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 chromedog wrote:

 Alex Kolodotschko wrote:
They also swing at 'Gentlemen's height'.

Oh yeah ...

Before we left, we were all reminded to pack a "cup" (groin protector). One of our group didn't and copped a tolchocking to the yarbles. Went down like a bag of spuds.

Polearm to the lovespuds, it's no laughing matter.

How are the weapons for larp made anyway guys. Guessing they have a solid core with some foam coating. Have only ever seen and played around with a mate steel swords from re enacting.

 xKillGorex wrote:
Ah sorry Frazzled, talking about airsoft guns, don't know what they are classed as in the states but in the uk they come under Rif class.

As in replica imitation firearms. Over here we have to prove that we are genuinely using them for airsoft before we are allowed to buy a weapon by playing so many games then our details are put on a retailers database. Also gives us a kind of defence if we are pulled over by police on the way or home from a game site.

Thats interesting. What else would you use them for, or is the scene from SNATCH a real thing?

 xKillGorex wrote:
How are the weapons for larp made anyway guys. Guessing they have a solid core with some foam coating. Have only ever seen and played around with a mate steel swords from re enacting.

The general manner is as you described.

Carbon fibre pole as the core (flexible for impact absorption, not especially prone to shattering), then foam over the top, latex finish.

 xKillGorex wrote:
Ah sorry Frazzled, talking about airsoft guns, don't know what they are classed as in the states but in the uk they come under Rif class.

As in replica imitation firearms. Over here we have to prove that we are genuinely using them for airsoft before we are allowed to buy a weapon by playing so many games then our details are put on a retailers database. Also gives us a kind of defence if we are pulled over by police on the way or home from a game site.

That explains why you refer to them as guns. My apologies. I compete with real guns so to me airsoft guns are toys. And Damn I didn't know you guys had to justify airsoft guns too.

No worries chap, part of that is my fault too as have used firearms many moons ago and treat them like weapons.

You can buy a two tone colour gun in the uk if you are over 18, but mostly they are the cheap 20 quid plastic toys unless you pay the seller to spray a black gun bright green. ? But yeah for a rif you have to prove to a degree that you arnt some idiot that wants one to scare people in the streets.

yellowfever wrote:

 xKillGorex wrote:
Ah sorry Frazzled, talking about airsoft guns, don't know what they are classed as in the states but in the uk they come under Rif class.

As in replica imitation firearms. Over here we have to prove that we are genuinely using them for airsoft before we are allowed to buy a weapon by playing so many games then our details are put on a retailers database. Also gives us a kind of defence if we are pulled over by police on the way or home from a game site.

That explains why you refer to them as guns. My apologies. I compete with real guns so to me airsoft guns are toys. And Damn I didn't know you guys had to justify airsoft guns too.

Same here. Nothing wrong with airsoft mind, just different sports, and the statement drew confusion.

Haven't been in years sadly, but there was a time I went to a number of events. All Lorien Trust related in the UK, was briefly a Viper and then Tarantulas, even had a rank for a bit in the last few events.. but alas time and moving, new family all broke any further attempts to attend.

I did note just a few weeks back LT is still going, but I noted their main event of the year 'the Gathering' has moved to where they held two Moots each year that set up the story for the Gathering, not sure if that is due to lack of numbers these days though, or they could no longer access the previous site in August.

My eldest two sons do like my weapons I have left over from that time though.

If I ever did a LARP, it'd be this:

So are the any rules to weapon use, are they checked before an event starts, what's to stop an idiot putting an iron bar inside of something for an extra bit of wack.

I mean hey it could happen. During a re enactment event that a mate was at last year they had to stop a match as someone took a live bladed weapon on the field. !

Before every battle at Curious Pastimes, and before Time In on the first day is Weapons Check.

Approved checkers, who know their stuff, give a your weapon a feel up - checking for loose bits, seeing if the core has come away inside, and generally making sure your chopper meets the safety standards. My shield failed last year, as the binding on the grip was too loose - so I borrowed someone else's spare.

However, it's sadly not foolproof, hence the bellend with a Rapier wrapped in pipe foam being sent home.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

 xKillGorex wrote:
How are the weapons for larp made anyway guys. Guessing they have a solid core with some foam coating. Have only ever seen and played around with a mate steel swords from re enacting.

The general manner is as you described.

Carbon fibre pole as the core (flexible for impact absorption, not especially prone to shattering), then foam over the top, latex finish.

We do a cloth "sock" as a finish. One guy in our group uses actual socks. We bust his chops all the time for it. The rest of us sew the material. We get lots of compliments at events for the quality of our toys. Also, grab a "Gorg" weapon if you live in the states. Pricey, but nice.

System I do does like a bit of leather or similar material to cover the internal tip of the core - that way if it does break middle battle and breach the foam, there's an extra layer of protection.

I make mine by using fiberglass 'driveway stakes' which most people use to mark a driveway's boundaries for snowplows, etc. I usually use a pair of 3/8 diameter ones side by side.

Lots of simple swords and other weapons use PVC pipe and pipe foam, but I like to make my stuff with two layers of flat foam (cut from the blue camping mats) so they look like thin cricket bats to you brits. That way with a grey cloth cover with some silver sharpie detailing they are at least a little bit sword-like in appearance.

Then a crossguard is made from some flexible hose (wrapped in black electrical tape) and I wrap the handle in cotton clothesline and then colored hockey tape. The pair of aforementioned driveway stakes makes the grip an oval, so you can get some good blade control like a real sword.

My huge greatsword got some Daedric runes (Elder Scrolls demons) down the blade in black sharpie, and then painted over in glow in the dark paint. At night I have a blacklight flashlight I shine on them, and they glow super-bright for several minutes. Enough that in unlit areas, you can see my sword's runes "hanging in midair" from 100 feet away.

A lot like this mechanically, but not so comically large. Most of my swords are about 3 inches wide, a little smaller than the bottom pic.

That's how we do it too, Aegis!

yellowfever wrote:

 xKillGorex wrote:
Ah sorry Frazzled, talking about airsoft guns, don't know what they are classed as in the states but in the uk they come under Rif class.

As in replica imitation firearms. Over here we have to prove that we are genuinely using them for airsoft before we are allowed to buy a weapon by playing so many games then our details are put on a retailers database. Also gives us a kind of defence if we are pulled over by police on the way or home from a game site.

That explains why you refer to them as guns. My apologies. I compete with real guns so to me airsoft guns are toys. And Damn I didn't know you guys had to justify airsoft guns too.

It's worse than that down here in the colonies. Airsoft weapons are classed AS firearms and mostly illegal anyway. Replicas are hard to own (special permit required). We've had a few shooting mass-homicides, but more knife/blade/axe homicides and no sign of banning any of them.

It's nearly LARP season!

Should've been at my Faction event this weekend, but sadly a goon broke a window in my flat, leaving me with an out of pocket experience.

First big event is the end of April - the weekend after Salute. Shall dig out my kit soon, make sure all is present and correct.

 jmurph wrote:

DragonRaptor wrote:
that one still looks lame as hell too; costumes may be better but it feels like/looks like/ actually is a bunch of pasty pudgeballs tapping each other with foam swords hoping they are not hitting each other too hard

But that's American LARP for you, only LARP America is ever good at is historical(those who take part in that tend not like the D&D crowd very much) and occasionally airsoft milsim, but even the Europeans do that better

Problem is that American LARPS are absolutely cringe at anything fantasy(probably can't do anything actually fun because in the United States, you can pretty much sue anyone for anything)

This is larp done right

Nerd peen waving in a *LARP* thread?

Indeed. LARP is definitely a notch down from SCA...

EHRMAGERD!!!

It's slightly over three weeks until the season begins! First event is all paid for, just need fix my car (flat battery), buy the Bacon (for selling In Character), and I'm set!

Oh, also need to put some munneh aside to buy myself a new shield. And remind COMA to bring Stabatha's lammy card so I can my Silver Slashing on- because Werewolves

About three weeks for me, too. Will be interesting; the two LARP chapters I mainly play at merged into one, with a completely new setting starting. To keep playing my existing character (a Paladin I have played for nearly 6 years) I will have to reconcile the fact that he is now trapped, possibly forever, away from home and his wife and child (his wife is played by my real-life wife, who isn't going to play at the same LARP any more).

So my goody two-shoes Captain America is likely to get a good deal more grim, evidently. Luckily I have a set of codes I stick to in-game, so it's not like I'll go full Dark Knight.

My LARP garb is currently getting built, and will be a medieval style of Deadpool's X-Force costume.

Cool!

Have worked out that investing £52 in pork will render unto me roughly 200 slices of bacon.

Sold at a Copper a slice, that's 50 silver, or 12.5 Gold. Which will be more money than Valgor has ever had. Which is nice.

However, if people instead for for the 6 rashers for a Silver, it's only around 8 gold.

Which is still more money than Valgor has ever had.

This year, I'm aiming for a Cold Iron weapon, ideally mastercrafted so I can get it enchanted. Reckon a call of 'Cold Iron Crush' (Cold Iron messes up Fae, and Crush reduces armour to zero on the location, or if unarmoured, the location to zero) ought to make the various Fae we pissed off bigly last year think twice about coming near me and mine...

Suppose I should see about getting Flute some snacky weapons.

Slight change to the Bacon plan....

For just under £40, I've procured 90 or so slices of Dry Cured bacon.

See, drycured lasts longer out of the fridge, crisps up better, and doesn't leave that dodgy looking white scum that wetcured has - and for my munneh it tastes much nicer too. More 'heaven with lots of dogs making a fuss of you and Karen Gillan offering you unlimited fun' than simple 'heaven'.

Partner that with Eggs, and I reckon I can charge a Silver for 4 slices and 2 eggs - it's a decent breakfast for a larger chap, and a nice start for people sharing.

That'll net me around 5 Gold.

But the main thing is going to be those Insect Repellant pouches. Those I can get a Silver for, and I'm torn between making 50 and 100....

Pennsylvania has a LARP/Dagorhir event called Siege at Azure Castle today. Just in case anybody is interested.

Have fun!

 Frazzled wrote:
Have fun!

I wish. I'm at work, sadly!!

Oh my THE FROTH IS UPON ME!!!

Everything is more-or-less together, just need to do my baking, pack the car, and it's off to LARP I go on Thursday.

Much excite! Very flail! Wow!

I LARPed as a gunner on a Sherman Easy Eight with a 105mm Saturday. Allies fur Da Win.

Nothing says loving like BOOM!

Aaaaaaaaaaaand done.

5 days, in a field, running about, hitting things.

1. Yes. Yes I do stink
2. Yes, even after that lovely shower
3. 40 odd Orcs, Wraith and some assorted Undead.
4. Quite right, that is pretty impressive for a one hit squishy.
5. EVERYTHING HURTS

And the bacon? Was it the money spinner you'd hoped for or just a tasty snack for yourself?