The 4 Player Archetypes - Where do you Fall?

Every LARP, and at some levels every Role Playing game has 4 basic types of players. In the twelve years that I’ve been a LARPer, I’ve seen hundreds of players, and you can almost always fit them into one of the four. It isn’t bad thing, and I think that it is important for a game to have all four to really thrive. Learning the types, and learning how to work with them can really make a game become more well rounded.

1. The Warrior

The warrior is the guy that is there for the combat and fighting. In a combat larp, they are going to be the guys that spend the most time practicing the martial art of boffer combat. They tend to get involved much more heavily in that side of things. They aren’t going to worry too much about role play and characterization, but they are going to be the guys that strive to become combat marshals and spend hours perfecting the art of smithing weapons and armor.

You can almost always rely on them to have extra weapons laying around, and they’re going to be the guys that will keep people from getting too bored when mundane things bog down an event by organizing games and sparring. In my experience, they’ll end up forming a unit together and become a force to be feared. The boon they bring to the table is that they are also usually more than happy to take aside a newbie and show them a trick or two to help them out on the battlefield.

Usually the first to volunteer to play some a group of NPC monsters, and tend to have a lot of fun with it when you give them a one shot character, especially if it’s a monster that is just there to get beat on by the party.

2. The Actor

Pretty much the opposite of the warrior, this is the guy that is here entirely for the role play. On the extreme end they can even be non-combatants that only want to spend some time in character. Their focus is going to be on story and plot. Good to have around because they don’t mind being thrown a curve ball for the sake of a great story line. These guys will spend time in shadows around a campfire working on politics and schemes.

You can usually use them to introduce new things into the game, and given a little bit of prompting can run with it. Even the most minor thing can become an epic plot point if you let these natural hams take care of it. With a handful of them around, the job of the story teller becomes easy, and you don’t have to worry too much about finding reasons for your warriors to gear up and beat on each other.

3. The Craftsman

Seamstresses, blacksmiths, even cooks, these are the people who are here for one purpose only, to make things that are awesome. Sure, they’ll pick up a weapon and fight, or might even spend some time negotiating over a few coins for a spare weapon they’ve got lying around, but their true passion is in the craft associated with the game. They will spend hours making garb and weapons, and will generally be the first to volunteer to help a new player get geared up. They, and their friends, family and unit, will almost always have the best garb, and they’ll no sooner have one project done than they are already working on the next great innovation.

They can go a long way to making a game look a lot better in the photos.

Take advantage of what they can offer in training and trade, but make sure you’re giving back as much as they give out. In my experience they will be too generous with their goods. Actually, that applies to most players. Make sure that if they hook you up with something cool, you at least repay the favor by helping them with some camp chores.

Generally, when they do sell their craft for cash, their prices are a lot lower than you’ll find online for work that is as good or better. Better yet, get some materials and spend some time learning a bit about the craft from them. It might not be your passion, but it’s always good to know how to at least fix the hole in that fancy pouch you’ve got.

4. The Heart

For every guy that is an amazing fighter, there is a guy that can’t quite seem to get past the basics. For every brilliant character, there is a guy struggling to find himself. For every artisan, there is a guy that somehow sewed his new cloak into a tree. Every once in a while, you get someone who is cursed with all three of these, but they don’t let that get them down.

The heart is the core of a LARP. They show up because they love the game, and they put more work into it than anyone else. These guys are die-hards that just can’t be beaten. I love them for that. They might not ever be the best at anything, but they’re going to try everything, and they’re going to keep on trying, no matter what. You can’t ever do better than that.

One of the best things about playing a LARP is that you get to step outside yourself for a while and be closer to what you really want to be. It doesn’t matter to LARPers if you’re a bumbling clutz in real life. We’re just out here to have fun, and these guys have fun, no matter how bad they might be at something. Their spirit is infectious in a positive way, and can keep people in a good mood even when it’s hot, humid, and the bugs are horrible.

Plus, guys that are this dedicated will usually be the first to volunteer to help run things, because it’s something they love. Give them time and encouragement, and you’ll find that someone with real heart will one day become a force to take seriously. Besides, we can’t all start out perfect, can we?

Breaking the Mold

Of course, anything as broad and generalized as these archetypes will cover everyone. That’s not an excuse to let yourself fall into one. It’s good to recognize what people love, and help them do what they enjoy. It’s better to help everyone step outside of their comfort zone and become great at more.

If you’re a warrior, why not take that guy with heart aside and help him get better with the sword. He might not ever be the best, but a little one-on-one training can make a huge improvement for a fighter.

If you’re the actor, why not pull the craftsman aside and help him really develop that blacksmith persona into something grand? It might just liven up the event to have a boisterous merchant haggling prices.

It’s always been the philosophy of the people I game with that we are here to help each other get better as people, not just players. It makes the game better when we work together to help overcome our own weaknesses and strengthen those around us. It just makes for a better time.

Seeking Inspiration - 5 Great Fantasy Movies For LARPers

There are a lot of great movies out there that really capture the spirit of a LARP. They can be funny, epic, serious, or even a little scary. Some are the obvious classics that make us go, “Heck Yeah! Slaughter some Orcs!” Some are cult classics, and some are the dark horse sleepers that come at you from no where. All of them can be a great source of inspiration for basic character concepts, or even just to play in the back ground while you’re working on making some weapons or garb.

The Top 5 Movies for Fantasy LARP Inspiration

1. The Lord of The Rings Trilogy

If it isn’t absolutely obvious that the Lord of the Rings is the most influential fantasy series ever created, then, allow me to explain why this is such a great series to watch (and read) for inspiration in most fantasy settings.

Despite being the basis for most modern fantasy, the Lord of the Rings series is also the inspiration for the setting for most fantasy role playing games in general, a practice that has carried over into the Live-Action gaming scene. It’s got an epic storyline, great dynamic characters, and not just a small amount of brilliant dialog. In fact, the only real criticism I can say of Tolkien’s work is that he tends to be a bit overly descriptive at times. It can be a little hard to get through when you read it.

Fortunately for you, Peter Jackson took all that work out of the equation and left you with a great trilogy of movies that not only have some amazing special effects, but can be a pretty awesome source of inspiration on garb and weapon design.

Just do everyone a favor and don’t get too caught up in technicality of it all. A lot of LARPs have struggled hard to break away from the Lord of the Rings because it is so influential. It takes a lot of work to become a unique fantasy LARP and not just another “Tolkien Game.”

2. A Knight’s Tale

A Knight’s Tale is a bit of a cult classic. I’m sure there is some die hard historical accuracy buff out there right now raving like a madman and setting his monitor on fire because I’ve put it on this list. That’s pretty much why I love it, though.

Too often players put way too much emphasis on trying to sound like they’re living in the middle ages, and it can be clunky and nerve wracking. It takes a lot of practice to get down the lingo, let alone make it roll off the tongue like you’ve been speaking that way your entire life.

A Knight’s Tale is a great movie that shows us that we can still have a fun, period time without worrying too much about being historically accurate. I’d stay away from it if you’re in a die hard period LARP, but for a casual fantasy game or a period boffer combat game, it’s pretty much the exact atmosphere we’re looking for. I know that in the game I play, we use it as a great example of how you can still maintain character without worrying too much about anachronisms.

3. Willow

The moment I hear, “Madmartigan, you are the greatest swordsman in the world,” I smile and think about my first event ever. Not only is Willow a fun movie that everyone should just watch because it’s awesome, it has some great characters. It doesn’t take itself to serious, and it just oozes fun. That’s exactly what you should be looking for in a LARP, right?

Besides, it’s got Warwick Davis, and that’s enough of a reason to love any movie.

 

4. The Lion in Winter

Lion in Winter is a movie about the Winter Court of Henry II. It’s a great movie about political intrigue, posturing, scheming and all that other great character interaction that really drives the drama of a story home. It might as well be an episode of the West Wing set in the 1100s. The costumes are all fairly historically accurate, and the entire plot is driven with very little actual fighting, which goes to show that with the right motivation you can run an entire event combat free.

Plus, it has Patrick Stewart sporting a pretty jaunty wig. Don’t pass that up.

5. Gladiator

Gladiator is probably the least historically accurate movie you will ever see quoted as a source of information on Roman culture, but none of that really matters, because it has two things going for it: Blood and Bad Ass Quotes.

Sure, you could spend a lot of time researching real roman culture, or, if all you care about is being a bad ass gladiator, watch this movie. The title says it all. As far as most LARPs go, this is going to be as accurate as you need to get. Remember, the rule of cool goes a long way. Just don’t go trying to replicate Maximus if you find yourself at and SCA event or with another re-enactment group. This is not an accurate depiction of Roman culture. Not even a little.

Honorable Mentions:

There are a ton of other great fantasy/period pieces out there, and a handful of really terrible ones that can still be a great inspiration to LARPers. All of them might be worth a watch, especially if you have a group over to work on the tedious task of making some armor.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time - Do yourself a favor, mute the movie and look at both the pretty costumes and the tasty weapons. Really, you’re better off this way than trying to explain why the American actor portraying the Persian prince has a British accent.

Robin Hood - Russell Crowe likes to make movies that have people getting murdered by a renegade, outlaw hero. Once again, historical accuracy is a naughty word here, but you’re looking for the b.a. factor anyway. Of course, you’re probably better off watching the BBC’s Robin Hood Series anyway. It’s not as epic, but it has a lot of that same “modern in period” feel as A Knight’s Tale

Braveheart - I’d be a bad man if I didn’t put this on the list, and all of my skirt wearing warrior friends would probably throw logs at me.

Of course the list can go on and on. Any fantasy or period movie can inspire someone. The important part is to remember that you’re looking for inspiration, not imitation. Take a character archetype you like, and then make it your own.

Garbing Up For Medieval Times, a Newbie Guide

By now you’ve been to an event or two, and you’ve probably noticed that some people look truly awesome.

Chances are, the longer someone has been in the game, the better their garb. Looking good isn’t always cheap, though, and can range upwards of thousands of dollars.

Period clothing, often called “garb,” is something you put together over the course of years in a game. Don’t worry if it takes you some time to get your garb on, it’s a process, and can be a big part of helping flesh out your character.

There is an old saying in the Cosplay community:

“You can have it cheap. You can have it fast. You can have it look good. Pick two.”

My personal recommendation is to go with cheap and good, which means learning to do a little sewing, or finding someone that will help you out in that department, possibly in exchange for remedial labor or other services. (Although there are some alternatives) The second option is usually easier to find in the LARP community than you might think. If you’re looking at crunch time, though, you might have to find a little different route.

Basic Garb

A basic garb outfit needs 3 things:

1. Shirt
2. Pants
3. Belt

Everything after that can wait, and are just accessories. Luckily, pants and a belt are pretty easy to come buy, just swing over to your local general merchandising chain store and pick up a pair of black sweatpants and any belt you think looks cool. Look for something in black leather with a neat pattern on it. Don’t worry about getting your hands on a ring belt like those guys at a Renaissance Festival. The truth is the standard buckle we use today pretty much dates back forever, at least as far as the Roman Empire.

If sweatpants aren’t your thing, you have a couple of alternatives you can try out. I’ve known several people to wear the plaid fleece pajama pants, which have a more period style cut to them, but can wear out rather quickly. You can also try out a pair of scrubs. They’re a little more durable, and they look good enough for any fantasy game.

Basically, as a newbie, you’re going to get points for not wearing jeans here, so don’t sweat it too much.

Where to Get a Garb Shirt

The most noticeable part of your garb is going to be your shirt. Fortunately, getting something pretty basic is fairly easy.

Buying One Online

I don’t recommend buying a shirt online. Sizing can be all over the board, and the cost is definitely higher than what you’d pay to make one yourself. If you’re dead set on doing so though, be prepared to spend $30-90 for something basic. Shop around for something that suits your style. If you’re going to plunk down the dough on a shirt, you want to make sure its something you’re going to wear for a while.

My personal recommendation for where to buy is Medieval Collectibles. I’ve ordered several things from them, and the service is quick and the products are a good quality. If you keep an eye out you can usually pick up a good deal, too.

Making it Yourself

There are a dozen patterns out there for making a shirt, if you are so inclined. Hit up the costume patterns section of your fabric store. Never buy an off the shelf costume piece (unless it is of extremely high quality), but the patterns will work out well if you make them with the right material.

For a simple garb shirt or tunic, you can get away with some fairly common cotton fabric for a few dollars a yard. You are looking for solid colors, preferably in an earth tone. Try to avoid bleached white cloth if you can, but there isn’t anything wrong with that for anyone but the most die hard of historical accuracy buffs. If you don’t much care what color it is (and really, most starter garb ends up being loaner garb eventually anyway), then look for the cheap, clearance cotton. You might be able to score it for $1-$2/yard. Unless you are an exceptionally huge person, you can make a garb shirt with 3 yards of fabric or less. Total price to make it yourself is between $10 and $30, depending on the cost of your pattern.

Of course there are plenty of places online that can show you how to make a t-tunic with no pattern (PDF LINK).

The $5 Garb Shirt

Rowan of Dan Belegorn, a Belegarth player put it best when he said:

Get a polo shirt from Good Will ($3) then cut off the collar, buttons, and any noticably hemmed edges. Poke some holes where the buttons used to be and string some leather lacing through the collar holes. Wah-lah, instant medieval look!

He wasn’t the first player to think of it, and he won’t be the last, but he is the mad genius that thought to just put it out there. It has become the basic standard for a starting player. If you want to take it farther, get a long sleeved t-shirt and cut the hems off the wrist to wear under it, like this shiny picture of Mandragoran from the Belegarth Wiki, looking stylish in his polo shirt tunic.

There you go, you starting kit should be ready to take the field and at least look good while you’re getting beat on by your friends.

Now, get out there and rock.

Finding the LARP for You

There are hundreds of LARPs across the globe, and finding the one that best fits what you’re looking for isn’t always easy. Thankfully, there is a really good resource out there for you.

Shade’s Larp List

Shade’s Larp List (http://www.larplist.com) is a pretty extensive collection of LARPs found all over the world. The list can be a little difficult to navigate at times, and would really benefit from the ability to filter the list to your specifications, but it is the largest collection of LARPs that I know of.

Google Search

Another good way to find a LARP in your area is to Google it. Most LARPs have at least a basic website that can give your information on when and where they meet. The best shot is to be as exact as you can when you search, using terms like, “fantasy LARP Kansas City”  You tend to get links to the larger more established LARPs this way, and that might be a good starting off point for a new player.

Friends

It has been my experience that far and away the best way to find a LARP to play is if you have friends already playing. If you have friends that are into a larp already, tag along with them, even if you don’t like the game they are playing, you can meet people that can point you to a game you might enjoy.

Things to Remember When Choosing

1. Enjoying a game has more to do with the players in it than rules or theme. If you don’t like the people you are playing with, you won’t enjoy playing.
2. There is nothing wrong with playing multiple games. I encourage it. You can learn a lot from different games and meet more people. Remember LARPs are a social game, it’s really about making friends.
3. There are always other games out there. If you don’t feel comfortable in once game, you can find another. If the game isn’t what you’re looking for, then you can keep looking. Don’t stick with something you don’t enjoy.

Never forget that the goal is to have fun. If it isn’t fun, you shouldn’t be doing it.

5 Tips That Make Your First LARP Easier

Everything can be a little overwhelming the first time you attend an event or even a combat practice with a new group. This is even more true if it’s the first time you’ve ever attended anything. You can find yourself in a completely new group of people that have their own traditions. It can sometimes feel like they are speaking their own language. There are a few tricks you can use to get yourself acclimated quicker than you’d realize though.

1) Listen

Every LARP is different, and new things can be frustrating, but the best way to learn is to just soak it up. Most veterans will be more than willing to talk for great lengths. It has the benefit of letting you get to know not only the out-of-game side of things, but also lets you learn a little bit about the in-game things, too.

2) Ask

If you have a question, ask. It’s better in the long run to get your answers as soon as you can, and only a dick would make fun of someone for not knowing something. Find the person in charge and ask them any questions you have come up. If they can’t answer themselves, for example if they are swamped with a large number of players, they will be able to hook you up with a player that can help you out.

3) Don’t Expect Too Much From Yourself your First Time

A lot of new players go into a game thinking they have to be on the same level as the veteran players. Don’t. You are new to this, and everyone knows that. The less expectations you bring with you, the less shattered you will be if you don’t match them. Don’t worry about being the best fighter right away, or not having the right clothes or props. The skills come with practice, and if someone is worried about your clothes or props, then they will probably have loaners for you.

4) Don’t Expect Too Much from Game Officers

For the most part, they are volunteers that help run the game because they love it, and love to help new players. That doesn’t always mean they get to do as much as they would like. Especially in story/character heavy games, give them some time to work you in. A good story teller will do his best to get everyone involved in the game, but when there are a lot of players, it can take time to get to everyone. They are snubbing you, it’s just easier for them to handle more established characters first.

5) Find a Veteran and Learn from them

Most players coming into a new game will be brought by their friends, and can stick with them while they are learning the ropes. If you’re just starting out on your own, then the best thing you can do for yourself, and to help out those stressed game officers, is to ask if there is someone you can shadow for the day. The people they stick you with might not be who you end up running with in the future, but they are chosen because they’re established veterans that are good with new players.

Extra Bonus: Don’t be upset if you get passed from one vet to another. Most players who take newbies under their wing do so because they want to help you get into the game in a way that you’ll enjoy the most. If they ask you some questions and then hand you off, they are doing so because the person they’re passing you on to will be the best for you. That might mean they are from the same area you are, or that they can help you better establish what you want to do with your character.

More than anything else, just show up and expect to learn a lot of new things and have fun, as long as you’re having fun, you’re doing your job as a player. Everything else will come in time.