Mátyás Hartyándi
A core member of the third generation of Hungarians involved in the Nordic larp scene.
The first Hungarian to compete in Fastaval with his design (Memento Morrison, 2020), and the first debuting with a larp in the KP/SK scene (2021).
As a hobbyist, he translated various larps into Hungarian.
As a scholar, he explores the history, theory, and application of roleplaying in a broad approach that goes beyond larping. His submitted PhD dissertation on leadership development methods integrates various roleplaying traditions, including gaming simulations, larps, and Moreno-based psychodrama and sociodrama.
As a business consultant, trainer, and coach he uses various roleplaying techniques and methods in leadership development and change management processes.
Psychodramatist, member of the International Simulation And Gaming Association (ISAGA), and Associate Editor of Simulation & Gaming, a Scimago Q2-ranked academic journal.
Found as Mátyás HaRPGandi on Facebook, a pun no one else seems to recognize and appreciate.
He lives in Budapest, Hungary.
Articles
- Bleed Before It Was Cool (Knutepunkt 2025 Companion Book)
- Larp: The Colonist (Solmukohta 2024 Companion Book)
- The Chinese Hotpot of Larp (Knutpunkt 2022 Magazine)
- Tribes and Kingdoms (Knutpunkt 2022 Magazine)
- Overcoming Larp Shyness (Solmukohta 2020 Companion Book)
Talks
- The Groundhog Day Method: Leadership Development With Larping (Edu-larp Conference 2023)
- Early Forms of Educational Role-playing in Hungary (with Bálint Márk Turi; Transformative Play Initiative Seminar 2022)
- Educational Role Playing Traditions Before Edularp (Edu-larp Conference 2021)
- The Magical Success of Chinese Larp (Knutepunkt 2021)
- One Hundred Years of Attitude: Organized Role-playing and Larping in Hungary (with Nándor Laklia and Bálint Márk Túri, Knutepunkt 2021)
- Larp: Oddity, Hypernym or what? (Solmukohta 2020)
- When the Grass is Not Greener: Simulation & Sensitivity Training in Edularps (Østerskov International Edu-Larp Conference 2017)
Program items
- Unveiling Power Dynamics in Nordic Larp. A critical workshop about hidden power structures (Knutepunkt 2025)
- Rise & Reflect: Making sense of Knutepunkt. A self-reflective silent coaching session about last night / being at KP (Knutepunkt 2025)
- Larping & Business. A loosely linked series of 3 short business related program items (with Gijs van Bilsen and Stefan Deutch; Solmukohta 2024)
- Group Coaching: Sophomore Sadness. A supportive session on navigating the complexities of returning to SK/KP (Solmukohta 2024)
- Group Coaching: Winning Solmukohta. A dramatic exploration of how to thrive at Solmukohta (Solmukohta 2024)
- Not Labeled As Larp: Embodied Role-playing Traditions. An open panel on embodied role-playing forms (with Melanie Dorey, Mike Pohjola, Bálint Márk Túri, and Fanny Hajdú; Portal 11 2023)
- Using Larp in Business Context. An open space workshop about larps in the learning and development field (with Gijs van Bilsen; Knudepunkt 2023)
- Good Morning Collective Wisdom! A series of group coaching sessions in the morning (Knudepunkt 2023)
- Leadership Research, Larp & Funny Hats. A workshop on leadership research and larps (Knutpunkt 2022)
- The Groundhog Day Social Exercise. A social 'workout' with strangers for introverts (Knutpunkt 2022)
- A Taoist Spell to Libeartion. Movement meditation workshop based on the five Chinese 'elements' (Knutepunkt 2021)
- Memento Morrison. A Hungarian Nordic larp (Knutepunkt 2021)
Translations
- Eltávozott (Væk / Gone by Klaus Meier Olsen)
- Feldúlva (Forrykt / Deranged by Jeppe Bergmann Hamming & Maria Bergmann Hamming)
- Hadbíróság (The Tribunal by J. Tuomas Harviainen)
- Homonkulusz (Homonculus by Anna Kreider)
- Régi hallgató, utolsó betelefonáló (Long Time Listener, Last Time Caller by Jeff Dieterle)
- parts of Imperiet
Many other tabletop story games, PbtA games, scenarios, and indie RPGs.
Founder
- Development & Design Ltd: A for-profit company utilizing roleplaying in consulting, designing, and training services (2024-)
- ATLAS RPG Lifetime Award: Award for non-profit community achievements in the Hungarian RPG scene (2023-)
- EPICLEVER: A Hungarian RPG research community (2020-)
- LVDVS MAXIMUS: A Hungarian game-based and playful education center (2014-2020)
- LFX: The first Hungarian online tabletop RPG community (2014-2016)
- Véletlen Találkozások [Random Encounters]: The first Hungarian OSR convention (2010-2013)
