Unlike table-top role-playing games or video games, LARPers themselves slip into the role of a character, just like actors do. So you represent a character in real life, which means that you act, react to events and interact with other players. Every LARP-character has certain characteristics and a background story, which you can make up yourself. This influences how a character deals with his environment and other players.

In LARP, every character wears a costume that fits to the genre and represents the background of the character. For example, a mage often wears long robes with ornaments, while a knight wears an armor and a tabard. For you, this means that when creating the costume, you should keep in mind the corresponding character and their story that you intend to play out. You can also start with the costume and then design the character’s story. Perhaps it’s best to remember that it’s your costume that is the first thing people notice about your character. What kind of impression do they get? Is this what you wanted to achieve?

Keep in mind that objects or materials that do not fit into the setting should not be used or should at least be covered up. For example, a plastic raincoat would be disturbing in a medieval setting.

Every story has a plot. In LARP there is a starting point from which the story begins and then develops. The actions that players and non-players perform and the decisions they make have an impact on the course of the game. The framework for this is captured in the plot of the event. There are guidelines as to what can and will happen, but how the story unfolds depends essentially on the players and non-players/gamemakers and their efforts.

Not at every LARP but on some LARPs there is fighting. Though it is in fact pretending to fight with one another. Especially in the medieval and fantasy realms, players often wage epic battles. The weapons that are used are designed in such a way that they do not hurt anybody even when they come into contact. LARP weapons have no sharp blade, are not hard and are made of foam, latex or rubber. Nevertheless, you must be careful when handling the weapons, as they can cause bruises or hit fragile areas. Therefore you should always be considerate of your counterpart. In-game you fight against each other, out-game you play together.

A player is a person who wears a costume and embodies a fictional character. This character, his story and the costume are chosen by the player himself. The person acts live as part of the plot of the event and has a certain degree of freedom of action and can partly influence the outcome of the larger story or single plot lines. As a player you declare your intention to participate in the game, to get involved as much as possible and to make sure that you and other players have a good time. Because LARP is roughly like a sport, you agree to the rules of the game and as a player you make sure that you and others can play the game unhindered. You have (depending on the type of event) your own accommodation with you and often also provide your own food. You make sure that your own equipment is safe for all participants around you and are responsible for keeping it that way. LARP is like a team sport or like cycling on a common track – we can only make it fun if we work together. You show consideration for each other and help each other to experience the game. In addition one tries to disturb the immersion of the other participants as little as possible. This is independent of whether you play “against each other” within the story. Outside of the story, all players help together to allow and create the best possible experience for everyone.

When we talk of immersion, we mean the immersion of a fictitious reality. That is the goal of a LARP event, to simulate a world that is as believable and colorful and exciting as possible, so that the players as their characters can have the best possible LARP experience. Immersion is something that originates in the minds of the participants and is therefore a fragile state. Perhaps similar to sleeping. The more often you are “awakened” from it, the worse you will rate the “sleeping experience”. Therefore it is important to be aware of this. Surely there are good reasons (such as danger) to wake up sleeping people, but it should be reduced to a minimum. Immersion is something you have to actively engage with and everyone has to share in. The organizers will always try to avoid disturbances of the immersion as much as possible. Where this is not possible, you will need some extra fantasy or the ability to imagine or blend out (in case of disturbing dixi toilets or other necessary logistics). But one thing is clear, if all manage to “dream”, to immerse ourselves, we will have a good time.