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College of Wizardry: a larp for witches & wizards

It's done! $163k! But there are still tickets for the third CoW event in November at cowlarp.com!

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College of Wizardry: a larp for witches & wizards

College of Wizardry: a larp for witches & wizards

College of Wizardry: a larp for witches & wizards

College of Wizardry: a larp for witches & wizards

College of Wizardry: a larp for witches & wizards

It's done! $163k! But there are still tickets for the third CoW event in November at cowlarp.com!

It's done! $163k! But there are still tickets for the third CoW event in November at cowlarp.com!

It's done! $163k! But there are still tickets for the third CoW event in November at cowlarp.com!

It's done! $163k! But there are still tickets for the third CoW event in November at cowlarp.com!

Claus Raasted
Claus Raasted
Claus Raasted
Claus Raasted
6 Campaigns |
Lesna, Poland
$163,118 USD 764 backers
326% of $50,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 6 Projects Mountain Filled 6 Projects

ALL THREE LARP EVENTS ARE HAPPENING IN NOVEMBER 2015!

The Indiegogo campaign is over. 764 backers have raised $163,118, and we are immensely grateful to all of them for supporting the project. And due to last minute interest, we've gotten enough signups that we'll do THREE events in November!

We'll be doing three CoW events (Nov 12-15, Nov 19-22 and Nov 26-29), and there are still tickets for the third one available on cowlarp.com!

We'll also do a physical teaching book for the students (and a free PDF) AND a 20 min documentary about the experience.

But though the campaign has stopped, the project is in full swing. You can find us on cowlarp.com from now on. There you can read more about College of Wizardry, buy tickets to future events (and other cool stuff!) and see pictures and videos from past events. But our time at Indiegogo is at an end. We'll let the page stay as is.

Thank you for everything!


- The College of Wizardry Team, April 30th, 2015



College of Wizardry is a four-day Wizard School larp event, where you can act out your dreams of being a student witch or wizard at a beautiful fairytale castle in Poland. Surrounded by around 130 like-minded people, at College of Wizardry you will:

  • Attend classes as a witch or wizard and learn the magical arts
  • Be selected to represent one of the five ancient Houses of Czocha Castle
  • Explore the castle and meet the magical creatures that roam the grounds
  • Make new friends and form long lasting bonds with like-minded people
  • Get into discussions, stir up shenanigans, and play games
  • Perhaps even a little (in-character) romance?
  • Spend 3 nights at a castle in Poland and have a once-in-a-lifetime adventure
  • Breakfeast, lunch and dinner each day is of course included
  • Either travel to Zamek Czocha yourself or take our cheap bus from Berlin




Since the crowdfunding campaign started, we have added some more videos to the Indiegogo page, where we talk about the project. So if you want answers to some of your questions, check out the videos.



You can read a lot more about the experience awaiting you at in our Design Document, which you can find by clicking HERE. It describes both how the event works, what happens during it and all manner of details. It's rather large, but you don't need to know everything in it! ;-)




If you're not familiar with it already, the term "larp" is a shortened form of Live Action Role Play. In a larp, the participants dress up in costume and pretend to be their characters. A larp can last for hours or for days, and can have from a couple of players to many thousands. Some larps are about elves and orcs in the forest, while others are about advertising agencies, prisons or ... magical universities!

If you want to know more about larp, you can check out this short documentary, that Discovery Channel/TLC did in 2013.  It does a good job at explaining Nordic style larp, but it's about a rather more harsh experience, so don't get scared away! There are also several good documentaries on Nordic larp elsewhere on the web. ;-)


Imagine our world, just as it is today. Except that magic is real. The world of magic exists in the shadows of our own mundane world - undiscovered by billions, but known to the initiated. It’s a world of tradition and old bloodlines, of secrets and mysteries. It is a world of wise sorcerers, powerful witches, and dark-hearted conjurers.

Most of all, it is a world that is slowly changing. From the open practice of magic in ancient times to the secret rituals held in dark forests in medieval times to the completely underground magical world of today, the witching world is a parallel society that is under assault from modern culture.

Here, long-flowing robes and dragontooth wands meet jeans and leather jackets. Magical theory is taught in old castles to students at home on iPhones, and while some wizarding families proudly trace their lineage back to famous magicians such as Morgana le Fey or the Oracles of Delphi, there are powerful sorcerers popping up in suburban Chicago and downtown Shanghai.

The world of magic has its own politics, myths and rules, and is every bit as varied and diverse as the Mundane world. But there are three simple rules that are followed by all, whether noble master of charms or dark-hearted necromancer, known as The Traditions.

The Tradition of Word: You do not speak of magic to Mundanes.

The Tradition of Action: You do not practice magic around Mundanes.

The Tradition of Fear: Break these rules and you shall be cast out.

This is the world of magic. Welcome, magicians.

You can read more in the Design Document.


In November 2014, a team of volunteers from the non-profit organisations Liveform (Poland) and Rollespilsfabrikken (Denmark) created the larp event College of Wizardry at the fariytale Czocha Castle in Poland. It was such a success that two more larps were planned for April 2015. Both sold out in record time. 

So today, we bring you this campaign, because we want to do more than just two CoW larps in 2015. And for that, we need your help. But first something important.

Warner Bros. kindly allowed us to continue with our unauthorised Harry Potter larp event, on a one-off, non-commercial basis, to avoid disappointing the fans who had booked and paid for their places.  

We want to make clear that we have agreed with Warner Bros. that our future larps will not include or be connected in any way with any part of the Harry Potter world.

So please note that this larp is NOT based on nor will it involve the use of any Harry Potter stories, characters, names or elements.  It is not a Harry Potter fan event, but is for those larp participants who wish to play in a generic wizard college setting.  College of  Wizardry larps will NOT take place in the Harry Potter universe, but in a universe of our own making. There will be no mention of Muggles, no Quidditch and no Hogwarts in our fiction. The whole idea behind this Indiegogo campaign is to make College of Wizardry stand on its own legs. ;-)

We hope you'll help that happen.




College of Wizardry is a four-day larp event, that starts Thursday afternoon and ends Sunday morning. We've already gotten the funding to do an event on November 12-15, and we hope to also hold events on Nov 19-22 and Nov 26-29. If we fail to raise enough funds for all three events, we'll of course give full refunds to those who've supported in vain. We're not really worried about that, though. ;-)

But what actually happens during one of these events?


There's more than just students at school

At CoW, participants play everything from students and teachers to ghosts and visiting reporters. After signup has closed, all players get to tell us what their preferences are, and we try to cast them as best we can. 

It's ok if you've never larped before

You don't need to have any larp experience to play CoW, as long as you're willing to give it your best shot. It's a participatory experience, so you'll be both actor and audience at the same time. And don't worry. It's not that scary.

You'll eat, sleep, and live at the Castle

Some people ask us about lodgings and nearby hotels. Czocha Castle IS a hotel, and as a participant, you'll be staying there for the duration of the larp. You'll be staying in 2-4 person rooms along with other participants - and if you go with a friend or three, we'll of course give you a room together. When the game starts, it doesn't end until it's over, and even eating breakfast and enjoying a glass of port wine happens in character.

Much more than just classes

Though there are classes from 9.00 - 16.00, not all day is spent in the classroom. First of all, there are meals, but also Czocha College is home to a string of societies (some secret, some well-known) and there are things going on at all times. There is a castle to explore, a forest to visit and there nearby tavern to grab a beer at. Oh, and then there's initiation of Juniors, House rituals and more. In short, there's plenty of stuff going on at the castle at all hours.

There's even a school ball at the end of the game

A magical college wouldn't be complete without a magical ball to end the event. Here, the Czocha Polka will be danced, the legendary DJ's "The Wicked Witches of West Berlin" will play and there'll be speeches and entertainment. After that the game will end and there'll be an afterparty of epic proportions!

We create our own magic

Obviously, none of us know real magic, but we have a pretty good system for how we pretend. It was invented by the Polish organization Liveform for College of Wizardry, and makes magic work in intuitive and fun ways. 



IMPORTANT NOTICE: We're certain to do two events (Nov 12-15 & Nov 19-22). If we do not manage to reach our goal of $175,000, which enables us to do all three November events, and we need to cancel the third event, you will of course get a full refund for the event you've signed up for (with a $376 reward). We're quite confident we'll do all three events, though. ;-)




We've had some long discussions about what to do about the Castle Perks. Naturally, we have a lot of great ideas, but we felt it was a bit strange offering bits of a castle dream that might not happen. So we've added the note to all the new "Castle Perks" that if we don't buy some sort of location in Poland, then we'll give you the money back (-10% to cover expenses to Indiegogo, transfer fees, etc).

This means that if you support us and choose a Castle Perk, we'll refund almost all your money if we end up without real estate. ;-)





Our crowdfunding campaign has been receiving a bit of media attention. Below are some of the places where it's been featured. If you're interested in doing a story about College of Wizardry, you're more than welcome to write us at claus.raasted@gmail.com. Here are links to a few of the articles in English.

The VergeThe TelegraphSeventeenLarping.orgDaily Mirror




February 2015: The campaign launches.
March/April 2015: Work on the new story world takes place.
May 2015: Signup for the larp opens for non-backers.

June 2015:
The new story world is publicly launched. Participants get characters.
August 2015: Dialogue with character coaches.
September 2015:
Relation-building in online forums.

October 2015:
Final preparations for the larps.

November 2015:
The larps take place.



$250,000 -- If we reach this level of funding, we're also going to do a Robin Hood larp in cooperation with Danish archer legend Lars Andersen (he has agreed) at another Polish castle. Archery lessons from Lars will of course be a part of the larp. You can see a picture from the castle here. ;-)


$350,000 
-- Not only will we do the book and documentary combo, the three College of Wizardry larps and the Robin Hood larp, we'll also be buying property. This level of funding won't get us an entire castle - but we WILL be buying an old medieval watch tower in Western Poland. It's 350 m2 and situated on 1 hectare of ground. We're already in dialogue with the owner. 


$400,000 
-- If we reach $400,000, we'll buy the watch tower and do the College of Wizardry and Robin Hood larps. We'll also be doing a big larp about the end of the Napoleonic Wars in cooperation with Zamek Ksiaz - the 3rd largest castle in Poland. We're already talking with them, but need a bit more funding to make it a reality. Don't worry - we haven't forgotten the book and the documentary.



$500,000 -- If we reach $500,000, it beins to look crazy. We'll do three College of Wizardry larps, a Robin Hood larp with Lars Andersen and a Napoleonic Wars larp at Zamek Ksiaz, along with a book and a documentary. But instead of the watch tower, we'll find some property that's even nicer. For example this 18th century palace...


$1,000,000
-- If we reach a million dollars, not only are we doing three events in November, publishing a teaching book and doing a documentary. We're also doing a Robin Hood larp with the world's fastest archer, and a Napoleonic Wars larp at the third-biggest castle in Poland. And we'll be buying something wild.
At this level of funding, we'll be able to buy an actual castle in Poland, so that we can do future events at our OWN freakin' castle. This will permit us to buy and refurbish a honest-to-Merlin castle in Poland. And if THAT happens, you can be sure that we'll be doing more awesome events in the future. Put simply, if we reach a million dollars, we're going to buy a castle and throw the craziest opening party ever.
Here's one of those we have our sights on... 





Making something like this happen requires much more than money. If you want to help us, we'd be very grateful if you'd mention our campaign on social media, write about us on your blog or use the hashtag #cowlarp. If nothing else, send a kind thought our way or give a high-five when you meet one of us. It all helps.

Thank you!
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Choose your Perk

Magical Support

$5 USD
Want to support us a little? We'll be grateful if you do, and you'll get honourable mention on the Supporters part of our web page after the campaign closes. Thank you!
Estimated Shipping
May 2015
27 claimed

Magical Support Badge

$10 USD
You'll receive a button badge with the Czocha crest on it. It'll be sent to your home address. This way you can show that you're a supporter - and promise that if we meet you and you're wearing a Magical Support Badge, you'll make us very happy.
Estimated Shipping
June 2015
66 claimed

Video Lectures From Czocha

$15 USD
If you support and choose this reward, you'll get access to an exclusive one-hour video lecture (3 x 20 min) recorded at Czocha. It'll feature three different teachers and will be both entertaining and interesting. And of course we're talking magical subjects! The video lecture will be delivered to you in May. For every 50 backers, we add another teacher (and 20 min!) to the Video Lectures.
Estimated Shipping
May 2015
30 claimed

Personal Thank You Video

$20 USD
Not only will we send you a badge, we'll make a short, personal video thanking you for your contribution. It'll be addressed to the name you use when you support, and will be sent to your mail. We promise not to be too outrageous in it, so you can share it on social media. ;-)
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
59 claimed

Name A Character or Place!

$25 USD
Can't participate in the event? That's OK! You can put your stamp on the College of Wizardry by naming one of the Students, Professors, or a School Ghost! (so you can be there in spirit). We will be moderating the names however, so nothing innapropriate or too ridiculous
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
29 out of 100 of claimed

Your Own House Portrait

$35 USD
If you can't be there, you can at least be there in spirit. If you support and choose this perk, we'll take a picture you send us and print it out and frame it. It'll be hung in the Common Room of your choice, and will hang there during the larp; Faust, Durentius, Sendivogius, Molin or Libussa. In the fiction, you'll be a former student of the House. As with the names, we'll sort out the too inappropriate. Naturally, we'll take pictures of your picture at the larp, so you can see you were there.
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
24 claimed

Your Own Custom Made Wand

$40 USD
Looking for a little piece of magical hardware? These wands are made by Liselle of LiselleMade, who makes all sorts of fun props and magical paraphernalia for customers worldwide. She's a Lifetime Member of College of Wizardry (our first) and has promised to pitch in with her skills if you'll support us! Shipping is included.
Estimated Shipping
June 2015
64 out of 100 of claimed

College of Wizardry Book

$50 USD
After the larp(s) in November, we'll produce a 200 page documentation book filled with participant stories, beautiful pictures and organizer and outside feedback about the larp. The book is 200 pages of full colour, with photos by our brilliant photographers. And YOU get a copy in time for Christmas!
Estimated Shipping
December 2015
38 claimed

CoW Teaching Book photo!

$75 USD
You will also receive the 200 page CoW Book from the $50 above. Even if you can't make the event, you can still have your photo in the Teaching Book. This is a book that all students receive during the game as part of their studies - filled with texts on subjects both magic and mundane. And you'll be in it - with a digital photo of yourself, as a fictional character from the CoW world. (you must provide the photo, of course!)
Estimated Shipping
December 2015
17 out of 50 of claimed

Set in Stone

$100 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] We will scratch your name on a stone in the entrance hallway of our new castle, leaving your mark there for the future.
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
1 out of 100 of claimed

Your Own Personal Family Crest

$100 USD
[SOLD OUT PERK NOW AVAILABLE AGAIN] Get your own personal family crest drawn by Tia Carolina Ihalainen, the artist behind the College of Wizardry crest. You decide on the name, the slogan and up to four different elements that will be incorporated, plus 1-3 colours to incorporate. It can be for you, for a character of yours (at another larp!) or for your future College of Wizardry student. Once you've bought the perk, we'll put you in contact with Tia.
Estimated Shipping
September 2015
3 out of 25 of claimed

CoW Student Package

$150 USD
Includes: House Tie (of your choice), School Robe (S/M/L/XL), Wand, and the 200 page CoW documentation book. Shipping is included, and you get it in time for Christmas. Plus, you get a personal thank you note in the package from us. ;-)
Estimated Shipping
December 2015
4 claimed

Tickets for future events

$375 USD
The Indiegogo campaign is over. But you can go to cowlarp.com and find us there. And buy tickets for future events. ;-)
0 claimed

TICKET FOR SESSION 3 !!!

$376 USD
NOVEMBER 26th-29th 2015. This is your ticket to be a part of the CoW experience. You need to get there on you own, of course, though we will help organize cheap transport from the nearby airports of Berlin and Wroclaw. ;-)
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
30 out of 129 of claimed

Painting of Heroes

$750 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] Somewhere in the castle, we'll hang your painting. The painting will be made by Claus' wife, Marie Raasted Herløvsen, who has done portrait painting for 15 years, and will have an appropriate gilded frame.
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 20 of claimed

Banner of Champions

$1,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] Get your own banner hanging at the castle. You send us the graphics file, and we turn it into an awesome cloth banner that will hang in the castle. You can of course also send us the finished banner instead. ;_)
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 10 of claimed

Grand Opening Banquet Spot

$1,500 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] You get two tickets to the Grand Opening Banquet in May 2016, where we party like it's 1666! It'll be a crazy experience of a life time. Also, you have to get yourself to Poland, but we'll organize free busses from Berlin and Wroclaw!
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 50 of claimed

Secret Door Painting

$2,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] We will take a picture you send and Claus' wife will make it into a painting. The painting, we will hang on the wall of one of the secret doors at the castle. And if there aren't secret doors already, we'll bloody well make them!
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 2 of claimed

Name a Sleeping Room

$2,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] Ever felt envious that there's a Roosevelt Room? Ever longed to have someone enter a room bearing your name, or a name you chose? Here's your chance to put your mark on a building that's bound to become famous among larpers all over the world. No vulgarity or profanity, of course. But it will get a fancy bronze name plaque. ;-)
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 20 of claimed

CoW Lifetime Membership

$5,000 USD
Can't get enough of being a magician? Well, this is for you, then. With the CoW Lifetime Membership, not only do you get all we have to offer - The Teaching Book, The Documentation Book, a Robe, House Ties in all five colours and a custom-made Wand. You also get the special CoW Lifetime Wand, which secures you a free spot at all future CoW larps. You still need to get there on your own, though. ;-)
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
1 out of 5 of claimed

Grand Librarian

$7,500 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] You get to name the library and design it in cooperation with our interior designer. If you have any books you want to contribute, they'll naturally be there!
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 1 of claimed

Weekend Wedding Package

$7,500 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] Ever dreamed of having a castle wedding? Even the smallest of the places we've looked at has room for 60 people who sleep over. We'll also gladly help with catering and making it happen, but that will have to be discussed in detail (and will cost more), since that's a whole different ballgame. Scheduling we'll talk about.
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 5 of claimed

Statue of Founders

$10,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] We'll make a statue of you in stone and place it somewhere in the castle so you can watch over it in all your glory!
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 2 of claimed

1% Castle Share

$10,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] You're a co-owner! Not only do you get to use the castle one day every year (subject to scheduling and with the option to use it more at a cheap price), but you also get a 1% share in it, and a seat on the Castle Council with 1 vote! If the castle is ever sold, you get 1% of the sum (after expenses for selling it), but we hope that won't happen!
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 8 of claimed

2% Castle Share

$20,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] You're a co-owner! Not only do you get to use the castle one weekend every year (subject to scheduling, and with option of using it more for cheap prices), but you also get a 2% share in it, and a seat on the Castle Council with 2 votes. If the castle is ever sold, you get 2% of the sum (after expenses for selling it), but we hope that won't happen!
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 5 of claimed

Name the Castle!

$25,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] This castle is going to be known by larpers all over the world. But right now it has no name. If you buy this perk, you decide the name. No vulgarity or offensiveness, of course, but here's's a chance to name a building that is guaranteed to become world famous.
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 1 of claimed

5% Castle Share!

$50,000 USD
[Castle perk - if we don't get enough funding to buy property, you'll get your money back, minus 10% for campaign expenses] You're a co-owner! Not only do you get to use the castle one week every year (subject to scheduling), but you also get a 5% share in it, and a seat on the Castle Council with 5 votes. If the castle is ever sold, you get 5% of the sum (after expenses for selling it), but we hope that won't happen!
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
0 out of 6 of claimed

The Boss Package

$75,000 USD
Do you really want to impress your competitors or rich friends? Then The Boss Package is everything you've been looking for. We'll organize a College of Wizardry event JUST for you (and up to 125 others). It doesn't get any cooler than this. If you choose this, we'll figure out dates and details. But we promise that it will be nothing short of magical!
0 out of 1 of claimed
sold out

Your own personal family crest

$100 USD
Estimated Shipping
May 2015
4 out of 4 of claimed
sold out

TICKET FOR SESSION 1 !!!

$374 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
129 out of 129 of claimed
sold out

Extra ticket for Nov 12-15

$374 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
10 out of 10 of claimed
sold out

TICKET FOR SESSION 2 !!!

$375 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
129 out of 129 of claimed
sold out

Extra ticket for Session 2

$375 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
10 out of 10 of claimed
sold out

Private Room (Nov 12-15 larp)

$1,799 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
1 out of 1 of claimed
sold out

Private Room (Nov 19-22 larp)

$1,800 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
2 out of 2 of claimed
sold out

Private Room (Nov 26-29 larp)

$1,801 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
2 out of 2 of claimed
sold out

Headmaster (Nov 12-15 larp)

$3,000 USD
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
1 out of 1 of claimed
sold out

The Gardener

$15,000 USD
Estimated Shipping
May 2016
1 out of 1 of claimed
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