“One of the highlights of the Finnish larp is heavy, hard emotions. Crying is very much associated with Nordic style and Finnish style larping.”

Have you ever wanted to trauma bond with a hundred strangers aboard a spaceship while fleeing an alien threat? Do you want to be emotionally devastated while making hard choices about love, sacrifice, and humanity? Then Finnish larp is for you!

Laura Kröger is the lead producer and narrative director of Odysseus, a large-scale sci-fi larp run in Helsinki, Finland in 2019 and 2024, in both Finnish and English.

Built for 104 players, it’s set in an original science fiction universe inspired by classics such as Battlestar Galactica. Each participant has a pre-written role with past relationships, loyalties, secrets and fears, but the choices and emotional journeys are in the hands of the players.

Beyond the script, the set of Odysseus is mind-blowingly realistic, considering it was built into an elementary school as a temporary installation during summer break.

Laura talks to us about all the logistics of running such a massively complex larp, including how food and lodging is handled, costuming, and emotional support. I especially enjoyed hearing about how battles and “injuries” are handled. There is even a medical bay with some very graphic special effects “injuries” where “surgeons” are operating. (You can see more photos of Odysseus here).

Odysseus is currently running an Indiegogo campaign because they are trying to build a permanent installation so they can run Odysseus continuously without having to constantly build it and tear it down. If you’re interested in experiencing this yourself, consider supporting their campaign for a chance to attend.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: REA Patreon Backers, PG’s Playhouse, and Buzzshot. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Sponsor Break: RECON – The Reality Escape Convention
• 03:41 What is Larp
• 05:17 Finnish Style and Secrets
• 07:35 Laura’s Larp Journey
• 08:04 Odysseus Concept and Tone
• 08:59 Battlestar Galactica Episode 33 Inspiration
• 15:17 Origin of the Name & Cost to the Player
• 20:02 Sponsor Break: Buzzshot, Escape Room Marketing Software
• 22:21 International Runs and Language
• 23:31 Building a School Spaceship
• 25:03 Bridge Simulator and Fighters
• 28:49 Developing the Lighting and Sound
• 31:39 Diegetic Audio and Ending Music
• 34:09 Room Escape Artist Patreon – Bonus Episodes, Spoilers Club & More
• 36:10 Uniforms and Gear
• 38:48 Special FX Wounds and Deaths
• 40:22 Away Missions Logistics
• 43:10 Keeping Everyone Involved
• 44:49 Food and In-World Meals
• 45:44 Emotional Gameplay Core
• 48:28 The Decisions Made by Normal Characters
• 50:08 Runtime Control and Rails
• 52:51 Sponsor Break: PG’s Playhouse – Puzzles, Pals, and Trivia
• 54:16 Management and Logistics in Production
• 56:02 How Odysseus Compares to Other Larps
• 57:36 Sustainability and Future Plans
• 01:00:28 Future Plans to Bring Odysseus Back
• 01:02:31 Where to Follow and Thanks
• 01:04:53 Credits
• 01:06:35 Final Split-Second Call

Leave a Voicemail

Got a question or thought for the podcast? You can submit a voice recording by calling the Room Escape Artist not-so-hotline that always goes straight to voicemail (551-227-7273).

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Ellarion Tales Linktree
• Ellarion Tales Website
• Odysseus—First Light IndieGoGo Campaign
• Join Ellarion Community Discord
• Photos from past Odysseus runs

About Laura Kröger

Facebook @ellariontales

Instagram @ellariontales

Laura Kröger is a Finnish larp designer and producer who has worked with larp since 2000. She has been involved in numerous projects ranging from small events to large-scale productions. She was the lead producer and narrative director of Odysseus, a large-scale sci-fi larp run in Helsinki in 2019 and 2024. The volunteer-driven project gained wide recognition for its scenography, technology, and intricate clockwork design, drawing attention from national media and the international larp community alike. In addition to designing larps, Laura has lectured at multiple events on larp production and design, sharing insights from more than two decades of experience in the field. Laura is a co-founder of Ellarion Tales, a company aiming to continue the legacy of Odysseus by building a permanent spaceship set—and expanding the narrative universe beyond just the story of Odysseus.

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