Implementation of a Social Safety Team at the Drachenfest

The implementation of a social safety team at the Drachenfest, a major European live-action role-playing (larp) event in Germany, serves as a case study for addressing the growing need for psychological and emotional security in large-scale gaming environments. With approximately 5,000 participants, the event faced increasing pressure to manage problematic social behaviors, necessitating a structured approach to conflict resolution and participant welfare that had not been previously documented in academic larp literature.

The initiative focused on the creation of a dedicated "social harassment support team," which involved developing a comprehensive code of conduct and establishing standardized operational procedures for handling incidents. The team was composed of organizers and referees with professional backgrounds in counseling and youth trauma support, ensuring that the staff possessed the necessary expertise to manage sensitive situations effectively. By formalizing these roles, the organizers aimed to provide a clear, accessible mechanism for participants to report harassment and receive support during the event.

The findings highlight that while the team performed successfully in its initial implementation, the process yielded critical lessons for future improvements. The authors emphasize that the complexity of large-scale larp environments requires specialized, proactive safety structures rather than relying on informal management. By sharing these best practices, the study provides a framework for other event organizers to adopt similar safety measures, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and secure culture within the broader analog gaming community.