Tag Archives: roleplaying game charity

LARPing for Good with Cultura Connector and the GRIT Ukraine Program!

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Image courtesy of DrachenFest US.

If you’re not a roleplaying game fan, you might not be familiar with LARPing or Live-Action RolePlaying.

Essentially, it’s playing a tabletop storytelling game in a more interactive fashion. There is dressing up, combat, physically accomplishing tasks, and interacting with other players and NPCs (non-player characters that support the narrative).

And the organization Cultura Connector believes it can be used to help young people in Ukraine.

They are currently raising funds for their first GRIT Ukraine program, enabling Ukrainian facilitators to lead a 12-week LARP program with Ukrainian young people living in Poland to strengthen resilience, communication, emotional awareness, problem-solving, and connection with Ukrainian youths.

Here is part of the mission statement from their website:

Ukrainian families have been living within the immediate violence of war from Russia’s full scale invasion. They have had to leave behind homes, schools, and people they love. Even after reaching safety, the ground can still feel unsteady.

Parents are trying to build a life in a new country while carrying concern for the one they left. Children and teenagers are learning how to belong again while the adults around them are still trying to catch their breath after so much upheaval.

GRIT creates a structured space where young people can reconnect with others, practice making choices, and rediscover their capacity to shape what happens next.

GRIT stands for Games for Resilience and Interactive Transformation. It is a culturally grounded, trauma-informed program developed by Cultura Connector, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Image courtesy of DrachenFest US.

It might sound silly, but LARPing can absolutely help someone find confidence in themselves and a community of likeminded people.

It happened to me in high school.

Making friends who brought me into their game taught me about storytelling, about trust, about letting go and enjoying myself and wholeheartedly embracing what I loved to do. LARPing was my gateway to the world of roleplaying games, a hobby and passion that has stuck with me for decades.

Please share the link and donate if you can. It would be so amazing to reach out to young people halfway around the world and show them the magic of storytelling while helping build them up.

You can also click here for more details on Cultura Connector and the GRIT program.

Thank you to Dan and the incredible hardworking crew at DrachenFest US for letting us know about this wonderful and worthwhile endeavor.

Happy LARPing, everyone.

RPG Gaming (and Gayming) for Good!

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There are always worthwhile charitable efforts going on in the world of puzzles and games, and that’s true in the roleplaying game community as well.

Dozens of roleplaying game companies and content creators have partnered to create charity bundles in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s the Gayming with Pride initiative, organized through DriveThruRPG!

All proceeds from Bundle #1 support Outright International, a team that works to document and amplify awareness of human rights violations against the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as advocating for inclusion, equality, and communication globally between members of the community.

This bundle includes content for Brindlewood Bay, Cthulhu, Fabula Ultima, Delta Green, Girl by Moonlight, Xcrawl Classics, and more!

All proceeds from Bundle #2 support Tabletop Gaymers, a nonprofit that champions the community in public spaces, handing out free ribbons (identifying yourself by your pronouns, as an ally, or as a gaymer) at conventions, while also promoting discussion, inclusion, acceptance, and joy through gaming and self-identification.

This includes content for Girl Genius, Thirsty Sword Lesbians, Queerz! TTRPG, Blue Rose, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Critical Role, and more!

A lot of these donated games and supplements are being shared at 90% off, so these companies are putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting this cause.

Click here for more information on the Gayming with Pride bundles, or go directly to Outright International and Tabletop Gaymers to show your support.

And regarding Tabletop Gaymers, there is still over a week left in their campaign through Humble Bundle!

9th Level Games, Renegade Game Studios, Warhammer, Doctor Who, Pirate Borg, and more are represented in this charity effort, showing that love and support for the LGBTQIA+ community spans all genres, worlds, and interests.

You can check out the Humble Bundle here.

A lot of companies this year aren’t even engaging in their usual half-hearted rainbow-washing branding, let alone ACTUALLY working to support and bolster the cause of the LGBTQIA+ community.

So it’s awesome to see RPG companies once again stepping up in solidarity with friends, loved ones, coworkers, and strangers in the community whose voices deserve to be heard.

Are there other charity efforts going on in puzzles and games that I’ve missed? Let me know and I’ll happily shout them out in the blog and try my best to help raise awareness.

Happy gaming and gayming, everyone!