LARP and The Escapist

[JawsofFenrir]

Since my inception into the Escapist Team I have had quite a few discussions with staff about Live Action Role Playing.
I'd love to hear the Escapist readers thoughts, views and experiences with LARP. 2 cents time!

Go!

 

[omega 616]

I think larping is like people who have a clowder and hundreds of cat figurines, likes cat wooly jumpers and calls her clowder "my babies" ... it's ok to like cats but at some point it becomes a little too much.

I think larping is for people who are a little TOO into the whole fantasy setting.

Each to there own and all but I'll just not get involved, thanks.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I played in two Firefly Themed LARPs a few years ago that were pretty damn awesome, sort of like a Murder Mystery Party on Steroids and with, you know, actual thought behind it. I'm definitely not familiar with the whole "long term LARP" thing and seeing as Vampire The Masquerade LARPs are some of the most common I can see why that would scare/turn a lot of people away from the whole experience...

But man things like talking your way out of pulling a gun on a corrupt alliance officer and starting a gunfight in the last 15 minutes of the game that leaves half the players dead... yeah... that's awesome...

 

[Elfgore]

I've never participated in a LARP, but some kids at my school did what they called LARPing. They actually just ran around and beat each other up with nerf swords and various other nerf products.

I did see a LARP in a park when my friend and I were visiting his grandparents. Looked pretty fun, or maybe it was just fun to watch.

 

[Rose and Thorn]

I think larping is like people who have a clowder and hundreds of cat figurines, likes cat wooly jumpers and calls her clowder "my babies" ... it's ok to like cats but at some point it becomes a little too much.

I've never actually heard of the word "clowder" before. So I had to look it up, which is odd seeing as how I grew up with cat lovers in my family.

On topic, I actually used to play LARPing when I was a kid. We didn't call it LARPing mind you, we actually called it "like we're the characters" as we had no other idea what to call a game we play using our imaginations and mind, but act out with our bodies. Sometimes we would make our own fantasy worlds, or other times we would play in already created worlds, like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Pokemon or Dragon Ball Z.

We never used any actual objects, like plastic swords or anything. We just pretended to have weapons and stuff.

Would I try the adult version of LARPing? Sure I would, looks like fun. It reminds me a bit of D&D, sure you may not be actually running around, but you are playing a game in which you have to roleplay with other people and pretend to be in a fantasy world. I have been watching a lot of "itmeJP" on youtube and he has full D&D sessions he plays with friends on his channel. Sure I'd love to do something like that.

 

[ClockworkPenguin]

I've never participated in a LARP, but some kids at my school did what they called LARPing. They actually just ran around and beat each other up with nerf swords and various other nerf products.

I did see a LARP in a park when my friend and I were visiting his grandparents. Looked pretty fun, or maybe it was just fun to watch.

Me and my mates did that a couple of times in high school, but I've never done a proper LARP. Hitting people with foam swords is very cathartic, and being hit with them hurts more than you would expect. Nothing compared to paintball injuries though.

 

[omega 616]

I think larping is like people who have a clowder and hundreds of cat figurines, likes cat wooly jumpers and calls her clowder "my babies" ... it's ok to like cats but at some point it becomes a little too much.

I've never actually heard of the word "clowder" before. So I had to look it up, which is odd seeing as how I grew up with cat lovers in my family.

That nugget of information brought to you by "the big bang theory" which will make my day if any big bang theory haters read that. "fucking stupid show that mocks geeks just taught me something *incoherent mumbling*".

Wasn't there a film that had a lot of LARPing in? Had that guy from American pie ...

 

[Frothy Gibblets]

Wasn't there a film that had a lot of LARPing in? Had that guy from American pie ...

Yeah, Role Models I believe it was called. LARPing is also featured on an episode of Supernatural, with to me at least, quite an amusing pay off.

I've never played myself, much like DnD it's one of those things I wish I could do but for whatever reason never actually do it. A shame as it looks like a great amount of fun, fantasy during the day, drunken shenanigans at night.

 

[madwarper]

Yeah, Role Models I believe it was called.

Or, he could be thinking of Knights of Badassdom [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1545660/].

And, since 'tis the season, it's time for this gem.

Spoiler: I'M IN UR MANGER KILLING UR SAVIOR

 

[Johnny Impact]

I LARPED for exactly one session, a Vampire game a buddy of mine ran. I agreed to play in it as a favor to him. He told me I had to play a Tremere, so I came up with this well-dressed, incredibly educated, iron-willed asshole, sort of like a Bond villain.

LARPing is strange. People give you looks. You try to find a place that's urban enough for the dystopian Vampire schtick, but where there are no people. Not easy.

Can't say I cared for it. Driving all the way into town, wearing uncomfortable clothes (my guy wore a suit, so I did too, except I didn't have properly sized dress clothes), being cold, having to wait until dark, worrying about cops showing up to disperse us....I guess it added an element of realism, but overall it was very meh. Also don't like the rock-paper-scissors system it uses for tests.

 

[Spiridion]

On topic, I actually used to play LARPing when I was a kid. We didn't call it LARPing mind you, we actually called it "like we're the characters" as we had no other idea what to call a game we play using our imaginations and mind, but act out with our bodies. Sometimes we would make our own fantasy worlds, or other times we would play in already created worlds, like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Pokemon or Dragon Ball Z.

We did that when I was a kid as well, up until 11 or so. Like you, we were too young to be able to label it as LARPing, but that's effectively what it was. Most of the people I know now seem to have done much the same, so I always figured LARPing before you know what LARPing is is fairly common for kids as a form of imaginative play, though it could also just be the people I hang out with. LotR, Harry Potter and Pokemon being the most common worlds people would draw from. The folks I played with also got into Star Wars and the Legend of Dragoon.

As for LARPing as an adult, I think I may be a bit too self-conscious to do so as even boffering without becoming a character makes me nervous. But hats off to anyone who is into it. Seriously, good for you.

 

[Nickolai77]

Not something I would do personally, but I don't think any the less of those who do practice it. For one I am a little too self-concious. There was a LARPING society at my university, and their eccentricities were routinely mocked by other students.

Being interested in history as well makes historical re-enactment seem far more appealing as well. You have all the fun of LARPING (in the sense you get to "hit" people with swords and dress up) but you're doing also doing something socially beneficial as well by educating members of the public about history.

 

[sanquin]

I've been larping for 10 years now, and I'm only loving it more. As a kid it was more about being able to fight people and such. Kind of like playing medieval soldier. However as I got older things got more serious. Ingame relationships and responsibilities, deep plots tied in with people's ingame backgrounds, a full proper social and military structure, etc.

Don't get me wrong though. I mostly keep my larp to just the events themselves. I don't hide that I LARP, but I don't just go talking to people about it either. If the topic comes up I might, though I often just dismiss it as "improvised theater with a few hundred people". Which it basically is for the larps I go to.

I've also noticed that LARP is helping me overcome social anxiety. I've made friends within the group I LARP with, and some of them are helping me with social issues by nudging me into the right direction while giving support. For that matter, LARPers are just about the friendliest group of people I've ever met.

EDIT:
As a side note. From what I've seen of, for instance, American LARPs. It looks a lot more immature. More like a bit of playtime fun. Like they're just there to hit each other with foam weapons. I don't think I would enjoy a LARP like that.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Whenever I think of LARPing, I think of it as an evolution of playground play from Elementary School and I don't mean to that in a negative way. I spent hours, practically weeks of my childhood, running around with kids of similar age on the grounds being Pokemon trainers. It was a powerful happy feeling sharing a fantasy with others and just having fun.

If the opportunity arose, I'm sure I'd go for it. I mean, I have a Zapdos on my shoulder, I'm not afraid to be considered a nerd. ^.^

Always wanted to get into cosplay anyway. I've just never had the friends or the time for it appear at the right moment in my life yet.

 

[Tahaneira]

Eh... I have 'LARPed,' but in the same sense that someone who plays Cookie Clicker can say they have 'gamed.' I've dressed up in (pretty minimal and mostly functional) armor and run around hitting people with sticks encased in pool noodles, but that is the extent of my experience. I never got into the roleplay aspect of it, less because I wasn't interested but more because I never really had the time to invest in it. I've got nothing against people who do it, so long as they can avoid having ambulances show up and potentially shut everything down.

Although apparently one of the biggest LARPing conventions in the Northwestern US happens ten minutes from my house. I always tell myself I'll go down and have a look one day, and then forget and wind up doing something else when it's going on.

 

[UniversalRonin]

The LARPer I know (one, singular.) Says they do it for mainly to spend a weekend in a field getting drunk on mead dressed in medieval garb, with their group/ team/ clan/ whatever their collective calls themselves. But she says that it's a great laugh. And they do campaign battles along a story. It all sounded very Warhammer meets D&D without miniatures.

I'm sure it's a good laugh, and I'd never knock anyone for it, and I'm sure if I tried it'd be a laugh, but I much prefer to sit around with a few mates and have a round or two of diplomacy.



EDIT- though I suppose in a way, anyone who daydreams fantastical things from time to time would probably enjoy the chance to have a shared collective 'daydream' with a group of other likeminded people, and without such silly things as monthly fees, pay-to-win armour and swords, and the knowledge that if a server goes down, you can still keep playing. I mean, think about it, who hasn't daydreamed about being either a wizard, pirate, Robin Hood, ninja master or something from time to time...

 

[FalloutJack]

Not only do I not invest time into this pasttime, but I feel that I am the exact wrong person for that sort of action. Humans VS Zombies is one thing, since it's all Nerf weapons and stuff, but LARP is full contact with somewhat sturdy devices. If anyone can take something that is surrounded by foam and STILL make it hurt, it's me. You don't want to be around me play-acting any sort of physical action. The last time I did that, I caused an injury, I damaged a wall, and I got a noise complaint.

 

[Meilina]

I have to answer to this thread, because it seems you are only considering the American form of larp, which is nowhere near Nordic Larp (just search nordic larp and read from the first site that comes for more in detail description). Larp is especially in Scandinavia and Finland a really big thing, and it is more of an experiemental drama than running around with a nerf gun, which is more of a American, foam weapons more of German form of larp, real steal weapons are used by Russians (as seen by a Finn). Nordic Larp plays around immersion and emotion, as well as the depth of story is important to nordic larpers. Nordic larp can be anything from normal teenage life with a bunch of metatechniques (one defining characteristic of Nordic larp) to high fantasy with elves, orcs and humans at war.

I'm trying to put this as short as possible that people would read it, when at the same time I feel the need to write an essay in response to the nerf guns

 

[Meilina]

And in Denmark there is a school that teaches slowly learning kids with the help of larp, and I'm writing larps to use in education too, so it can be more than fights and foam weapons, as Nordic larp relies more on the participation of all players, they are seen equal and are encouraged to participate, so that they have an emotional bond to learning, which helps the students to learn and remember the stuff.

 

[JawsofFenrir]

I have to answer to this thread, because it seems you are only considering the American form of larp, which is nowhere near Nordic Larp (just search nordic larp and read from the first site that comes for more in detail description). Larp is especially in Scandinavia and Finland a really big thing, and it is more of an experiemental drama than running around with a nerf gun, which is more of a American, foam weapons more of German form of larp, real steal weapons are used by Russians (as seen by a Finn). Nordic Larp plays around immersion and emotion, as well as the depth of story is important to nordic larpers. Nordic larp can be anything from normal teenage life with a bunch of metatechniques (one defining characteristic of Nordic larp) to high fantasy with elves, orcs and humans at war.

I'm trying to put this as short as possible that people would read it, when at the same time I feel the need to write an essay in response to the nerf guns

I have been to Conquest of Mythodia and Drachenfest, as well as traveled to Finland for the Battlestar Galactica LARP "Celestra", so I'm on the same page on this subject. Glad to see a Nordic LARPer here on The Escapist forums.