If you want to encourage LARPing, you need more good, easy-to-run, ready-to-go LARPs that can be given to new GMs and new groups. What better way to make that happen than by sponsoring LARP writing contests with cash prizes?
Intercon has had a long history of Iron GM and Small Game Contests, starting with the Live Action Roleplayers Association (LARPA) mid-Atlantic Intercons. NEIL was involved in many of those contests, helping LARPA to sponsor them by providing prize money. Several impressive LARPs came out of those contests, like Marlowe 2020, The Road Not Taken, and Time Travel Review Board. These LARPs, and other contest LARPs like them, continue to run in different places, bringing more people to LARP.
As the New England Intercons prospered and grew – and needed more LARPs to satisfy its voracious population of LARPers – it was only natural for NEIL to sponsor local competitions leading up to Intercon. With contest game first runs at Intercon, it meant that they could be played and judged by a diverse crowd of enthusiastic Intercon LARPers.
What follows is a history of the events primarily sponsored by NEIL.
(Please note, all non-placing games are in alphabetical order by team name, not by points)
Intercon W Iron GM Contest (January 2025)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes, Kim Sward, K. Zdepski, and Ace Tayloe
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the genre of travel, the theme of breakups, the ingredient Art, and the prop of a plant cutting in a vial of water
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | The Electric Coyotes: Anna Rose O’Shea, Connor MacKinnon, Ellie Meehan, Noa Kaufhold, Joe Bir | Leaving Eden |
| 2nd | $150 | Zaglossus Bruijni: Mehitabel Glenhaber, Rox Sayde, Esa Sclafani, Azalea Weisblat | The Parting Line |
| 3rd | $100 | 10th Muse: Megan Coppock, Josh Sheena | Locomotional Detachment |
| – | – | The Witching Hour: Sarah Judd, Elisabeth Cohen, Michael Von Korff, Nick Knapp | Stellar Shattering |
| – | – | The Council of Queers: Anna de la O, Merlyn Gonzalez, Miguel de la O, Victoria Andre | Plantscendence |
| – | – | Always Have Paris: Sandy Antunes, Deb Fuller, Sorenne Serra | A Wylde Thyme |
Intercon V Iron GM Contest (January 2024)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes, Kim Sward, and Ace Tayloe
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the genre of Fantasy Slice-of-Life, the theme of body swapping, the ingredient of secret messages, with a prop of 250 feet of orange string.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | Tenth Muse: Joshua Sheena and Megan Coppock | A Hero’s Return |
| 2nd | $150 | Team Booklyn, Texas: Alexandra DeAngelis, Morgan Jackson, and Arthur Davis | SWAP-O-MAGIC ™ |
| 3rd | $100 | Corner Productions: Killian Harris and Deryn Eugene | Into the Mind of a Beast |
| Keepers Imaginarium: Jayda Medina, Merritt Barthe, Kolya/Niko Burnell, McKenna Gameros, and Addie C | Familiar Con | ||
| – | – | Cave Key Productions: Matthew Dworkin and Simona Katsman | Let’s Do A Training Montage |
| – | – | The Spry Glaze: Wren Steinbergh, Alex Grant, Ben Klug | Rebirth in the Valley of Lillies |
Intercon U Iron GM Contest (January 2023)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes, Kim Sward, and Ace Tayloe
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the genre of Mystery, the theme of community, the ingredient of Meddling Gods/Supernatural Forces, with a prop of kaleidoscope glasses.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | Still Life Collaborative: Naomi Torres Oritz, Alexis Moisand, and Nicolas Bontemps | Flowers That Grow from Cracks in the Pavement |
| 2nd | $150 | Tenth Muse: Joshua Sheena and Megan Coppock | Pepper’s Ghost |
| 3rd | $100 | The Spry Glaze: Wren Steinbergh, Alex Grant, Ben Klug | In the Hall of the Bandit King |
| – | – | Team Patchwork Cat: Rebecca Maxfield, Allie Everest, Gaylord Tang, Alex Helm, Olivia Montoya | A Little MARP Drama |
| – | – | Tomb of Moderate Discomfort: Matt Weber, Tamasin Wohlers-Milner, Terry Fresina | Circle of Discovery |
Online Iron GM Contest 2021 (April 2021)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes, Kim Sward, and Ace Tayloe
Goal: Produce a 2-hour online LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the genre of Space Opera, the theme of Empowerment, the ingredient of Growing Things, with a prop of a beeping alarm.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | 10th Muse: Megan Coppock and Josh Sheena | A Ship by Any Other Name |
| 2nd | $150 | Rented Skit Productions: Kristen Patten and Ted Marr | The Root of the Problem |
| 3rd | $100 | The Witching Hour: Sarah Judd, Kiara Vincent, Michael Von Korff, and Elisabeth Cohen | Space-Time Convergence |
| – | – | Team Octave Game: Olivia Montoya, Vivian Abraham, Gaylord Tang, Arthur Chu | Little Suacer on the Prarie |
| – | – |  L I M I N A L I T Y C U T T L E F I S H : Jakob Weisblat, Edwin Karat, and Mehitabel Glenhaber | The Gardens of Kepler-452b |
| – | – | Fixer & Strategist: Monica Gribouski and Liam Wang | REBEL PROPAGATION |
| Exhibition | – | Unaffiliated Corvids: Jaelan Hartwin, Tom Traina, Cody Lazri, Emmet Hartwin, and Holly Bianchi | The Koregant Saga, Act 1: Storming the Electric Citadel |
Intercon T Iron GM Contest (January 2020)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes, Kim Sward, and Ace Tayloe
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the genre of Monster Stories, the theme of Immortality, the ingredient of Silence, with a prop of a lantern.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | The Witching Hour: Michael Von Korff, Kiara Vincent, Elisabeth Cohen, and Sarah Judd | Into the Abyss |
| 2nd | $150 | Hanging Lantern: Benji Michalek, Jeff Steele, and Natasha Borders | Respawn |
| 3rd | $100 | Liminality Octopus: Xavid Pretzer, Azalea Weisblat, and Edwin Karat | In the Hall of the Beast |
| – | – | Geese In Our Thyme: Jacqueline Bryk, Ben Walker, and Justin Buckley | Cryptid Connection |
| – | – | The Tenth Muse: Joshua Sheena and Megan Coppock | The Horror of Wadi Alwasi |
Intercon S Iron GM Contest (January 2019)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes and Kim Sward
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the secret ingredient genre of Magical Realism (the ‘real world’ meets the fantastic), the secret theme of Coming of Age, the secret element of Distress Call, with an additional secret prop of a 10” glass round mirror.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | Paranoid & Crochety: Tory Root and Lily Benderskaya | The Leonids |
| 2nd | $150 | The Witching Hour: Sarah Judd, Kiara Vincent, Michael Von Korff, and Elisabeth Cohen | Self Reflections |
| 3rd | $100 | Hanging Lantern: Natasha Borders, Benji Michalek, and Jeff Steele | Nightingale |
| – | – | Carcosa Creations: Kim Kreiner and Kevin Kreiner | The Call |
| – | – | Liminality Squid: Xavid Pretzer, Azalea Weisblat, and Edwin Karat | Fading Lights |
| – | – | Muses: Megan Coppock, Eric Wirtanen, and Joshua Sheena | Distress Call |
| – | – | Not Set In Stone: Jeff Diewald, Julie Diewald, Tim Lasko, Theresa Sullivan, and Gaylord Tang | Level Up! |
| – | – | Team Folks: Allegra Durante, Telmo, and Timothy Yuan | Gap Year |
Intercon R Iron GM Contest (February 2018)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes and Kim Sward
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the secret ingredient genre of Sea stories, the secret theme of Metamorphosis, the secret element of Math, with an additional secret prop of a wooden shaker egg painted silver.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | The Crystal GMs: Ace Tayloe, Evanleigh Davis, Anna O’Shea, Laura Willard, and Kate Zdepski | Be the Change You Wish to Sea |
| 2nd | $150 | Carcosa Creations: Kim Kreiner and Kevin Kreiner | The Heart of the Sea |
| 3rd | $100 | Paranoid & Crochety: Tory Root and Lily Benderskaya | Into the Silent Sea |
| – | – | Giant’s Lioness: Sean Croteau and Anna Galitzine | The Mariner’s Tear |
| – | – | Remote Commute: Megan Coppock and David Neuebauer | Village in the Lee |
Intercon Q Iron GM Contest (February 2017)
Facilitated by: Tara Halwes and Kim Sward
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the secret ingredient genre of Parallel Universes, the secret theme of Hope or False Hope, the secret element of Trickster animals, with an additional secret prop of 10′ foot strand of green LED lights.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | 10th Muse: Megan Coppock and Josh Sheena | A Thread of Faith |
| 2nd | $150 | Galimatias: Sarah Judd and John Isabella | Snugglebunny Apocalypse |
| 3rd | $100 | Giant’s Lioness: Sean Croteau and Anna Galitzine | Epilogue |
Intercon P Iron GM Contest (February 2016)
Facilitated by: Marsha Gershon
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the secret ingredient genre of Paranormal, the secret theme of Convention and Rebellion, the secret element of Tattoos, with an additional secret prop of a Plastic Kazoo.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | Cats O’ Nine Tales: Katherine Bryant and Caroline Murphy | The Gate |
| 2nd | $150 | Zabugofast: Daniel Zaharopol, David Farhi, Kevin Gold, and Ari Nieh | The Candles of Destiny |
| 3rd | $100 | League of Circuses: Sarah Judd and Betsy Isaacson | The Weather Underground |
| – | – | Trigonometric Butterfly: Vicki Bloom, Matt Weber, and KN Granger | Gimme Shelter |
Intercon O Iron GM Contest (February – March 2015)
Facilitated by: Viktoriya Fuzaylova
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the secret ingredient genre of Satire, the secret theme of Lost and Found, the secret element of Vegetables, with an additional secret prop of a Skeleton Key.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | Organized Chaos: Kristen Patten, David Braslow, Kim Sward, and Brian Rust | Compost Tales |
| 2nd | $150 | Yellow Sign: Alon Levy, Sarah Judd, and Thomas Wohlers | Seek/Find |
| 3rd | $100 | Crossbones: Megan Coppock, Matthew Herron, Renee Shultz, and Matthew Snouffer | The Rings of the Lords |
| – | – | Alleged Entertainment: Nat Budin | Saturday Market |
Intercon N Iron GM Contest (March 2014)
Facilitated by: Viktoriya Fuzaylova
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the secret ingredient genre of Comedy of Manners, the secret theme of Tradition versus Change, the secret element of The Four Elements, with an additional secret prop of 12 origami butterflies.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | Team MAD: Dan Zaharopol, David Farhi, and Matthew Steele | The Elements of a Proper Starship |
| 2nd | $150 | Nuclear Option: Ekate K., Xavid Pretzer, and Halftime Peairs | The Importance of Being Convergent |
| 3rd | $100 | Justice Sans Truth: Greer Hauptman, Mol Dezern, Isabel Malonzo, and Li-Chi Young | The Prophecy of the Starry Skies |
| – | – | KSTV: Tom Traina, Vicki Bloom, Kara Hurvitz, Sarah Judd, and Sam LaFleche | My Big Fat Pixie Wedding |
| – | – | Live Game Labs: Aaron Vanek and Kirsten Hageleit | Unfamiliar Spirits |
Intercon M Iron GM Contest (March 2013)
Facilitated by: Joshua Sheena
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players in 48 hours, using the secret ingredient themes of time-travel, stuffed animals, and secret societies.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | The Melpomenauts: Liliya Benderskaya, Kat Davis, Jaelen Hartwin, and Tory Root | The Dying of the Light |
| 2nd | $150 | Arkham Escapees: John Brewer, Ada Nakama, Conor Walsh, and Naomi Wixon | Adorable, Nonthreatening, Chronological Sound Edu-tainment (Brought to you by the letter I) |
| 3rd | $100 | Alleged Entertainment: Nat Budin, Viktoriya Fuzaylova, Phoebe Roberts, and Andrew Sheingold | AGENT Bobo of the Resistance |
| – | – | Not Apple Designs: Sarah Judd, Sam LeFleche, Kevin Piala, Kara Hurvitz, and Zack Card | The Factory |
| – | – | Salmon Sorbet: Katie Gordon, Jamey Patten, Kristen Patten, and David Braslow | Chronometrix, Inc. – Yesterday’s Solutions Tomorrow |
| – | – | Team MAD: Daniel Zaharopol, Matthew Steele, Ari N, Michael Shulman, and David Farhi | The Maddington Family Reunion |
Intercon J Small Games Contest
Facilitated by: LARPA
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 10-16 players. This was a general contest, with no special themes or ingredients.
This was a really small contest, as Mike Young was the only entrant. He won all the money!
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $500 | Mike Young | Slash | (Currently not available) |
Intercon I Iron GM Contest (March 2009)
Facilitated by: Jaelen Hartwin
Goal: Produce a 2 hour LARP for 12 players, using the secret ingredient themes of pulp (the literary style), long-lost siblings, and fairies.
Each game could score a possible total of fifty points, and the results were very close. The difference between the winning team and the last place team was just six points.
| Place | Prize | Creative Team | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250 | I Escaped From Arkham: John Brewer, Nyren Knapp, Ada Nakama, Conor Walsh, and Naomi Wixon | A Midsummer Night and the Livin’ is Easy |
| 2nd | $100 | Second Place: Eric Cantrell and Emily Shepperd | Death at the ILLS |
| – | – | Paranoid and Crotchety: Liliya Benderskaya and Tory Root | Lifeline |
| – | – | Windmill Games: J. Akira Barnes and Brandon Grinslade | Dream a Little Dream for Me |