ConQuest of Mythodea

ConQuest of Mythodea is a five-day live-action roleplaying game that has been run once per year in Brokeloh (Lower Saxony, Germany) since 2004. The event's roughly 10.000 participants make it the largest of its kind in Germany, ahead of Drachenfest in Diemelstadt. Formerly organised by Live Adventure Event in Regensburg and now by Burgschneider GmbH in Frankfurt am Main, it is one of the largest LARP events in the world.

Venue[edit]

The game takes place on 60 hectares of land including meadows, fields and woods next to the village of Brokeloh. Players and NPCs camp at the venue in one of several designated areas, one for each major faction or theme. One of them is a medieval tent town full of stalls and taverns selling food, drinks or gear for the game for real-world money.

Setting and Plot[edit]

The main plot involves the players (PCs) rediscovering, exploring and resettling the fictional continent of Mythodea. Mythodea - or Mithraspera as it was called in the distant past - used to thrive under the guidance of the Five Elements until a cataclysmic event rendered it inaccessible and infested with evil and dangerous powers, collectively called the Forsaken. The Forsaken, consisting of the NPC factions of Undead Flesh, Black Ice, Pestilence, the Void and the Ratio, consider themselves the true rulers of Mythodea. They see the settlers, portrayed by the players and aligned with the original elements of Fire, Air, Water, Earth and Magic, as intruders to be resisted and exterminated.

Each year has a main plot objective that the factions fight for or against. The plot objectives vary year on year. As an example, the one for 2017 involved laying siege to a fortress that had been built on-site as a large piece of theatre scenery. The player goal was to conquer the fortress in order to reclaim the World Forge, an in-game place of great power.

When not taking part in the main plot, players spend their time interacting with each other as their characters. Besides the many fighters, there are also alchemists, mages, merchants, blacksmiths, diplomats, beggars, rogues, gamblers and many other professions that join the campaign.

Participants[edit]

Broadly speaking, the participants fit one of four categories:

Players (PCs) make up the largest group of about 6000 people. The immerse themselves in the world of Mythodea.
Non-player Characters (NPCs) usually belong to a neutral faction of ambient characters, to a friendly faction serving the Elements or to an enemy faction. They consist of a group of about 1500 people, with the majority of them portraying the various armies of the Forsaken. Most of them only act in character when interacting with players.
Traders sell their goods for real money (Euros) at stalls in the town area and number about 1000 people overall.
Crew are roughly 200 people, with about 100 acting as referees (GMs). They are almost never in character and not usually dressed up in any way. They wear Mythodea-themed T-shirts for easy identification instead. All GMs carry a radio to coordinate game events. They also use those to call for help if a participant needs medical assistance of any kind.

Practical Information[edit]

Conquest of Mythodea is a closed event for paying customers. Only those involved in the game have access to the venue as a whole. There is however an option for day guests to gain entry to the game areas. They have to wear appropriate costume and buy a suitable ticket before being allowed on to the playing field. The event admits up to 200 of these short-term players per day. The general public is welcome to visit Fantastica Festival, a medieval market outside the game at the same venue instead.

There are no breaks in the game during the five days except for reasons of player safety. Players are expected to be in character in most areas and all plots continue in real time through the night as well. Zones not considered to be part of the game include player tents (unless they're specifically designated as such), toilet and shower blocks and the on-site shop. Stalls in the town are considered in-game in the sense that the players should interact in-character with other players if they feel like it but not necessarily with the real-life traders they're buying gear or food from. Requirements for staying in character are generally a bit more relaxed in the town area but there are clear indications (such a a town watch) that this area is considered to be part of the game world.

Children are welcome to attend the event with a guardian but won't be allowed on the battlefield if they are younger than 14. There are a number of dedicated activities for younger children, many of which involve regular NPCs.

Armed conflict is simulated using boffer weapons, often in large-scale battles between players and NPCs. On-site referees (both in character and out of character) act as coordinators to direct NPCs and to ensure player safety.

There are paramedics on the site at all times. They look after anything from bee stings and mild dehydration to more serious accidents such as slips, falls or heat illness.

Links[edit]

Event homepage
Older description (2012) by the Goethe institute in Prague (German and Czech)