Considering Larping

[Travellar]

I've never Larped, in any form, nor seen it done. It does sound amusing though, so I figure I'll start asking my questions here instead of spamming the combat tactics thread. (where I've already recieved more than a handful of answers, Thanks SablEagle!)

Can you dress up for monstering too? All the pics I've seen (so far) are just 'normal' players with black tunics. If I'm ever going to be asked to play a goblin or some such, I'd like to look the part. Okay, a gargoyle would be much more fun, especially considering how many times I scared the life out of my old roommates while perched on top of the rail at the top of the stairs.

I'm thinking of something along the lines of a grey body suit, with bits of plaster here and there for a rough, stone like surface. (then paint the whole think like stone, of course!) It's be a great prop... err, sorrey, physrep of a stoneskin spell. I don't know how to do wings, but I'm sure I can figure them out. I've also got no idea how to get atop of every building in sight, nor simulate flying.

[Travellar]

yeah, in case noone's figured it out yet, I am avoiding something. In this case, paying my bills, doing laundry, packing and going to bed at a reasonable hour so I can travel to my Parents house for a couple weeks tomorrow.

I've managed to get the packing and laundry done anyhow, but I'd better go deal with the bills if I don't want to come home to a cold, dark house with no running water or garbage service in a car that's being repossesed. (okay, so I'm not so far behind on any bills that those things would happen, but I don't want to get that far behind either.)

yep... still putting off those bills.

[Plunder Down-Under]

Kobolds rule. That is all.

[Plunder Down-Under]

If you want to make elaborate costumes with low budget and are only learning.. Talk to CrazyAl, he knows what he's on about... arguably :P

[Travellar]

I may not have loads of extra cash, but I'm pretty sure I can give myself an adaquate budget. As for the fact that I'm just begining, I'll be drawing from enough other skills that I have, and my wonderful problem solving abilities, that I don't think I need to worry about being too ambitious.

Do you think my stone skin idea would work?

[sableagle]

The stone skin sounds good for some LARPs that have a heavy script with a lot of gargoyle. The problem with that and the reason for the monster party tending to get very minimal costume is that it's often the player party's story. If you're going free-form court intrigue with ploys and alliances and treaties and assassins and treason, the odds of the gargoyle getting involved at all are pretty slender. If it's a mission in the woods, the party encounters a roving band of zombies, marauding pack of kobolds (incl one shaman), bunch of thieving goblins, confused druid, plague-infested village, bandit roadblock or whatever, deals with it somehow and moves on. If it's a scout mission "dealing with it" might just mean a long jump over the stream, a crawl up the far tube of the bridge, a quiet sneak away and a careful ascent of the bank with no action at all, and then the monster party have to rush off and get ready for the next stage.

Craziest encounter in my experience probably goes to the mushrooms. Animated mushrooms that are friendly and cheerful and happy and enthusiastic and very powerful magic-users and want you to sing a song for them. Could any of us come up with a song in the depths of the night in the woods when we'd been expecting a fight? Nope.

The problem with wearing all that as a stoneskin spell is that someone might just have a dispel handy.

I've done wings for a party using rolled newspaper cones, a bit of tape, two old shirts and a lot of black spray-paint. A black shirt and a little stitching later and I could make people scream. :D

[Crazeyal]

Most places that have a Monster crew would encourage dressing up. Don't go too intricate, because unless you are an ongoing NPC, your job is to die, or kill a few newbies and RUN!

[Jareth]

At all the LARPs that I have attended, the plot committee has lots o' costumes and make-up for their NPC's...but I usually would bring extra costumey bits when I was monstering. My own make-up, an assortment of different masks, different outfits, my own weapons, etc.

Unfortunately, it's never your choice as to what monster you will be playing. The plot committee hands down the orders, you put on an appropriate costume and run out. And when that particular encounter is done, they'll probably have a different assignment for you. Change make-up/costume and run out...

Mind you, if you tell the plot folks a few weeks ahead of time that you have a kick-butt gargoyle costume...They might be inclined to create a storyline that involves gargoyles. :)

[Crazeyal]

Gargoyle costume huh??

:rolleyes:

Oh the JOY of running around the woods in stilts :rolleyes:

[Travellar]

Stilts? Well, I guess that could be one way to simulate flying. It would make the usual perched-upon-a-high-point difficult.

[idleknight]

Doh
will dig out some pics i have of Golems (closest thing to gargoyles in the system i do) and there is a dryad who uses the springy stilts.

As for monster costume check with the system you are doing there are hundreds of larps with hundreds of standards.

The linea system i did used morbid masks for general monster groups and face paints for some demons and other creatures. With a mix of general costume and tabbards as well.

Generally as you didnt want to keep the adventuring party waiting it would be a very quick turn over into kit. However half way through the adventure you might send a monster off to get prepared for the main encounter and a lot more effort would go into that one.

I now do more faction based larp where players can be non humans golems and dryads and a lot of effort goes into the costume.

[Talen]

1) Monster costuming is awesome, but 2) The more complex the costuming, the more dangerous/relevant the monster tends to be.

In LAIRE's case, you'd be playing an -extremely- dangerous magivore that makes most highlevel players run in terror for fear of their shinies being devoured. That is to say, a high-level NPC, something not put out into the game lightly if at all during an event.

That being said, I have never known someone putting together NPCs for a game that didn't adore a good costumer. (And one who can figure out easy-to-suit-up-but-good-looking-costumes are worshipped).

[Duncan]

For what it is worth, if you live in Dahlgreen, there will be an event not too terribly far from you in about two weeks. The VALOR chapter of NERO is holding an event the weekend of December 28th at the Prince William County Forest Park, which is just up 95 a little ways. The event costs $50, or $40 if you register at least a week in advance. Or if you prefer, you can come and play an NPC full time for free, which also earns you experience for your character should you eventually come and PC.

The VALOR chapter is pretty well run and relatively newbie friendly. There is a fair number of new players who recently started. If it fits in with your budget and schedule you might want to give them a look.

[Travellar]

Hey Thanks!
I get back to Virginia from Illinois on the 26th, and have to stand duty the 27th. After that though, weekends are free. Of course this means pre-registering might not be possible, and I haven't a thing to wear! :D

You guys are giving me some great pointers. Monster costumes apparently should be simple, flexible, and quick to get in/out of. Perhaps better than a body suit would be a modified pair of coveralls. Jump in, zip up, add mask/facepaint/giant skull, whatever, and away you go. I've never worked with laytex foam, but I think it'd be the perfect way to 'flesh out' a coveralls based costume.

Just how much support could a newbie get anyhow? I'd be willing to spend all my time as a monster, both for the fun and mischief I could cause, and to learn the basic mechanics of the game. I've no business playing any high level monsters until I know at least enough to be able to practice enough to actually BE a threat on the battlefield. My other concerns are the lack of an appropriate costume, and I have no suitable weapon. Plenty of ideas, nothing yet realized.

[Crazeyal]

It really depends on the chapter. A few of the ones I was invovled in had some extensive monstering supplies and newbie loaner weapons. The biggest advice I can give you is don't jump into creating a character until you know the general feel of the group.

There is ALWAYS a clique. ALWAYS. There will ALWAYs be people more powerful than you, with custom made plots for their UBER-level characters. You need to know if it's worth joining the structure, or if just hanging out is good enough for you. I know a few people who spent YEARS just monstering. Some of them get handed permanant bad guy status, some temporary, some just give as good as they get as they DIE every game.

Take your time and enjoy the new experience. It's only unique once.

[Seolta]

One of the reasons you see most monsters(especially in SOLAR) in just tabards is that those players are going to be playing up to 6+ different kinds of monsters in the course of their two-hour shift. It's a lot quicker to swap out one color of tabard for another and give a description than it is to put on a costume and/or makeup. That said, there are also monsters and NPCs with awesome makeup and costumes. By and large, these tend to be Plot, or dedicated monsters(i.e. people who for varying reasons volunteered to help Plot out by playing monsters and NPCs all weekend instead of playing their own PCs). Even then, sometimes a quick-change is required...there's a story that was on the quote board for a while on SOLAR's website where someone summoned the Life Avatar at the healers' guild, and the guy who played him got called off monster duty in a hurry so he could go answer the summoning. Without taking off his skeleton makeup. Needless to say, a few people got a bit worried, and "what do we see?" was called out at least once.

[Leffy]

i don't think i'd ever accomplish actually playing but goddamn i want to just like sit in for an event and watch everyone else play and fawn over everyones badass ability to play. i don't have the mental capability to really keep up with rules and such hehehe.

[Travellar]

I think Jenie drew that one up as a comic.
:king:

and while sitting in to watch would probrably be the best means to begin learning, I don't think I have time. I move to Japan next summer.

[Talen]

i don't think i'd ever accomplish actually playing but goddamn i want to just like sit in for an event and watch everyone else play and fawn over everyones badass ability to play. i don't have the mental capability to really keep up with rules and such hehehe.

You'd be surprised. Some kinds of characters take more mental firepower than others.

Your average warrior or rogue has much less in their head to deal with than the guy who has to memorize a few dozen spell verbals. If you don't want a complex character ruleswise- just don't play one. Most folks will happily clarify anything confusing ("How long does Confine last?") and you get to play.

(Most NERO-type rules systems are on the lower end of the complexity scale, anyhow.)

Odds are, you'd be able to play just fine.

[Lamentations]

Most of the LARPS I've done have been easy enough on the first run out. If you get nailed with something, you can ask what it does, and they are more than happy to describe.. in detail.. just what they just did to you.

At NERO, I managed my first few events without death. Just try to make friends quickly.

And trust the Gypsies.. they are your friends.
Do not trust plot. They want to crush you like a roach.

[Travellar]

What if I really enjoy playing the villian?:skull:

[Crazeyal]

You have to stand in line.:lol:

[Travellar]

What if I'm satisfied just trying to eat people's heads?:dgrin:

[Travellar]

I went, I saw, I'm going to bed now.

*continuing thoughts/next day*
Well, I had a great time this weekend. Duncan gave me the directions, links, addresses, and everything else to get me up to the NERO game this weekend. (or at least in contact with who I needed to talk to) I arrived in time with no charecter related neccesities. (no weapon, no armor, lousy costume, no makeup, no spell packets, NOTHING!) Within a couple of hours, I'd recieved help and advice to making my first charecter, and recieved enough borrowed or loaner gear to be able to play. (short sword and tunic from monster camp, spell packets from Duncan) By midnight I was adventuring, and even wandering off by myself. (and running away from anything that moved. I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid!) Saturday saw me employed by a group of barbarians as thier official banner carrier. After having fought in several engagements, I'd learned fairly well how best to use the different aspects of the game. (spells that harm the enemy<spells that disable the enemy) Given that the local chapter allows one free re-write of a charecter before they reach 55 build points, and the Barbarians trying to complete a ceremony of some sort anyhow, I was recruited to go with them and join thier ranks. Of course, it would have been nice to know about the whole "thump him on the head" thing before they waylaid me 20 times in a row. On the other hand, they did provide me with a silver longsword, a chainmail shirt, greeve, and even a shield. (the shield was returned fairly quickly, I couldn't hold thier banner with it.)

Later, the fresh adventurers were called upon to undertake a quest. I found myself shifted from the peripheries of battle You know, sneaking around behind the bad guys to distract them with almost worthless attacks) right into the front lines. The battle raged! The enemies fell! I did my newfound barbarian heritage proud! When it came time to divee up the loot, most of us looked at it with blank expressions. "Well I can't use that..." was frequently repeated.

All that, and I haven't even tried to describe the two magor battles we fought. I am definately going back in Febuary.

[Talen]

Ah, the LARPing bug bites hard on another vict....er, player. :)

One of us! One of us!

[sableagle]

Nice to see a LARP-MMORPG crossover there.

"Hey, I've got a spare sword I don't use that's way better than that thing. Yours if you want it."

Also:

"Just found a great crossbow with Major Invulnerability and +10 to blunt damage on it. I've got no use for the thing. Anyone want for bugs?"

[Travellar]

And now I get to start making stuff!
first was my silvered longsword. (okay, I actually wound up with three, but only need to physrep one.)
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/425235/sword1.jpg
This is both a success, and a collosal failure.
The reason it's a success should be clear enough.
The reason it's a failure is I missed one little detail when I bought the foam, and it's not thick enough. (3/8" rather than 5/8" sidewalls) In other words; looks great, can't play.

Also, the tip is prone to a bit of bending which is a problem as well. Even after I discovered these problems though, I went ahead and finished the project. That's given me enough insight that I know how to fix them, (tomorrow, when I can get more parts), and I can correct a couple of minor cosmetic issues.

for now though, it's time to work on garb. I've a couple ideas for a relatively simple tunic and trousers, and I can't wait to get to work with this stuff! :D
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/425235/fur.jpg

[Talen]

If it's bending, you may actually have a bit too much open cell on the thrusting tip. And a bigger base will help, too (the 5/8 sidewall, natch).

[Travellar]

Actually, the whole thing's closed cell foam, as I couldn't even find any open-cell untill today. Even that, I could only find in 1/2" wall. Fortunately, I found some pipe tape that's 1/8" thick, and appears to be open cell. 1/2+1/8=5/8! :D Unfortuantely, I'm still trolling around looking for those great directions someone posted a link to.

*edit*
to add to my own confusion, I've found that entry, plus the NERO rules on weapon construction. It seems all of the foam I've aquired is, in fact, closed cell. This is good, because the NERO system mandates closed cell foam "from the top tip of the blade to the cross guard"

On the other hand, the following page requires a throusting tip of 2" open cell. Now I'm REALLY confused.

[Seolta]

to add to my own confusion, I've found that entry, plus the NERO rules on weapon construction. It seems all of the foam I've aquired is, in fact, closed cell. This is good, because the NERO system mandates closed cell foam "from the top tip of the blade to the cross guard"

On the other hand, the following page requires a throusting tip of 2" open cell. Now I'm REALLY confused.


It sounds like the weapon construction(as with other things) is very similar to SOLAR, in which case you'll want the pipe foam(closed-cell) to extend from the guard up past the end of the pipe, and then add 2" of open-cell foam(a friend discovered that those big carwashing sponges are perfect for this, and you can get a lot of tips out of just one sponge). The extra pipe foam at the end is to keep the pipe from poking through the soft open-cell tip. If you haven't already, you'll also want to use electrical tape or more gaffer's tape to cover the ends of your pipe(again, helps keep it from tearing itself up when used). Another useful tip...those funnoodle things that are everywhere in the summertime work well in a pinch as a substitute for the pipe foam. The hole in the middle is slightly smaller than the PVC core you'd be inserting(which makes for a tight fit), and the walls are a deal thicker than the requirement, which allows some flexibility in shaping the weapon, as long as you make sure it doesn't get thinner than 5/8"(I carved one down to look like a faceted shard of quartz once, for a faery-dagger).

[LegacyTyphoon]

I didn't think this question warranted a new topic so I just posted it in the most relevant thread...
Uhm...why is it that if you go to a SCA or LARPing event people seem really hostile if you don't have a costume? The last time I went to one I was just checking it out (I had been invited by some friends I had no idea what it was at the time. It didn't help that they didn't TELL me I needed a costume...) and I had some random knights start yelling at me, they were still pissed even after I explained that I was looking around. I ended up borrowing someone's purple monk robe and ran around with a knife I bought...look really dumb.

[wolfie]

I cannot vouch for LARP events, but at SCA events it is required that you make an attempt at pre-16th century clothing, normally no one would have jumped your shit like it sounds like this knight did (was he wearing a white belt? if not he was not a knight). Most often the case is that someone, usualy the hospitaler, the event steward, or the seneschal of the local group would have gently taken you aside and made you aware of the faux pas, then sent you to get some loaner garb for the weekend. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with this one person or group.

A simple T-tunic, plain leather belt, (any color except white or green), sweat pants and plain boots are plenty to get away with. If you know how to sew here is a simple pattern for one. http://www.geocities.com/hansensmtn/toby/basic_tunic.htm

If you have any other questions about SCA, feel free to PM or email me.

[Travellar]

the question was "why"?

well, it's a fantasy world, and noone likes to have thier fantasies dashed by someone else just poking thier nose around without contributing. (closest I can figure to thier mindset, in good faith) Frankly, I kinda think your friends did you a disservice by not being prepared for one more.

[Crazeyal]

Actually, I think it's more the fact that you went to a costume event, costumeless. Gamers don't like people who hang around and point, and LARPers much less so. If you show up at an event with a BAD costume, you'll get laughed at by the regulars, and given help by the staff and/or the hierchy. If you show up with NOTHING, you represent the NORMAL people. ya know.. the ones who point and laugh at geeks?

It's bad form on their part, but most people who walk in unprepared are usually in the way.

[LegacyTyphoon]

Well I wasn't hanging around and pointing (I was actually trying to stay out of everyone's way and just see how things worked...people talked really funny and did certain actions and things I was trying to figure out...)...I was actually quite interested in checking out the LARPing and the SCA event in general. Well, it went okay in the end (after I got into some semblance of a costume), I managed to get some LARPing in, talked to some people about the quality of claymores, and then dragged my friends back to their tent because they were drunk and then watched some pirates steal from people on the road.
But yes, you're right, we should have been more prepared. I can see what you mean though about "regulars".

[Talen]

It wasn't you, but a heckuva lot of bad LARPing experiences have come from folks that literally wander in out of costume, out of game, and proceed to get into bad places- sometimes to the point of getting hurt. And you're not on the event insurance. :(

(Worst case I saw was a non-participant who decided to step into the middle of a module site, pick up one of the NPC weapons, and started hitting people- in the head. Stuff like that tends to lead to negative thoughts of wandering not-players.)

Best way, every time, if you're curious is to find someone in charge and ask. New players in most LARPs get a new player orientation that includes safety rules + do's and don'ts...and that way you don't end up breaking into someone's roleplaying wearing a Metallica T-shirt and blue jeans. Breaks the mood, y'know.

[ladylilo]

By and large, these tend to be Plot, or dedicated monsters(i.e. people who for varying reasons volunteered to help Plot out by playing monsters and NPCs all weekend instead of playing their own PCs). Even then, sometimes a quick-change is required...there's a story that was on the quote board for a while on SOLAR's website where someone summoned the Life Avatar at the healers' guild, and the guy who played him got called off monster duty in a hurry so he could go answer the summoning. Without taking off his skeleton makeup. Needless to say, a few people got a bit worried, and "what do we see?" was called out at least once.

Yeah, no kidding... when I did SOLAR Plot, I often had to plan my schedule by what make-up races I was going to play.

Example:
Human (no makeup) -> Ghost (White make-up) ->Porscelin Doll -> (Red dots over the white make-up, red lips) -> Skeleton (wash off the red dots and lips, paint black under chin, on cheeks, around eyes) -> Showertime. Make-up remnants remain, so I play Tabbard Monsters for the rest of the weekend.

Another big issue is that some make-up colors just do NOT want to come off. So when you have to play multiple roles, it can be difficult to get rid of that remnant of green or red or black. Even just playing a PC with one color, when I leave the event on Sunday, it usually takes until tuesday or wednesday for me to get all of the color out from my hairline or out of my ears.

[ladylilo]

It wasn't you, but a heckuva lot of bad LARPing experiences have come from folks that literally wander in out of costume, out of game, and proceed to get into bad places- sometimes to the point of getting hurt. And you're not on the event insurance. :(

(Worst case I saw was a non-participant who decided to step into the middle of a module site, pick up one of the NPC weapons, and started hitting people- in the head. Stuff like that tends to lead to negative thoughts of wandering not-players.)

Best way, every time, if you're curious is to find someone in charge and ask. New players in most LARPs get a new player orientation that includes safety rules + do's and don'ts...and that way you don't end up breaking into someone's roleplaying wearing a Metallica T-shirt and blue jeans. Breaks the mood, y'know.

In my opinion, a black or grey or brown shirt without text or logos or pictures, dark shoes and a pair of drawstring pants are the perfect base for costuming - you don't look particularly "in costume", but you're also not blatantly Out of Character either. My sister's about to come to her first LARPing event, and has no costuming whatsoever. I told her to pack to dress as if she were going to be doing set-changes for a play.

Chances are, with a base outfit like that, there will be other members who can help you accessorize appropriately - a hat, or hood, a belt, maybe even a tunic or tabbard - to make what would be a perfectly acceptable costume.

A friend of mine and I do a lot of our LARP costume shopping at Old Navy and American Apparel. We just get solid color longsleeve tees and v-necks, leggings and long drawstring pants we can stuff into our boots, and we work from there. Throw on a surcoat or armor, maybe a belt and a hood, and we're set.

[Seolta]

*grin* welcome back, lilo...don't forget to duck.

[Talen]

And that's not a bad idea. My first "costume"- black sweats and a Bananna Republic longsleeved shirt with wooden buttons, plus a leather belt from the thrift shop.

(and a tabard goes a long way, indeed.)

[Travellar]

Once you decide to aquire starting gear, a Tabard is THE first thing to get. (well, unless you won't be wearing anything above the waist...)

If your pants aren't perfect, oh well.
If your shoes aren't perfect, oh well.
Sure, pockets are a relatively recent innovation, and shouldn't be visible, and nothing says "not from the 12th century" quite like a pair of nikes and sunglasses. Still, what you use to cover your upper torso is the biggest factor in how you'll look.