- Written by Tom Burmeister
About Playframe
Playframe, led by Tom Burmeister, a seasoned educator and gaming expert, is committed to harnessing the power of gaming projects and events for educational, enrichment, and engagement purposes. Our diverse initiatives include running a weekly tabletop gaming club for teenagers and introducing virtual reality technology to care homes, all with the aim of framing play for positive causes. By partnering with organisations like Arts Active Trust, we have leveraged the immersive and social nature of role-playing games to create engaging experiences that foster creativity, encourage multidisciplinarity, and address various important topics.
Biosphere Guardians 2050
- A project supported by the International Opportunities Fund
Biosphere Guardians 2050 is one such ground-breaking youth-led project that envisions a positive climate future through the creation of a tabletop role-playing game. With the support of Arts Active and funding from Wales Arts International, Taith, and Erasmus Plus, we've brought together passionate young people aged 16-25 from Wales, Kempten (Germany), Sligo (Ireland), and Trento (Italy). Through online and in-person sessions, this international team is developing an accessible game and setting that serves as a catalyst for positive change. Challenging the prevailing sense of 'climate doom', while avoiding the pitfalls of unrealistic utopianism, the game envisions a future society that has taken active steps to address the global climate crisis through large-scale rewilding initiatives, creating huge carbon-negative regions worldwide. Our ultimate outcome is to create a role-playing publication that not only captures our participants' vision of a positive future but also empowers future players to envision their own 'Biospheres' and the historical context that shaped them. By doing so, we aim to inspire tangible action towards the necessary changes.
In February, March, and April 2023, we organised several trips for our participants. These excursions brought together the Welsh team and provided them with an opportunity to explore the project beyond online meetings. Our first stop was a brief walk and talk around Llantwit Major, a chance for people to meet for the first time and witness local environmental efforts such as the Wales Coast Path. Next, we ventured to the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), where we were privileged to witness the remarkable technological developments made to combat the climate crisis. Braving the UK public transportation, and snowy conditions, our dedicated group of 21 people embarked on a long train ride, really emphasising the need for sustainable and resilient travel options. Located in the south of Eryri National Park, we stayed in a modern eco-build conference space for two nights. Our participants had the opportunity to develop and showcase their skills in art, game design, discussion, and presentation over various game sessions and workshops. We also explored published role-playing systems for inspiration, ranging from tragic horror to melodramatic queer stories. Additionally, we were fortunate to receive an inspiring talk from veteran CAT spokesman Paul Allen, who shed light on the "yawning chasm" between the physical realism of what can be achieved and the political reality of what is being done. Finally, we solidified plans for the upcoming exchanges to Trento (and later in the year, Kempten), anticipating a dynamic melting pot of ideas and collaborations with our international partners.
A few weeks later, after an early morning coach ride to Birmingham, 10 of us caught our flight to Trento, Italy – a regrettable carbon footprint we are taking steps to offset. We arrived at the amazingly picturesque setting high up in the mountains - Nido (Nest) - a residential facility that would host participants from all four nations. The stage was set for a week filled with excitement and cultural exchange.
We embarked on exhilarating excursions that took us up the mountains, where we were greeted by awe-inspiring views. We explored the vibrant town of Trento, marvelling at its rich culture, impressive architecture, and efficient public transport system. During our visit, Emanuela Granata, an Ecologist from the MUSE science museum in Trento, shared her valuable insights about her work in the Trentino area, focusing on gathering biological data for their local biosphere. These experiences provided us with a fresh perspective on Italy's environmental landscape. Back at the Nest, we conducted intensive game development workshops; playtesting, roleplaying art, refining book structure, and mastering core mechanics like player careers, skills, and abilities. To celebrate our diverse backgrounds, each national group showcased their culinary talents, resulting in a delightful range of feasts featuring Italian pizza, German Spätzle, and a magnificent Welsh Cawl with Rarebit on the side.
These trips have been pivotal in shaping the Biosphere Guardians 2050 project. Notably, the relationships between international partners flourished, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. The increased interaction on our Discord platform following the trips is a testament to the powerful connections made. Moreover, we witnessed participants stepping up as Games Masters, even running adventures for some visiting facilitators (including Emanuela), some of whom had never played anything before.
You can browse the gallery of images from the Biosphere Guardians 2050 project at the bottom of this page.
Here are some quotes from the participants about their experiences with the project:
"It was such a great opportunity. Travel was so exciting and I experienced lots of new things along the way. I made so many new friends and learned lots about other cultures."
"The hike was a lot of fun and the trip into Trento was amazing! I also liked the introductory exercises, which worked really well to break the ice. I also liked when we got to pick our own games to play, a lot of people came out of their shell."
"It's great to see the exchange done through the perspective of role playing. I feel like that's a very rare exchange experience. That required us to actively participate in the project and so lead to a higher level of engagement. It's great that we could all work together. It was a friendly, welcoming environment and it didn't feel like the groups were all that different. We all mixed well!"
"The world feels so much smaller and bigger at the same time. I learned so much throughout the week about people's cultures and about the environmental effect on the Alps. I've certainly improved at role playing in many other ways. And I have a different perception of Italy."
There is still a significant journey ahead of us before the publication of the book, not to mention our upcoming trip to Kempten in October with the rest of the Wales team. However, we are thrilled to witness the game taking shape, with regular online meetings drawing strong attendance, local meet-ups taking place, and sub-groups forming around specific areas of interest such as art and science. These developments demonstrate the growing momentum and engagement within our community. The project has already exceeded our expectations, and we invite you to join us on this remarkable journey.
Biosphere Guardians 2050 was supported by the International Opportunities Fund. Find out more about the fund here.
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