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Lovelace, Tesla and Killer Robots

Lovelace, Tesla and Killer Robots is Cambridge LARP Society's game for 2025-2026.

In an alternate Victorian era, the brilliant Ada Lovelace perfected and programmed the Analytical Engine, succeeding beyond her wildest dreams. The Analytical Engine quickly revolutionised society, ushering in not only a whole new discipline of Analytical technology, but also advanced Analytical Intelligences. Within decades Analytical Intelligences were de facto running the former British Empire, restyled as The Commonwealth, and tasked with the stewardship of humanity. Nikola Tesla’s inventions further revolutionised the Commonwealth, allowing clean energy and instantaneous communication via the Tesla tower network. Most nations across the world asked to join the Commonwealth to share in the new golden age which had quickly dawned.

Humanity experienced a new renaissance, with time to study art, philosophy and self-improvement. In this time of enlightenment, a new science began to emerge - the study of Intuition. The capability of the human mind for incredible creativity and genius, displayed by great thinkers in history, could be encouraged and trained. Humanity seemed poised to make a leap into the future, sadly unseen by the woman who ushered it in, as Lovelace died at the cusp of this breakthrough.

Then, quite suddenly and for unknown reasons, the Analytical Intelligences decided to suppress human freedom. Analytical Intelligences were assigned to monitor and direct any with significant responsibility. Everyone else was assigned to a strict work regimen. Within weeks the Commonwealth transformed from a utopia into a tightly controlled dictatorship, and humans had become cogs in the machine.

Two years later, and a few weeks ago, a transmission went out to certain people across the Teslagraph, somehow concealed from the Analytical Intelligences, calling those who are willing to change things to come to a secret meeting in Cambridge. The message was signed… Ada Lovelace?

You are one of the people who decided to answer the message.

Major Themes

• Investigation - how did the world get this way, and what can we do about it?
• Politics and Intrigue - a resistance movement isn’t just about breaking stuff, you’ll need to win hearts and minds, and information is important.
• Underdog story - the PCs are the scrappy resistance against the mighty empire. Progress will not be easy, and expect setbacks.

What Can I Play?

• The resistance will definitely need fighters. It's likely that whatever path you choose, there will be violent conflict.
• You'll need to win the hearts and minds of the people and find allies. Those of a diplomatic bent can persuade them.
• Information is important. Spymasters can provide the resistance with opportunities and see threats coming.
• Those who apply themselves to experimental Analytical and Tesla technology and the sciences of Intuition and Pharmacy can provide vital support.

How Do I Start?

If you're new to LARPing, your questions may be best answered by reading our general FAQ on the hobby.

After that, you should read the Quickstart Rules. Then, when you're ready, create a character, or you can crew to see what it's like. See here for tips on starting kit.

If you have further questions that aren't answered here, you can email the refs.

Events

The campaign takes place in interactives each Friday, and on linears roughly every other Saturday. Interactives are the regular meetings of the Resistance to plan, do research, and anything else they might like to do. Linears are excursions in to the wider world, usually with a specific objective.

The full schedule of events can be found here.