It's unfortunate, but we LARPers play in a medium that is often divided by favoritism. We get caught up in brand evangelism and draw lines in the sand. "This game is so much better than that game because of X, Y, and Z." I've seen it happen, and it's not pretty.
To preface, what I'm about to say is not in response to anything. I'm not aware of anybody attacking Living Action, Inc. or the Shards of Orn, or of any of us attacking other LARPs. There are no lawsuits and no hurt feelings. There is nothing to prompt this but my sincere desire for these things not to happen. This is as concerning a problem as any I have considered as an administrator, and because it's my policy to be open, with my players as well as the gaming community at large, I feel it important to address.
That being said, it is the official policy of Living Action, Inc. and the Shards of Orn staff to endorse, encourage, and promote the pastime of LARPing, regardless of the game. I owe a debt of gratitude to TALAN for instilling in me a love of LARPing. I have also attended Avalon and SOLAR (specifically Shadowmoor), and I find both games to have their own unique merits. I know of Dominion and Fallen Empires, and I hope to attend both this summer. I encourage you all to attend these games yourselves to enrich your understanding and deepen your appreciation for the art.
To those from other games, I hope you take the same stance. Come give us a try. You may find the Shards of Orn to be a lot of fun, or you may be inspired with ideas for your home LARP. And if you have opinions about our game, please share them, whatever they may be. Ask Nick or Khedron; I'm always happy to talk shop.
We are all gamers. We are united by a love of the art. We ought not to draw artificial divisions between ourselves. No matter how good you may feel our game is, it is my wish that nobody denounce other games in comparison. Likewise, if it is your preference to attend other games, I hope you have a great time. Many of my best friends have attended Solar for years, and I fully expect them to continue to do so, even if it means they can't come to an Orn event. Believe me when I say that no friendship will be lost between us when that happens.
I hope everyone can understand where this message is coming from and takes the example to heart. We're all in this to have fun, and I truly believe that every game has merit. If we can adopt an attitude of mutual admiration and respect, I believe many of the problems that plague the LARPing medium will become a thing of the past.
If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share them in the comments below.