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Birdie85

Stoodles wrote: »

What is LARP?

Live Action Role-Playing. Never done it, but it looks like fun! :cool:

heartbreak_star

It's one of the most fun things in the world, the other being allstar cheerleading

The system I attend is called Curious Pastimes, and I'm part of the Fir Cruthen faction - we are loosely based on Celts

http://www.curiouspastimes.co.uk

HBS x

Stoodles

Well I never knew about that! It looks complicated, but intriguing. How did you get into it?

heartbreak_star

It's only complicated from the outside, once you're doing it you just kinda roll with it - like being in an unscripted play!

I did tabletop roleplay (D&D and the like) from being about 13-14, and then one of my pals discovered a local LARP system when I was about 17. Went to that for a while then uni took over, and got back into it (and into the large scale events) via my current partner about three years ago.

Most people seem to think it's a youngsters' game, but our faction ranges in age from 17 to about 60, which is amazing.

HBS x

Stoodles

The age range was also something I wondered about. It looks like something I would have enjoyed when I could deal with people and noise.

Maybe I can make that it seems like something I might enjoy when I get better...

heartbreak_star

I think that at LARP there is something for everyone (well, unless you have a major allergy to latex - that might be an issue as the weapons and shields are coated in it for safety!).

I play a warrior because I adore the adrenaline of the big battlefield. I have some warleading responsibilities too and that sometimes stops me feeling bad about myself as I've done quite well with it.

However, we also have alchemists (fair bit of maths and problem-solving involved), druids (great fun if you like your mythology), healers (self-explanatory ha ha!), ritualists (rituals at our system are essentially short theatrical productions) and crafters (I don't know much about this). You can choose to be non-combat if that's how you prefer it

There are also systems that are totally non-combat, and even some futuristic ones that use NERF guns

(Sorry for the ramble...one of the two subjects I'm very excitable about )

HBS x

Stoodles

It sounds as though I'd be an alchemist. But right now only if I could do it remotely. People are really beyond my abilities - last week I left a shop when I was asked twice if I needed any help.

Is t something that takes up lots of your time apart from actual play? I mean do you spend lots of time planning and preparing? It's great to have something absorbing to think about and do.

onomatopoeia99

heartbreak_star wrote: »

The system I attend is called Curious Pastimes, and I'm part of the Fir Cruthen faction - we are loosely based on Celts

http://www.curiouspastimes.co.uk

It looks fascinating, I'll have a proper read of the gameplay mechanics later.

I've been aware of LARP for a long time and one or two people have suggested it to me, but being massively self-conscious it's not something I've ever pursued. My interest in D&D was always in figuring out ways to beat whatever encounter rather than the roleplay aspect - it was the same when I played Everquest, I ended up raid leading in that because I could do problem solving, strategy and organisation, only problem was I loathe telling people what to do and being the centre of attention! :eek:

heartbreak_star

Stoodles wrote: »

Is t something that takes up lots of your time apart from actual play? I mean do you spend lots of time planning and preparing? It's great to have something absorbing to think about and do.

It takes up a bit (I could never play something that takes up too much time as I'm a sports coach too, haha!). There's kit making to think about - what your character wears - any props you need (our alchemists have a beautiful scrapbook of plant samples and the druids have a gods book, people can add to them), and you can also write letters "to home" that the plot team answer.

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

It looks fascinating, I'll have a proper read of the gameplay mechanics later.

I've been aware of LARP for a long time and one or two people have suggested it to me, but being massively self-conscious it's not something I've ever pursued. My interest in D&D was always in figuring out ways to beat whatever encounter rather than the roleplay aspect - it was the same when I played Everquest, I ended up raid leading in that because I could do problem solving, strategy and organisation, only problem was I loathe telling people what to do and being the centre of attention! :eek:

You'd probably do quite well at CP as there's a lot of plot that requires thinkery rather than do-ery. I'll give examples when I can think of some, ha ha!

HBS x

Hoipolloi

Pyxis, sorry your bug is bugging you right now.

Stoodles, I hate having strangers in the house. I know it is sometimes necessary, but I feel such relief when they are gone.

Heartbreak_star, your shop items look great and LARP sounds amazingly fun, not within my comfort zone or physical abilities, but fun, nonetheless.

Waves and Smiles, thanks for the post you wrote explaining your illness and how it impacts upon your life and on the contents of some of your posts. You have a lot to endure. Big hugs.