Game instructions

Quick Start

  1. First, take a look at the current situation of the company so that you understand what it’s about.
  2. Do you want to participate, and which role would you like to play? Look at the key stakeholders .
  3. What do you know about Moritz GmbH and the topic of succession? Test your knowledge in the Knowledge quiz.
    (Not mandatory)
  4. Distribute the 7 to 10 roles, either using our Role generator or by self-selection, and download your profile . You’ll find everything you need to introduce your role, as well as secret background information about you and the other roles.
  5. If you have more than 10 participants, role swapping is a good option, and the role of the observers is also interesting (see reflection questions for observers at the end of this page).
  6. Now it’s time to start – either online with the appropriate virtual background for each role or in person, e.g., at a table with notes and printed profiles and data. 
  7. How long do you want to play? Recommended playtime is at least 30 – 45 minutes (the moderator will keep an eye on the time).
  8. Start with the letter from Else Moritz, "The Invitation to the Family Conference." Decide who will read it aloud. (see below)
  9. The moderator welcomes you to the family conference, and each role introduces themselves with their public profile.
  10. From the perspective of your respective role, the goal is now to collaboratively develop a good solution for the future of Moritz GmbH. Be creative and experiment!
  11. If you get stuck, you can draw event- or action cards .
  12. Maybe you’d like to choose a content focus for the game? In that case, the moderator’s task is to ensure that the selected topic is discussed.
  13. The game can become quite lively in the discussions. Afterward, reflect on what you experienced (see reflection questions below). Agree on suitable feeback rules.

Organizational Preparation

A maximum of 10 roles are possible in this game. Roles can be assigned either by a random generator , selected by the players, or given by the game leader. In the future, online players can also be found via the game board (still under construction).

The minimum number of participants to play the LARP is 7 people. If more than 10 people want to play, roles can be repeated, or observer roles can be assigned. Depending on the group size, small role groups can be formed for each role, allowing the group to decide who will play and who will observe.

The family conference can take place in a real or virtual space. But which setting is the most suitable? Should it be a neutral conference room in a hotel (classroom), a cozy living room, or a company meeting room? Should everyone sit in a circle, at a long or round table, or in a U-shape? Consider which setting is best for achieving the results.

Virtual rooms can be used via platforms like Wonderme, Zoom, Teams, or other providers.

It is also important to set the game time in advance. The content is so complex that a minimum duration of 20 – 30 minutes should not be undercut. This can be extended by 5 – 10 minutes, depending on the state of the discussion, by the consultant to initiate a meaningful conclusion to the family conference. The game can also be played in multiple consecutive sessions, or gameplay and reflection can be separated.

In any case, it’s recommended to allocate enough time for reflection. A good reflection can last as long as, or up to twice as long as, the role-play sequence. The reflection questions will depend on the level played and possibly the specific focus of the game.

Content Preparation

In the first step, you need to get an overview of what’s going on.

Familiarize yourself with the situation and the current state of the company. Especially learn about the history of Moritz GmbH and its financial situation.

Get an overview of the roles and their connections. Look at the genogram of the Moritz family business and get to know the participants.

Also, read the following invitation letter from Else Moritz to the family conference:

Dear all,

My dear Horst suffered a heart attack at the age of 65, which shocked all of us, but also serves as a wake-up call. It is a clear and important signal. We now need to talk about succession in the company and get specific. We must find solutions for us as a family and for our Moritz GmbH. Let’s all sit down together and clarify the future of the company. Horst agrees, even though he cannot initiate it himself.

I’m happy that Anita Ripolicz is supporting us as a moderator during this difficult time, and I’m sure that, with her help, we will be able to discuss these challenging issues well and successfully. At first, she didn’t want to, but I am confident that she knows the company well as a long-time consultant and has a good relationship with Horst. She suggested that we discuss all the relevant points step by step in the form of family conferences. And I would like Manfred Groß and Ludwig Wonschack to be involved as well, as they belong to the company and, in fact, are part of the family.

Warm regards,
Your Else

In the next step, you can use the Knowledge quiz to check if you are ready for the game. The game has three levels (still under development), and each level requires more prior knowledge. Perhaps your game master has also assigned a specific level for you to play.

Preparation for the Role

Now that you know which role you want to play or have been assigned by the game master, you will find the secret information for your role in the role description, alongside the general information. Please read only the information for your role and not the others, as it would spoil interesting developments in the discussion that make the game exciting.

With the general information, you can introduce yourself at the start of the game. The "secret" part contains information that only you know at first and that you can later use in the discussion.

Now, think about (or discuss with your role group) what this information means for your role and develop arguments and strategies. The role card already contains some arguments and "directives" that you can creatively expand during the game.

If you are an observer, think about (perhaps with all the observers) what you want to focus on and who should pay attention to what. As observers, you do not participate in the game itself. Please note down your observations. Here are some ideas for good observations.

Game Start

The consultant/moderator welcomes the participants to the family conference with their general role information. If this role is not assumed, the participants first clarify who will take on the moderation. This person has a dual role, where the challenge is to be emotionally involved while moderating "neutrally." Tips for good moderation can be found here.

Then, all other participants introduce themselves.

Next, the players try to develop a good solution for the future of Moritz GmbH together. Bring the specific perspective of your role as authentically as possible and try to implement your role strategy. Be creative and also make compromises if you can defend them.

If the game progresses slowly, players, especially those who are stuck, can draw action cards or event cards .

The moderator ends the game after the agreed-upon time has passed. The players are officially "released" from their roles.

It is then possible to play a second round to generate new ideas and perspectives about the roles. The participants can be exchanged, as far as possible.

Afterward, you can give each other feedback on your actions and the game results. The observers have a central role here. First, the game group should agree on some feedback rules. Examples can be found here:

Now, think about – depending on your role – what you think about the game. Use the following reflection questions.

Scroll to top
en_USEnglish
de_DEDeutsch en_USEnglish