Scott Bennett is “a very talented and insightful person”
- Beren Olean
I worked with the Pittsburgh-based LARP Crestfallen from 2022 to 2024, developing websites, creating props, offering business insight, editing, and writing. Below is the acknowledgment I was given in the 2024 Crestfallen Rulebook, which I formatted for print production through Mixam.
Thank you and credit to Scott for his technological knowledge and production skills. Not only has he built the core of our website, but he has also taken the time to show me several skills for creating web content, zines, rulebooks, and so much more. The assistance in creating professional-looking materials has been very helpful and a welcome addition.
Breaking Up With a Bad Game
I stopped working with the game because the owner, Beren Olean, allowed Vince Errico to spread a lie to prospective collaborators that I had “stolen” his LARP designs. I am unable to work with a game runner who is complicit in a harassment campaign against me and is unwilling to make amends for the harm that he facilitated.
Before I do any work with Crestfallen in the future, they will need to make public statements addressing the damage they caused to my reputation.
In the interim, I will be releasing some feedback and thoughts on the game as blog posts and will link them here.
📣 Public Statements 📣
Stipulations
After they make the public statements, I will only do work under stipulations that prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future, due to my lack of faith in the Crestfallen staff’s judgment and character.
Scott Bennett Stipulations
Kayte Rose Stipulations
My romantic partner Kathryn “Kayte” Rose sometimes assists me with props that have been used at Crestfallen. She is also unwilling to work with them in the future without the following stipulations.
Email Correspondence
Chaz Linn (a Crestfallen staff member) recommended that I contact Beren about working with him to update the Crestfallen rulebook and website. On September 10, 2026 (The First Kirkiversary), I sent the following email to Beren and cc’d the rest of the Crestfallen staff (Brittany Perry and Chaz Linn):
Beren,
I don’t like how I left things with this game and with you folks. I have spoken with Chaz and Brittany, but I feel that I owe you some explanation and hope that we can start working together again.
Would you have time in the coming weeks to stop by my place in Swissvale to talk?
Twenty days later, on September 30, 2026, I received an email from Beren stating the following:
Hello Scott,
I appreciate you reaching out regarding Crestfallen LARP. I apologize for the delay in the response, but I needed time to review my thoughts and speak with the staff regarding things.
This LARP is focused on moving forward. The past two years have been plagued with problems from focusing on other games and dwelling on the past rather than looking to the future. This season took a concentrated effort to push that negativity aside. The current wish for the game is to continue focusing on this slow but steady growth with positive feelings, new players, and new experiences.
You feel that an explanation is owed, but we do not believe that is the case. The actions and emotions that we are focused on at Crestfallen are the ones that take place during and about Crestfallen. From this standpoint it is currently our belief that attempting to actively work with you again would go against the best interest of our game and its players. You are a very talented and insightful person, but a difference in personal skills caused a number of issues. This was discussed during our staff meeting and a copy of this email will be available for our staff to review.
There currently isn’t any interest in a face to face meeting regarding these topics. There is no ill will from Crestfallen as an organization. Official comments will be reserved to some version of, “We are no longer working with Scott due to differing opinions/beliefs”. Individuals may have their own opinions that they are entitled to discuss privately and which is not Crestfallen LARPs business to dictate.
We hope for the best for you and appreciate the time and effort that you put forth while working with us.
I have contacted Chaz on October 4 2026 to figure out why, after he asked me to contact Beren, I was met with the above cold response.
I will post any updates to this saga as they happen!
Catalog of Work
- Developed the primary Crestfallen website and extensively cross-referenced the rules at crestfallenlarp.com.
- Developed the backend website for managing events and backstory at cfldangerden.netlify.app.
- Laid out the 2024 Crestfallen Rulebook for printing through Mixam.
- Designed ledger sheets for tracking in-game currency, for printing through Mixam.
- Laid out and performed data merge for equipment and item cards to be printed by Print and Play Games.
- Created a large dynamite prop with assistance from Kathryn Rose.
- Created a large wooden Boulderton Village CNC sign with the Shaper Origin.
- Created four shot glass displays for the Gno More Gnolls adventuring group.
- Edited Brittany Perry’s writing for the March 2024 event.
- Provided guidance on campsite rentals and business plans.
- Participated in incident response meetings and provided insight into the appropriate response to repeated verbal abuse by Vince Errico (sadly, this advice was disregarded).
- Laid out zines for printing through Mixam.
- Blogs the First Year
- Packing for Adventure
- All of Branch - The First Year
- Paragon Guide
- Fishing for Beginners (I also edited this)
- Intellectual Property and LARP
- Basic Builds
- Dracon Texts
- Paragons of Katalossa
- Laid out fliers for printing through Mixam.
- Event Schedule for the 2024 Season
- Crestfallen Soundtrack
- Paragon Bonuses
- Discord Chat Service Rules
- All-of-Branch Article Solicitation
- Designed the Katalossa fabric map to be printed by Contrado.
- Designed Faction Goals banners to be printed through Banners on the Cheap.
- Created reference cards for the Gathering and Surgery systems to be printed by Print and Play Games.
- Assembled a Crestfallen Boxed Set containing many of the printed works that I laid out and had produced.
- Designed Shadowbrand tokens that were manufactured by SendCutSend.
- Designed a large box that was manufactured by SendCutSend.
- Designed TOMY and LEX keycard props that were manufactured by SendCutSend.
- Created an induction- and LED-based grid prop using components from Adafruit and CNC with the Shaper Origin.
- Facilitated printing of stickers through Sticker Ninja.
- Put up dozens of fliers on local billboards as part of a grassroots advertising campaign.
- Laid out bookmarks for printing through Mixam.
- Added ribbons ordered from AliExpress to these bookmarks.