Scott Bennett is “a very talented and insightful person”
- Beren Olean
I worked with the Pittsburgh-based LARP Crestfallen LARP from 2022 to 2024, developing websites, creating props, offering business insight, editing, and writing. Below is the acknowledgment that was given to me in the Crestfallen rulebook that I formatted for print production.
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 refuse to do work without stipulations to 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 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
On September 10th, 2026 (The First Kirkiversary) I sent the following email to Beren and cc’d the balance of the Crestfallen staff.
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?
20 days later, on September 30, 2026, I received an email 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.
It is notable that refusing to make amends for facilitating a harassment campaign is considered “moving forward” with “positive feelings”. It appears that my long-held belief that Beren is a coward is well-founded, and he has not developed the “personal skill” of having a spine.
I am thankful that I got the experience to do the work that I did, but the inevitable failure of the game is something that I will celebrate with the others who have been harmed by the incompetence and cowardice of the Crestfallen staff.
Catalog of Work
- Development of primary Crestfallen website and extensive cross-referencing of rules at crestfallenlarp.com.
- Development of backend website for managing events and background at cfldangerden.netlify.app.
- Laid out 2026 Rulebook for printing through Mixam.
- Designed Ledger sheets for tracking currency during the game for printing through Mixam.
- Laid out and performed data merge for equipment and item cards to be printed by Print and Play Games.
- Created large Dynamite prop.
- Created large wooden sign for Boulderton Village.
- Created 4x Shot Glass displays for Gno More Gnolls Adventuring group.
- Edited Brittany Perry’s writing for 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 zine - I also edited this.
- Intellectual property and larp.
- Laid out fliers for printing through Mixam.
- Created reference cards for Gathering and Surgery systems to be printed by Print and Play Games.
- Assembled 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 large box that was manufactured by SendCutSend.
- Designed Keycard props that were manufactured by SendCutSend.
- Created induction LED prop.