What is LARP?
LARP is an acronym for Live-Action Role Playing: a form of roleplaying game where players create characters - often called Player Characters or PCs - and play them physically. Players act out their characters’ choices in real-time. Much more like a style of live theater than traditional tabletop roleplaying games (although we also love our tabletop RPGs!), players are encouraged to wear costumes and often makeup to portray their characters at group events. Players at LARPs generally maintain an in-character - or IC - presence in designated IC areas while the event is “on,” although most LARPs also offer an out-of-character - or OOC - space for players to relax and have some downtime when needed. LARP events can last a single day/night or run over multiple days, depending upon the scope of the event.
Players can make character costumes out of pieces of clothing and props they already own, or they may find costume pieces in various places. Brick-and-mortar options vary widely - from Halloween and costume supply stores, antique stores, thrift stores, garage/yard sales, flea markets, and even big box and department stores. Online options include places like eBay and Etsy, but there are a ton of LARP-specific retail stores across the world that specialize in everything from LARP-safe weapons to clothing and accessories from practically every era and world imaginable.
Not every player has the same costume budget, though, and Mnemos LARP aims for the spirit of immersive roleplay without putting undue financial pressure on our players.
Boffer LARPs such as Mnemos also have an added level of physical combat, using contact-safe weapons made with foam and other components to safely and responsibly replicate live combat scenarios. Contact-safe melee weapons - called boffers - give the LARP style its name. From there, boffer LARPs can break down further into how hard and fast players are allowed to hit each other. Mnemos is a “lightest touch” boffer LARP, meaning that swings should be as light as possible. Lightest touch boffer LARPs use just enough force for the recipient to feel the impact, but not hard enough to cause discomfort - especially if the player is also wearing padding or armor. Boffers may be purchased at retailers specializing in LARP weapons or may be made using supplies from your local hardware store. If you wish to explore making your own boffer weapons, there are many thriving communities of fellow makers on the internet, as well as a number of tutorials.
Boffer LARPs also have a level of participation in live combat implicit in the playing style. Combats occur in real time using combat-safe fighting equipment, which must be tested and approved by an event safety narrator before being allowed into general play. In the case of Mnemos, this means that foam-based melee weapons of various types, dart blasters that shoot foam projectiles, LARP-safe bows and arrows, and small cloth packets filled with birdseed are all viable weapon options.