It's difficult to pin down exactly when LARP (Live Action Role Play) made its debut. Most sources cite two dates: 1966, with the creation of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and 1974 with the publication of the first Dungeons & Dragons rulebook. The fictional genres used vary greatly from realistic modern or historical settings to fantastic or futuristic eras. Long before the game begins, someone invents an imaginary world in which the action will take place. This can be a lengthy process that requires much detailed-thinking.
LARP is a cross between a game and a form of theater. It's designing a character or persona to fit into an imaginary world. Depending on the game, LARP can involve something almost like a sport where you battle the fights, or it can be just a lot of talk, but the general idea of it is that someone creates an imaginary setting with its own rules, themes, and ideology. You create a character that fits into that, and represent the character in that environment. It's a total immersion, and it involves a whole lot of people accepting an alternate reality at once. If LARP is something that you make the decision to try out, there are a few things to know which will make your experience enjoyable:
Choose the right add-ons-You will want to make sure you bring
the right pack of accessories with you. LARP accessories take the form of two roles: “In
game” and “out of game”. In game accessories are items that your character uses
to aid them in their adventures. Examples include a few pouches, a belt to hold
those pouches, a spell book to put spell scrolls in (this is generally a small
blank book). As for out of game items, these are items that you use as a
player.
Examples include a pen and notebook, or food and a drink.
The last out of game item(s) that you will need are required makeup and racial
accessories (if applicable). Certain races require specific items in order to
be played at LARPs
(Elves have pointy ears. Orcs have black skin with pointed ears. Dwarves
require a beard. You don’t want to miss out on playing your favorite race
because you don’t have the required items to do so.
Dress the part-The material of your armor is more
important than you realize. There are many different types of armor to choose
from when creating your character: Basic cloth garb, leather, plate, and chain
mail are a few of the many options. On paper, plate sounds like a fantastic
choice due to the added protection it provides. However, wearing heavier armor
is constructive and immobilizing. It does slow you down and takes getting used
to.
This will impact your performance out of the battle field so
fighting a faster, more agile opponent can quickly become very frustrating. For
your first time LARPing, it is recommended that you try out a lighter armor while you are still learning the basics of combat. Once you
become a better fighter then you can step up your grade of armor if you so
wish.
Know the rules-An important tip is to learn the
rulebook. Some LARP’s can get detailed when it comes to spell effects, or
combat attacks. The last thing you want to do is stop a large brawl simply to
ask someone what their attack did to you. So before stepping into a LARP, make
sure that you study that rulebook. Your character’s life just may depend on it.
Some
people classify reenactments as LARPs. Others feel like these events have a
different purpose than LARPs do. Reenactments often serve to re-create a
specific period or real historical event while LARPs generally incorporate
fantasy or science fiction elements. In addition, a reenactment is usually a
representation of a particular occurrence rather than a game.
Weaponry is vital-Just like armor, the style of your
weapon makes a big difference for the exact same reasons. When you are learning
the basics of combat, a large two-handed mace
is much harder to wield than a short sword due to the weight and length of the
weapon. Because of this, a smaller, faster weapon is recommended either with a
shield in your offhand, or dual wielding two smaller weapons.
This will make you much more effective out on the
battlefield. The material of the weapon is just as important as the weapon type
itself. Most LARP weapons are created in solid foam, or have a core made of
either Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
or wood with foam around them. There are many different types of foams which
can be used to make LARP weapons (sometimes referred to as Buffers). The two
most common are round foam and flat foam. It is recommended that a new player
uses flat foam for their first time LARPing.
Even though round
foam is stronger and more resistant to impact, flat foam is much lighter and
allows for greater control. For the exact same reasons mentioned above, flat
foam will make your experience more enjoyable by being easier to wield.
“Pen-and-paper
role-playing is live theater and computer games are television. People want the
convenience and instant gratification of turning on the TV rather than getting
dressed up and going out to see a live play. In the same way, the computer is a
more immediately accessible way to play games.” (Gary Gygax)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Tips for Those
Getting Into LARPing” by Devin Caldwell
·
“How LARP Works”
·
“Polyvinyl
chloride” from Wikipedia
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| LARPing |
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