Questions tagged [larp]

An acronym for "Live Action Role Play". A style of roleplaying game where players use movement, costuming, props, and scenery to enhance the experience. LARP often, but not always, has players perform or simulate the actions of their characters.

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How can I play dumb?

I have a half-ogre character at my local larp group, and one of the roleplay-enforced restrictions for half-ogres is that they have low intelligence. I often find myself biting my tongue not to say '...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
50 votes
11 answers
28k views

Prop Coins: How to get many coins for little (real life) money? [closed]

This related question on prop coins inspired me to revisit an old problem we're having at a fantasy LARP I'm co-organizing. So far we have not yet found a currency which we can use throughout the ...
fgysin's user avatar
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43 votes
2 answers
4k views

How do I convince players that I'm not necessarily a murderous cretin?

I am a crew member with a sci-fi LARP system. Rather than having a player character, I usually play as a disposable mook, and my characters spawn in, attack the players, then die in an entertaining ...
ymbirtt's user avatar
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38 votes
4 answers
3k views

How do I get my players' LARP characters to not be a bunch of murderous cretins?

Just as many typical RPGs teach us that violence can solve most problems and that a (truly) dead enemy poses no problems, LARPers around my area (Moscow, Russia) are typically very quick to kill ...
R.I.P.30.12.21Baskakov_Dmitriy's user avatar
37 votes
6 answers
10k views

As a non-smoker, how can I simulate smoking this pipe at a LARP?

I just bought a nice-looking smoking pipe for use as a character prop for LARPing. It's a working pipe and so I could use it for actually smoking tobacco in character, but I choose not to smoke, ...
RichardJ's user avatar
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33 votes
2 answers
1k views

Social contract for flirting at LARPs

I have been a participant but mostly organiser of a LARP in Switzerland for a number of years. This year I have for the first time participated in a large organised LARP in Germany (Conquest of ...
fgysin's user avatar
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31 votes
4 answers
16k views

Is a CO2 fire extinguisher safe to use indoors to represent offensive magic or breath weapons in LARP?

In short: my friend, who is also a LARP organizer, has come up with the idea of representing breath weapons and some kinds of offensive weapons (those that are represented by a "cone template" in many ...
R.I.P.30.12.21Baskakov_Dmitriy's user avatar
31 votes
7 answers
7k views

How do I make it absolutely clear that I'm shooting you in the face?

I play live action roleplaying games (LARPs), where myself and the players around me adopt actual physical characters. I've had a problem in the past where I hold a gun and want to shoot someone, ...
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23 votes
4 answers
4k views

How to get real-looking rust that will be safe to the touch?

Normally when I build a prop, I use steel, or cover it with glue and iron dust, and then apply various oxidizing compounds, acids (and sometimes salts and bases) to make a real rust. Then, I gently ...
Mołot's user avatar
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22 votes
3 answers
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What essentials do I need on the site of my LARP?

I am planning on holding a 20-50 person LARP near my home in England. I would like to know other than notifying the Emergency services (police/ambulance) that I'm holding the event and where it is, ...
MavericktheBroken1's user avatar
21 votes
9 answers
4k views

"Phys-repping" a large creature at a LARP?

A 'phys-rep' is something used by a LARP to phys-ically rep-resent something that isn't present at a game. For instance, in a local system I play in, a red hat "phys-reps" being invisible. (I don't ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
21 votes
8 answers
3k views

When is a shield wall a viable tactic?

I have often seen 3-4 people try to form a small shield wall but it falls apart. From this I would have to guess that this is not a viable tactic, at least not with those numbers of people involved. ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
21 votes
1 answer
693 views

Vampire and Safety Tools

Vampire the Masquerade has a lot of abilities to abuse other players, especially via disciplines like Dominate and Presence. Obfuscate can be used to appear as literally anyone, which might be used to ...
Trish's user avatar
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17 votes
7 answers
3k views

How to handle falling down during LARP combat?

I am currently working on writing the combat rules for a Dishonored LARP with a team, and we are stuck on how to proceed with a certain point: handling falling. Sometimes during LARP melee combat my ...
R.I.P.30.12.21Baskakov_Dmitriy's user avatar
17 votes
2 answers
446 views

How do you LARP highly observant characters?

I'm designing a character for a World of Darkness parlour LARP who's supposed to be highly perceptive and observant. (A tad beyond human capability, at character creation.) What are your strategies ...
E.V's user avatar
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16 votes
10 answers
2k views

How could I phys-rep a swarm of flying creatures?

Suppose my referee friend wanted to send a swarm of bees, bats, crows, or some other small flying creatures at some players. How could he simulate something that'd evoke the right reactions? The ...
ymbirtt's user avatar
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16 votes
5 answers
1k views

How can I simulate fun and challenging computer hacking in a LARP?

Occasionally, I like to do CTFs. For the uninitiated, a CTF is a computer security challenge in which a bunch of computer systems are left deliberately vulnerable, and participants exploit those ...
ymbirtt's user avatar
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16 votes
2 answers
322 views

Determined but Terrified [closed]

A few days ago I stumbled upon LARPing, and was instantly drawn in to it. The clothes, the characters, the weapons, the stories, all of it. But, of course, if there were no problems, I probabky wouldn'...
Anonymous's user avatar
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15 votes
5 answers
7k views

How can you balance a system without making it bland?

In one of my long-term PvP LARP games, we've done a lot of work trying to balance the system we're using, either by banning certain "classes" or "powers" or by altering their specs slightly to make ...
Axle's user avatar
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15 votes
5 answers
10k views

Any tips for two-weapon training in LARP?

At my local LARP I have a character with a skill called Ambidex, which lets him swing two weapons round like a boss. It doesn't however help me with fighting, and I'm just not that great. I've seen a ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
15 votes
6 answers
4k views

LARP Cannon with actual projectiles

This years story of our fantasy combat LARP features the siege of a city. Eventually this will culminate in a battle, where there is an actual siege of a palisade-type fortification, including siege ...
fgysin's user avatar
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14 votes
11 answers
3k views

How can you map the probability of 2d6 onto a standard poker deck?

One of the projects I'm working on in my free time is the adaptation of the Urban Shadows milieu to a live-action environment. (In 2022, this is what one might charitably call a long-term goal.) One ...
Jadasc's user avatar
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14 votes
5 answers
26k views

What different styles of LARP combat exist?

I've been seeing a lot of variety in the answer to my questions about LARP, some mentioning NERO and Amtgard. Others saying things about Light-touch and lightest touch. Some conflicted ideas about ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
2k views

How should I handle nerfing a player for the purposes of game balance?

Background I run a Live Action Role-Playing game on a monthly basis (from March through November) for anywhere from 10-30 PCs (with 3 other Plot members and anywhere from 0-10 NPCs). The majority of ...
corvec's user avatar
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14 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to make cheap fake blood that does not go bad or stink?

For a vampire-style larp event, and for the Curse of Strahd session I want to make a fake blood that looks good on photos. Sadly, professional Kryolan blood I usually love to use is out of my budget ...
Mołot's user avatar
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13 votes
10 answers
3k views

How can I use lights at night without breaking immersion?

What techniques do people use at a LARP to provide light at nighttime without breaking immersion? Especially when some players complain about ruining their 'night vision'. There are some constraints, ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
1k views

How can I safely represent non-combat fire magic?

I'm looking for something to visually represent non-combat fire magic. It needs to be small enough to carry discretely, short range (to reduce the risk of setting people on fire), cool- flames and ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
13 votes
5 answers
992 views

What is a good mechanic for a test of will power?

I like rules-light larps and I like larps where abilities can be resolved in real time without needing an artificial mechanic like paper-scissor-rock or some kind of card system. Combat is ...
Derek Tomes's user avatar
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13 votes
1 answer
2k views

LARP weapons - plastidip wrinkles

I have built a stack of LARP quality (at least that was the goal) EVA foam weapons for the first time for a theatre production with a large number of fight scenes. Quite a number of videos I watched ...
LKinneyX23's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
794 views

How can I get latex-like finish on my foam sword, and avoid biggest pitfalls with applying latex at home?

I'm in the process of building my own LARP weapons, using EVA foam on glass fiber core. Construction itself, and sculpting, luckily won't be a problem for me. Problem will be with coating. The ...
Mołot's user avatar
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12 votes
5 answers
4k views

How do I role-play as a dragon? [closed]

I have an NPC in our game that is called a "drake," but in terms familiar to most of you, he would probably be considered to be a dragon. In our game, drakes are classified based on the plane that ...
corvec's user avatar
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12 votes
4 answers
1k views

How do I promote the use of crossbows instead of bows in LARP?

Preamble Around my area (Russia), bow and crossbow energy in LARP is mostly limited by their draw weight, which is around 16 kg for bows and 18 kg for crossbows. However, bows usually have a lot ...
R.I.P.30.12.21Baskakov_Dmitriy's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
671 views

What is jeepform / vi åker jeep?

Some games are occasionally termed jeepform. I have also encountered the Swedish phrase "Vi åker jeep" (We travel with/by jeep), which seems to refer to the same thing. There is even a website, which ...
Tommi's user avatar
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12 votes
2 answers
2k views

What collaborative mapping software would meet my needs? [closed]

Background I am the head of plot for a boffer LARP that runs monthly. A given game has anywhere from 10 to 50 players. We have around 5 people that run plot. I need the entire plot team to be able to ...
corvec's user avatar
  • 1,764
11 votes
4 answers
329 views

Writing around an un-defined character

I am planning to attend a LARP set in Rokugan - when (and if) that happens. It's a rather story- and character-play-heavy setup with little to no combat planned. Now, I have already a character with ...
Trish's user avatar
  • 43.1k
11 votes
3 answers
821 views

What to bear in mind when I make banded mail?

I've been planning on making some banded mail for a long time, and I've found some aluminium to make it out of. I'm looking to use 2 sheets of 1000mm by 250mm by 1.2mm aluminium, and a 12 in 6 ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Are Polypropylene training weapons safe for LARP?

Cold Steel (as pictured above) and other companies make polypropylene training weapons. Are these safe to use when LARPing?
Christopher Albertson's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
417 views

What's the name of the game about LARP de-briefings?

Players sit or stand in circle. Each player gets a note with something they must include in their de-briefing. Then, in order, they start telling what they liked or didn't like about this LARP that's ...
Zachiel's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
381 views

How should I handle signalling & costuming for an "ascended mook"?

I am a crew member with a LARP system. When I'm playing a minor NPC who isn't very important to the wider plot, I have some fairly standard and basic kit that I just throw on. If I'm a labourer, I've ...
ymbirtt's user avatar
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11 votes
3 answers
1k views

LARP: Group psychology in antagonistic player groups

I am part of a GM committee which organizes a yearly 3 day LARP near my hometown and it has been going on for quite a while. The setting is a custom made low-magic fantasy world, and the rule system (...
fgysin's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
1k views

How do I deal with a friend constantly changing the rules and claiming my characters? [closed]

On behalf of my 12 year old daughter: My sister and I LARP with a friend based on different shows we watch (Glitter Force, Sailor Moon, and others). We have a lot of fun coming up with different ...
Wayne Werner's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
3k views

How do I safely paint a latex-coated LARP weapon?

I am trying to re-paint a cheap, kind of ugly weapon I bought somewhere, but I can't seem to find online what kind of paint or mix I need to paint over the current color. It says on the site I bought ...
his_lady's user avatar
  • 103
10 votes
1 answer
839 views

Is there a Fate LARP? [closed]

I was wondering whether there is a LARP implementation of Fate Core or Accelerated anywhere? I did take a look at Fate SRD, but they don't seem to mention that. I am really curious at this point, ...
eimyr's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
559 views

How can I help inexperienced LARP crew to speak confidently?

I've been crewing as part of a particular LARP system for a while now. The roles I play are almost invariably handed to me. I'll frequently have a short brief and 5 minutes of prep before it's ...
ymbirtt's user avatar
  • 2,321
10 votes
1 answer
178 views

How can we phys-repp breath/flame attacks or spells?

Our fantasy LARP would like to expand combat magic to include breath/flame/area-of-effect attacks/spells. How can we phys-repp such effects? Requirements: Must be reasonably1 safe for all ...
fgysin's user avatar
  • 10.3k
9 votes
3 answers
5k views

What is the most widely used safety standard for larp weapons?

I'm trying to find the most widely used published safety standards for larp weapons. The pretty latex covered ones, not the ones that are tape covered pool noodles. Ideally this will include: ...
Derek Tomes's user avatar
  • 1,213
9 votes
2 answers
515 views

How can large weapons be used in a small forest?

My main LARP character has a honking great 6'6" Dire Mace as his paladin weapon (Read; attuned to so cannot be replaced with a smaller weapon). Our LARPs are commonly in small forested areas making ...
AncientSwordRage's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
290 views

Making a set of LARP saya

Time is ticking for a LARP I am going to attend in June. While I put the last seams on my garb for the moment, I still need to make a proper set of matching scabbards - or rather three saya (Japanese ...
Trish's user avatar
  • 43.1k
9 votes
2 answers
434 views

For a group of 20-50 people, what would be some apocalyptic survivalist LARP set ups that would work with the group size and skill level?

Next year for our high school reunion, my wife and I are considering the possibility of doing an apocalyptic-themed survivalist LARP at a camp in the middle of nowhere Colorado. This is something that ...
called2voyage's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
253 views

How can I represent a large body of NPCs in a vote?

I run a large (20+) person Chronicles of Darkness larp. Our story centers primarily on rebuilding the Night Congress, a supernatural organization that keeps the peace between the large population of ...
Adam Wells's user avatar
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