Forays Into the Larp
August 30th, 2011
Hello everyone, and welcome to another great edition of Grave Plots, where we bring you new plot hooks and adventure ideas each and every week. This week is Go Outside Week here at Necromancers of the Northwest, so naturally we will be forgoing articles this week in favor of a rousing game of kickball! If there is any text following this sentence then it means my kick ball idea was overridden and that we are spending the day toiling away inside, working and achieving a dreadfully pasty pallor.
All kidding aside, however, this week really is about going outside and getting some fresh air and sunshine – or, well at least some fresh air if the weather isn't being particularly cooperative. And don't just move your regular D&D game to the backyard picnic table – get out there! Be active! Try something different: round up 17 friends for a game of baseball at the local park/abandoned lot. You can find the rules online with minimal effort and get all the equipment at your local store. Don't like baseball? Try soccer, golf, tennis, volleyball, or whatever sport you like. Hate sports? Can't play for some reason? Already played this week? Really just want to roleplay? Well I suppose there is an obvious marriage of roleplaying and getting out and being more active. I am, of course, talking about LARPing.
LARP, for those of you who didn't know, stands for live action role play, and there ends my practical experience with the subject. Since I have a whole article to fill on the subject however, I'm going to pretend that I know a lot about LARPing and try to give out some useful ideas and helpful hints for those of you inclined to embark on a LARP adventure.
General Advice
So while I've never actually been LARPing before, I still have some sage advice to offer (I know; the arrogance!). First and foremost, you need to make sure you have all the basics of your game figured out. Decide on a way to resolve conflicts, determine ahead of time what kind of special powers (if any) people have and how those work, etc. I'm sure most LARP systems already have clear rules for that kind of thing, but make sure you have some kind of rules agreed upon before heading out in order to keep everything honest and fun.
The next, and every bit as important (if not more so), thing you need to do is STAY SAFE! I often hear tales of LARPers who get hurt trying to explore caves and ruins without proper equipment and training. Remember, if you plan on going spelunking, do it right or don't do it at all. It seems to me like one might also be in danger of encountering legal trouble for trespassing or carrying about unregistered lethal weapons (the police won't think of your replica swords as anything but dangerous), so be sure that you have permission to be doing whatever you’re doing, wherever you happen to be doing it.
Ok, now that the potential issues have been covered in the most obligatory fashion, it’s time to look at some things that can make your game more fun. Consider your surroundings: do you have any cool places to LARP around locally? Local parks and out of session schools can offer you plenty of woodland and generally a good deal of privacy. Some parts of the world actually have real live ancient ruins lying around, and some of those might be safe enough to game in. How far is the open country from where you live? Provided proper care is taken, the wilderness can provide a whole host of exciting fantasy gaming activities. Is there a cool pub nearby? Someplace with lots of atmosphere and a reasonable amount of privacy is best. Live in a city with no real access (for whatever reason) to places that could be even remotely construed as fantasy-oriented? Well then, try a game set in a modern setting where plain clothes would not be out of place. Vampires and the like seem to be ideal for this sort of thing – plus, for the moment vampires are in vogue, so maybe that's for you.
Consider costumes. I know, costumes are dorky, right? Wrong! A good costume goes a long way towards making people feel like they're not their usual selves. Costumes entertain people – friends, family, spectators. They give you something cool to post on Facebook later, and provide a good chance for a load of laughs while you take photo ops. Costumes can be a lot of fun to work on and improve over time. Finally, costumes let everyone know that you came to play, ready to lay it all on the table (metaphorically, of course) and really commit to the fantasy. On the flip side, not everyone is crafty enough to make their own costumes and purchasing them can be expensive, so if they’re beyond your means, they really aren't necessary to having a good time – but they do help.
Consider gaming at night. Just to be extra clear, I don't mean so that no one will see you LARPing; you should never feel embarrassed doing something you enjoy, and you shouldn't let small-minded or misinformed people give you a hard time about it. No, I say this because things are just plain cooler at night. It’s spooky and mysterious and puts people in a mood to accept things they otherwise wouldn't. Many of the LARP scenarios you'll want to work with will work better under moonlight anyway (again, I am probably woefully ignorant in this regard, but I imagine this to be the case). Gaming at night is also generally more convenient: work’s over, homework’s done, and people have already eaten (as an aside, if you plan on doing this for any period of time, make sure to bring plenty of snacks or incorporate a meal into your game, since no one roleplays well on an empty stomach).
A more accomplished LARPer might be able to give you better and less obvious tips and tricks for a good time, but that's about the best I could come up with. Should any of you out there want to share your LARPing wisdom, feel free to hit our forums or shoot me an email and we'll be sure what you have to say is heard (provided it isn't immoral, illegal, or fattening).
Thank you all for joining me. Until next week, when we have more great plot hooks and adventure ideas (for a gaming format with which I am more familiar), allow me to wish you all the best in your gaming endeavors.