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Live Action Role Play


Len posts: 1095 United Kingdom

Call it LARP, or LRP, this hobby really is just another form of role play.

I have rarely missed a big meet, but I did miss the last one. I was roped in to LARPing originally as a favour to another friend who used to be an assistant organiser in the days when we were on Meetup. Jason was short of 'monsters' and I reluctantly agreed to help out. It was a one off. Only helping him out as a favour and just this once. I used to think LARPing was taking role playing too far. I used to think it was just too much to expect someone who wanted to play an Elf to wear the ear prosthetics.

Yeah, right. I have LARPed pretty regularly ever since. First with Jason's events 'Eventyr', then instead of being a member of crew, I got roped in to actually playing. First Odyssey then Empire. Persuaded to play by players who I met as an NPC who interacted with their characters.

Four times a year I play Empire. I no longer have time to monster at Eventyr. The main reason is that I got offered the chance to be a cast member for The Vale. The Vale is a new LARP system and this last weekend was the first ever event.

How can I describe LARPing to someone who has never tried it? Well, it has been called cross-country pantomime. It is like actually being in a film. Where you simply play an adventurer that you made up, just as you would a tabletop character. Instead of rolling dice though, the fighting is done by actually fighting. Admittedly with rubber swords, rubber axes, rubber shields etc. But you don't just say "My character charges the Orc." You actually charge the Orc.

Playing in the crew is like being one of the DM's orcs, goblins, trolls etc. You can even be an NPC in town. The barman who offers you a pittance for clearing the rat problem in the cellar. The priest whose church has been attacked. Pretty much any NPC you ever dealt with has been done in LARP somewhere.

At The Vale I get to play one of the coolest characters I have ever played. The Vale will grow. It is held on a site owned and run by LARPers. A site that is like having your own special world.

Well, that is LARP for you. - Discuss.

Len



Bruce_C posts: 180 United Kingdom

Well, I think you know where I stand, firmly in the 'step too far' camp I'm afraid!

As much as I like Role playing games I'm not a die hard 'in character' roleplayer or actor. I enjoy playing tabletop games with folk who give it their all but my own play style is more about thinking about my characters motivations and expressing his or her actions without trying to act them out. I wouldn't feel comfortable in a LARP environment.

The photos I've seen from LARP events look great fun though, the costumes and gear looks amazing but I'm not sure hitting someone with a rubber sword (or arrow) would help much with the immersion. I do 'get' the desire to experience things first hand, I've just taken up archery and part of the appeal is wanting to try traditional bows ala historic (or fantastic) archers. Shooting a 55lb traditional recurve or longbow is very different from a



Bruce_C posts: 180 United Kingdom

(I think I broke the forum)

less than 30lb LARP friendly stick with rubber ends though.

Each to their own, as someone reminded me at B&P this weekend there are worse ways to spend our time and money!

Bruce



posts: 1

I used to love larping and would love to get back into it



Len posts: 1095 United Kingdom

I can heartily recommend both Empire and The Vale should you want to get involved.

Len


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