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Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Just when you thought a long time gamer couldn't get nerdier, he starts banging on about Live Action Roleplay.

Now, you might be thinking 'but just what is LARP?' Well, that depends, really. To some, it's a chance to fully immerse themselves as a fantasy character. To others, closer to Cross Country Pantomime, with gaudy costumes and daftness happening all around. Others still, a chance to take part in a 'safety first' Re-enactment (actual, proper Reactment isn't LARP though. Seems they're quite tetchy about that distinction).

For me? It's an excuse every couple of months to pack my gear into The Beast, strap on my armour, and go hit things whilst desperately trying to figure out the plot.

But most of all? It's probably as much fun as you can have without risking arrest.

Now, you may have prejudiced opinions about LARP based on the following notorious video...




And yes - it's a LARP event, but with apologies to those who took part, a fairly amateurish affair (but hey, all got to start somewhere).

Now, contrast and compare to the next video. Which is from the company I usually LARP with, Curious Pastimes




Quite the difference, no? Those combats can get pretty intense. Last August, I wound in a three hour battle, wear steel chain, leather over the top, thick gambeson underneath. Not something I especially recommend, but an interesting experience.

And the best bit? We know we're Nerds. And we don't care. You've got upwards of 1,500 people in the same place, with the same aim, having a great time, and no-one is under any illusion it's gonna get them the chicks etc.

Give it a look, or a deserved second look. With the advent of GoT and it's ilk, the hobby is becoming increasingly popular....

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/01/25 22:32:41


   
Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Ho-hum)





Curb stomping in the Eye of Terror!

Cool!

Also, check out the Knights of Badassdom flix.

Live Ork, Be Ork. or D'Ork!


 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






Los Angeles

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:


Now, contrast and compare to the next video. Which is from the company I usually LARP with, Curious Pastimes




Quite the difference, no? Those combats can get pretty intense. Last August, I wound in a three hour battle, wear steel chain, leather over the top, thick gambeson underneath. Not something I especially recommend, but an interesting experience.

And the best bit? We know we're Nerds. And we don't care. You've got upwards of 1,500 people in the same place, with the same aim, having a great time, and no-one is under any illusion it's gonna get them the chicks etc.

Give it a look, or a deserved second look. With the advent of GoT and it's ilk, the hobby is becoming increasingly popular....


That looks like quite an event!

I really, really like the guy at 0:41 with the Cobra symbol on his shield.

I've wanted to LARP since I first learned about the World of Darkness LARPs in the 90's, but never had skill in costume design or prop manufacturing so I didn't pursue LARPing.

My wife and I recently saw a documentary about people who are part of Ghostbuster charity groups that dress up and go to events and it looked like a blast. It sorta got those same LARPing juices tingling from my teens in the 90's. I know there are other groups (Star Wars 101st, GI JOE themed groups [ ] and its becoming a quiet interest of mine to join one of those.

Since you seem pretty involved, how did you assemble your LARP kit? Did you buy it or were you crafty enough to make it yourself?




 whembly wrote:
Cool!

Also, check out the Knights of Badassdom flix.


That movie was hilarious!
   
Made in us
Wise Ethereal with Bodyguard




Catskills in NYS

I've done a bit at college, it's quote fun (and I play RPGs normally, so it comes naturally, the only difference is I get to hit people with sticks ). I'd fully recommend anyone who is interested in doing to check online for a local group or event, they are all over.

Homosexuality is the #1 cause of gay marriage.
 kronk wrote:
Every pizza is a personal sized pizza if you try hard enough and believe in yourself.
 sebster wrote:
Yes, indeed. What a terrible piece of cultural imperialism it is for me to say that a country shouldn't murder its own citizens
 BaronIveagh wrote:
Basically they went from a carrot and stick to a smaller carrot and flanged mace.
 
   
Made in us
Androgynous Daemon Prince of Slaanesh





Norwalk, Connecticut

I do Dagorhir. It's full contact LARP with less role play aspect. I'll see if I can find a YouTube video of my crew.

Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.


Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.  
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

I've been to a few different LARPs. My favorite moment:

Dad: and what do you do now?
Son (standing over dead goblin): Loot the body?
Dad: Thattaboy.

   
Made in au
Anti-Armour Swiss Guard






Newcastle, OZ

I've got a mate who's active in the Georgia SCA community.

He refers to it as "Larping". They are roleplaying (many of them, if not most, have SCA "identities" that they assume at their gatherings. This is no really no different to Neckbeard McNerdigan becoming the paladin "Sir Cumference of the kingdom of Cheetos" in D&D.) in their little gatherings.


I'm OVER 50 (and so far over everyone's BS, too).
Old enough to know better, young enough to not give a ****.

That is not dead which can eternal lie ...

... and yet, with strange aeons, even death may die.
 
   
Made in us
Androgynous Daemon Prince of Slaanesh





Norwalk, Connecticut

I still call my thing LARP to most people. But it's full body contact. I've seen gashed open faces and broken noses gushing blood, and one of my crew got his head cracked open and he needed staples. One of my allies wore glasses to practice; one javelins throw from me and I gave him two monocles!

Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.


Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.  
   
Made in ca
Jinking Ravenwing Land Speeder Pilot






Canada

Lol...

6000 pts
2000 pts
2500 pts
3000 pts

"We're on an express elevator to hell - goin' down!"

"Depends on the service being refused. It should be fine to refuse to make a porn star a dildo shaped cake that they wanted to use in a wedding themed porn..." 
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User







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

   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:


Now, contrast and compare to the next video. Which is from the company I usually LARP with, Curious Pastimes




Quite the difference, no? Those combats can get pretty intense. Last August, I wound in a three hour battle, wear steel chain, leather over the top, thick gambeson underneath. Not something I especially recommend, but an interesting experience.

And the best bit? We know we're Nerds. And we don't care. You've got upwards of 1,500 people in the same place, with the same aim, having a great time, and no-one is under any illusion it's gonna get them the chicks etc.

Give it a look, or a deserved second look. With the advent of GoT and it's ilk, the hobby is becoming increasingly popular....


That looks like quite an event!

I really, really like the guy at 0:41 with the Cobra symbol on his shield.

I've wanted to LARP since I first learned about the World of Darkness LARPs in the 90's, but never had skill in costume design or prop manufacturing so I didn't pursue LARPing.

My wife and I recently saw a documentary about people who are part of Ghostbuster charity groups that dress up and go to events and it looked like a blast. It sorta got those same LARPing juices tingling from my teens in the 90's. I know there are other groups (Star Wars 101st, GI JOE themed groups [ ] and its becoming a quiet interest of mine to join one of those.

Since you seem pretty involved, how did you assemble your LARP kit? Did you buy it or were you crafty enough to make it yourself?




 whembly wrote:
Cool!

Also, check out the Knights of Badassdom flix.


That movie was hilarious!


All of my kit is 'off the peg', but I know lots of crafty people that make their own. Sadly in that respect, my hands might as well be feet!

I do need new chain though - the first set just isn't big enough, not once I've got the gambeson on (and with that weight, you want the gambeson!).

Costs vary quite wildly of course. If your handy, you can make most of it, but I've spent probably £1,500 over four or five years - but if you but quality, it will of course last a good long time, preventing regular replacement costs. And if you are building your own weapons, there's strict rules you need to follow for everyone's safety. You can't just wrap an actual rapier in lagging and call it safe - yes, I've seen that been tried. Yes, they were sent home for being effing stupid!


   
Made in us
Incorporating Wet-Blending





Houston, TX

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? Are you kidding me? I seriously hope you are not serious....

Most people probably think your LARPing is super geeky, too. A bunch of cosplayers tramping around the woods is a curiosity at best. The only (usually creepy) interest is going to be in the female costumes for the most part. LARPing is just the bastard offspring of amateur acting and martial arts/ combat training (usually heavy on the former and pretty poorly informed and researched on the latter). Which is fine- it's just a hobby. But it kills me how much nerdy infighting there is in comic, toy soldiers, etc.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/01/26 14:49:03


-James
 
   
Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)




The Great State of Texas

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



Ahem...may I remind you you are on a board where grown men play with little toy soldiers...and argue about it...
once you are older than 20 no one cares any more.

-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
 
   
Made in gb
[DCM]
Moustache-twirling Princeps





Gone-to-ground in the craters of Coventry

Dara O'Briain did a gig based on, and at, a LARP event:
https://www.reddit.com/r/LARP/comments/twn2b/tough_gig_with_dara_obriain_doing_larp_a/

6000 pts - 4000 pts - Harlies: 1000 pts - 1000 ptsDS:70+S+G++MB+IPw40k86/f+D++A++/cWD64R+T(T)DM+
IG/AM force nearly-finished pieces: http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-38888-41159_Armies%20-%20Imperial%20Guard.html
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw (probably)
Clubs around Coventry, UK 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Interesting LARP observation? The Spanglier the costume, the more reticent to get stuck in the player - and they're usually pretty soft when it comes to making with the stabby

Me, I'm not great at fighting, but fairly competent at breaking through shield walls, and indeed grubbing through the muck. The number of beautifully costumed people you can ambush like that is quite high!

And remember - nobody at a LARP is under any illusion that what they're up to is actually societally defined as 'cool'. We're all there for a laugh - especially once you hit the tavern and get monkey drunk! Helps my camp is typically adjacent to or opposite the tavern. Makes drunken journeys home much safer. The path can be deadly at night...

   
Made in gb
Yu Jing Martial Arts Ninja




Have a friend who's a re enactor and larping has come up a few times in passing and been the butt of jokes, it's not my thing but if people enjoy it and get away from the grind and have fun then it's all good.

Saying that as an airsofter I find myself buying kit to match a loadout so while I'm not running around some woods with rubber elf ears and a plastic axe, I'm instead dressed as a soldier running around with weapons and explosives. To which ends it all amounts to the same thing I guess. Escaping .
   
Made in ca
Longtime Dakkanaut




Building a blood in water scent

Airsoft is just LARping with a CoD theme.

Back in the 90s the local SCA group (Society of Creative Anachronisms) was fondly (infamously?) known as the Society of Chronic Adulterers.

We were once so close to heaven, St. Peter came out and gave us medals; declaring us "The nicest of the damned".

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'” 
   
Made in gb
Yu Jing Martial Arts Ninja




 feeder wrote:
Airsoft is just LARping with a CoD theme.

Back in the 90s the local SCA group (Society of Creative Anachronisms) was fondly (infamously?) known as the Society of Chronic Adulterers.


Cod,,, swear at me chap lol. Besides airsoft had been around a lot longer than Cod.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2017/01/26 17:51:50


 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




North Carolina

 DarkTraveler777 wrote:


 whembly wrote:
Cool!

Also, check out the Knights of Badassdom flix.


That movie was hilarious!


Role Models is more consistently funny than Knights of Badassdom in my opinion although it doesn't focus on larping until the last 3rd of the movie.
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0430922/

Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur
 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Role Models really doesn't show it in a favourable light...

   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






Los Angeles

Prestor Jon wrote:
 DarkTraveler777 wrote:


 whembly wrote:
Cool!

Also, check out the Knights of Badassdom flix.


That movie was hilarious!


Role Models is more consistently funny than Knights of Badassdom in my opinion although it doesn't focus on larping until the last 3rd of the movie.
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0430922/


Another good one! But Paul Rudd makes most movies better in my opinion.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Role Models really doesn't show it in a favourable light...


I respectfully disagree. It is certainly mocked initially especially by Paul Rudd's character, but the final sequence shows that LARPing brought everyone together, restored damaged friendships, instilled a sense of self-respect in one of the main characters, all while squeezing in a flame-shooting Minotaur truck. That is pretty bad ass, and ultimately (I think) a positive portrayal of the community which LARPing can provide participants.

   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





West Michigan, deep in Whitebread, USA

I absolutely love to LARP. Here in Michigan I have been a part of a LARP since late 2007, playing at two sister chapters that share a ruleset and world setting but in two separate locations in that game world (though travel is possible between them by a totally not-Stargate portal system, explaining why the same characters can be played at both chapters if a player wants to). Each event is not on it's own, rather everything from each event builds up and carries over to the next from characters to story lines, as a living world. If we screw a group of bad guys over, it can come back to haunt us.

Our games are full immersion: full fantasy costume and armor is very, very encouraged, including benefits for playing several different races. Our games take place every month or two through the summer to fall, and each event is a non-stop 36-hour game. Once game-on starts on Friday night, it doesn't stop until Sunday morning, including PvE and possible PvP . The game staff will even have their crew of NPC's launch late night or early morning attacks on the "town" our camp represents. Everything is in-game, we even have to use game mechanics to govern whether we can "lock" the doors on cabins for safety from nasties. Rather than SCA/Belegarth styled combat that functions a bit like paintball/airsoft, our characters have Life Points and Armor Points that have to be tracked versus varying degrees of damage dealt by weapons in combat to determine if you are hurt enough to drop and need the care of a healer and/or armor smith to get fully fighting fit again.

I have been in situations where it was early November, probably mid-40's in temperature (F), and I am in the middle of a combat bare-chested and barefoot with a sword, because my pants and weapon were the only things I had time to grab before a war-party of Orcs/Gargoyles/whatsoever's rolled through the town at 6 AM to kill us all. I have been attacked right in my bed several times, because either we lacked the resources to secure our building's door with a "lock" tag, or the bad guys had a rogue that could just pick it to let them in.

I just retired a long-played character (a warhammer-wielding paladin) that because of the full-time immersion, I calculated that over the last 6 years I have "lived as my character" for enough hours eating/sleeping and fighting to equal living as him for 60 full days in the real world. Once as him I wore my 35lbs of half-plate and chain for 18 straight hours, because with the tense situation of the weekend due to the plot line the game staff was running I didn't want to risk the time it would take to put it back on, so I slept in it.

It's nerdy as all hell, but what a rush when you are surrounded by 25-50 like-minded fools in awesome armor and costumes. I usually describe my LARPs as hand-to-hand paintball. Though we also have actual ranged combat with bows firing padded arrows, too. Such great experiences fighting and using tactics as part of a team.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2017/01/27 03:04:00




"By this point I'm convinced 100% that every single race in the 40k universe have somehow tapped into the ork ability to just have their tech work because they think it should."  
   
Made in gb
Towering Hierophant Bio-Titan





Bristol, England

I love it. I do Herofest when I can in south Wales.
I'm third from the left in this pic of about half of the Legion faction.
We're fantasy space marines. Deal with it.

http://www.live-roleplaying.co.uk/live/action/roleplaying/factions/liveactionroleplaying-Legion.html

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2017/01/27 04:08:47


Oli: Can I be an orc?
Everyone: No.
Oli: But it fits through the doors, Look! 
   
Made in nl
Pragmatic Primus Commanding Cult Forces






It looks fun actually. The costumes look great.
I'd be really interested in it were it not that I do medieval martial arts twice a week and usually am bruised enough from that already. Don't really desire to get hit with sticks any more often. Besides, I'd probably cringe at the swordfighting techniques. I bet 99% of larpers can't even make a proper unterhau.

Error 404: Interesting signature not found

 
   
Made in gb
Towering Hierophant Bio-Titan





Bristol, England

 Iron_Captain wrote:
I bet 99% of larpers can't even make a proper unterhau.

I'll have you know that we do all of our own baking thank you very much.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/01/27 08:36:53


Oli: Can I be an orc?
Everyone: No.
Oli: But it fits through the doors, Look! 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






New Orleans, LA

I've run into a handful of LARPers playing at GenCon. They seemed friendly and really into what they were doing. Not my thing, but it's just another nerdy subset of our gaming collective.

Don't throw stones and all that.

DA:70S+G+M+B++I++Pw40k08+D++A++/fWD-R+T(M)DM+
 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






 kronk wrote:
I've run into a handful of LARPers playing at GenCon. They seemed friendly and really into what they were doing. Not my thing, but it's just another nerdy subset of our gaming collective.

Don't throw stones and all that.


Mostly because we've heard it all before, and still don't care![/url]

Currently in the market for a 60" chest, riveted chainmail. My 56" butted barely fits over the gambeson! (Big bloke and serious padding is a curious mix)


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
 kronk wrote:
I've run into a handful of LARPers playing at GenCon. They seemed friendly and really into what they were doing. Not my thing, but it's just another nerdy subset of our gaming collective.

Don't throw stones and all that.


Mostly because we've heard it all before, [i]and still don't care!


Currently in the market for a 60" chest, riveted chainmail. My 56" butted barely fits over the gambeson! (Big bloke and serious padding is a curious mix). Oh, and an arming cap. Metal helmet is heavy and wobbly without it.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/01/27 13:08:23


   
Made in gb
Towering Hierophant Bio-Titan





Bristol, England

What's going on with the awful quoting in this thread.
It's basically unreadable/unusable due to it.
If anyone is bothered then please take a second to go back and fix whatever you can.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/01/27 13:12:32


Oli: Can I be an orc?
Everyone: No.
Oli: But it fits through the doors, Look! 
   
Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)




The Great State of Texas

I've confused. I thought LARPERS were the ones running around DnDing or being vampires. This looks like a midieval combat situation. Can someone clarify?

Would be interesting if a guy showed in Warring Kingdoms era armor, or maybe an Aztec Jaguar Knight.


-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
 
   
Made in gb
Towering Hierophant Bio-Titan





Bristol, England

Live Action Role Play.
It can be any genre so murder mystery dinner parties, pirates, post apocalyptic, putting on a silly voice whilst boardgaming or wink murder would fall into the category.
It's different to cosplay in that there is a game of sorts involved.
The huge emphasis on medieval combat is because people need grunts to do their bidding. Often the 'higher' levels of roleplay are done by the commanders but everyone still has fun.
Personally this is why I prefer Herofest, a smaller event, as you are free to become a character with impact upon the setting rather than just a cog in the machine.

Also scale creep.

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2017/01/27 14:18:19


Oli: Can I be an orc?
Everyone: No.
Oli: But it fits through the doors, Look! 
   
 
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