Practical
When/Where
The event location is: Forum Bergheim-Reinhausen, Alfred-Hitz-Platz 5, 47228 Duisburg in Germany.
The game will take place on the evening of 24.05.2026 from 16:00 - 24:00. (Monday the 25th being a national holiday in Europe.)
You can arrive Sunday evening from 13:00.
If you played Run 5, you can of course stay on site.
The core game time including plots will be from 18:00 until 22:00. The location will be available for play until 24:00
Food and Accomodation
The game is held in a decorated indoor event-location. You can sign up to sleep at the location after the larp (for free). We have 60 "bunk beds" outside in an insulated tent - you must bring your own sleeping gear.
There will be ingame themed food like ramen noodels, sweets and snacks (vegetarian/vegan) that you can buy with offgame money.
You will be able to buy softdrinks from our ingame bars. There will be no alcohol allowed during the game.
Language
The game will be bilingual in English and German. You can speak with your peers in any language you like, but please try to switch to English if you encounter someone who does not speak your language. The official game language will be English and all documents, characters, written communication and the app will be in English.
Amount of Players
We can host up to 100 participants + a few NPC roles. (First come first serve)
Participation
If you want to participate, please sign up. We will ask you a lot of questions about what you want to play. If you want to play in an existing Greylight faction, we will help you with additional material and provide a Discord channel where you can connect with your co-players in your faction.
YOUR TICKET
Participation fee: 42€
Incl. 8€ free consumption. (non refundable)
Stay overnight: 0€
You can use one of the existing "Bunk Beds" for free.
Breakfast & Lunch:
each 5€
We'll provide lunch if you stayed overnight from Run 5 (24.5) and a buffet of breakfast items (25.5). All (Vegan/Vegtarian) and of course: coffee.
You'll have to sign up before the Game, and will pay your fee on site. (PayPal or Cash)
Requirements
If you want to play with the ingame cyberspace App. You'll need a modern smartphone with WiFi capability and Chrome or Firefox installed.
Some kind of cyberpunk costume.
Character type requirements:
- Ascended: Long ears and white UV line makeup. Optional: golden or siver headware.
- Mage: Blue UV line makeup.
- Rifter: Some kind of neon colored makeup. Optional: bodymodification or prosthetics.
- Android: Some kind of motionless face mask.
The World
Greylight 2142 is a live action game set in a cyberpunk world, where you can experience oppression, greed, ambition and loss. In this world, magic has awakened and is real.
Diffraction
Diffraction is an evening event in the city block GR-L8, called the Greylight district, a small part of a big megaplex. People go about their own day to day lives and struggle with the problems of a dystopian cyberpunk world.
Technology
A cyberpunk, transhuman fantasy, in which technologies like Cyberware and Conciousness transfer are not fiction any more.
Human Types
Through the emergence of magic, new types of humans were created - the Rifters were an random emergence, an accident, causing a global crisis, whereas the Ascended were made by the most wealthy individuals to be able to use magic and be perfect .
Magic
Magic has awakened in the world, giving those who are gifted unimaginable powers. Regulation of this has become key, making sure these gifts are only used by those who are wealthy enough to afford it.
Androids
Androids - mindless humanoid robots - started to become sentient in the awakening, causing questions about their rights and how they should be treated.
The Game
Visit the district GR-L8 and experience the Greylight world: Freestyle your game, experience the crowded city center, engage with corporation schemes, relax in the garden, eat at the noodle bar or just watch the buzz of the district.
The event takes place in the “Greylight Prelude” location with all its charm and grit.
The district is open for everyone: team members, previous players, newly interested participants and long-time watchers who first want to dip their little toe into the Greylight puddle.
Follow us and feel the mood
Discord Server
Join our discord server to connect with other players and stay updated.
Pinterest Gallery
You'll find all the aesthetics and inspirational art for our game here.
Spotify Playlist
Listen in and get into the mood of the world of 2142.
Experience
The core experience should be to exist in the cyberpunk city - we will provide the world and backdrop for the drama you bring yourself. There will be some plot you can participate in, but you can also ignore it without any problems.
The larp is set in an alternate timeline of Greylight - on the other hand some things are the same as in The Prelude, some things are completely different. Occasionally, characters from the Prelude will exist as NPCs, but otherwise existing characters are not allowed.
No one is allowed to play their character from one of the other Prelude Runs.
Existing costumes, however, may of course be used.
The kind of experience depends strongly on the way of participation you choose:
Join the open game (free characters)
The default: players come with their own character and do their own thing. This is primarily about experiencing the world, bringing your own game - and the plot allusions we provide.
Characters can come from anywhere in the Greylight world and pursuing their own goals.
Previous participants have the option to continue their existing character's story
A few month have passed, since the last event. Try to avoid playing on fixed timelines, play what feels right.
Play in a faction
Players can sign up for one of the existing factions from the Greylight lore. These have a number of existing roles (e.g. manager, drug cook, ...), but no pre-written characters. Faction members will be given the opportunity to communicate and plan their game in advance via Discord. They will also be expected to read and follow the faction's design paper beforehand. (Will be provided)
The preexisting factions all come with their own game experiences. These will be planned with the people in charge.
Examples:
Iagatomi: Cataloging and acquiring suspicious androids.
Falcon Security: Providing security and oppression (especially to Rifter characters).
Everlive: Require security and possibly an "empty" body. Offer consciousness backups and manipulation.
You can find the existing Prelude factions available at Diffraction down below.
Citizens of the District
If you want to play a citizen of the Greylight district, you are free to bring your own character concept, but will have the option to connect with your neighbours beforehand. You will have to be a little more careful to create a character that actually fits in.
Your own Group
Players can come with their own character group. In some cases we can even provide them with a space for it. Whoever wants it, can ask for it, and the first ones who ask for it (and whose concept fits reasonably well) will get it.
All factions are intended to be a point of interest and provide some form of gameplay. Some of the factions are essential to the game, in which case they will will be led by an NPC - a team member, or a player with prior experience. Each faction must have at least one person who has played Greylight before or is on the team and therefore knows the faction a bit. No special plot will be provided for the factions, but there exists enough lore to generate play from within.
Character Types
You can choose from 5 different character types to play. Each character type comes wich certain requirements and themes.Humans
about 70%
Short description
Humans make up the majority of the population and can be found in all places where life can thrive. They can be found in all social classes with all kinds of alignments.
Themes
Humans don’t have special themes associated with them.
Playing as a human is the default choice.
Mages
about 2-3%
Short description
With “The Upturn”, magical power came into this world - some people were bestowed a large amount of power, no matter where they were from or what their place in the world was. They discovered their ability to manipulate this new fabric of reality. Their magic is ritualistic, following certain learned rules.
Usage of magic is highly controlled and every mage needs to be registered for all their capabilities.
Themes
Power, Responsibility, Exclusion
Playing as a mage will be limited, and has to be approved by the Greylight team.
You can find costume and makeup requirements in the Style Guide. You'll get acces to the detailed Mage Design Paper after you have been assigned the Mage role on our Discord server.
Rifters
about 15%
Short description
After an event called “The Rift”, a large amount of humans worldwide have developed neon spots on their face and hands. With these they can form a magical connection of emotions and thoughts. Ostracised and excluded for a long time out of fear, they became outcasts before being slowly integrated back into society.
Playing a Rifter means you’ll experience that oppression first hand, but you’ll also be part of a strong and loyal community of like-minded beings.
Themes
Discrimination, Identity, Community
Playing as a Rifter comes with detailed makeup requirements.
You can find costume and makeup requirements in the Style Guide. You'll get acces to the Rifter Design Paper after you have been assigned the Rifter role on our Discord server.
Ascended
about 2-4%
Short description
“Ashen are not born - they are made” -- that is true - and usually there was a huge amount of credits involved. They call themselves the Ascended but are often refered to as Ashen. They are genetically engineered super-beings, all capable of wielding magic and all projecting an aura of presence and authority. That also makes them the most ruthless and arrogant capitalists in the world.
Playing an Ascended means you´ll be a figure of authority wherever you go. You’ll look down on everyone else, and always be involved in cutthroat interactions with other Ascended.
Themes
Hubris, Discrimination, Intrigue
Ascended characters can only be played after contacting the organizers.
You can find costume and makeup requirements in the Style Guide. You'll get acces to the Ascended Design Paper after you have been assigned the Ascended role on our Discord server.
Androids
about 2-3%
Short description
Mass-produced as a cheap workforce, a small percentage of the robots have started to awaken, thinking for themselves and eventually getting at least very basic rights, though still being heavily oppressed
Playing an awakened android will be a very tough experience - you will be oppressed in a lot of ways, and will have to learn about the world around as well as within you.
Themes
Self-Discovery, Oppression, Belief
Playing as an Android comes with sepecific costume requirement.
You can find costume and makeup requirements in the Style Guide. You'll get acces to the Android Design Paper after you have been assigned the Android role on our Discord server.
Factions
You can choose an affiliation of different factions to play. Every faction has their very uniqe themes and requirements.Iagatomi
Corporation
Short description
The largest manufacturer and maintainer of electronics and androids. They are trying to control the spread of the android awakening.
Playing part of them puts you smack in the middle of all the issues regarding androids - maintenance technicians who directly work with them to suppress their development, internal investigators who try to find out if someone got too attached to the subjects, etc.
Themes
Suppress Development of others, Modern Slavery, Subversion
Read Moreexample character outline
Everlife
Corporation
Short description
They are a local, small corporation manufacturing mag-tech equipment and handling the consciousness transfers in the district.
As part of Everlife you will have to make a lot of very hard and complicated decisions - lately, business has not been running well and something needs to be done to secure the corporation's future. Where will you turn?
Themes
Responsibility, Moral, The Price of Progress
Read Moreexample character outline
Citizens
Street
Short description
The people living in the Greylight district are the ones most affected by all the struggles. They have no power here - but they have each other.
Playing a citizen will mean that you are part of a community that is a playball of the big players - they don’t have a lot of control over their own life and every bit of control they have has to be earned. They will have a lot of dramatic play with each other - their focus are the personal stories and relationships with the others.
Themes
Ambition, Community, Survival
Read Moreexample character outline
Transference
Street
Short description
A small tattoo studio run by local Rifters. Though beneath the glowing neon sign over its entrance there is more than just place to get your neon ink. It is an important community hub for all Rifters of the district. Here is where their culture lives. Here they can meet up, no matter if they are Kror or Waver. Tattooists are important community facilitators for all Rifters, and this is where they work.
Playing a character in the tattoo studio means that you will generally have a very social play. You will know many people and many people will come to you. It also means that you run a business and will actually need to engage with players and "tattoo" them.
Themes
Culturual Appropriation, Capitalism, Two sides of a coin
Read Moreexample character outline
Galen Medical
Street / Corporation
Short description
A small corporation which offers health services to rich and poor alike. “Humanity” is one of their founding pillars.
Being part of them, you’ll be someone who places their trust into higher ideals than themselves, you’ll be an optimist who thinks they can change the world to the better. You might be a First Aid Officer, helping when the need is most dire, fulfilling emergency contracts (customers who activate emergency distress beacons) and making sure folks get the care they need or a doctor stationed in the HQ, who helps the poor and also the rich and famous.
Themes
Altruism, Care, “Defiance against the Status Quo”
Read Moreexample character outline
Falcon Security
Corporation / Crime
Short description
Falcon provides A-Level security in the whole Greylight district. That is - for all areas they are paid to “protect”, or at least “squeeze offenders for their last credits”.
Playing a character in Falcon means you’ll be often out on the streets, patrolling and making sure everyone is safe - well, at least that everyone is punished properly. Falcon always has to strive a balance - push the street too hard and they’ll push back - push it too light and they’ll erupt.
Themes
(Ab)use of Power, Belonging, Despotism
Read Moreexample character outline
BMCI
corporation / crime
Short description
The BMCI (Bureau of magical cooperation and investigation) is the only provider of magical oversight in the megaplex. They are responsible to find and deal with unregistered magic and investigate unlicensed usage of magic.
Playing a character in the BMCI means that you will have a lot of power at your disposal (magical and legal). You will play closely together with other investigators and will have intrigue as well as investigation play.
Themes
Success and Failure, Power Abuse, Control
Read Moreexample character outline
Street Gangs
Crime / Street
Short description
As part of one of the Diffraction specific street gangs, you’ll play those who are outside of society and live in their own dark corner of the district. Unwanted and feared by society at large, they still enact a certain attraction to a lot of the “normal” citizens of the district.
Their exclusion brings a strong community to them, and through shared experiences they have created their own street culture.
Themes
Discrimination, Camaraderie, Freedom
You can create your own streetgang group with some friends for the Diffraction. Your concept has to be approved by the organizers.
example character outline
Chrome Marauders MC
Street / Crime / Biker Gang
Short description
The Bikers are notoriously anti-everything -- anti-magic, anti-Rifter, etc. They run a protection racket on the citizens but also operate a small workshop for cyberware maintenance.
Playing a biker will put a strong code at the centre of your being. You’ll be part of a war of ideologies that splits the group apart and your means of communication are usually physically in nature.
Themes
Discrimination, Old vs. New, Camaraderie
Read Moreexample character outline
Larp Style
Themes
The game draws on many different themes - some of them from classical cyberpunk worlds, others from the unique issues that a sci-fi fantasy world brings. Every group and character will have their own themes, but the main themes pervading the game are: Discrimination, Oppression, Consequences
Safety
There will be a dedicated offgame room and the organizers will always be available in case of emergency. For more information, look up our Code of Conduct.
Characters
All the players create their OWN characters based on a Greylight faction or outside of it, but within the lore of the Greylight universe. No previously played characters from one of the Runs are allowed! (of course you can reuse your costume)
Sex & Gender
We want a world where everyone can be badass. There are no clear roles or even rules for different genders and society has progressed to a point where what would be considered a liberal view nowadays is the norm. Therefore, your character's gender will pose no boundaries on how you express yourself in terms of costume.
Traditionally, classical Cyberpunk aesthetic is known for a hyper-sexualized aesthetic, especially of women. This is something we clearly do not want to be a theme at Greylight 2142. In our world, everyone can dress any way they want and nobody will interpret any sexual intention into it. Please consider this when putting together your costume - aim for expressing your style and identity, not at appearing hot.
Furthermore - there is no defined beauty standard - everyone has their own style.
For more information, see Inclusivity
What We Aiming For
Live action games are always a collaboration between us, the designers/writers and you, the participants. Hence we want you to know what we aim for with this game, what kind of world you will help create.
THEMES
EXPERIENCE
YES
NO
classism
oppression
hyper-captalism
identity
responsability
struggling against an unchanging system
sexism
sexual assault
gender phobia
offgame discrimination
a game full of interesting, personal stories
experiences you will be able to share with others afterwards
a rich world, which deals with themes of responsibility, oppression and discrimination
taking down and reforming an oppressive system
a world where everything is black and white
clear sides, with a huge conflict between “good” and “evil”
stories which are about “winning” for the player
and for the characters
a game which is about gunslinging and massive shootouts
Designpaper
!
There is no specific Designpaper for Greylight 2142 - Diffraction. The game is based on our Weekend-Larp experience Greylight 2142 - The Prelude
You can read the Designpaper for the Main Game Prelude here, if you want to learn more about the WORLD. Note that the design, rules and many practical aspects of the game will be slightly different to The Prelude. Especially the Timing and Character selection/casting is different.
Additional Documents
Here you can find more documents with additional topics and details about the world of Greylight.
Meet the Greylight Team - Run3 & Run4
A lot of new people have joined the Greylight team, and some are pursuing other projects.
This list will be updated soon.
Here you can learn a bit about the people who created the Greylight 2142 - the Prelude live action game Run3 & Run4. These wonderful people worked for months and even years to ensure the project's success. If you hover over the images (PC) or tap them (mobile) you can learn a bit about them.
Extended team and helpers
Many more amazing people helped us to create Greylight 2142 - directly before, during and after the game.
Faction interior design
Andreas von Knobloch
Christina Klages
Christian Hellinger
Mirko Sager
Location buildup
Daniel Holtschneider
Tichi
Mel Strunk
Constantin Bär
Ranus Magnus
Kim
Daniel 2
Jörg (Graffiti artist)
Christina Klages
Christian Hellinger
Andreas von Knobloch
Runtime support
Jessi Jüngel
Mike Segner
Christina Klages
Birgit Wächter
Devin
Teppich
Constantin Bär
Helper & former team
Eva Leidecker (former core team - organization & communication)
Yvonne (former core team - organization & interior design)
Jürgen Evans (Arduino Support)
Carmilla (original app work)
Devin (Writing)
External helpers
Hagen Hoppe (Photography)
Patrick Waldmann (Videography)
Axel Mayer (Printing Materials)




