As we have noted before, I don't have a life. So therefore I make do with pretend-life. No... actually I got into live-action roleplaying when I still thought I had a life, and it stuck with me. Going inside the pages of a book; among the characters on the silver screen - who could resist that? Besides, this is the best substitute to becoming an actor I can imagine.

Despite many attempts to broaden my perspective, I have only ever played in Finland and almost exclusively in Finnish, but since the rest of these pages are in English, I'll stick to that. Here are some typical features of a Finnish LARP for the hypothetical non-Finn: accuracy of simulation; very high costuming standards; emphasis on character interaction instead of battle and simulation instead of rules and character sheets; GM-generated characters; little or no GM control during the game; low game fees (as games are completely non-commercial); pre-professional stage of game culture. Typical length of a game: 6 hours (20-24 hours in some; rarely anything in between). Typical amount of players: 30 to 60. Campaigns are rarer than there is demand for; pre-planned mini-campaigns regrettably few.

I used to have a list of all the games I had played in, but I lost it a couple of years ago. I think the number is somewhere between 170 and 190 presently (not counting demo games at schools, or clan meetings at the Vampire chronicle).

I have also taken part in arranging some games, though rather few compared to how many I have played in. Partly it's because I prefer acting out the stories to planning them; but mostly because of my problems with self- confidence. I do have some ideas even now, but whether they will ever materialize remains to be seen. I have, however, used LARPs in my job as a teacher of Finnish and English - for example, creating and then playing a game (with some modifications from me, of course) as a finishing project for the seventh grade (thirteen-year-olds).

I have done some PR from larping and SuoLi. Helsingin Sanomat interviewed me (you need to have paid for reading time to read the story since Aug '03) on the hobby when the fantasy/LARP TV series "Siamin tytöt" aired (SuoLi - actually, me - arranged for all the extras for the series when it was filmed, in 1999). I've also been on TV and the radio to talk about the hobby a couple of times.

What sort of games do I prefer?

Long ones, or campaigns. Why go through all the trouble of learning pages and pages of material, sewing a new costume and getting into the character's head for a measly five or six hours? Intensity and passion (not only love, but passionate motivations in everything). Relationships and relationship-driven motivations. Properly written character networks. I have a slight leaning towards fantasy (compared to most of the "old farts" of the Finnish scene, anyway), but anything goes, except for very strong emphasis on fighting or horror (and even then I am willing to give it a chance if it is written by someone I know to be good). Historical accuracy (in historical games) is nice, but "realism" should not mean a game where there is no conflict, no suspense - realistic or not, that is simply boring. But I do like my game worlds to have an impeccable inner logic.

Of Costumes / Puvuista

Paljon larppaavan vinkkejä pukujen tekemiseen ja suunnitteluun. Toivottavasti on jotain hyötyä.

My first game: Company, October 1995. The legendary cyberpunk game by Dare Talvitie and The Clobon Government-In-Exile, the first larger, open cyberpunk game in Finland, attached to the first annual general meeting of the Finnish Live-Action Gamers' Association. I played Deirdre Stevens, substitute chief of personnel in a smallish branch of a large ammunitions company in Bangor, Maine, a failed mother and an unhappy wife, whose personal life was crumbling around her along with the company. The experience was incredible. I had finally found something I enjoyed with all my soul and even seemed to be good at! And yes, the game was very good. Here you can find Dare's own aftergame summary in Finnish.

The first game I wrote for: Nordarak XIII, June 1996. The largest fantasy game in Finland then and since; 270 people all in all. The yearly ting in a viking-like country, attended by several heads of other states and other important people from all over the well-established world of the game continuum. Too bad we haven't seen any Nordarak games ever since. I suppose that was really some sort of a culmination point for the series, though not a planned one. Ilkka Puusaari has some pictures of this legendary event in his picture gallery.

The longest-running campaign I play in: The Helsinki Vampire Chronicle, using White Wolf's World of Darkness setting and (modified) system. Seven years and still going strong. I have had the same character ever since the beginning: Kaarina Palokärki, a young Ventrue neonate who is overly emotional and humane (though I did have a short stint as a fiery gypsy dancer, Sonja, and I'd love to play her again sometimes). The campaign home pages are currently under renovation, but oodles of pictures can be found at Orava's gallery. I have written a bit about Kaarina in Finnish here.

The game closest to my heart: The Goblin Marshes (Hiisisuot) campaign by Miika and Tommi Linhola, Jussi Nikula and others, 1995-1999. Epic fantasy, adventure, great heroism, nature mysticism, war between darkness and light... and the curious fates of a small group of undaunted individuals driven together to fight the evil forces by strange coincidences... Also, one of the most wonderful sieges in Finnish larp history, with an actual pole fortress that could actually be torn down. My character, Dianora (picture by Lasse Vartiainen), was a human empath-healer who fell in love with Ainaril, a half-elven ranger shaman who embodied the soul of the Goblin Marshes... and against all probability found her love returned. Their story is still infinitely dear to me, since it so happened that Ainaril was played by my one true love ever; and even though our real story could not last (for certain reasons best not mentioned here), it still warms my heart a little that that story could go on. He and I also arranged the two last games together. I would still love to return to that world someday, but the rights are not in my hands.

Some other notable game experiences (and this is by no means an inclusive top ten or top anything list, just examples I could remember at this time):

• The Fay Trilogy by Heli and Topi Mikkola (1996-97). Utterly enchanting faerie games with a modified Changeling setting. My first character, Baroness Olwen of the seelie court in the Kingdom of Apple Orchard, gave up on her existence after the first game, but was reborn as a younger and happier incarnation, Blai, next Midsummer. However, by the time of Samhain (and the third game), she was beginning to remember her previous life, and had to come to terms with that as well as omens of war...
• Colors by Dare Talvitie (1997-). Realistic superheroes in an alternate eighties' USA where superpowers are a fact. The most incredible characters and the best character immersion process ever - and the most fantastic group of players as well as characters. There is still some hope that Dare may continue the campaign, and I for one can't wait! My character, Firebird, belongs to a very secret and shadowy group that is also very close; she loves her teammates deeply, has a hopeless crush on the team leader and believes in her responsibility to help people with every fiery mote of her being; she is also rather young and has a desperate need to prove her worth as a superhero and as a member of the team. There is a lot on Colors on Dare's roleplaying pages.
• Tinderbox by Jori Virtanen (autumn 1996). Cyberpunk, gangs, corporations, extraction teams, cool hitmen, war androids, the works. What made it so wonderful for me was an incredible character, again: Anya, a severely retarded young woman who also had multiple personalities and subconscious telekinetic powers. One of the greatest challenges ever, and the most fun.
• The Alainia games, starting with A Midwinter Night's Dream (1997), by Tero Mäntylä. I was mostly an outsider to the action in these, but at least I was that with Tommi: we played totally codependent twins who had been separated all their life and then found each other - and realized they were incredibly strong magicians when together. There was beauty and vision in those games that I could glimpse even from the sidelines.
• The "Myrskyn aika" (Time of the Storm) campaign by Mike Pohjola and Jami Jokinen, (1997-). Low-fantasy heroism, with characters who are poor in everything but ideals, courage and faith. Utterly captivating. My character, Elena, a rich merchant's daughter, fell in with a small group of rebels, slowly assumed those same ideals and somehow never left.
• Wastelands (June 1999). A post-holocaust world, lots of sand, scorching sun and rusty metal; 100 players and a fair amount of time. Extremely satisfying, as I got my obligatory soap opera, too.
• "Sisäpiiri" (The Inner Circle) by Jori Virtanen (autumn 1999). A small group of young adults who used to be the in-crowd in senior high meet ten years later after a funeral. Another great character and an intense experience of dealing with deep sorrow and incomprehension. Read more on my character Helena Uusimaa in Finnish here.
• Heroes Revisited, by Panu "Ego" Alku (winter 2000). One of the best small games ever. A tight concept with lots of relevant ethical and moral questions. And I got to play an angel.
• Ground Zero, by Jori Virtanen and Jami Jokinen. What if the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 had gone a bit further...? 26 hours in a bomb shelter with the inhabitants of a small sidestreet in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was in the third run of the game. It was just as impressive as everyone else has probably already told you - it would not be unrealistic to name this the most remarkable Finnish game ever. One of the few times I have felt at home playing a loving mother.
• Shawanwa (2000) and Neshwa (2001), by Anni Tolvanen et al. The fortunes (or non-) of a small village of Shawnee Indians in the beginning of the 19th century. Lots of historical background, well-built and deeply felt characters and a fantastic atmosphere. The village in Neshwa especially was probably the finest larp milieu that has ever been constructed in Finland (the milieu of Wanderer III may be equal in scope, but I just happen to prefer this one for mood).
• Quite a few games in the historical or mythological settings of ancient Finland or Scandinavia, though I can't pick one out of the various bunch.
• The Domus campaign (2000-2001). Low fantasy modelled on classical Greece and Rome. Politics, passions and lots of promise, and one of my top three favourite characters ever. You can find out more about her in Finnish here. Unfortunately the campaign ended right when it was getting properly off the ground.
• Alaska, by Konsta Nikkanen et al. (spring 2001). Stylish adventures at the frontier. Lots of fun!
• Elegance, by Laura Kalli & Heli Aho (July 2002). Dangerous Liaisons meets larp with impeccable style. Want more!
• The Faerun campaign by Atte Iiskola et al. (2002-). Colourful and exciting adaptations of the Forgotten Realms material and a kick-ass character with a great personality. Couldn't ask for better!