Fall Event Dates – In person!June 8th, 2021

Can’t wait to see you there!

 

August 6-8

September 3-5

October 1-3

November 5-7

December 3-5

Posted by Julie

2021 Online EventsJanuary 22nd, 2021

Until we get a definitive reopening date for in person events, online events for the first half of 2021 have been scheduled. Please join us at https://www.facebook.com/kingdomsofnovitas/ for more information about our online events.

• February 6th
• March 6th
• April 3rd
• May 1st

Posted by Julie

Plot Announcement: Game YearOctober 5th, 2020

 

 

Posted by Julie

Regarding our 2020 event datesJuly 17th, 2020

Hello, People of Novitas! The Marshals and I are very sad to announce that we have decided to suspend all in person events until at least February, 2021. We feel at this time that it is irresponsible to risk the health of our players and friends.

Fear not! We will still be gathering each month online. Join us August 8th for the Zoombilee! We will be giving a State of the Game address as well as holding a small auction just like any regular Junebilee.

On September 6th, please save the date for Story Time with the Plot Marshal. Gather 'round to see Bryan Graham sit in an armchair somewhere with a smoking jacket and a pipe as he regales us with a story many of you may not have been around for. A poll will go up shortly after this post where you get to pick which story gets told.

Posted by Julie

2020 Online Event Dates!July 17th, 2020

Due to Covid-19, Kingdoms of Novitas has chosen to spend the rest of 2020 online! Please join us at https://www.facebook.com/kingdomsofnovitas/ for more information about our online events.

Here are our amended event dates:

• August 8th – Zoombilee!
• September 6th – Story Time with the Plot Marshal
• October 10th – Monsters with the Props Marshal
• November 7th – Fireside Story Telling
• December 6th – Plot Q&A 

Posted by Julie

Cancellations UpdateApril 30th, 2020

Greetings friends,

The Marshals have talked, and at this time we feel it's in everyone's best interests to cancel all KoN gatherings until September 1st.

With Pennsic and Bicoline being canceled, both in August, it seems like we're on par with everyone else:

Posted by Julie

UPDATE: April and May Events CancelledMarch 21st, 2020

Greetings friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I find it necessary to cancel our April event at Camp Kingsley, after talking with the Boy Scouts director this morning and reading a bunch of information from the CDC et al about recommendations for social gatherings.

While Camp Kingsley is remaining open, and leaving the choice to cancel events up to individual groups and units, our makeup is much different from the typical scout troop. We are spread over a far larger geographical area, which increases risk tremendously. It would be socially irresponsible to hold an event.

Posted by Julie

Player Profile: David CoyleFebruary 4th, 2020

How long have you been playing: This September 2020, it will be my 7 year anniversary at Kingdoms Of Novitas (KoN).

But the character was actually created for Dagorhir on July 12, 2009 at the Feast For Crows event in Rochester, New York after my friends and I heard about Dagorhir in the now defunct Rochester Insider paper.

I first heard of KoN on July 14th, 2013 during a practice with Dan (Atticus), Richard (Reaver) and Zach (Octavius) – who were also of the Dag unit Cairnhold Legion. I believe Zach was First Marshal of Marketing, Player & Outreach at the time but he told me about KoN and I was completely sold to try it.

Unfortunately, soon after that invitation, I had a negative experience with a different LARP weeks later due to its bizarre standards and I actually became an anti-LARPer. 

But some Rochestarians really wanted to try out KoN. And on September 6th, 2013, I drove them to our first event. Midway through the post-LARP brunch at a local diner, I knew I wanted to be part of this family.

 

Describe your character: “… a masked man in full black, with a bullwhip at his belt and a skull-topped spinal cord attached to his back, stood against the wall and watched the room unblinkingly… our eyes met – his shockingly yellow eyes, with their jagged black irises, stood out… through the eye-holes of his mask – and he held my gaze for an uncomfortable long moment.”

– Ellenor’s Letters – Blog Entry: Best Friends, 8-6-1595

 

What is your favorite in game moment?: There are so many moments but my favorite moment as Daitoro and as a LARPer in general was from “The Eye Surgery” storyline at the May 18-20, 1596 event in 2017. I took Daitoro out of my comfort zone and delved deep into the soul of the character.

If you love reading blogs, check out the blog section of the forums. Thaerion and Joy blogged their perspective of that weekend.  Thaerion’s blogs start with “Regrowing Pains Part 1” and ends with “Fortunes And Misfortunes Part 2”. Joy’s blogs start with “It’s Fine, Joy” and ends with “Fangfish”.

 

What is your Favorite Monster? Why?: That would be the ex-Cairnhold Ranger named Zylah played by Tammy Pratt. Zylah is the right-hand woman of a nosferatu named Reginald Bartholomew Augustus or "Reggie". 

Reggie is a reoccurring NPC played by Dave Morgan. When a force so great threatens to consume the town and you have no choice but ask Reggie for help, you’re put in a seat at the 1943 Tehran Conference. You know that you’re going to be dealing with him down the road after he grants you his services. He is a fan favorite iconic NPC among us.

At times, he is accompanied with Zylah. Unlike monsters who by their inner nature are aggressive and dangerous, Zylah is a human who willfully chooses evil and engages with Daitoro in psychological warfare.

I always tell people that Zylah is like the Joker from the graphic novel, A Serious House On Serious Earth. And Tammy is phenomenally evil as her. The kicker is that she was never a personal plot for Daitoro in the first place. It was all organic character development from her reoccurring NPC appearances dating back to October 3rd, 1594 or 2015. It is truly a great gift when she appears. And engaging in battle from a psychological perspective is truly unique and different than the typical swords and spells fight.

 

Why do you love Kingdoms of Novitas?: S-C-P-C:

S = Setting. The medieval-fantasy setting we have is a selling point for many. I have a love for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. 

C = Classless Alignment System. The game's system gives you freedom to create your playable character within the world book’s framework using one of six character races. That means you have more freedom in character creation compared to Class systems.

P = Price. It's among the lowest for LARP weekends in the United States. It pays for four game shifts where you get a bunk and are also fed as well. It is currently at a price of $30 per event. And your second visit is free. 

C = Community. It’s amazing to see the evolution of our game from 2004 to when I entered in 2013 and now here in the year 2020 – thanks to this community.

On this website, click on the “About” link and then “Staff Members”. These are your current First and Second Marshals who help run the aspects of our game behind-the-scenes to make sure we have a smooth fun experience. 

But even if you are not a Marshal, everybody can play an important role to make our game great.  We got people that strive to improve our game by bringing in their talented skills. Check out these links:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LARPEssentials

https://www.facebook.com/ArcanaArms/

https://www.facebook.com/magicalmayhemFX/

https://www.facebook.com/sticksbystone

People can have the ability to leave a positive fingerprint on our game. I feel that if someone misses out an event, I can actually feel their lack of presence to our game whether they are playing a PC, NPC or doing staff work. And when people miss you, that means a lot. 

You really can have another family in your life. I’ve seen players become parents. I’ve attended weddings. I’ve seen people get their first house. I’ve seen our players helping other players outside of game. 

If you never attended KoN, you can see glimpses of our community on our YouTube channel – KON LARP. 

To conclude, I am going to quote Steve Hower's great closing statement on episode IV of one of our YouTube series – On Break:  “You’re going to make lots of new friends. It’s going to be good for you.”

 

Who is your favorite PC?:

The best answer and one I truly sincerely agree with is the answer from Dan Meerschaert’s Player Profile: “I can’t answer this. Every single PC is a beautiful work of art. Someone put their whole self into creating something you can interact with, learn about, and even add to yourself.”

However, there is one character I do mention the most to people over the years: Geoffredo Abasette. 

Septon Geoffredo Abasette is a elderly human who was the leader of Order Of The Temple. Although Al played prior PCs, Geoffredo debuted during the 1592 Harvest Fest on October 5th, 2013 and was active for about 3 years.

Once Al put on that prosthetic face, altered his voice and got into the distinct mannerisms – Al could literally steal the show with his role-playing during his back-to-back PC shifts. He did a phenomenal job of always staying in character. 

He once did a 20 plus minute near-perfect sermon on the seven gods of Novitas. The imperfection came when he tried to open a chest but he didn’t know where the key was. Al’s frustration in real life was translated to as Geoffredo and it was so funny to hear an old man swear at the chest not opening. He stayed in perfect character while the rest of us died in laughter.

And while he could be a witty smart ass – once a PC said he stopped a leader of a cobra cult, Geoffredo replied, “Ah, I see you stopped the cobra commander!” – he is empathetic. I know this, Geoffredo stopped a suicidal NPC I played, a role that was outside my comfort zone of comedy and horror NPCs. I purposely made our interaction go about 30 minutes because I wanted to learn from a veteran peer how to be a better LARPer.

I only wished he would’ve been around to meet Joy, a High Priestess Draconus Worshipper. She is the closest equivalent to him in my opinion. If those two LARPers interacted with each other, they would have created a masterpiece moment for all of us to witness – and to learn from as well.

 

What did you think your character concept was? What is it now?: My influence of creating him was based on my childhood love for ninjas. He's a love letter but done with my own twists.

Cross-gaming from Dagorhir to KoN for the first time, I didn’t have the character backstory set. He did have core tropes we’ve seen in many medieval-fantasy stories: the loner, the man in black, the silent one, etc. 

Once I fell in love with KoN after my first event, I immediately came up with the reason why he came to our original town of Pinedale. I must mention two fun facts about the backstory:

First, the final plot on that rainy forth shift when Daitoro debuted involved the undead invading. It’s not officially canon by staff but I consider the moment Cairnhold arriving Sunday at 1:30AM on September 8th, 1592 at Pinedale was because Daitoro retreated there and Cairnhold followed.

Second, it was my way of thanking Cairnhold Legion members Dan, Richard and Zach for coming to practice in Rochester. And because Zach told me about KoN, his undead Dagorhir character Malevolence has the honor of giving Daitoro that scar.

Nowadays, there are many stories and arcs for Daitoro. I also love to explore the psychology of the character.

One advice I always recommend to newbies is to keep an open mind of what happens in game. I never thought I become a Medium but I did. I also needed to get contacts due to me being near-sighted. I had a fear of contacts but I came up with this idea of yellow eyes for Daitoro once he became a Medium. Thus I have a storyline and I overcame my fear of contacts.

 

 

 

How many PC’s have you had? What happened to them?: Only Daitoro Hlorëapimpe. 

I always tell fellow LARPers to never take your character for granted as permanent character deaths happen, I tell them to have fun and I advise to treat your PC like you have a second life.

I still have so much fun playing him today like I did when he arrived 7 years ago to KoN. And as long as I am having fun and don’t get him killed, I’ll continue to his journey of life in our current town – Maplewood.

I do have to say, I found Atticus to be inspiring. As stated in Dan’s Player Profile, he has played Atticus since day one of KoN – all the way back to May 2004. Even prior to KoN, he created that character for another LARP. He is the longest serving PC we have. 

I would love for Daitoro to reach that decades old milestone. The kids of the parents at our game are going to be old enough to join soon. I would love for them to see Daitoro. And if I am blessed with kids of my own, I hope they can meet him in game, too. 

 

In conclusion, I have four things to I like to say:

1) If you're a newbie from Rochester, NY and you need a ride to your first game: l can help you out.

2) To the potential newbie who reads this: I hope to see you at game and you get at least a glimpse of my character.

3) To my KoN family: I'll see you at game.

4) And to my KoN family members on hiatus: We'll be still be around.

Posted by Julie

Player Profile: Brandon FeblesDecember 4th, 2019

How long have you been playing: Well I’ve been playing for almost ten years now. My ten year anniversary will be in April of 2020, and these have been ten awesome years playing. I had to take a break for a while due to life circumstances, but when I returned it was as if I never left. It is one of the reasons I love KON so much. 

 

Describe your character: My character is Leon Wolfram (Von’Wolfe depending on who you ask); He is a veteran adventurer and seasoned druid who is getting old in age and his grayish-white hair shows it. Leon is kind, loving, and very forgiving, but he does not suffer fools or tolerate inhuman acts of cruelty. He has spent a lot of his later years protecting the balance of nature and teaching newer adventurers and young druids different skills, resources and opening their minds to see the bigger picture of life. Over all he is a moral compass that some people look to for guidance, probably why he has gained the title “Best Septon” in the Freelands even when he isn’t even a Septon to begin with.

 

What is your favorite in game moment?: Over ten years there have been a lot of fantastic moments that have happened to Leon, but one that really changed Leon to the core was the CassIdy Arc. CassIdy was a necromancer that worshiped Darkness and created flesh golems to terrorize the surrounding area. Eventually she came across Leon closest friend and leader: Fe the Butcher. Through temptation and twisted words she drew a wedge between the two of them.  Leading Fe closer to his darker side which eventually led to Fe dying. But for CassIdy that wasn’t enough; to her it was Leon's fault that Fe died. So on one moon lit night, Cassidy attacked the town, sending flesh golem after flesh golem, trying to break down Leon's spirit. But, as she attacked the town she invited Leon to a secluded place to face her champion. He arrived there with a few friends and heard a song being sung, a song that Leon knew well. She had taken the body of his friend and remade Fe the Butcher into a flesh golem; which Leon had to face. After Fe and Leon had finished the last verse of the song, they charged into battle against each other. Leon had won, but at the price of killing someone he loved dearly.  To this day he doesn’t forgive himself for not being able to pull Fe out of the darkness, but he promised to never let it happen again to someone he loved.

 

What is your Favorite Monster? Why?: I have to say my favorite monster right now has to be Buzzers. They are super cute and kind and really ditzy. They are always leading themselves into trouble, but at same time if they are spooked or threatened, their little stinger can kill you. (Trust me, I know. (-_-) )

 

Why do you love Kingdoms of Novitas?: Like I said earlier I was gone for about two and a half years due to life and college and all that fun stuff, but when I returned even with many, new faces it was like I never left. It was like I was coming home to family and I can’t imagine not having this Larp family in my life. Some of my closest friends I've met here and wouldn’t trade any of the experiences I’ve had here for anything else. To me Kingdoms of Novitas is my home away from home.

 

 

Who is your favorite PC?: This is a tough one, with so many interesting and different characters it is hard to pick one. If I have to pick one right now I would have to say Catori right now is one of my favorites. She a female archer, she is kind of heartless when it comes to battle, but when you get to know her she is really sweet and funny. The way she acts in certain situations is very true to her Dellin ways, and the talks we have had in character are always learning opportunities for each of us. She is definitely a force to be reckoned with and if you piss her off, you'll likely find an arrow in your chest.  

 

What did you think your character concept was? What is it now?: When Leon first walked into Pinedale he had just lost his wife and son. He was filled with hatred and malice towards monsters and evil characters. He would charge head first into battle and wished for death, yet he kept being saved. To me Leon was meant to test the waters as my first character and I didn’t plan on playing him for so long.

So now almost ten years later, he spends his time teaching the younger generation and still kicking bad guys in the butts. He became more than I ever thought he would be. 

 

How many PC’s have you had? What happened to them?: Leon is the only character I’ve ever had and he is still kicking. But I’ve been looking to bring a different character who is very different from Leon. I don’t know only time will tell. ^_^

Posted by Julie

2020 Event Dates!November 22nd, 2019

Now announcing our 2020 event dates!

• Feb 7-8-9 Founders Feast
• April 10-11-12  Cancelled
• May 1-2-3 Cancelled
• June 5-6-7 Cancelled
• July 11th Junebilee (In July!) at Delta Lake State Park Cancelled
• August 7-8-9 Cancelled
• September 4-5-6 Harvest Festival Cancelled
  
• October 9-10-11 Dungeon Crawl Cancelled
  
• November 6-7-8  Cancelled
• December 4-5-6 Cancelled

 

 

Posted by Julie