Is this LARP for me?
Content warnings
The Bacchanalia Affair engages with some difficult topics and has some very intense mechanics. Please use discretion and take care of yourself; only attend this LARP if you are confident in your ability to safely engage with its content. This LARP includes:
This LARP will utilize mechanics that are associated with entering an altered state, such as self-hypnosis and ritualized behavior; these mechanics may result in unfamiliar mental states and intense emotional bleed.
Realistic simulated violence, including possible simulated cannibalism
Realistic simulated sex (theatre-style, with undergarments worn)
Full nudity
Realistic sacrifices of fake animals
Optional alcohol consumption (small amounts, doled out by staff)
Optional actual, unsimulated light impact play
Looming state oppression of women and queer identities
Discussion of classism, gender roles, gender essentialism, plus possible slavery or abusive marriages in some character backstories.
What to expect
Here are things you can expect to do during The Bacchanalia Affair, helping you figure out if this game is one you think you’d enjoy. If you want revelry, ritual, and religious intrigue, this LARP may be up your alley! If you think it may not be for you due to themes or mechanics involved, we actively encourage you to select out of this LARP and instead join Nocturnal Mess for other games on our roster.
Recreate lost rituals
While the details of the Dionysian Mysteries have been lost to time, this LARP works to piece together possible elements of the Bacchanalia during the Roman Republic to recreate the ritualistic mindset associated with this initiatory mystery cult.
This is not an exact historical reenactment. Rather, this is a “historically-flavored” LARP. Most accounts of the Bacchanalia are likely exaggerated for political reasons. We’re taking some liberties with the ritual design to create an ecstatic, transformative environment and player experience.
We create a framework and space for you to explore orgiastic rites and sacred debauchery, with extensive safety tools and trainings to help mitigate safety concerns. This LARP does not contain any actual sexual activity, but uses theatrical techniques to create the illusion of sex in ritual and promote a libertine atmosphere among the Bacchantes.
You will have the option of engaging with light impact play (floggers, paddles) as part of the rituals.
In attending this LARP, you will encounter nudity and simulated sex, including imbalanced power dynamics in sexual relationships (priestess and initiate). This cannot be fully avoided in the LARP.
You individually don’t need to be naked and can keep your costume on, and can play a character who does not engage in sex. But you’re going to see other people naked and having faux-sex regardless of your own personal level of undress.
This game has simulated acts of violence, including violence towards animals (fake goats and chickens will be mock-sacrificed). This cannot be fully avoided in the LARP.
Do not come to this LARP if you just want to attend a sex party. It’s cheaper to just find an orgy near you, we promise.
Engage in political intrigue
Steer the future of the cult to match your vision… or the vision of The Republic to which you pledge your true allegiance.
Engage in heated debates about the role of gender in both the cult and Roman society as a whole.
Navigate (or perpetuate) infighting and infiltration from the Cult of Liber.
Fight back against religious and sexual suppression with raw, feminine fury.
The Bacchanalia Affair is a trans-inclusive LARP and encourages players of all gender identities and expressions to participate. Characters across the gender spectrum will be represented, though a much smaller number of characters are written as cisgender men. Players of any gender can play characters of any gender they’re comfortable with.
Succumb to divine madness
This LARP helps participants reach an altered state of consciousness akin to what was once called “divine madness,” a heightened state of excitement, trance, and ecstasy, using chanting, dance, and physical exertion, along with optional small amounts of alcohol.
All alcohol consumption will be moderated by game staff and will be entirely optional. Substances other than alcohol will not be used.
Physical exertion and dance is all self-paced and self-regulated, within each individual player’s abilities and boundaries.
We also will be providing on-site and post-game virtual support to debrief and de-role from these characters in this extreme state, helping you engage with this material in a safer way.
Please play this LARP at your own risk, especially if you have a history of experiencing episodes of mania. This LARP focuses on reaching altered states of consciousness and carries risk of triggering pre-existing psychological conditions. Please make accommodations for yourself and your mental health after this LARP, as we are not mental health professionals, and while we are here to advocate for you and help you with post-LARP drop, we are not equipped to handle mental health crises.
This LARP may not be for you, though.
And that’s okay! Seriously. While not every LARP is meant for every player, we believe there’s a LARP out there for everyone.
The Bacchanalia Affair may not be for you if:
You are uncomfortable witnessing full nudity or simulated sex
You are uncomfortable witnessing people engaging in impact play (paddles, floggers, etc)
You are uncomfortable being around people drinking alcohol
You do not wish to potentially feel an altered state of consciousness
or the chance of attaining such a state would be risky for you
Witnessing a realistic fake animal sacrifice would be upsetting to you
You want to “win” at all of your character goals, regardless of what other players want for their character stories
You just want to attend a wild orgy and don’t care about ritual elements at all
or you want an excuse to have actual sex with a bunch of hot nerds
(all sex in this LARP is simulated theatre-style)
