Pocket Guide to American Freeform

This guide introduces gamers, actors, and other imaginative folks to this emerging form. American freeform games share a common format—they are rules-light one-shot productions, a bit like improv theater games performed without an audience, requiring only a few people, and lasting for several hours. With few setting or scenography requirements, these games are easy to run, and are especially friendly to new players and organizers.

Leaving Mundania author Lizzie Stark takes the reader through the history and development of the style, which counts US chamber larp, indie games and Nordic larp and freeform among its influences. The guide provides easy-to-understand instruction on how to play, run, and write these short scenarios, as well as advanced tips for those who want a deep dive.

Calling all theater educators, improv actors, and larpers: come join the American freeform revolution.

“If you are new to freeform roleplaying, the Pocket Guide to American Freeform  is really useful. If you are a grizzled veteran who knows everything, it is a necessity.” -Jason Morningstar, creator of Fiasco, Bully Pulpit Games

“Lizzie Stark is a uniquely important figure in the LARP community, bringing Nordic design know-how to the American gaming experience. In this book, she shares her key findings from the experimental side of the American larp scene as well as the critical components to designing these kinds of games. If you’re a roleplayer looking to make the leap into less linear, more potent, and more original work, the Pocket Guide to American Freeform is the first book you should read.” –Nick Fortugno, Playmatics