You are between 4 and 7 feet in length, possess a head, mantle, eight locomotive limbs and two manipulative tentacles arranged symmetrically around your central axis. You respire through osmotic absorption of oxygen suspended in liquid hydrogen dioxide. You are, in short, a space squid.
The evolutionary advantage your species enjoys is that while engaged in mating behaviors using your two tentacles, your ganglia meld with those of your partners, combining your intellect and skills, but also your attitudes and biases. Which is critically important today, because your deep space colonization vessel has broken down! If you can keep the ship habitable, restart the engines, and plot a new course you should be able survive to settle on a planet. If you hope to survive, you will have to work together!
WHAT: SPACE SQUIDS, a parlor larp playtest for 6 – 24 players (the more the merrier!).
Designed by Kevin McIntyre and Jon Cole
Organized by Jon Cole, Kevin McIntyre, and Kathy Shane
WHEN: Saturday, June 30th from 2pm to 6pm
REGISTRATION: If you are interested in playing, fill out our Space Squids Sign-Up Form before 11:59 pm on Monday, June 25th.
Registration will be open after the deadline for stragglers.
If more people sign up than we have room for attendance will be decided by weighted lottery. You should know if you are in or out of the larp by Tuesday, June 26th.
WHERE: A North Minneapolis Nonprofit located near Broadway and Emerson Avenue in Minneapolis. Full address will be released to people who sign up. The space is accessible by bus.
We are requesting a voluntary good will donation $5-10 to support the work of the nonprofit in appreciation for the use of their space. No one will be turned away if they are unable to make a donation.
PLAY STYLE: This is a silly puzzle solving game with the theme of being squids searching for happy romantic or familial relationships. It has a light and engaging ‘mind-meld’ mechanic where you hold hands with the right combination of characters to solve challenges. Suitable for people who haven’t roleplayed before.
THEMES: hookups, romance, polyamory, puzzle solving, space disaster
ACCESSIBILITY: The play venue is ADA accessible. Plenty of seating. Water available. Climate controlled building. Gender neutral bathroom available. Participants must be able to talk and listen in a cocktail party environment, as well as have two hands that they can hold into different gestures akin to sign language. Being sighted is not required, but it would be very helpful.
COSTUMING: Costuming is not required at all. If you are excited about it, you can dress up as some kind of cephalopod, just make sure your arms and hands will be able to move freely.
CONTENT ADVISORY: Metaphorical sex through a hand-holding mechanic (far far less intense than ars amandi), metaphorical flirting through mutual rubbing of backs of hands, hook ups and casual encounters, romantic relationships beginning and ending, seeking meaningful relationships and perhaps failing, making bad decisions and living with the consequences.
WHAT IS A PLAYTEST?: “Space Squids” is the working title for a game that is still being designed, but is fun already! A playtest is a larp session intended to find design flaws in an in-development game. Often, designers will ask players for their thoughts on the experience after a playtest.
FOOD: Light snacks provided, in an ocean theme. Swedish fish, goldfish, seaweed chips, fruit snack sharks, and shrimp chips.
SOCIAL: If you would like to hang out after the larp a group will go to the Broadway Pizza at 2025 West River Rd N, Minneapolis. Anyone is welcome to join in on this, including people who didn’t attend the larp!
ART: Last of the Starmakers by David “cinemamind” Romero