My first thoughts on this very long document are that it initially over emphasises the introspective angle that the very worst of "academic" publications can do, because this can make the work lose track of the people reading it. It becomes a document for its own sake.

However, then you start to read it and it has some pretty well formed content. I have Gary Gygax's "Role-Playing Mastery" at home - an awful book, so I'm in agreement...

Thus far I've found the tone to be reasonable rationale and well formed. I wouldn't say we're a bit behind the times on this sort of thing, but I would say it isn't going on around here. There was some effort on pagga to go theoretical, but its feet quickly left the ground, and much of the content became irrelevant to the practicalities of making and reflecting on a game.

I've said before now I'd like to get the best of these forums into some PDFs and have them downloadble from the front page. Thus far I've not had enough time to manage this, but I have made a start to an introductory journal that features some of the forum content. I'd love to get it finished and then add further ideas as people think they would be useful.

I'd also be happy to approach other LRP discussion forums with a few to making some connections in relation to the UK approach etc... 

What are people's thoughts?

So I have to question what the value of it is? To me LRP is to have fun. Some people are natural organisers, natural plotwriters etc and they tend to run better games. The "artistic value" of a game is, to me, laughable - however you tart it up.

The nature of man is the same as the nature of a wolf and the same as the nature of an ox?

I also wondered if there was a quality over quantity argument to be made. By having four LT and Malestrom events every year some quality had to be left out to allow it to be run. While elsewhere there seems to be more diversity and immersion with props and costume, the organization was more erratic overall.  With most events being short term, or Dragonbane being held once a year.

The end product isn't significantly different from any other good LRP.  

Location wise... Italys always going to beat the UK... we just have to accept it....

Game wise.... well costume standards in the UK are pretty damn high now.... tough to beat really.

"academic LRP theory articles."

Oh ho ho ho..... so academic... thats ann odd qualification.... whats making them academic"  when are they academic as opposed to written by hobbyists of fanboys.... any degrees in LRP? No. Any specific LRP study groups at universities.... No.

Sweden... they can have all the opinons they want... I was seriously looking at going to some of their stuff. However after Dragon Bane which was hyped... bigged up and  which we were told was going to be a shining example of everything sweden did better.... what actually occured was cack compared with what was offered.

A twenty four hour event in a pine forest?.... hmm we have those here....seven square miles is not actually a massive site.

A purpose built village?.... the only pictures seem to show scout style plank buildings which bear no relation to their concept sketches we have those here... called scout camps.

A Dragon? No.... it didn't work and it was the centrepiece of the event...  not even pictures of the nopt working bit for us to judge how impressive it might have been.

Costume of high standard?.... Erm looks no better than most of the stuiff from events here to be honest

Immersion? You cant take a mandolin its too shiny.... but heres a flare to light your fire....

So yah until offered something better I won't be going to sweden.... However that French event sounds good.... and theres some mad shite going on in italy might see whats there for laughs.