Renaissance Faire as Gaming Inspiration

[sjmiller]

I was told the earliest US RenFaires were in CA but I don't know how accurate that is. Does anyone here know?

The oldest one is now known as the Southern California Renaissance Festival. That is the one near LA that is done, I think, in the spring. The second oldest is the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, which started in 1972. That is where I am a performer. If people come out to the Minnesota show, find the Riddle Booth over by the Enchanted Garden and mention you saw this message on ENWorld. We'll make sure to give you a free riddle clue!

 

[Mark]

You must have a pic of the riddle booth somewhere, no?

 

[Gentlegamer]

Look to AD&D 2nd Edition for Ren Fest as gaming inspiration . . .

 

[Xyxox]

This is the first year in a decade I ahven't made it up to the Bristol Ren Faire.

 

[Janx]

I wrote a LARP intended to be played at renfairs. I called it Chivalry. It was more of a scavenger hunt, with RP thrown in.

I had a few tables for randomly determining quests (which was really just a bunch of words that you might find at the fair), and everyone was encouraged to roleplay.

I never really finished it, as I wasn't quite satisfied with it

 

[catsclaw227]

The oldest one is now known as the Southern California Renaissance Festival. That is the one near LA that is done, I think, in the spring. The second oldest is the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, which started in 1972. That is where I am a performer. If people come out to the Minnesota show, find the Riddle Booth over by the Enchanted Garden and mention you saw this message on ENWorld. We'll make sure to give you a free riddle clue!

I performed at the SoCal Ren Faire back in 1982-1984 when it was in Agoura Hills, but it has long since moved from there to a much larger location out in the Inland Empire (maybe even moved twice).

And acutally it's called the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

That was a blast, but at that time it was more about drinking and wild sex than inspiration for my D&D game.

My friend (and former player) and his GF are really into the Ren Faires in Southern California and go a lot.

 

[thalmin]

This is the first year in a decade I ahven't made it up to the Bristol Ren Faire.

You still have a 3-day weekend left.

 

[Vyvyan Basterd]

I've snapped photos of the more artisitc weapons and products (with the vendor's permission) to use as inspiration for magic items. The booth with all the leather products (books, cases, etc) that have faces, Grackles I think, always inspired a type of familiar or homonculus.