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Star Wars larp 2.2 review

I played Les Maren, a Corellian Security Force officer
photo by Ivo Turk

The fifth larp in the Croatian Star Wars series was labeled Star Wars 2.2 - noting second season, second event. This storyline started in February, but this was a very different event (despite the same location and some of the same characters).

Like last larp, the story of this event was set in the early Rebellion era. The in-character location was the Imperial military academy on the planet Courlag. Many people were trying to sign up for it: loyal Imperial citizens, misfits, opportunists, children of the powerful, and quite likely a few rebels trying to infiltrate the Empire... if they are detected, of course. This larp was about the sign up process for the academy.

Schedule posted on the door

All of this was actually scheduled. After candidates were signed up, we had a headmaster of the Academy holding an entry speech. Then we had our first exam - coordination was measured by doing the hand tap test.

We had a short break after - and after every other program point - that allowed for social play familiar from previous larps. Then we had a presentation on Imperial weapons, followed by the second physical test: number of push-ups in 30 seconds.

Next presentation was supposed to be about rebel propaganda, but it was actually about Imperial secret service - followed by a third physical test, which was basically shooting range with NERF weapons. Targets were, of course, Gungan shaped which helped our enthusiasm in hitting them.

The grand finale was a written exam. Pretty detailed one, with multiple answers. Questions ranged from basic Star Wars knowledge to deep lore. Some people said this part reminded them too much of college.

Cheating on the exam meant death, but of course there have been several sets of correct answers going around. First set was sold by some weird Gungan near the beginning of the larp. Being too paranoid that he's trying to get me killed, I reported him to the local unfriendly Sith. Who ordered me to execute the Gungan. It was a powerful scene.

In the end, I was one of the few who passed the entrance test and got recruited. Many players did not; there certainly was a challenge factor. I really enjoyed this larp - many of the players, old and new, got the opportunities to shine and they have successfuly done so.
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