Comments on: A frank discussion about LARPing… http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php Never Adventure Alone Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:02:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Harrison http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-598 Harrison Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:14:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-598 Alright, this is too good not to weigh in on, and those of you who know me will learn the 13th <a HREF="http://menwithpens.ca/7-wierd-things-about-harry" REL="nofollow">Weird Thing About Harry</a><br/><br/>I used to LARP and worked as an ST for a small independent gaming company at GenCon. I used to work as a tarot reader at the NY Ren Faire. Yes, I have a puffy shirt or two collecting dust in the back of my closet and a pair of sterling silver custom fangs in my medicine cabinet. My walls are decorated with all sorts weaponry.<br/><br/>LARPs were fun, but I never got to the point of being as fanatical about it as some I've seen. <br/><br/>Believe me, that kind of shite scares me too, and that's why I don't go to Cons or LARPs so much anymore. <br/><br/>I love using props during a tabletop game, and if folks want to dress up fine (it's a little easier with my chosen genre of World of Darkness because it basically amounts to street clothes).<br/><br/>Escaping reality is fine for a little while, but some take it a touch too far. Alright, this is too good not to weigh in on, and those of you who know me will learn the 13th Weird Thing About Harry

I used to LARP and worked as an ST for a small independent gaming company at GenCon. I used to work as a tarot reader at the NY Ren Faire. Yes, I have a puffy shirt or two collecting dust in the back of my closet and a pair of sterling silver custom fangs in my medicine cabinet. My walls are decorated with all sorts weaponry.

LARPs were fun, but I never got to the point of being as fanatical about it as some I’ve seen.

Believe me, that kind of shite scares me too, and that’s why I don’t go to Cons or LARPs so much anymore.

I love using props during a tabletop game, and if folks want to dress up fine (it’s a little easier with my chosen genre of World of Darkness because it basically amounts to street clothes).

Escaping reality is fine for a little while, but some take it a touch too far.

]]> By: Gregory Weir http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-597 Gregory Weir Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:35:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-597 Like Doug said. LARPing is usually just getting into the characterization far more than the questing or the combat side of things. If you like roleplaying your character talking to other characters, you might as well walk around while you do it. It's sort of a combination of tabletop roleplaying and improvisational theatre. The folks you talk about in your post exist in tabletop gaming, too; they just don't stand out as much. At its best, LARPing is about wearing cool costumes and playing cool characters with other cool people. Like Doug said. LARPing is usually just getting into the characterization far more than the questing or the combat side of things. If you like roleplaying your character talking to other characters, you might as well walk around while you do it. It’s sort of a combination of tabletop roleplaying and improvisational theatre. The folks you talk about in your post exist in tabletop gaming, too; they just don’t stand out as much. At its best, LARPing is about wearing cool costumes and playing cool characters with other cool people.

]]> By: Doug Hagler http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-493 Doug Hagler Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:13:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-493 Many problems people have with LARPing seem odd to me. Do you every say anything in-character during a game? Or say "I" instead of "my character" during a game? Because that's basically LARPing.<br/><br/>You can dress up as your character to varying degrees, and use a system that is representational of things like combat (like White Wolf's Mind's Eye Theatre) or not (like a boffer LARP), but once you're gaming in first-person, you're LARPing as far as I'm concerned. Especially if you stand up while you do it.<br/><br/>I've enjoyed writing/running LARPs much more than playing in them (because I hate dressing up, mostly). I also just like running games. Writing up 80+ characters with backgrounds and hooks and character sheets for a three-night LARP that I got to run with two friends was amazingly fun.<br/><br/>For me, a LARP is immersive. You lose a little flexibility (you're usually rooted to a few locations, have to decorate them somewhat to give the right impression, and so on) in exchange for immersion. In a decent LARP compared to a decent table-top game, its about an even trade. They're also a hell of a lot more work to pull off than tabletop. Take your usual preparation and multiply it by ten for a good LARP.<br/><br/>There are also a lot of people who just like dressing up - whether its to go to a club, or for theater, or Halloween or whatever, and they get a huge kick out of dressing up for a game. I see no problem with that.<br/><br/>Also, in all of the LARPS I've ever been in or heard of, you've got a vastly higher proportion of women involved than table-top, and I think that's cool for a lot of reasons. (better than 50/50 in the ones I've been in or run personally, and the others I know of are run by women almost exclusively).<br/><br/>So I guess it might also be a gender issue, on some level, though I don't want to go there at the moment. Many problems people have with LARPing seem odd to me. Do you every say anything in-character during a game? Or say “I” instead of “my character” during a game? Because that’s basically LARPing.

You can dress up as your character to varying degrees, and use a system that is representational of things like combat (like White Wolf’s Mind’s Eye Theatre) or not (like a boffer LARP), but once you’re gaming in first-person, you’re LARPing as far as I’m concerned. Especially if you stand up while you do it.

I’ve enjoyed writing/running LARPs much more than playing in them (because I hate dressing up, mostly). I also just like running games. Writing up 80+ characters with backgrounds and hooks and character sheets for a three-night LARP that I got to run with two friends was amazingly fun.

For me, a LARP is immersive. You lose a little flexibility (you’re usually rooted to a few locations, have to decorate them somewhat to give the right impression, and so on) in exchange for immersion. In a decent LARP compared to a decent table-top game, its about an even trade. They’re also a hell of a lot more work to pull off than tabletop. Take your usual preparation and multiply it by ten for a good LARP.

There are also a lot of people who just like dressing up – whether its to go to a club, or for theater, or Halloween or whatever, and they get a huge kick out of dressing up for a game. I see no problem with that.

Also, in all of the LARPS I’ve ever been in or heard of, you’ve got a vastly higher proportion of women involved than table-top, and I think that’s cool for a lot of reasons. (better than 50/50 in the ones I’ve been in or run personally, and the others I know of are run by women almost exclusively).

So I guess it might also be a gender issue, on some level, though I don’t want to go there at the moment.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-492 Anonymous Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-492 I've known about LARPing but thought it odd and never really looked into it. I figured it was a further spin off of SCA.<br/><br/>I have friends that enjoy Civil War board games and miniatures. Their passion has resulted in joining re-enactment groups where they invest a lot of time and money in developing historical characters and re-enacting battles. I respect their dedication and enjoy watching them.<br/><br/>Is LARPing really that much different?<br/><br/>Thanks to the above poster for the youtube link. I went and found others. I now have a more respectful view of LARPing. Lots of nice chain mail and a stone golem! Not something you'd find at your local Wallmart.<br/><br/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3TEG9KbHSU<br/><br/>I still think it a bit odd but haven't we as RPG fans been on society's short list for that title as well?<br/><br/>If LARPing is your form of entertainment then more power to you. I’ve known about LARPing but thought it odd and never really looked into it. I figured it was a further spin off of SCA.

I have friends that enjoy Civil War board games and miniatures. Their passion has resulted in joining re-enactment groups where they invest a lot of time and money in developing historical characters and re-enacting battles. I respect their dedication and enjoy watching them.

Is LARPing really that much different?

Thanks to the above poster for the youtube link. I went and found others. I now have a more respectful view of LARPing. Lots of nice chain mail and a stone golem! Not something you’d find at your local Wallmart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3TEG9KbHSU

I still think it a bit odd but haven’t we as RPG fans been on society’s short list for that title as well?

If LARPing is your form of entertainment then more power to you.

]]> By: long time listener, first time caller... http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-485 long time listener, first time caller... Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:42:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-485 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ04mfAY2BU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ04mfAY2BU

]]> By: Dave The Game http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-483 Dave The Game Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:33:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-483 Wow, I'm honestly surprised at these comments. I bet there are plenty who look down on us tabletop roleplayers in the same way.<br/><br/>Yes, there are people who take it too far, but that's the individuals fault and not the style of game(and I know plenty who take it too far at the tabletop as well.)<br/><br/>I don't LARP anymore, but I certainly don't look down my nose at them and tell myself that D&D is somehow better. Wow, I’m honestly surprised at these comments. I bet there are plenty who look down on us tabletop roleplayers in the same way.

Yes, there are people who take it too far, but that’s the individuals fault and not the style of game(and I know plenty who take it too far at the tabletop as well.)

I don’t LARP anymore, but I certainly don’t look down my nose at them and tell myself that D&D is somehow better.

]]> By: Trask http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-481 Trask Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:23:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-481 I just posted on this issue. As Chatty said, it is a public relations disaster. These are the mutants that always make the local paper when the media shows up. Bad for the hobby and just boring to participate in (IMHO.) <br/><br/>If they want to do this sort of thing, join the drama club. <br/><br/>Trask, the Last Tyromancer I just posted on this issue. As Chatty said, it is a public relations disaster. These are the mutants that always make the local paper when the media shows up. Bad for the hobby and just boring to participate in (IMHO.)

If they want to do this sort of thing, join the drama club.

Trask, the Last Tyromancer

]]> By: Your G(rinning) M(asochist) http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-479 Your G(rinning) M(asochist) Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:27:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-479 The problem I have with LARPing is that it is too limiting. I can't really play an insanely dexterous rogue or a buff and powerful fighter or even a wizard when you get right down to it. I can imagine Hal, the Nimble Night-thief flipping past an Orc, but I can't do it myself, so I can't act it out. Therefore, the idea of trying to LARP just fills me with dread and seems like it's voluntarily giving up a huge number of character ideas because I can't really play them. Who wants to do that? The problem I have with LARPing is that it is too limiting. I can’t really play an insanely dexterous rogue or a buff and powerful fighter or even a wizard when you get right down to it. I can imagine Hal, the Nimble Night-thief flipping past an Orc, but I can’t do it myself, so I can’t act it out. Therefore, the idea of trying to LARP just fills me with dread and seems like it’s voluntarily giving up a huge number of character ideas because I can’t really play them. Who wants to do that?

]]> By: ChattyDM http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-478 ChattyDM Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:30:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-478 ...as are self-satisfied dissertation on one's fictional origins...<br/><br/>Ending a sentence with a smug Nyaah! Is a surefire way to invite me to punch someone in the face.<br/><br/>However, I'm all for an entertaining Elevator pitch style (i.e. less than 10 seconds) description of what is so cool in said character... you may even get me to ask questions! …as are self-satisfied dissertation on one’s fictional origins…

Ending a sentence with a smug Nyaah! Is a surefire way to invite me to punch someone in the face.

However, I’m all for an entertaining Elevator pitch style (i.e. less than 10 seconds) description of what is so cool in said character… you may even get me to ask questions!

]]> By: Sandrinnad http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.php/comment-page-1#comment-477 Sandrinnad Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:16:00 +0000 http://www.stupidranger.com/2008/04/a-frank-discussion-about-larping.html#comment-477 I haven't LARPed but I have dressed up for cons - most of which were around Hallowe'en so costuming was highly encouraged. (One year there was the _most_ amazing Jack Skellington. It was seriously incredible.)<br/><br/>Dressing in character can be really fun, even if no one else knows who the character is - when else do you get to break out those things you would never wear in real life? :D As long as you're aware nobody else knows or actually cares who you're portraying :)<br/><br/>I've never quite grasped LARPing either....I'm waaaay too shy, and too aware that pretending doesn't make me taller, shorter, thinner, fatter, or a different species so it just doesn't seem real enough to me to be fun. Especially if you bring 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' into it.... Give me pen & paper any day :)<br/><br/>And convoluted rants in response to a simple question are just flat-out obnoxious :) I haven’t LARPed but I have dressed up for cons – most of which were around Hallowe’en so costuming was highly encouraged. (One year there was the _most_ amazing Jack Skellington. It was seriously incredible.)

Dressing in character can be really fun, even if no one else knows who the character is – when else do you get to break out those things you would never wear in real life? :D As long as you’re aware nobody else knows or actually cares who you’re portraying :)

I’ve never quite grasped LARPing either….I’m waaaay too shy, and too aware that pretending doesn’t make me taller, shorter, thinner, fatter, or a different species so it just doesn’t seem real enough to me to be fun. Especially if you bring ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ into it…. Give me pen & paper any day :)

And convoluted rants in response to a simple question are just flat-out obnoxious :)

]]>