Why LARP?
Live Action Roleplay (LARP) is possibly the hobby of mine which most people struggle to come to terms with. From a young age I have been ‘that nerdy kid’, I was just very lucky that I made friends with people who forced me to socialise outside of my own fantasy world. When most people think of LARP they think of the 2008 movie Role Models and immediately assume we go around hitting people with boffer swords in a random field. Admittedly, a lot of LARPs happen in random fields, but there are so many different genres that the general representation of the hobby is actually pretty damaging.
You do get individuals who are stat nerds and love to know every single minute detail of the rule books. You do get people who choose LARP to escape because in the ‘real world’ they feel outcast and can’t socialise. But actually, these people are pretty rare once you hit the field. It’s a weekend of release where you can practically throw yourself into your favourite film or book and get lost among the array of scenarios which might occur. Genres range from the stereotypical high fantasy systems such as Empire, to becoming a super hero in Futures End or surviving the post-apocalyptic nightmare in Wastelands. You have systems where you can indulge in Viking feasts and battles of honour (Norseman Saga), explore the world of popular TV series 'Firefly' (Goldrush) and even systems where you can create your own James Bond and go undercover (Spy!).
My main system is Futures End. Set in an alternative modern day world where superheroes exist (think X-Men). I play Dr Blackwell; a senior surgeon in Alpha faction who has the ability to transfer wounds from a patient onto herself, she also struggles with an addiction to pain relief and a bumpy history with the opposing Omega faction. She does dodgy black market trades with known criminals, steals from hospital supplies and works herself into the ground. But on the flip side she’s also a successful medical researcher, ok at leading her own team of physicians and infinitely interested in Ethereals (a race of ‘angel’ like creatures from another plane). It’s fun to play these two different sides of the character and her close friendship group often finds themselves solving puzzles, performing difficult surgery and overcoming mental and physical barriers to achieve their mission objective. Blackwell has actually taught me a lot about team work, especially being a leader or managing other operatives. She’s also taught me about haggling, negotiation and how to diffuse an argument – all skills I’ve taken across into my real life. It’s amazing how much more risky and experimental you’re willing to be behind a character.
I’ve recently selected my new ‘holiday system’ – somewhere where my main objective is to get drunk and have fun without getting too involved in world plot or being important. I think it’s great to have one of these because actually being Blackwell can be stressful. Lorien Trust is a fantasy event. I play a celtic elf whose part of the Dragons faction. She’s immature, childish and incapable of making good life choices. For example just recently she drank a year’s supply of scribe scroll ink and now oozes magic ink, all because her responsible adult suggested it would be a great idea. Alongside this, Inky (not her real name but I’m sure her real name no longer matters) has also given me the opportunity to learn guitar and become a member of the bard’s guild. Something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m so excited to begin exploring that!
So all in all, I hope that you following my life will let you know that people who choose to indulge in these slightly odder hobbies are not weirdos to be avoided. Actually 75% of us are pretty normal every day of the year we’re not in a field! And, most importantly, if LARP seems like something you’d like to give a go then shout me using my contact page and I’ll be happy to give you more information about the types of systems out there!
Natalie x
