There are thousands of LARPers across the country. Image via Flickr
It’s been going on for over 30 years in the UK, but what is LARP? And what possesses people to go into fields, dress up in fancy dress and play make-believe?
LARP, or Live Action Role Play, to give it its full name, developed across the world independently, but thanks to the internet this niche game grew to huge levels, and has started to seep into wider culture.
One of the largest LARP organisation in the UK, The Lorien Trust, attracts thousands of members to its events each year. Stephen Rose, started LARPing in 1996. “We were friends from school, a couple had already gone to the events and they suggested it, so I went along.”
He plays The Gathering, a set of rules which outlines how the game is played. His reasoning for starting is simple “I had some free time, and it sounded fun and interesting.”
"I got to die as a hero."
“We play from 10 in the morning to two at night. It’s a case of playing it like a normal role playing game (such as Dungeons and Dragons) but in costume.”
Even though a lot of people could consider it a little odd (to say the least), none of his friends or family are too concerned about it. “Some of them enjoy it, some of them just don’t understand.”
Despite the talk of death and swords, he’s never been properly injured while playing; they use rubber swords and rubber bows so injuries are rarely an issue. The worst that he sustained was a blow to the chest which knocked him off his feet. “Somebody put in a blow heavier than they they thought they were going to, and I didn’t quite judge it properly.”
"Some of my family just don’t understand."
Having played it for so long, he has fond memories of special moments that happened while playing. “After a bit of a fight, the enemy said one of us had to stay behind but the others were free to go. I sent everyone else off. They were actually hiding in a bush, wondering if they should help. I ended up getting absolutely shredded, but I got to die as a hero.”
Passers by don’t offer too much trouble either. “We play on the grounds of a stately home, so we don’t have too much trouble. There is a footpath through the site, but normally they keep out the way.” He said people are more interested in it than they are judgmental about it.
He doesn’t think that what he does is that odd. “Everything’s a bit odd if you look at it in the right light. Is spending £60 to get a replica football shirt and then sitting in a pub full of people to watch the game- is that normal?”