PLJG: Play Joint Game; PLJG: Play Java Game
A live action role-playing game (LARP or LRP) is a form of role-playing game
where the participants physically act out some or all of their characters'
actions. LARPs are related to improvisational theatre, although there is usually
no audience. Unless where it is otherwise explicitly stated, this article only
covers LARP in the English speaking world. The term LARP also refers to an
activity that has different local names with considerable variation in how it is
practiced in Non-English speaking countries countries.
Play overview
Players take on the role of characters and physically portray them, improvising
their characters' speech and movements somewhat like an actor in improvisational
theatre. This is distinct from traditional role-playing games where character
actions are described verbally.
Sometimes players create their own characters to play, in other cases the person
running the larp creates all the characters. Players may be able to play more
than one character, often changing clothes so that it is clear which character
they are currently playing.
In some LARPs a character can become unplayable if they are killed or
imprisoned. The player may have to play a different character when this happens.
In other LARPs, dead characters can be brought back to life.
Play usually takes place within a pre-defined space. This may be a private
building or section that has been borrowed or hired for the purpose, or a public
area. In some cases members of the public who are not involved in the LARP may
be in the play area, in which case they may either be ignored or treated as part
of the fictional setting. Play usually starts and ends at pre-defined times, and
may occur over hours or days.
Unlike in theatre there is usually no audience, as LARPs are played for the
satisfaction of the participants.
Beyond these basic common features, LARPs vary greatly. In particular there is a
broad spectrum of settings that play takes place in, methods of physically
representing the characters and the settings, game rules, and types of activity
that characters are involved in.
Production
Players may dress as their character and carry appropriate equipment, or costume
and gear may be portrayed by physical symbols or entirely imagined. Likewise the
environment in which play takes place may be dressed to resemble the imaginary
setting, and special effects may be used to represent unusual occurrences in the
setting.
In character versus out of character
There is a distinction between when a player is actively representing their
character (called in character, IC, in game or in play) and when the player is
being themselves (called out of character, OOC, off role, out of game, off game
or offplay). Some LARPs encourage players to stay consistently IC except in
emergencies, while others accept players being OOC sometimes and use devices
such as off-game areas, armbands, or gestures to signify when players are
currently OOC. Information learned while OOC is usually considered distinct from
information learned when IC, and characters making use of OOC information is a
form of metagaming.
Simulation and representation
All LARPs occur in both a real and an imaginary environment - the latter called
the setting, game world or (in theory) the diegesis. Characters inhabit the
imaginary environment, while players inhabit the real, physical environment. In
all LARPs, the real environment to some degree represents the imaginary
environment (for example, a real wall is normally also an imaginary wall) and
player behaviour represents character behaviour. In cases where the real
environment does not correspond to the imaginary environment, LARPs use
different techniques to simulate events in the imaginary environment. These
techniques may include game rules and randomizers (dice, cards), physical
symbols (for example a rope signifying an imaginary wall) and theatrical
improvisation.
Player characters and non-player characters
There is sometimes a distinction between player characters (PCs) and non-player
characters (NPCs). The NPCs exist to make the LARP more satisfying for the
players and they typically receive more direction from the organisers than the
players do. Unlike in traditional role-playing games where a gamemaster usually
plays all the NPCs, in a LARP each NPC is typically played by a separate person.
The people playing the NPCs are variously called crew, cast, monsters (in some
fantasy LARPs) or NPCs (erroneously). Each crew member may play many NPC roles
over the course of a LARP event.
Game rules
Some LARPs have game rules that determine how characters can affect each other
and the setting. These rules may define things such as a character's
capabilities, how those capabilities can change over time, what can be done with
various items in the setting, and what characters can do during the downtime
between LARP events. Because organisers are often not available to mediate all
character actions, players are relied upon to be honest in their application of
the rules.
There are also LARPs that do without rules, instead relying on players to use
their common sense or feel for dramatic appropriateness to cooperatively decide
what the outcome of their actions will be.
History
M History of live action role-playing games
LARP does not have a single point of origin, but was invented independently by
several different groups in the late 1970s. What these groups had in common was
experience with tabletop role-playing games (particularly Dungeons & Dragons)
and a desire to make the game more physical. In addition to tabletop
role-playing, the early LARP groups were preceded and possibly influenced by
educational and therapeutic role-playing, historical reenactment groups and the
Society for Creative Anachronism.
The earliest recorded US LARP group was the live-combat Dagorhir Outdoor
Improvisational Battle Games, founded in 1977 in the Washington, DC area.
Shortly after the release of the movie Logan's Run in 1976, rudimentary role
playing games based on the movie sprang up in US science fiction conventions and
quickly spread and by 1977 they were almost ubiquitous at US conventions. In
1981 The International Fantasy Games Society (IFGS) began to open chapters. It
was also live-combat but with a complex rules system more clearly influenced by
Dungeons & Dragons. IFGS took its name from a fictional group in the novel Dream
Park, which described highly realistic, futuristic LARPs. In turn the authors
adopted and publicized the LARP organization in two subsequent novels in the
series. The first Theatre Style LARP group was the Society for Interactive
Literature (SIL), founded in 1981 at Harvard University. Treasure Trap, formed
in 1982 at Peckforton Castle, is generally recognised as the first LARP game in
the UK, and most of the many hundreds of clubs and systems now active in the UK
can trace their descent to it.
Today LARP is a popular activity in North America, Europe, Russia and
Australasia. Large games with a thousand or more participants are organised by
for-profit companies, various LARP books are published (dominated by Mind's Eye
Theatre) and an increasingly professional industry sells costume, armour, and
especially foam weapons intended primarily for LARP.
Classification
LARP is notably diverse, with widely different approaches being taken in
different groups and regions. LARPs are sometimes classified according to their
system of combat resolution (physical or symbolic), primary conflicts (player vs
player or player vs organisers), number of participants, duration (campaigns or
single events), stance on role-playing (immersive or theatrical) or genre
(fantasy, science fiction, contemporary etc.).
Physical vs. symbolic combat
A physical combat LARP battle at a Lorien Trust event
Latex weapons used in LARP combat in the UK. The dagger has a laminated card
from the Lorien Trust system attached.The two most common ways of simulating
combat in LARP are physical representation and symbolic determination. Physical
combat occurs without interruption in role-play, using boffer or latex
representations of mêlée weapons, airsoft or laser tag guns, and similar.
Sometimes relatively harmless versions of real weapons (blunt metal swords,
firearms loaded with blanks) are used as representations. Games using physical
combat are often known as boffer or live combat LARPs. In LARPS with physical
combat the fighting skills of the player affect their ability to portray a
character who is successful when fighting.
Genre
LARPs can have as many genres and settings as novels, plays, or movies. However,
many LARPs use settings derived from genre literature. While some LARPs borrow a
setting from an established work in another medium (e.g. The Lord of the Rings
or the World of Darkness), many LARPs take place in a setting designed
specifically for the LARP. Re-usable custom-designed settings ("campaign
worlds"), together with rulesets, are often the principal creative asset of LARP
associations and LARP publishers.
The creative content of a LARP is produced by players in collaboration with
organisers - called game masters (GMs), referees or larpwrights - who determine
the fictive framework of a LARP. GMs may decide how characters are created by
players, or write and distribute characters to the players. The characters
allowed or authored by the GMs, along with conflicts placed between characters
and possible interventions during the LARP, usually determine the type of
interaction in a LARP. GMs may also influence the LARP while it is played, for
example by playing or controlling "Non Player Characters" (NPC's).
LARP players will often narrate the events of a LARP as a story, with their
character as protagonist, though it should be noted that few LARPs feature
pre-determined or pre-scripted stories of the type common in literature or
cinema. Whether a LARP can or should "tell a story" is an intensely
controversial issue amongst LARP players and theorists.
Focus of interaction
Some LARPs, such as theatre-style games in the US, feature primarily conflicts
between player characters or groups of characters. Others, sometimes called
"adventure style LARPs", pit players against organiser-controlled obstacles or
antagonists. Another distinction is often made (especially in the UK) between
player-led and organiser-led interactions, the former being improvised by
players during play while the latter are planned in advance by GMs although they
are usually reactive to the players' improvisation.
Game format
LARPs vary in size from a handful of players to several thousand, and in
duration from a couple of hours to whole weeks. Most LARPs are either single,
self-consistent events or form parts of a campaign - a series of LARP sessions
featuring the same setting, the same rules and many of the same characters.
Common styles
Arthaus
Common in the Nordic countries but also present elsewhere, arthaus LARPs are
eclectic events that are characterised by the originality of the themes and
techniques used. Arthaus larps have high culture aspirations, and are
occasionally held in the context of fine arts - at festivals, in art museums or
theatres. The themes, settings and characters of arthaus LARPs tend to be
intentionally relevant to real-world issues of politics, culture, religion,
sexuality and the human condition. Arthaus LARPs can be seen as experimental
LARPs, since they often aim to test out techniques that may be of use to
mainstream LARPs.
Espionage
Espionage LARPs are inspired by spy fiction. Some leverage the real world as a
venue or real player identities as characters in a manner similar to Assassin or
alternate reality games. These usually avoid physical combat and real-looking
weapons which could attract unwanted attention from the public and authorities.
In the late 1980s the International Fantasy Gaming Society (IFGS) ran a series
of espionage LARPs called Undercover in this style.
Fantasy
Fantasy genre LARPs are set in pseudo-historical worlds inspired by fantasy
literature and fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons. These
settings typically have low technology, magic, and fantasy races. Many fantasy
LARPs use physical combat and focus on adventure and/or competition between
character factions. Fantasy is one of the most common LARP genres
internationally.
Historical
LARP with a Victorian settingHistorical LARPs take place in our world, at some
point in history. They can vary from a 1930s murder mystery to a feudal Japanese
Samurai story. Historical accuracy, in both fictional content and physical props
and costume, is often prized in these LARPs, and there are similarities with
Historical reenactment.
Horror
Horror LARPs often use horror fiction as inspiration. LARPs with a horror theme
can be set in any era, often crossing over historical or science fiction genres.
One common sub-genre is based on the writing of H.P. Lovecraft, sometimes using
the published LARP Cthulhu Live and often set in 1920s USA.
Military Simulation
Military simulation (mil-sim) LARPs focus on military operations, often in
modern or futuristic settings. Many include live combat with laser tag, airsoft
or paintball firearms. Some mil-sims have a hard-core approach and attention to
detail that resembles police exercises or war games conducted by the military.
Players may take on combat roles or play non-combatants such as civilians or
VIPs.
Mind's Eye Theatre
M Mind's Eye Theatre
Published by White Wolf Game Studio, these gothic-punk LARPs take place in the
World of Darkness setting where players usually portray secretive supernatural
creatures like vampires and werewolves. Mind's Eye Theatre is a relatively
complex symbolic system. These LARPs are usually played in a chronicle, a series
of short events held at regular intervals, and are also popular at conventions.
An international chronicle is run by White Wolf's own fan club the Camarilla.
Mind's Eye Theatre is one of the most common forms of LARP internationally.
Mythology
Mythology LARPs are set in a semi-historical era with legendary aspects of that
time. For example, a Celtic mythology LARP might include features of Celtic myth
such as Druids with powers from the gods and goddesses, or legendary creatures
and monsters such as the Tuatha Dé Danann or the banshee.
Science fiction
Science fiction LARPs take place in futuristic settings with high technology and
possibly aliens, but usually without magic. This describes a broad array of
LARPs, including politically themed LARPs depicting dystopian or utopian
societies, combat-oriented events played with laser tag weaponry, and settings
inspired by cyberpunk, space opera and post-apocalyptic fiction.
Simulation
Some of the first LARP-style games were group activities designed to demonstrate
various social and political settings. One of the first such games was SimSoc,
which is still used in modern social science classes.
Theatre Style / Freeform
M Theatre Style LARP
Theatre style or freeform LARPs are characterised by symbolic combat, an
eclectic approach to genre and setting, and a focus on interaction between
characters that are written by the organisers. They usually last only a few
hours and are often played at conventions such as Intercon. The northeastern USA
has, since the early 1980s, been a stronghold of theatre style LARPing. In the
UK, New Zealand and Australia similar LARPS are often termed freeform.
Youth LARPs
Youth LARPs are intended for children and young people. Some are organised
through institutions such as schools, churches, or the Scouts. Youth LARPs are
especially common in Denmark, where an estimated 8% of children aged 10-14
participated in outdoor LARPs in July 2004. The Danish scene is dominated by
mediveal/fantasy LARPs with physical combat. Other varieties of youth LARP
include science fiction games and dramatizations of the Harry Potter world.
LARP in Non-English speaking parts of the world
Nordic LARP
Academic works
Journal of Interactive Drama. An Online Multi-Discipline Peer-Reviewed Journal
of Scenario-Based Theatre-Style Interactive Drama Freeform Live Action
Roleplaying Games. http://www.rpg.net/larp/journal/index.html
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