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Bug Out: A 'Nuke It From Orbit' LARP
Pike Community Campground, Woodland Park CO
$350 USD
Friday 8/28/2026 - Sunday 8/30/2026
Set in the scifi world of Nuke it from Orbit, Bug Out is a camping LARP with a hiking option. It tells the story of an attack on remote research outpost Hadley on Alpha Centauri, and the survivors’ escape through miles of rough terrain back to Control. Helian Maries, as well as Scientists and their families suffer incredible tragedy, and must come together to survive or die.
There are two ticket tiers to this LARP:
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Non-hiking tickets will play two characters. One destined to die at Outpost Hadley, and a second character at Control helping navigate the survivors back to base.
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Hiking Tickets will play a survivor of Outpost Hadley. Hiking ticket holders will be required to walk 8 miles through the Colorado Rockies carrying their own supplies to complete the game.
Pitch
Settlers in Alpha Centauri were the first to report sightings of possible extraterrestrial life. The Union quickly sent out a joint venture between the Advocate Families and the GenAgro corporation who set up a network of temporary research outposts. Their findings, while modest, were promising. Today, they are getting the scheduled influx of personnel that will really jumpstart the venture.
Research Outpost Hadley is closest to the reported hive of the extraterrestrials, and furthest away from HQ over miles of rough terrain. It is staffed by a combination of scientists, their families, and Helian Marines all working together for the good of the Union. There are a few settler colonies nearby, hardworking Primaries taking advantage of Union relocation grants to make a life for themselves outside of the over-populated Earth. The settlers usually keep to themselves as only the most self-reliant make a point of living this far from the sheltering arm of the union. However these colonies were the first to report sightings of the buglike extraterrestrials. How dangerous must something be for these fiercely independent colonies to ask for help from the government?
The vanguard of the research team have been pressuring their Marine guards to secure samples for them, as being able to dissect a corpse, or even better, study a live one in captivity, would be instrumental for their research. However, the soldiers have been unable to bring one down, and unwilling to try to capture one of the hostile beings alive.
Would you like to know more?
The Experience
Keep in mind that if you are signing up for a non-hiking ticket you will get to play two different characters. Think about whether you want to play similar characters, or wildly different ones. Also, ANY category can sign up for a hiking ticket. Just because you are some Scientist’s mother-in-law doesn’t mean you can’t be one of the few to escape!
What to Expect
Bug Out is an American Freeform LARP set in the world of the TT RPG Nuke It From Orbit, a futuristic, Sci-Fi setting, inspired by properties like Alien, Starship Troopers, XCOM, and Starcraft. This LARP will contain a combination of both corporate and government scientists, their families, and Helian Marines - the elite military force of the union. American Freeform is a Near-Nordic LARP experience where you recieve a characterter pre-written by staff with pre-established character ties. The focus of the game is on interpersonal relationships and interactions, but Bug Out combines this with activities such as science experiments, military drills, and Drumroll please hiking! This game aims to be intense, a type 2, perhaps even type 3 game, with high emotional stakes and intense physical components.
This is a camping LARP with an opt-in hiking component. Our site is at 8,400ft, and does not have power, air conditioning, or heat. You will need to provide your own sleeping equipment, and exposure to the elements is unavoidable. If you purchase a hiking ticket, you are opting in to walk 8-9 miles over the course of one day, carrying all your own supplies. While we will do everything in our power to ensure that you are safe and uninjured, there is always risk inherent when you go off the grid. By signing up you acknowledge that you may get injured, and if so, may not be able to continue the LARP.
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Ticket Tiers:
Non-hiking: You will play two different characters. One who dies in the ‘bug out’ from Outpost Hadley, and one who is at HQ helping navigate the hikers back to base. You are not required to do any hiking, however you will have the option of participating as an NPC to fight the hikers at certain points.
Hiking: Your character will escape the Research Station alive and trek through the mountains to return to HQ. This includes an 8 mile day hike at 8,400 ft. This ticket tier is not recommended for people with mobility issues, any type of asthma, or who are prone to altitude sickness. There are places on the trail where we cannot easily extract you should you be unable to complete the hike.
NPC: You will play a variety of bit parts according to story needs. We will work with you and your level of physical fitness to determine if you will be at camp only, or will participate in attacks on the trail.
How to Play an American Freeform LARP
All conflicts will be resolved via roleplay using tools given in the workshops. Each of you will be Directors of your character as they fulfill their part of a greater story. While pre-planning scenes is discouraged, pre-calibration is allowed if a known conflict is approaching and the participants want the execution to go smoothly. The objective should always be quick, deliberate decisions to keep the story moving.
A common fear for those not familiar with this style is rooted in trust. If a player approaches a negotiation in bad faith, it can spoil the experience for others. We will be demonstrating the effectiveness of these techniques in pre-game workshops, but also encourage you to focus on the practical truths. We are all here to provide a good time for each other, and the best stories will come from those who actively promoted the experiences of their scene partners. Those who make sacrifices (also known as Play to Lose) and give ground to make a scene fun for others find themselves propped up and sought after in the future. This is a community that builds on itself and lives on the reputation of its participants.
Player Resources
Announcements, discussion, and coordination will occur on Discord. Please join this server:
This page will have information on logistics and mechanics used in the game.
Safely enjoying the content of the weekend is paramount. This document will illustrate how players can navigate difficult themes.
This will help you determine what is appropriate to bring and wear for this LARP.
Meet The Team
The following individuals will be your team for this game. These folks will be representing facilitator characters to help support you at game, answer questions, and provide setting ambience for your faction.​​
