Difference between revisions of "Granland"
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== Cultural expressions == | == Cultural expressions == | ||
[[File:filminspelning19.jpg|left|thumb|Auxilia in the Holy Army, Photo: GeddaFors Film]] | [[File:filminspelning19.jpg|left|thumb|Auxilia in the Holy Army, Photo: GeddaFors Film]] | ||
| − | Granland does not limit itself to only making larps, but also involves many types of cultural expressions | + | Granland does not limit itself to only making larps, but also involves many types of cultural expressions with a base in the fictional world known as Ordavesvärlden (Swedish: ''The world of Ordaves''). Participants and organizers regularly create works of music, art and literature inspired by or taking place in the fictional world portrayed in the games. Several types of media have also been professionally produced for the Granlands-campaign, including but not limited to; |
* A book containing the campaigns fiction, published by Ersatz | * A book containing the campaigns fiction, published by Ersatz | ||
Revision as of 12:44, 28 March 2014
Granland (Swedish: Granland or literally "Land of Pines") is a Swedish soldier larp campaign that's been ongoing since 2008. The games take place in a fictional medieval world with the same attributes as the real world - placing the Granland-fiction in the "Alternate Earth" category. Granland is one of Swedens most active larp-campaigns at the moment, with about 3-4 games per year in average. The campaign has been described as highly ambitious and well organized with focus on realistic immersion, social realism, high-quality equipment, role-playing and character creation. The campaign also involves elements of war, which are used as a catalyst for creating and improving the mutual immersion. The main focus of the campaign is the cultural conflict between the progressive nationalist nation of Granland, and the traditional and deeply religious organisation known has Heliga Armén (Swedish: The Holy Army).
Cultural expressions
Granland does not limit itself to only making larps, but also involves many types of cultural expressions with a base in the fictional world known as Ordavesvärlden (Swedish: The world of Ordaves). Participants and organizers regularly create works of music, art and literature inspired by or taking place in the fictional world portrayed in the games. Several types of media have also been professionally produced for the Granlands-campaign, including but not limited to;
* A book containing the campaigns fiction, published by Ersatz * A strategy board game known as "Granlandsspelet" (Swedish: The Granland game) by Olof Blomqvist * A short film produced by GeddaFors Film *http://vimeo.com/87213028 * Several songs by Patriarkus *http://patriarkus.se/ * A small LARP-convention known as GranCon, being hosted in June each year since 2010.
Participatory culture
Depending on the game, participants may create their own characters and plots within the fictional shell provided by the organizers of the game - or be given a pre-written character from the organizers. Almost all of the fiction is provided by the organizers for each game, the participants are instead free to choose between a finite amount of character-concepts. Most players will portray a squad of soldiers who are part of one of the two armies, often making their personal expression in regards to equipment and character background somewhat limited. However, the games often allows for many types of characters within the provided fiction and Granland has become known for having a good balance between a common fictional ground and personal expression through character creation.
Granland has become famous for hosting games that places a lot of focus on getting players involved in the making of the games - and thus generally having players with much better understanding of the concept and feeling of the game then other Swedish larps. This is accomplished by having a very large amount of pregame activities, often involving weekly social meet-ups, parties, workshops for character-creation, practical workshops for creating equipment and a large convention being hosted each year since 2010 known as GranCon.
The fiction
The larps take place in the world of Minea, with cultures reminding of the medieval Europe. Inspiration is also taken from the esthetics of steampunk, the World Wars I and II and the war in Vietnam.
Cultures:
- Cordovien: A totalitarian fascist island nation with a fanatic dedication to save the world from capitalism.
- Danna'Gil: A strange race (somewhat a mixture of steampunk elves and aliens), who fight on the Cordovian side, making high technology items and scientific experiments.
- Jorgala: The oppressed country between Gillet and Cordovien, clinging on to their religion and conservative traditions.
- Gillet: A capitalist organization (similar to the 14th century German dominated "Hansa"), consisting of different cultures who fight for their right to earn money and become rich.
- Skaegi: A people (similar to the Nordic "Vikings") the former lords of Jorgala, who were driven away by the Cordovians in the first act of the war and who now fight for Gillet.
There are also other minor cultures too small to mention here.
