Live-Action Roleplays

[Adam]

Have you ever participated in one?

[mastervega]

Isn't that called "playing pretend"?
If that's so, I participated in countless LARPs as a kid.

Now I'll actually answer your question: Nah, not really within my comfort zone as a gamer. SCA and reenactments are one thing. Trying to act out fantasy warfare with cardboard swords and water balloons is a different story.

[Xanatos]

That's a very sterotypical view, Vega. LARPing is a very serious and active community in some parts, with people being so dedicated as to making mock weapons with proper padding and wearing real armor. I know all this because my friends were trying to develop a LARPing community themselves in my area. I was going to participate, but I haven't heard anything about it from them in a while, so I don't know if they're still pursuing it.

[mastervega]

I hold this view because that is all I have seen, and, yes, I have seen awkward nerds LARP at the local park with some very sorry looking combat equipment. They also got into arguments over who hit who with what, and who should be dead.

That said, I still think LARPing is a bit out there for me. I'd rather sit around the gaming table, or perhaps go paintballing.

Note: Nothing wrong with nerds, btw. Just trying to get the image across.

[Adam]

Honestly, I LARP whenever I go out and play AirSoft. Generally, I'm a mercenary/contractor, and I play the part as far as I can take it (the rules specifically state that I'm not allowed to defect if given a better offer by the enemy), even going so far as to wear gear that doesn't directly correspond with either of the forces (a.k.a. black gear and sometimes blue jeans).

I'm actually going to be playing a faction officer at the end of the month... I have a uniform set up for it, too, including military decoration (that I've actually earned--I wouldn't wear anything that I hadn't). I ought to post up pics for y'all's amusement...

As far as medieval-based LARPs, I've never actually done one of those.

[LadyLindis]

I've seen LARPers at a local gaming convention that used to be hosted by my Junior College and to be honest, I guess it's okay. I mean, I don't have anything against it, I just dunno if it's for me. It's not the nerdniness that makes he hesitate (I'm a raging nerd. XD) It's the potential for bad sportsmanship...and that fact that I find medieval role-play more fun around the table/computer screen than in real life.

Well, you know the rule of the Internet, Adam:
Pics or it didn't happen.

[Adam]

Oh, it happened all right. XD

[Hailfax]

I have participated in one, but I just couldn't get into it. That and the people that I were LARP-ing with were people who had been doing it for a long time. They were people that pretty much started LARP-ing together and their storyline was pretty set and it was hard for newcomers to start playing.


I couldn't get into it. I'd much rather do on RP online or if I could understand Math, play D&D. I have the Firefly/Serenity Roleplay book and I'm going to give that a go with a few friends. So, here's hoping.

[stanley]

I've always wanted to...

But in all honesty, i am scared ofwhat other people would think/ there's no where good to do it.

But when I get my Airsoft guns, there'll be plenty of amazing roleplaying to be done.

[Xanatos]

Honestly, I see LARPing as little more than acting without an obvious audience. It's more active than tabletop role play, but generally has the social stigma associated with role playing (that isn't acting) in general.

It's also potentially a great way to stay in shape, unless your character is specifically a lazy slob who lives with his parents and only vaguely knows his way around a weapon. My crew are all very martial oriented, and we all have at least one colored belt in a martial art, so I we'll do our best to stay true to a real battle. If I get slashed with a sword and I've got no armor on, I'll be going down.

[Nihtgenga]

I've not done proper LARP, but I did do monstering at a LARP event at the local castle back in January. It was fun, but I think the novelty would wear off very quickly if i were to do it as anything more than a one-off.

Also, I found the foam weapons silly and some of the LARPERs were morons. One guy found a set of plate armour and put it on.

The wrong way round. Duh. *facepalm*

Oh, and the hit system was bloody confusing. I remember when I played as a mini boss, I had about 30 hit points per location. As a comparison, the best fighters in my re-enactment society can only get up to four hit points.

That said, they hit a lot faster with the LARP weapons, so those HP go damn fast. Most of us didn't bother counting hit points- instead they just attacked, counted to 10 and died.