Application process

Due to funding requirements and the educational nature of the larp, players will undergo a multi-stage application process. First, players will submit a written application describing their personal and professional interests in the larp’s content.

If selected for the next stage, they will undergo an interview, alone or in a group, with one of the larp organizers. During this stage, a flagging process will occur in which potential players can identify other players on a list with whom they would love to play, they would prefer to avoid in-game, they cannot play, or they have solid reasons to believe is a safety risk.

Selection criteria

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

• The participants’ level of involvement and progress within a helping profession suitable for integrating transformative analog role-playing games, e.g., an established therapeutic practice; a position in a relevant NGO or company;  a permanent teaching position in a primary or secondary school, technical college, or university; regular employment at a youth camp or after school program. Our ideal player already has access in a professional capacity to target groups with whom they plan to apply the skills they learn during the larp process in a professional manner according to growth-related goals;
• The participants’ level of understanding and interest in the themes and activities required by the larp.
• Whilst role-playing experience is not required, related activities are desirable; a proportion of places may be allocated to applicants with larp or tabletop experience.
• The participants’ willingness to undergo their own process of personal transformation and run exercises that help guide others through their own.
• The participants’ level of commitment to increasing the psychological and physical safety of themselves and others.
• The participants’ fitness with the group as a whole.
• The participants’ geographic location in their professional work. Priority will be given to candidates residing in Erasmus+ Programme countries, which can be found here.

As we have limited spots in the larp and requirements from our Erasmus funder, the goals of the process is to assemble a diverse player base who are committed to the transformative goals and are able to implement the curriculum in their own contexts around the world soon after the larp, thereby spreading this knowledge and practice.

What if I don’t get a spot?

We are well-aware of the anxieties around sign-ups for larps and experience them ourselves. As we have a limited number of slots, we cannot guarantee everyone who signs up can play. However, we plan to host some community building activities online for player’s interested in learning more about the larp’s design and trying out some of its techniques, about which you can opt-in to receiving details. More information will be provided on these opportunities later.

Currently, we do not have plans to re-run the larp, but that might change in the future. However, the larp script will be available in 2026 for facilitators to rerun in their communities and localize in terms of cultural content, which we highly encourage.

Finally, EDGE will have many other ways to access our curricular materials, including two textbooks, the full curriculum for four courses at the Master’s level on transformative analog game design, and a Tech Toolkit. More info here, including how to join our mailing list.