Why all the LARP hate?

[A Curious Fellow]

you're gonna think I'm just hatin' but my honest opinion is that LARP kids just make themselves massive targets. This is something little kids do with sticks when their parents are preoccupied and can't stop them, and larpers go out of their way and spend money to do it with style.

Then there's the fact, and it is a FACT, that most larpers exemplify the stereotypes of being unattractive, somewhat smelly, out of shape, and extraordinarily nerdy in the most grating fashions.

I'm sure that somewhere out there is a football-scholarship Hollywood handsome dude who larps, or a group of larpers who aren't socially maladjusted freaks, I admit that. But I've never met one. No a single one who didn't match the stereotype. Sorry.

 

[Naheal]

I've LARPed previously. I personally prefer the RP part of LARPing, but that's just me.

 

[fullbleed]

I think it depends on the quality of it, embarrassing card costumes for instance are embarassing. It seems european LARPing is better quality than the LIGHTNING BOLT schlock that America seems to put out. I wouldn't mind trying it sometime, it's just harmless escapism and fantasy like cosplay or paintball or airsoft.

 

[Flames66]

I have no idea, it looks like great fun to me. Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of that around where I live so I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself. If I get the chance to, I will.

 

[KEM10]

Then there's the fact, and it is a FACT, that most larpers exemplify the stereotypes of being unattractive, somewhat smelly, out of shape, and extraordinarily nerdy in the most grating fashions.

I'm sure that somewhere out there is a football-scholarship Hollywood handsome dude who larps, or a group of larpers who aren't socially maladjusted freaks, I admit that. But I've never met one. No a single one who didn't match the stereotype. Sorry.

How many LARPers have you seen? I have only met a handful that are complete social rejects and/or extremely out of shape. Hell, the ones that are most into it start training Fight Club style so their character can be that much better. To them LARP becomes a reason to cut your nails, trim your hair, and take fencing lessons. One guy started running a mile a day just cause he got winded after a session. Out of shape, not so much around here.

 

[Sinspiration]

The LARP haters don't realize that ones hologram technology or VR actually WORKS they will be LARPing just like all those LARPers they hate xD (if anyone has seen Star Ocean Till the End of Time's start, they'll know exactly what I mean..)

My pops is actually a LARPer, or rather he was since life got too busy and awkward to continue with it, but he tells us stories about what happened that still make it sound fun and enjoyable, as some-one with an imagination I loved hearing about the things he got up to.

 

[Slick Samurai]

Well, some of the more organized LARP organizations tend to have strict rules and predetermined locations. Some LARPers even have dedicated blacksmiths to make chainmail and, in some rare cases, full plate armor for use on the field. While, yes, it does boil down to hitting each other with foam swords, shooting foam arrows, and throwing balls while calling the spell name, it's really an intricate recreation of an intricate fictional universe.

In a way, the Civil War and World War II reenactments are much in the same, they use authentic costumes from the fictional time period, they act in the same way as the fictional time period, and they play out battles (although LARP generally has it's history written on the field).

When it comes down to it, yes, it's a bunch of adults playing imaginary games on an open field. But the sheer dedication, the time, the effort, and the love put into crafting the universe and equipment puts if FAR beyond children's games.

 

[A Curious Fellow]

Then there's the fact, and it is a FACT, that most larpers exemplify the stereotypes of being unattractive, somewhat smelly, out of shape, and extraordinarily nerdy in the most grating fashions.

I'm sure that somewhere out there is a football-scholarship Hollywood handsome dude who larps, or a group of larpers who aren't socially maladjusted freaks, I admit that. But I've never met one. No a single one who didn't match the stereotype. Sorry.

How many LARPers have you seen? I have only met a handful that are complete social rejects
and/or extremely out of shape. Hell, the ones that are most into it start training Fight Club style so their character can be that much better. To them LARP becomes a reason to cut your nails, trim your hair, and take fencing lessons. One guy started running a mile a day just cause he got winded after a session. Out of shape, not so much around here.

Where are you from? I know the Boston area definitely doesn't host THAT. If it does, it's a well kept secret indeed.

 

[The Stonker]

Larper's can be cut into two groups.

A.Awesome larpers ( people who put really high details into their armour and some of them even forge their own armour and swords, ( I've even seen a person who is a pyrotechnician make a flame glove to represent his fireball).
Then we have horrible larpers.
They are just horrible.

Even tho both of them are really entertaining and people should really just view them as actors, because they can put themselves into the role of a knight,king,wizard,bard or even the most humble peasant.
So I would love to try some LARP and I wouldn't be embarassed for it.

 

[Kris015]

What the hell is LARP anyways?

 

[The Stonker]

What the hell is LARP anyways?

Live action role playing

 

[KEM10]

Where are you from? I know the Boston area definitely doesn't host THAT. If it does, it's a well kept secret indeed.

Boston? Does that mean you don't have to fake the silly accents cause you have them already?
And we are in Wisconsin.

What the hell is LARP anyways?

Live Action Role Playing. It is like the tabletops only you have to swing the sword and attempt to bluff your way out of things personally instead of rolls.

 

[A Curious Fellow]

Where are you from? I know the Boston area definitely doesn't host THAT. If it does, it's a well kept secret indeed.

Boston? Does that mean you don't have to fake the silly accents cause you have them already?
And we are in Wisconsin.

You gotta be a dick? Wisconsin isn't exempt from regional accents buddy.

 

[KEM10]

Where are you from? I know the Boston area definitely doesn't host THAT. If it does, it's a well kept secret indeed.

Boston? Does that mean you don't have to fake the silly accents cause you have them already?
And we are in Wisconsin.

You gotta be a dick? Wisconsin isn't exempt from regional accents buddy.

Oh I know, and I never hear the end of it when I leave the Midwest.

 

[smearyllama]

The only issue I have with LARPers is when they take it way too seriously.
Like going out of your way to buy a $700 sword, when one could be easily made that didn't have the risk of horribly maiming someone.

There's a Penny Arcade about this...

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Snip

It is just that Larping basically so Nerdy that most Nerds can't understand the appeal.