Mare Incognitum was a lovecraftian mythos horror larp set in Norway in 1951, and played on board the destroyer HMS Småland. The larp had 26 pre-written characters from different groups. Three games were run over the course of a weekend, and had participants from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, the US and the UK. The game was organized by Berättelsefrämjandet, and had some ten NPCs and crew.
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| Techniques | Diegetic Game Mastering, Honor System, Slow take-off, Slow Landing, Soundtrack, Pre-written characters,Shadows, Narrative Voice-Over, Playing to lose,Brems, Kutt, Pre-larp Workshop |
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| Website | http://iäiä.se |
| Information | |
| Date | 2014-11-28 |
| Duration | 10 hours |
| Location | HMS Småland, Göteborg |
| Participants | 78 total (26 per run, 3 runs) |
| Budget | ~€5800 |
| Participation fee | €30-€90 (depending on income) |
| Credits | |
Setting and Themes
Horror and mystery in a Lovecraft Mythos setting, in 1951.
Summary
The different groups of players had all boarded the freighter M/S Lyckan to sail to Narvik, in order to get home after spending time in Kirkenes. An anthropological expedition to Kirkenes had brought along a strange statuette found in a burial mound, which slowly corrupted the crew on board. As the ship got stuck in the ice and a severe storm blew in, the passengers found themselves trapped aboard a dark ship as horror crept out of the shadows.
Techniques
- Diegetic Game Mastering
- Honor System
- Slow take-off
- Slow Landing
- Soundtrack
- Pre-written characters
- Shadows
- Narrative Voice-Over
- Playing to lose
- Brems & Kutt
- Pre-larp Workshop
During the game, the diegetic radio room also doubled as a Meta room, in which organizers played out meta scenes over the radio and generally "spooked" the players when they were alone.