Honor Beyond Reason
By Randy Lubin & Jason Morningstar
Two men, a quarrel, a Code, and no backing down. When honor is more important than life itself, what place is there for reason or compassion?
A Matter of Honor
Honor Bound is a three-hour experience that explores toxic masculinity through the lens of honor culture and the dueling code. The premise is simple: one man has offended another, a challenge was issued and accepted, and now the whole community must see the matter through to the end.
Brought to you by two award-winning designers, Honor Bound will take you from the shores of Manhattan across the Hudson River to the Weehawken Dueling Grounds, site of the infamous Hamilton-Burr duel. On these historic grounds, you’ll negotiate the grievance between duelists… or fail violently. How will you reconcile reason in a society that values reputation above all else?
Honor Bound
New York City | Sep 7 & 8 | $120
Only $95 through August 23rd!
Saturday, Sept 7
12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm
Sunday, Sept 8
12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm
Meet at the Midtown/39th St Ferry
Play Location: Weehawken Dueling Grounds (transportation provided)
Tickets: $95 Early Bird
$120 after August 23rd
Event Information
Where: Midtown/W 39th St. Ferry (meeting point)
We will provide transportation via ferry and car to the Weehawken Dueling Grounds.
When: Six Runs, September 7 & 8
12:00 pm (2:50 return to Manhattan) each day
2:00 pm (4:40 return to Manhattan) each day
4:00 pm (6:40 return to Manhattan) each day
Cost: $120; $95 for Early Birds (order by August 23rd)
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Content Notices: Toxic Masculinity, Discussions & Consequences of Violence. No violence will occur “on screen.”
We won’t be addressing misogyny, sexism or racism explicitly in this game, despite these being significant components of many honor cultures. They are such huge topics that we didn’t feel we could represent them both sensitively and effectively, and that including them would detract from, rather than enhance, gameplay and our message.
Description of Play
You’ll meet at the Midtown/W 39th St. Ferry, where you’ll be greeted by your facilitator and introduced to the other participants. From there, we’ll take you across the Hudson River (just like many duelists in New York City history) to New Jersey, where we’ll have a half-hour workshop while looking out on the river. We’ll assign characters, discuss honor culture and determine the nature of the offense that caused the duel. Then we’ll transport you by car to the Weehawken Dueling Grounds, where you’ll receive your final instructions and then role-play the lead-up to the duel, from the initial challenge all the way to the duelist taking their marks. After about 90 minutes of role-play, the LARP will end, and we’ll have a short debrief where we discuss the themes of the LARP (and you find out who lived and who died). Then we’ll take you back to the ferry, and you’ll be back in New York within 3 hours of your departure.
Important Information
An Opportunity For An Experience
Honor Bound is a LARP and you’re telling the story through your play. As such, your decisions control the narrative. It’s possible you might decline to have the duel or end the LARP early. We respect the primacy of your play, so please understand that your LARP might end early or have an experience that differs remarkably from your pre-event expectations.
Toxic Masculinity
Honor Bound examines toxic masculinity from the perspective of those entrenched in Honor Culture. Although all characters will be masculine-coded, the LARP is designed for participants of all genders. Honor Bound has been played and enjoyed by many women and nonbinary people, who found the glimpse into toxic masculinity revelatory.
Costuming
Please dress appropriately for the weather and something you’ll be comfortable wearing while you role-play in public. It’s not recommended to wear period-appropriate clothing; however, previous participants have suggested you avoid strongly feminine-coded clothing to help with characterization. Most importantly, please wear comfortable shoes.
Accessibility
While the play area has stairs, we can easily shift to an area that is wheelchair accessible without any impact on play. The play area is a public park, so please let us know if you require any accommodations that might stem from that. We will have a car available to support various accessibility needs.
Advisories
Honor Bound is played entirely outdoors. We will provide ferry tickets to New Jersey and back, and car transportation to and from the Weehawken Dueling Grounds. We will also provide bottled water to participants and a ride to bathrooms if needed. There will be a chance to refill water bottles and use the restroom at the Port Imperial Ferry Station prior to the workshop.
This is a pervasive LARP; there will be non-participants present. We’ve play-tested the LARP in the area at the time and day of the week when you will be playing, and do not anticipate any issues. However, be aware that you will not be role-playing in private.
Finding the Ferry Station
The Midtown/W 39th St. Ferry is located at 12th Avenue and 39th Street, but it can be a little tricky to get to. We suggest you take either the 7 subway to the 34th St/Hudson Yards station or a train to Pennsylvania Station. Then walk down W 34th to 12th Avenue, cross the street, and turn north. Important: you can’t walk down W 39th to the Ferry (the Javitz Center is in the way); the closest cross street that goes all the way to the river is W 40th. We’ve included a map and a picture of the terminal below.
Inclement Weather Policy
Honor Bound is played outdoors in a public park in New Jersey. If we encounter severe weather where, in the opinion of the company, we cannot safely run the event, we’ll cancel the event and offer a rain date on Sunday, September 15. Participants will have 48 hours from the cancellation to confirm participation and select a time slot. Note: the rain date will be held at an alternate location in Manhattan.
Severe weather is defined as heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, high winds or historically high or low temperatures. We do not consider light rain or temperatures within seasonal expectations to be severe weather. If we’re expecting temperatures in excess of 89 degrees Fahrenheit or light rain, we will advise participants so that they can dress appropriately and bring an umbrella.