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Quantum Dreams Entertainment is proud to continue the exciting live-action game — STARFALL ACADEMY!
Bringing a bold new twist to the “wizard school” style of larp games, Starfall Academy combines elements of immersive story-building and role-play with skilled martial arts training – all set in an original and exhilarating world
of science fiction and fantasy. Take up your saber and join the Guardians!
STARFALL ACADEMY is a four-day, live action roleplaying event which allows players the opportunity to fuse real-world martial arts training with exciting storytelling and creative exploration. Beginning as initiates of the GUARDIAN ORDER, players will explore the mysteries of “THE LIGHT,” a powerful energy that bends to those strong enough to control it.
Learning alongside experienced masters from throughout the galaxy, students will be taught to wield The Light and grasp its influence on the world around them. From these powerful sages, players will gain a greater knowledge of everything from healing arts and saber skills to meditation and command over local flora and fauna. With each lesson learned, new mysteries will reveal themselves – both at the Academy and far beyond.
Starfall Academy is a Live Action Role-Playing experience, commonly referred to as a “LARP.” For participants unfamiliar with the idea of “larping,” it is easily comparable to many popular tabletop games or video game RPG’s – but with a powerful element of full immersion in a tangible environment. As in a murder mystery event or escape room, a player is physically present in a space and actively participating in the events around them. Because of this, participants should expect full and active immersion into a fictional world. Players will be able to build characters and allow them to experience a world of adventure and excitement.
As an initiate of the Guardian Order and student of Starfall Academy, your choices will direct your path through LIGHT and SHADOW. Your actions will dramatically impact your own training and that of your peers — and will ultimately decide the future of Starfall Academy and the galaxy beyond!
Registration for Starfall Academy Year 3 is over.
Following registration, new players will be asked to submit both a player survey and a character backstory. In addition to taking important personal, medical, and gameplay preferences, the player survey will be used to ultimately sort players into one of Starfall Academy’s five surviving “SECTS.” Sects will determine the skills a player’s character will possess, as well as their general schedule of classes and overall experiences at the event. The Sect a player has been assigned to will not be revealed until the event itself, and its revelation will be an important part of overall gameplay.
Players returning to Starfall Academy will be asked to maintain their previous sect, though minor character changes can be made. These changes — and updates to personal, medical, and gameplay preferences — can be made in a separate player survey.
Please note that while players of different sects will have entirely different schedules, there are numerous occasions throughout each day where players are encouraged to connect and associate with members of other groups. Some activities will demand cooperation between varying sects, while others will see them in heated competition!
New players will be able to submit character backstories which help to flesh out a character, their history, and their aspirations. Character backstories should be based upon established world information (available on this website in The Archives) and must be approved by staff prior to the event. Players may include background information of any kind but must follow backstory guidelines which will be sent to players upon registration. While backstory will not directly influence a character’s abilities, it is a useful tool for establishing roleplay experiences between players and non-player characters. Returning players will be permitted to carry out minor changes to their characters with staff approval.
Upon check-in on the first day of the event, players will be given a class schedule for their time at Starfall Academy. Classes will serve as sources of storytelling, roleplay, and engagement, and will slowly introduce players to key game rules and abilities. While students are expected to attend their classes, there will certainly be opportunities to bend rules in favor of uncovering the Academy’s many mysteries. Don’t worry: Starfall Academy isn’t all work and no play – there will also be plenty of opportunities for leisure, exploration, and competition!
At this time, Starfall Academy is available only for players 18 and up.
A major component of Starfall Academy is saber training by skilled and professional real-world martial arts instructors. As a result, there is an element of physical exertion and activity to the event. Players should be aware of this, though serious health accommodations can be made. While all players will be offered at least two half-hour blocks of training per day, some in-character schools will ask their players to carry out far more. Saber training preferences are a major portion of the Player Survey and will be a leading factor in determining which School players are best suited for.
If you have any questions about health concerns or overall safety within this component of the event, please contact event staff.
Starfall Academy is hosted at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Participation in Starfall Academy does require all participants – including staff – to be in appropriately-themed costume. Unlike some other QDE events, in-game costumery is not provided to standard registrants. Players will need to create their own appropriate costume based on minor standards which will soon be available on this website. Sources of inspiration, DIY tips, and costuming techniques will be a major feature of our community Discord channel ( available here).
Official stipulations for character costumes can be found here.
Standard registration covers breakfast, lunch, dinners, and snacks during all event times, as well as drinks. Accommodations are always made for those with dietary restrictions.
Included in the base registration price is lodging in dormitory-style housing at the game site. Players will be housed in single-occupant rooms.
