The Death of TALAN

All good things come to an end. This is just as true in the gaming world as it is in real life. It is an immutable, if tragic, fact. I have seen many games come and go in the years that I’ve played. Some faded away from disinterest. Others fell apart because of internal conflicts. Still others died through sheer happenstance as players moved on to pursue real life goals. Such is the way of things, though we like to think that our fantasy worlds will persist forever. I, for one, will always remember TALAN, the Triangle Area Live-Action Network, with fondness and sadness.

My experience with this boffer LARP began in late spring of 2004, around the time of my graduation from college. My brother had been attending for several months and urged me to join him. I was admittedly skeptical, having until that time indulged only in tabletop RPGs and non-combat LARPs. Still, the game had a unique appeal and I decided to be open-minded enough to try something new.

To say that it was love at first sight would be a massive understatement. I was taken from my world of pens, paper, and dice and plunged headlong into a living fantasy. Suddenly I wasn’t imagining being waylayed by bandits or engaging in epic melees. The action was real to see and hear, and my character’s responses were my own. For any long-time gamer, it was an intoxicating experience.

I continued with TALAN as best I could for well over the following year, even participating in the ill-fated winter games when we had no park in which to play. It really didn’t matter a great deal, since it’s hard not to roleplay when you’re dressed up in medieval garb. Until near the end, I couldn’t get enough of it.

Even during downtime between games, I was constantly excited at the prospect of next month’s adventures. I wrote several stories about my character, Alderin Archias, including Fontana’s Gift, The Fall of King’s Crossing, The Dying of the Light, Ode to the Comedy of King’s Crossing, Flame of the Heavens (Part One), and Flame of the Heavens (Part Two). All of these, except the last two, were actually acted out in play before I ever wrote them down. Yes, I actually did write a song and sing it in front of a medieval banquet hall. To anyone who knows me, this is an almost unbelievable occurrence, and a strong testament to my love of the game.

It wasn’t destined to last, however. TALAN recently fell on hard times, partly due to bad politics between the game masters and partly due to player fallout. It is a shame, really, as the game rightfully could have persisted for many years to come. Looking at the blank game website, though, one can’t help but face the sad truth that it’s gone and will likely never return. The fantasy has become nothing more than a memory. I lament the fact that I will never get another chance to play Alderin, that I will never have a chance to share the end of his story with the other TALAN players.

I, for one, will cherish the time I spent at TALAN. It opened my eyes to a grander way of gaming that I won’t soon forget. With any luck, there will be a new LARP on the horizon. I only hope to see my fellow players there so that I can share in the good times with them again.

If any of my old friends from TALAN happen upon this post, please feel free to leave a message through the comment form below and tell me how you’re doing. Just because the game is over never means that our friendships should be.

Hey, man! I was going to look up the TALAN schedule and found your post first. Too bad to hear about that–it’s SO common in LARPs. I’ll never understand how the fringe of a fringe hobby can factionalize.

So you are going to make your own, huh? Are you with Khedron (and Jason?) on this? If so, I would like to hear from you (e-mail me, please–I have too many boards to checck as it is without adding another; no offense). I am working on a “generic” LARP system and situation publication that I would like to run past you guys–maybe even playtest.

Anyhow, let me know, if you want to–or just go to indie-rpgs.com and search on [GLASS] and you’ll find my current discussions, links to a PDF, and some notes for plans to expand the system (I was persuaded that it was insufficient/unappealing as a purely-system product).

David Artman
AKA “Toka the Capital City Guard”
AKA “Soren of the Siek’a-Soel” (first TALAN character to permadeath!)

Heya- I was there for Talan’s downfall and death- at least partially… and while I know I wasn’t all that well liked there near the end, hopefully I had little or none to do with it. Either way, I miss it.

Now I’ve moved, and ended up in a place that seemingly, and surprisingly, doesn’t have any or many larps… none even vaguely like talan at least. Even the nation-wide Nero doesn’t have anyone nearby. I’d never realized how lucky I was to have stumbled over not just a great game, but such a large group of great people.

Now I’ve stumbled over this- while searching online hoping to find something Talan-like, and hoping should I find anything at all, that maybe it just might have a branch near me. IF anything does come together- drop me a line at my submitted email. I’d love to visit (if I’m welcome) or at least catch word, so maybe if talan, or something like it, even the vaguest homage to it should start up… I’d like to know, and maybe steal the ideas to found something here. What could be better than seeing it rise from the ashes and spread nationally?

smile
Be well.