LARP stands for Live Action Role Play. It is, at its core, a giant game of make-believe for adults, much like what you experience on elementary school playgrounds (except the rules are set in stone and almost no one cries to the teacher about them). Some people may refer to it as real-life Dungeons and Dragons, but it is so much more than that! Especially when the setting of the LARP can be anything and everything you could imagine.
Why do people LARP?
“Why do you breathe?” I often respond in the words of Hans Christian Anderson. Much like how many of us escape to the fantastical worlds of books, LARP is an immersive escape from everyday life. A time to healthily cast aside anything on your mind and become someone entirely new for a short time. LARP can also be great exercise! Especially for a style known as a Boffer LARP featuring regular, heavy combat and physical activity.
Boffer LARP
A Boffer is a padded, mock weapon made of PVC and covered with foam or latex. These “weapons” are used for simulated combat, allowing for realistic sparring without the realistic injuries. They come in many shapes and forms: swords, daggers, great battle axes, wizard staffs, and even common tools.
Where does LARPing happen?
Everywhere! In-person and online, near and far, you can usually find a LARP within an hour’s drive. This is especially true for finding local chapters of historical demonstrative LARP groups and Boffers like Amtgard and Belegarth. I personally use Facebook when word-of-mouth on private servers isn’t enough
Can I LARP?
The short answer: Yes. Of course you can.
The long answer: Yes, but I won’t deny there are some aspects of LARP that can prevent some from participating. Many creators have been researching and working to mitigate as many roadblocks as possible to ensure accessibility for all. Safety should always be a gamerunner’s biggest priority, especially when many events take place in woodland settings. Terrain can be hazardous and barring for potential players with mobility issues. On a case-by-case basis, this issue is often mitigated by offering alternatives like extra activities that can be done sitting down, verbal conflict over physical, and non-combatant player classes. While visual impairments have yet to have viable accommodations, hearing impairments at the least can often be accounted for with prior communication and understanding of needs. Once you find a LARP you are interested in, it is best to reach out to the gamerunners to determine if accommodations can be made.
The more accessibility we seek out now, the better it can be accounted for in the future.
PHOTOCHEY LARPS 