LARP (Live Action Role Playing; in English it is called LARP, an acronym for Live Action Role Playing) allows you to take a break from everyday life, to explore a completely different universe from the usual and to find new friends. It will take you to act in fantastic scenarios and engage you with mock fights alongside other players, who just like you will play an imaginary role. For example, it gives a completely normal person the chance to become a powerful warrior, a cunning wizard or a merciless assassin within an adventurous scenario, in the company of other lovers of this hobby. To learn how to plan and play a match of LARP, read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Creating a LARP Universe
Step 1. Choose a setting or scenario for the LARP game
The first step in organizing any session is deciding what the background of this adventure will be. In popular culture, games are often associated with settings and characters from fantasy art and literature and have a similar unfolding to that of the "Lord of the Rings" literary saga. Although many matches are linked to existing works, others are not. Realistic settings and storylines, such as those of the modern era or based on history, are just as possible, and the same goes for those of sci-fi and alternate worlds. You can give free rein to your imagination: your games are nothing but the result of your creativity, so you have practically no limits regarding the scenarios you can give life to.
- For example, let's assume that for our first LARP game we want to recreate a classic scenario that harks back to the Middle Ages and the world of fantasy. If we have no inspiration, we could take characters and settings from a familiar fictional universe (such as those depicted in the "Lord of the Rings" or "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga). However, we can also create our own world: let's get carried away by the sense of adventure and let's try! In the scenario we have invented, we will be brave warriors from the kingdom of Karyphesh. For our convenience, let's say this is a vast fantasy realm containing a wide variety of sub-regions. In this way, we will be able to visit various places and we will have more settings!
- Let's face it: if you decide to create your own universe and it is the very first time you try it, it is quite likely that you will end up with an unoriginal and stereotyped world (like the one we mentioned earlier). No problem! LARP adults pretend to be certain characters living in a different world, so it is advisable to have a good dose of humor while playing. Over time, your stories and scenarios will acquire more nuances.
Step 2. Create a conflict
The LARP experience can bring anything you want to life. There are no rules that require you to have fights in your games. If you really like, you can play within a completely uneventful and normal day in the world you have created. However, why do this when you can have a lot more fun with a thrilling battle? Putting one into your fictional world is ideal for making the game more interesting right away and for giving everyone something to do. Create a conflict that fits the universe you have created, but be original! If you like, feel free to add multiple minor details and ripples to your central clash concept.
- Since many (but not all) LARP games involve fighting, wars, or confrontations between two or more invented nations or entities, you too can give it a try. It can be normal battles between humans, or you can introduce supernatural aspects - the choice is up to you. Regardless of what you decide, try to think of an interesting and necessary conflict.
- In our example, we assume that a group of mysterious demons have begun to terrorize the entire kingdom of Karyphesh. Up to this point it is a rather stereotyped plot, so let's liven up the atmosphere; these demons have made entire villages disappear, leaving only gigantic symbols on the ground, written in an ancient language. As history evolves, we may find that so-called demons are protecting the realm right now from the real villains of the situation and that they have been sent by a benevolent deity to do so. Who is the villain of history? The king of Karyphesh, who wants to convert his subjects into unable to think slaves. Remember that every choice is up to you and that the conflict in your world can develop in any way you want.
Step 3. Create a character
A big part of the fun of a LARP is that it allows you to be someone or something that you are not. In everyday life, no one is an unblemished and fearless knight or a space marine, but LARP lovers like to pretend to be these types of characters and behave the way they imagine they would if they were. In other words, they immerse themselves in role play. Depending on the setting you choose, make a character that fits your fictional world. Consider both physical appearance and personality. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What kind of living being is my character? Is he human or not?
- What is his name?
- What is his appearance?
- What's his job? You can answer this question in any way you want, although, as many games are based on fantasy fights, you should choose a profession that would logically confer certain skills related to the fight (soldier, knight, pirate, assassin, thief, etc.).
- How does it behave? Is he kind or cruel? Reserved or sociable? Brave or cowardly?
- What kind of knowledge or training do you have? Can you speak more than one language? Can you master a certain art? Studied?
- What eccentricities does it have? Does he have bad habits? Fears? Strange talents?
- In our example, we assume our character is Melchior, a loyal knight from the capital of Karyphesh. He is sturdy, tall, strong, with hard skin and short black hair. He usually wears steel armor and carries a massive broadsword. However, when he is not defending the kingdom, he is a very kind person and does a parallel job: he has a shelter for kittens. In short, he is a multifaceted character!
Step 4. Think about your character's story
What is its place in the world you created? What happened to him in the past? Why does it do what it does? You will need to consider all of these factors to complete it. Giving your character a story doesn't just mean enriching it from a narrative point of view, quite the contrary. In fact, it allows you to give them a very specific reason to get involved in the conflict of the LARP games. A logical story and a range of past experiences can also help guide your decisions about how he might participate in the conflict.
In our example, we assume that Melchior has a difficult past. At the age of five, his parents were killed by bandits and he was left to fend for himself. However, he was rescued by a group of feral cats and raised for two years until he was old enough to act on his own. After years of poverty, he eventually won the favors of a wealthy lord and was trained as his squire until he became a well-trained knight. Thanks to her experiences, she has developed an eternal compassion towards felines, but at times she finds it difficult to connect with other people, whom she often considers cruel and not very empathetic. In any case, he is incredibly loyal to his lord, who saved him from poverty; he then decides to fight for his honor in the future war against the demons, who have killed one of his children
Step 5. Ask your playmates to create their own characters
Also in this case, there are no rules that oblige you to play in company, you can do it very well alone. Either way, it's usually more fun to interact (and fight) with others, so try to get a group of friends who are willing to play with you if you can. As they will join you in this fictional world, each should create a unique character (with a story), so that each participant can actively live in this universe by looking at it with different eyes. If you plan to include combat in LARP sessions, you may want to ask some friends to create opposing characters (such as soldiers from a faction opposing yours), unless you want to fight imaginary enemies as a group.
In our example, let's assume you are able to get five other people involved in organizing LARP matches. To fight fairly, you might split into two groups of three. The other two players on your team could create characters allied with Melchior (for example, other knights, wizards, or soldiers fighting for the common good), while your three enemies could be characters who for some logical reason will want to defeat you (for example, it's about demons attacking your fictional kingdom)
Step 6. Make your own clothes, equipment and weapons
If you and your friends have decided to play the roles of knights and sorcerers, you should also physically get into the part. When it comes to costumes and gear, you can opt for simple or elaborate solutions, you decide. Casual LARP players don't change clothing and use weapons made from foam rubber, wood, or tubes, while more trained and enthusiastic LARP players are known to spend thousands of dollars to buy gorgeous costumes (suited to the historical period of the setting) and weapons. real (or seem so). In principle, most amateurs should opt for the cheapest and least accurate solutions, but it all depends on you, your mates and what you want to do.
- In our example, Melchior is a knight, so you should have at least a sword and armor. If you don't want to spend anything on your LARP games, you can safely use a broomstick or stick instead of a sword. To create the armor, you could make a breastplate out of a thin piece of foam rubber or take a plain old gray shirt. Are you willing to put in a little more effort? You could make a shield out of a garbage lid or a circular piece of plywood and use a bicycle helmet to mimic a metal helmet.
- Some LARP enthusiasts also love to recreate items to consume, such as food and water. For example, if Melchior carries a magical potion with him, to use if he is injured in a battleship, you could create it by filling a flask with an energy drink.
Step 7. Create a setting that allows your characters to participate
Once you have created a fictional world, a conflict that develops within it and all the characters that will participate in the game, you will be more or less ready to play! But something is missing, which is to imagine a reason why your characters meet and interact. Ask yourself: "What do I want to do during this session?". For example, if you want to organize a battle to the death, you could invent a series of circumstances that will prompt the characters to meet and fight enemies. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more intellectual experience, you might imagine a more indefinite setting; for example, the two groups of participants are not mortal enemies or verbally challenge each other, without engaging in a real battle.
In our example, we assume that Melchior and his two companions are on a mission to verify that there are no demons in the area. At one point they meet three. Melchior feels immediately surprised, also because the leader of the group is the one who killed the son of the lord. The battle that follows practically writes itself
Step 8. Let the LARP session begin
At this point, in theory every part of the game has been designed, so you shouldn't have any problems. The progress of the experience will depend on you. Dive without hesitation in this fictional universe. The sooner you step into your character and start thinking and acting like him, the sooner you can begin to fully savor this adventure. Try to be open-minded, respect your peers, and be willing to let them influence the RPG experience. Above all, have fun. If you don't like it, you've tried it, you won't have to do it again in the future.
Step 9. Stay in character while playing
LARP matches can be serious and important experiences or informal adventures that you have with a group of friends. In any case, regardless of the specific aspects of the experience, it is almost always better to have players involved in their roles, avoid those who are not very enthusiastic. LARP matches are basically amateur acting sessions. While the different players may be characterized by varying levels of acting skills, on the other hand this adventure is usually more fun when everyone tries to take their part seriously.
Understandably, amateurs can be intimidated by the prospect of running here and there in foam armor, pretending to fight monsters in the presence of other people. To break the ice, you could try doing some basic acting exercises so that everyone opens up a little more. For example, try a classic exercise; one player should ask another question, who will have to answer logically. Both participants should ask each other questions at an ever faster rate until one hesitates or fails to continue; at this point, he is replaced by another player and the question session begins again
Part 2 of 3: Organizing a LARP Match
Step 1. Decide if you want to organize a match or join one
When you want to have this experience, you usually have two options: create a session or join another person's. In the first case, you will have the responsibility of planning every single detail of the game, but you will have the total freedom to do exactly what you want. On the other hand, if you take part in a match set up by another, you will not have these worries, but you will have to abandon the characters, settings and / or rules of your choice if the game organizer has completely different ideas than yours.
- Your geographic location can actually play an important role in creating or joining a LARP game. In some places, such as larger centers, you may be lucky enough to join an active community, which probably organizes numerous sessions; however, less populated areas will hardly allow you to have this advantage, which means you will be forced to plan matches yourself, even if you don't like this aspect. Try to look on the bright side anyway; in case you manage to create interesting experiences, you could inspire other amateurs in the area to start your city's very first LARP community.
- How to find LARP matches organized by others? One of the resources is the internet. There are very useful forums for finding LARP activities near where you live. For example, visit https://www.grvitalia.net/. Another interesting site is larp.meetup.com, which features information on LARP groups from around the world.
Step 2. Find a place to host LARP matches
This game is based on different physical movements, so you will need to have space. By actually performing the different actions of the characters, the experience becomes more realistic. Instead, saying "I point my sword at you" is not that much. So, to actually delve into this adventure, you need a place to play. You can do this pretty much anywhere. If you have the opportunity, you should opt for places that resemble the fictional settings of the original story, for an extra touch of realism. For example, if your adventure takes place in a forest, try to organize the session in one near your city; if necessary, ask the forest ranger for permission.
While every LARP session is different, a good part of the fun that comes from a typical match is in the fighting aspect of the game. This may require you to run, jump, climb, use fake weapons, and do other athletic activities. Consequently, you will need to choose a place where you will have space to safely engage in these movements. Fields, parks and sports areas (gyms, soccer fields, etc.) are all ideal for doing this (although amateurs may feel embarrassed if there are other people around)
Step 3. If this seems appropriate, choose a GM
If you've played RPGs like “Dungeons and Dragons”, you're probably already familiar with the concept of a DM (Dungeon Master) or GM (Game Master). In the context of GRVs, GMs are participants who do not pretend to be fictional characters. Instead, they stay on the sidelines of the game to make sure the game is interesting and fun; they fine-tune the conflicts, facilitate the flow of the adventure and, in some cases, control the story. As for the bigger games, GMs may be dedicated to managing and organizing the event (although it doesn't necessarily happen). In these cases, they are responsible for planning and promoting the experience.
Compared to GMs and DMs in tabletop RPGs like “Dungeons and Dragons,” GMs in LARP settings generally have a more relaxed and supportive role. While board game GMs exert some control over the types of characters and situations other players may face, LARPs cannot control the actions of real people as effectively, and therefore often they decide to facilitate the adventures instead of determining exactly what the characters will have to do
Step 4. Choose a system for assigning roles (or decide there won't be any)
The rules of interaction between players and fights can be varied, this depends on the settings and the plots of the games themselves. On one extreme, some LARP sessions have no norms - you just have to stay in character. In other words, it is up to the players to decide various aspects of the game as it unfolds. For example, if during the fight one participant is injured by another, in practice it is up to him to decide the seriousness of the situation, deciding whether or not this will affect his fighting skills. On the other extreme, some LARP games feature regulations that take into account every possible setting. For example, in these cases the players could lose points every time they are hit in battiglia; this means that if they are fatally wounded or lose their life after a certain number of hits, they will be excluded from the game.
- If you are organizing the game, it is up to you to determine the scope of the rules. In any case, as LARP is by nature a group activity, you will certainly consult your playmates before making a decision.
- Remember that many LARP online resources offer set rules for players who want to get into the game right away. For example, larping.org features specific posts, some of which contain authors' preferred policies.
Step 5. Coordinate the logistics of the game with your teammates
Depending on the commitment that each participant dedicates, LARP matches can be serious initiatives. If you are organizing a session, you will need to make sure you plan it in detail. Take some time to solve logistical problems before thinking about the game in and of itself. For example, if the players live elsewhere, you should send the addresses to everyone a few days before the event. If you intend to relax with the participants at the end of the game, you should book in time at a restaurant in the area. Ask yourself the following questions as you plan your adventure:
- Can players get to where the event will take place without any problems? If not, can they travel together by car or do they have public transport available?
- Will you meet in a different place than the event or will you all see each other directly there?
- Will you offer food and drinks to the participants?
- Are there any other activities planned once the game is over?
- What is the alternative plan in case of inclement weather?
Part 3 of 3: Getting through the LARP Amateur Phase
Step 1. Create a dedicated LARP group in your city
If you enjoyed the first few games you attended and would like to continue hosting them, you may want to start a LARP-focused group or club in your area. From a basic point of view, creating one means that you can organize matches with your friends, doing it whenever you feel like it. Above all, this also means that you will be able to meet new fans, who will be able to inspire you even more in the realization of the characters and plots.
- This idea is especially good if you don't already have a LARP community in your area, or if the one there isn't well organized. Be the first person in the area to start a club. With a bit of luck, the community will grow more than I thought.
- If you are going to create your own LARP group, you will need to promote it to make sure it has the greatest possible exposure. Online ads give you the opportunity to promote yourself, but you may also post community information on LARP sites, which welcome those who decide to make themselves known.
Step 2. Attend the largest LARP events
The most important groups with several members periodically organize matches and attract hundreds of participants (if not more). These events can last for days. For a truly unique experience, try to join one of these sessions. Thanks to the intrinsic purpose of the game, you will have the opportunity to discover different environments and interact with characters you would not know on other occasions. For example, while a regular match staged with a dozen friends gives you the opportunity to experience small-scale fantasy combat firsthand, an event involving hundreds of players will allow you to become a soldier in a huge battle., colliding with different enemies. For some, attending large-scale meetings is the ultimate LARP experience.
To be informed about these events, you will need to become an active member of the global GRV community. However, these are not necessarily daily occurrences. The aforementioned larping.org is a great place to start, and the same goes for nerolarp.com, larpalliance.net, and other regional sites
Step 3. Make and share your rules
If you're an expert looking for new challenges by now, try creating your own rules for LARP matches. On the one hand this can be creatively rewarding, but on the other hand it also represents a chance to correct the unfair or annoying aspects of the rules you have used so far. Not sure where to start? Try taking a look at the regulations created by other fans and posted online on sites like larping.org or other similar pages. You can also search on RPG websites, such as rpg.net. Get a cue from there.
Once you've created a draft rulebook, try organizing a couple of games and use it. You may find that they don't work exactly as you hoped - not a problem! Take advantage of the experience to allow you to revise the rules according to your needs
Step 4. Create your universe in detail
LARP allows you to let your imagination flow and explore your creative abilities as you please. If you're looking for ways to express your creativity beyond traditional session planning, try expanding the worlds you've created by adding individual details and nuances to the characters. Bring mythological stories and tales to life. You can deepen everything you want, you have no limits. Some enthusiasts may be content with leaving certain aspects of their creations to the imagination, while others may take into account even the smallest details. This world belongs to you: invent it and explore it at your leisure. Savor the journey!
Extremely detailed fictional worlds can also give rise to the writing of short stories and novels. In fact, it is absolutely not uncommon for characters to be explored both within the LARP universe and beyond to inspire the writing of lyrics, which may become popular. If you take the time to create a fantastic fictional universe and commit to it, you could write about it and become the new George R. R. Martin or the new J. K. Rowling
Advice
- It will help if you join a LARP club. You will meet subject experts there, and most of them will be willing to help newcomers.
- These matches are fun, but be careful, as someone could lose an eye or break a bone.
- If you are organizing matches in the woods or somewhere far from civilization, be sure to take your cell phone with you; you may need to call the police, ambulance, or your relatives in an emergency.
- If you want well-made guns, you should go to experienced manufacturers, who can create them in different styles and recommend instructors, so that both you and your companions learn how to use them. It would be better to involve several craftsmen, so they will not all be the same. Everyone has their own taste in weapons for live role-playing games.
- Search the internet for fellow adventurers.
Warnings
- Some people find LARP to be nerdy, but what do you care? What matters is that you are passionate about it and that you have fun.
- Organizing a big LARP event is not a walk in the park. Make sure you know this world well before embarking on such an experience.
- Use the weapons designed for live role-playing games; they are safe and will allow you to prevent participants from getting hurt.
- You must have very specific rules regarding safety and technique, but don't overdo it. If someone has a unique fighting style, organize several free sessions, where everyone can show off their personal skills. For example, it is safe to hit the head or stab with a latex weapon. Nobody likes an overly controlled or technique-obsessed event. On the other hand, not having standards is just as wrong.
- Allow dummy weapons of any size or shape to be used. Just make sure you try them out before they are used in battle.
