2004 you get the opportunity to join the celebrations. Let two fantastic, glamourous, hip hop kittens groove your world. Sit, talk and listen or jump, dance and shout. Experience all levels of heaven on Thursday evening.
A kitchen line
Larp goes musical. All singing, all dancing stage spectacle tells the hilarious story of a bunch of female larpers under the thumb of an evil gamemaster. A Kristiina Prauda production.
fancy dress dinner
The dress code for the Saturday night dinner is Film Noir.
the masquerade
Dress as your favourite character or according to your favourite gaming genre on Thursday night.
renaissance dances for fun
To boldly go beyond Pornopolka with a little guidance from Kristiina Prauda. Rehearse Renaissance dances, socialise, and flirt in preparation for the Friday night ball.
the ball
Dance till you drop. Folk music band Hyberborea accompanies Renaissance dances rehearsed earlier in the dance workshop with Kristiina Prauda. An optional dress code for the ball is a suit of any kind.
fashion show
The catwalk portrays larp costumes. Please contact solmukohta-programme@ropecon.fi to enter your costume to the fashion show.
art
festival
Line Thorup and Carsten Andreasen present a minimalist larp installation. Experience the strange situation of waking up in a tent at a festival with "somebody" sleeping besides you, and discover just how small a tent is when the zipper is broken. The installation is a group of tents with instructions on how to play the half hour long larp.
