Passing

RPG system: LARP Zoom
Participants: 1 GM, 3-5 players

By

Summer Larpin' Was it Larp at first sight? (2021), Online, United States

Jon Cole

Description

Setting
Passing is a retrofuturistic microlarp about people of ethnic minority origin who are able to ‘pass’ as members of the dominant ethnicity.

In an retro future, the Terran Empire covers the whole solar system, and several of the planets and moons have been settled for centuries. Earth is a benign overlord and maintains the lion’s share of wealth, power and authority – as is only right. Citizens of the colonies, although fully human, are sometimes seen as being not quite like true Earth people. “They have their own ways.”

A group of people gather at the space diner to chat. During their conversation, stereotypes about non-Terrans are aired. But one member of the group, unknown to the others, has an off-Earth ethnic background. How do they feel, as the discussion progresses to become more prejudiced? How might they react?



Artist: Ebonee Rainwater

Design
The design intention of Passing is to allow participants to explore delicate issues of race in a ‘safer’ way. It seeks to reflect the way that in the real world, passing is a privilege but also a burden.

In Passing you will together choose a set of stereotypes, design a background for the group, and then play out the conversation. Play takes place simply sitting around a table and chatting. There are safety techniques available if you feel uncomfortable during play. Afterward, there will be an optional debrief about the thoughts and feelings that may have been raised by the larp experience.

Make a Scene Anthologies
Passing is just one of 13 larps available in the Make a Scene larp anthologies. If this game looks interesting to you, please get on the mailing list for when the anthologies are available this fall!

Participant communications
Characters will be built by players during the brief workshop. The character who passes for a native Earther will be determined by lottery.
Content warnings
stereotyping of and prejudice against people of a fictional minority ethnicity

Played at