Dragon's Den LARP Camp

The Rundown

In recent years the availability of camps that allow LARPs has been dwindling quickly, and many of the ones that do allow them, are prohibitively expensive to smaller games. 

Alternative venues are often too costly to justify their use, or simply do not meet the basic needs of these organizations. Without affordable or appropriate venues, entire organizations may be forced to enter an indefinite hiatus, or drastically increase participation prices to maintain operations.

We at Empires in Flames aim to provide a better solution: An affordable venue run by LARPers, designed for catering to the needs of LARPs, SCA chapters, and reenactment groups alike. And with the added benefit of offering a space for retreats, family gatherings and similar activities.

We have obtained a beautifully wooded property on about 20 acres, it already has many trails cut through it and a small stream. All that's left now is the building permits, and to begin construction.

For utilities, we are hoping to use solar panels for the cabins to cut down on the cost of having power lines run that far. The staff building and tavern will be run on normal power for now, unless we can afford large solar panels for both buildings. We also need an on-site well and septic system. Simple wood cabins will be used for the player sleeping quarters and outfitted for use throughout the year.

Initial estimates include a gravel parking lot, 6 cabins capable of housing approximately 8 individuals apiece, one dining hall complete with kitchen facilities, a makeup/shower room, and 2 restrooms. A fourth building designed to serve as the staff building or “monster camp” that is equipped to house 16 individuals and offering 2 showers and 2 toilet stalls will be built closer to the main house.

Should donations reach beyond our initial goals, additional features to expect include open-air structures for things like in-game merchants or crafter spaces, additional cabins, a large mod building, and much more!



The Problem

The prices for event venues that offer sufficient space for LARPing have skyrocketed in recent years, while the availability of these venues has been diminishing. Especially since the Boy Scout camps, and many other summer camps have stopped renting to LARPs.

Operating on limited budgets, role-playing organizations often make use of third party venues for hosting events. Finding venues that offer overnight accommodations, plenty of outdoor space, and reasonable prices can be extremely difficult.

So it comes as little surprise that LARPs and similar organizations have been struggling to find suitable camps to host events at.



The Solution

What if LARPs weren't reliant upon other organizations' venues? What if LARPs were able to comfortably hold their events without the worry of policies suddenly changing or prices suddenly going up with no warning?

Our aim is to provide exactly that. To offer comfortable and aesthetically-pleasing lodging, dining, and activity space for LARPs, SCA chapters, and reenactment troupes.

In 2018 we purchased a 20-acre piece of land in beautiful rural New Hampshire. Sadly due to personal reasons, and the high cost of the Site Plan Review by the town, we have had to push off the construction. But we're doing better now and are ready to begin the process once more!

However, we need your help to make it happen!

Our goal for right now is $10,000 which would allow us to get the preliminary paperwork with the town out of the way, and get the property cleared and ready to build on.

Depending on how much certain things end up costing, we may also be able to get the foundation of the tavern started with this money.

Fields and wooded trails will also be cleared to provide sufficient space for various outdoor LARP activities. There are also many “Hidden” areas that will be cleared and have fire pits and seating installed for fun little player hideaways.





Project Estimates:

(What the fundraiser will cover)

Property Survey.............................$500

Site Plan Review and Building Permits....................................$2000

Equipment Rental for land clearing.................................$1,500+

(If we exceed the $10,000 mark)

Tavern Foundation..........................$7000+

Total Project Estimates:

(What it will cost before we can open the camp)

Parking Lot................................$3,000

Cabins........................$2,000 each

The Tavern................................$100,000

Staff Housing.............................$50,000

Bunk Beds w/ Mattresses..................$7000

Tables.........................................................$800

Chairs.........................................................$1600

Well Installation.....................................$6,000

Plumbing...................................................$2,000

Shower.......................................................$600

Tankless Water Heater........................$1600

Toilets.........................................................$600

Sinks............................................................$1,400

Septic System & Installation..............$16,000+

Electric...........................$15,000+

Wiring.........................................................$3000

Fridge/Freezer.........................................$600

Electric Range..........................................$400

Electric Heaters for Cabins..........................$800

Heating System for Tavern................TBD

Uncalculated/Misc. Expenses...........$17,000



Management

We are a husband and wife team, both with management experience.

Lilly helped her parents run their small businesses since she was old enough to answer a phone, and later moved on to manage several other businesses.

Ben has 15 years of LARP experience under his belt, as well as property management, and grounds keeping experience, plus store management.



Benefits of Contributing

With the help of your generosity and support, we may provide a welcoming and affordable event venue for LARPs and various other organizations throughout New England.

Our hope is that by having an affordable, LARP appropriate site, that it will help make LARP more accessible to everyone, and that in the end is one of our main goals. We know first hand that not only is LARP a wonderful hobby, but it can also potentially be beneficial to certain health conditions, and help people get away from the stress of everyday life for a weekend.

While we will reserve most weekends for LARPs and other, similar organizations, we will also be available to host weddings, family gatherings, parties, and non-profit events.

This camp will also bring much needed economic boost to a small rural town. There are several places to eat right in town, as well as a Dunkin Donuts, Dollar General, and 2 gas stations, and hopefully in the next year or so a Super Walmart will be opening about 15 minutes away. So there will be ample places to get those last-minute LARP supplies!

We are honestly hoping that with a drastic increase in income that the small businesses around here will start to thrive and grow once more.

As well as helping the local community, we are offering our current players some game wide incentives at Empires in Flames (EiFlarp.com). If you represent a different LARP and would like to discuss benefits for your own game such as discounts at the new camp once it’s open, feel free to reach out to us on Facebook, or view the Contact US page on the website for our emails.


Donation Tier Rewards

$250 2 level 1, 2 and 3 blank check components of an applicable type (No jewels or ingots)

$500 Every Player gains 60 AP

$750 Each player gains a magical scroll that will allow them to learn one skill, that they have the ability to learn, without a teacher

$1,000 1 gold added to a town fund for emergencies, for every $1000 dollars raised above this another gold will be added. Players get access to a new Elf Prestige Race.

$1,250 Players receive a random assortment of potions

$1,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$1,750 Each player receives 3 random ingots or gems

$2,000 each player gains 1x ever 10% increased chance to resurrect, tracked on character card or item tag ( Stacks with any other in-game boons and can be erased with the debuff )

$2,250 A major town-wide major boon from a powerful entity, must be decided upon by a majority of the player base

$2,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$2,750 Town bank that players can store a set amount of money in, each person can put up to 1 gold into the bank

$3,000 Increase the quantity of items on merchant lists for the year of 2021

$3,250 Each player gains a magical scroll that will allow them to learn one class, that they have the ability to learn, without a teacher

$3,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$3,750 The bank is increased to hold up to 2 gold

$4,000 A powerful ritual circle is placed in town that cut down all rituals by one minute per level

$4,250 A medical area in the tavern is added to town that allows players to regain HP over time while resting (1 HP per 2 minutes), stacks with battlefield medicine

$4,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$4,750 The bank is increased to hold up to 3 gold

$5,000 A high tier merchant comes out once per game on Saturday selling gear scaled to player level. Players get access to a new Dwarf Prestige Race.

$5,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$5,750 The bank is increased to hold up to 5 gold

$6,000 An enchanted Anvil that can be used once per event per player to reduce the construction cost of an item by one component, to a minimum of 1 (Blacksmith and Tinkerer only)

$6,250 The high tier merchants stock is expanded

$6,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$7,000 all players gain the keepers boon as if purchased from the ap store ( will stack with 1 single purchase of keepers boon from AP store )

$7,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$7,750 A enchanted harvesting spot becomes available that can be used once per event per player to harvest high-quality components (Level 3 and 4, no gems or ingots)

$8,000 The town gain access to an ancient dig site that can be explored each game

$8,250 The high tier merchants stock of each item is increased

$8,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$9,000 An enchanted quarry that can be used once per event per player to harvest high-quality ores and gems, (no ingots of copper or lower and no level 1 gems)

$9,500 Every Player Gains Another 60 AP

$10,000 An artifact will be installed in the town tavern that will allow players to grant themselves a full refresh once per game, must be used in the tavern and name must be recorded. Players get access to a new mystery Tiefling inspired Prestige Race.