Haven't seen it, but the trailer isn't winning it any points so far www.youtube.com/watch?v=WENre45f13c and an "open letter" from the director network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/theamp...
Well it is about LARPing as opposed to table top, but at the same time it has the trappings of another 1980's moral war on fantasy-based games.
Ultimately, the Director's testimony to the Emos and Goths who enjoy this sort of thing is pandering, and trying to make up for his sensationalism.
Some woman decides to sell real sex for fake coins, so f***ing what? Emotionally and psychologically unbalanced people sit at the table for what's probably the only socializing time they can get?
Big, fat, hairy deal. As long as they can handle the consequences of their choices and rewards, then more power to them.
On the subject of the coins, they're not by definition fake. They can be traded for goods and services within the game, and chances are, they have a secondary market buying and selling the things. They are a medium of proper exchange, and are correctly money, even if no one outside the Group at large recognizes their value.
Bottom line, proper Geeks of most "stripes" generally avoid LARPers. Those that join or harbor them are likely merely keeping an eye on them so they don't create this sort of spectacle. It makes us look bad when they do this kind of carp, because the Straights assume they're with us.
So meh.
-Sarena
Now if you blur a line a little between LARPing and historical reenactments... That works.
I once read about a LARP session that took place entirely in a tavern and was set in 17th century Poland. The plot was: one noble man had a beautiful, rich daughter looking for a husband. Players were trying to either woo the girl, convince the father or do many other things. At some point the woman was kidnapped and everyone shouting "Szable w dłoń!" came to the rescue.
Yeah, I'd like to see something like that.
Then there are knight fairs. These are terrific.
At any rate the chart is WRONG.
Larpers are down at the bottom or should be.
Furries should be above them.
Totally.
First off, the arguing about the fight in the beginning of the clip is classic LARP. It's also one of the reasons I knew LARPing wasn't for me and decided stick to tabletop.
Secondly, the prostitute thing and the psychos just says bad things about those particular LARPers. I don't think any reasonable person would argue that psychos and prostitutes never engage in the same hobby they do.
From the trailer, I expect the movie to be an emotional trainwreck (like watching SAW, or House of 1000 corpses, or some other modern realist gore/horror flick) but I can't say I see it as a commentary on LARPers or LARPing.
As for all the posts about LARPers being psychos, I don't really see it. Most of the LARPers I've met were basically people who would be in their school's drama club if the plays had more fighting and supernatural stuff in them. Like most theater people though, they do tend to be rather emotionally fragile and prone to the same behaviour you see in celebrities (reality issues, drug use, emotional problems, even the occasional suicide).
I agree with Mecha. I do want to say though, that Role Models did a better job portraying what LARPers and LARPing is like. In fact, those parts actually made the movie worth watching.
This is about on par.
google it
At any rate the chart is WRONG.
Larpers are down at the bottom or should be.
Furries should be above them.
Im familiar with LARPing, never tried it (not since i was like 5 any way), but i never heard of Furries. Does that make me a geek cause i dont know? Oh yeah this is what google is for!
ok here we go Furries...
what the is this !!?? Thats some up right there.I've met fairly well balanced furry lovers. Larpers? You know they say the stereotype isn't true or whatever about whatever hobby there is out there but really, honestly the Larpers I've met you can definitely tell they are into Larping. They are the socially unadjusted through and through.
Wow, people who play Magical Teaparty Make-Believe Time bashing people who play Magical Live-Action Make-Believe Time? It's like I'm really on the Internet!
It's not the what, it's the how. Oh, and the elitism. I don't usually go there, but in this case, my fun is certainly better than LARPer fun. Truf.
Also, this year will be the 600th anniversary of the Grunwald battle. I can't wait!
I agree with Mecha. I do want to say though, that Role Models did a better job portraying what LARPers and LARPing is like. In fact, those parts actually made the movie worth watching.
Role Models was awesome on so many levels (at least seven of those levels of awesome being Paul Rudd). It actually made LARPing seem fun.
My "back away slowly from the scary people" reaction to the LARPers was based solely on personal interaction, not some silly notion of "geek heriarchy". Those people really freaked me the hell out.
Wow, people who play Magical Teaparty Make-Believe Time bashing people who play Magical Live-Action Make-Believe Time? It's like I'm really on the Internet!
This.
My "back away slowly from the scary people" reaction to the LARPers was based solely on personal interaction, not some silly notion of "geek heriarchy". Those people really freaked me the hell out.
Same here. Really I didn't know that Larpers in general act like every single one I've met face to face until I came onto the internet.
Wild Hunt.
Haven't seen it, but the trailer isn't winning it any points so far www.youtube.com/watch?v=WENre45f13c and an "open letter" from the director network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/theamp...
Well it is about LARPing as opposed to table top, but at the same time it has the trappings of another 1980's moral war on fantasy-based games.
I find it funny the Larpers are the only ones not laughing.
Hmm maybe someone ie the Larpers need to understand, non Larpers do regularly laugh AT you.
But that's ok, maybe Larpers think Star Wars geeks in Clone armour look funny. I know I think they're funny.
Maybe Larpers like to laugh at Trekkies, or is it Trekkers, or does it ever friggin matter. I know I think they're funny.
But everyone likes to have fun eh. Larpers need to enjoy their weirdness and laugh AT themselves too.
I for one can watch Otaku no Video and laugh because sometimes I can see a bit of me in the show.
Hey I've wondered if I could lose enough weight, that I could manage to wear a Megurine Luka outfit to Anime North. I would EXPECT to be laughed at though, I'd be laughing at me too.
The only time you become a tragic freak, is when you can't do something stupid, and understand it IS stupid.
Of all the weirdos I have met from the above categories though, Larpers are the ones that creep me out the most the most often.
And anything that can creep ME out, is plenty creepy.
My "back away slowly from the scary people" reaction to the LARPers was based solely on personal interaction, not some silly notion of "geek heriarchy". Those people really freaked me the hell out.
Same here. Really I didn't know that Larpers in general act like every single one I've met face to face until I came onto the internet.
This. Times INFINITY.
Maybe we have Prozac in the water here? Maybe you guys don't have enough in yours? I really don't know why there's such a difference.
Although, honestly, I have several Furre friends, and they're usually pretty stable. They have some odd proclivities, but most of them are generally decent people.
-Sarena
You can substitute "LARPer" for "D&D player" and the sentence will remain true.
I've met LARPers that are fun, LARPers that are cute, and LARPers that are obnoxious to the extreme.
You can substitute "LARPer" for "D&D player" and the sentence will remain true.
Yep. But LARPers are still way, way more lamerer.
Same here. Really I didn't know that Larpers in general act like every single one I've met face to face until I came onto the internet.
Yup. That first experience was around 1995 back when I was at University. The wife (then girlfriend) and I went to a "get together" and pretty much were about 3 minutes from leaping out a third-storey window in a bid for safety. Half of them seemed like stereotypical Gnerds (two guys wouldn't look up from the Star Trek CCG game the entire time) and a couple of them actually trying to sell the "if you have sex in the game you have to have sex for real" line of BS to my girlfriend (now wife) which was when we decided to make our exit…by any means necessary. I actually limbered up in case I had to fight my way out.
The next time we looked at it wasn't for another ten years. I had been looking for good fantasy weapon pics online and stumbled across a site that sold foam weapons for LARPing. This stuff looked pretty sweet and made me think maybe it was worth looking at again. A couple months later we were at an event and there was a table set up by a local LARP group. We went over to talk to them and once again found ourselves planning our exit strategy in very short order. These guys and gals were all of the "creepily intense" strain, a few with the slightly unfocused gaze and vaguely disturbing smile of a cult member. When we should more than a passing interest they seemed to kind of surround us, making it very difficult to extricate ourselves from the situation. Luckily the event was ending and everyone had to leave or I'm sure we'd have been bagged and thrown into the back of an unmarked white van.
And then of course there were the videos.
I still think LARPing sounds like fun in theory, and some of the fake weapons and gear looks awesome, but I've yet to find a group that made it seem fun in practice. The wife and I are still open to the idea but we'd have to find a group we were comfortable with socially before actually joining to play (eww, that makes us sound like swingers).
And then of course there were the videos.
Tee hee. Yeah, those guys are totally not lamerer than me an' my D&D pals. Not even a li'l. I never thought a few minis on a dry erase mat would ever look cool but ya know what? Thinking about that image while watching that video made me feel like the captain of the football team or something. I used to think I was better than LARPers. Now, I know it.
Did kinda remind me of back when I was like 5 or 6 or so. Cops an' robbers so pwnt but nobody ever wanted to die when ya shot 'em.
I have LARPed! And I enjoyed it.
You have to understand, I was dating a LARPer at the time and they invited me to go a LARPing in some backwoods Tennessee campsite. I went, because we were dating and because it sounded interesting. Seeing how I was new and all, I got to go join what I call 'the roadies'. Because at a LARP you've got to have monsters to fight, effects to set up, etc, etc and thats how the roadies roll.
Big goblin fight? Alright, you eight, put on goblin masks, grab gobliny something from the bin, and go die violently.
Guardian to the Afterlife? You, go put on something knightish and get to cabin 8. You three, grab the stereo and take the random party track with you. Stall for five minutes and go get whoever they want to talk to.
Dead Men with Clues? You and you put on peasant clothes and go clutch these arrows in your armpits.
But my favorite was this conversation.
(For lack of a better title) DM: "I need a random encounter, ideas?"
Roadie 1: "Bandits?"
DM: "Okay, a little more would be nice."
Roadie 2: "Toymakers?"
Roadie 3: "Bandits posing as Toymakers with very nice toys?"
DM: "Done, get some bandity clothes, bandity weapons, and toys."
So we four toymakers-not-bandits roamed about, chucking cloth dolls at people yelling "Wait, wait, we're toymakers!" while brandishing large fake swords.
Now, I don't think I could have really enjoyed being a full on PC (despite that you get a free 'level' every time you work roadie duty). My then girlfriend tried to explain how the system worked to me and, quite frankly, it was nearly impossible to figure out in one go. But working behind the scenes to make it all go down smoothly was pretty fun.
Some of the people I met were offputting, some of them downright disgusting. On the other hand, some of them were pretty cool and worked hard to pull of the events without just destroying the suspense of disbelief.
All the LARPers I've met were mostly normal. They were a bit more emotionally sensitive than average people, like Drama Club kids are, but were otherwise perfectly decent to be around.
Maybe we have Prozac in the water here? Maybe you guys don't have enough in yours? I really don't know why there's such a difference.
Had to bold that part. I know one couple that used to go a-Larping. He was a "roadie". At the time he was working off-broadway - now he's a lead tech ON broadway. (juliard grad)
LARPers are *NOT* Geeks. They're usually Emos with an overabundant dose of idiocy, or Goths with control issues. In some, it's even scripted down to the word. Some people spend *months* writing for a single session, or a weekend excursion, like this movie protrays.
Eh. Geeks ain't spotless, and this sorta smacks of no true scotsman. Besides, the basic principle of running around in the woods hitting each other with foam swords seems so fun that this stuff can't be all bad.
As an aside, I live under a pop-cultural rock where I'm only aware of music I listen to, so I think my sense of 'Goth' is The Birthday Party and then Nick Cave's later stuff. And Nick Cave's a badass.
Rent Darkcon and Monster Camp. You'll see how evil and depraved those larpers are.
I won't even give them caps.
And then of course there were the videos.
Tee hee. Yeah, those guys are totally not lamerer than me an' my D&D pals. Not even a li'l. I never thought a few minis on a dry erase mat would ever look cool but ya know what? Thinking about that image while watching that video made me feel like the captain of the football team or something. I used to think I was better than LARPers. Now, I know it.
Did kinda remind me of back when I was like 5 or 6 or so. Cops an' robbers so pwnt but nobody ever wanted to die when ya shot 'em.
Wow that video makes me feel all kinds of better about my self. We have a Star Wars Larp group on campus, who are amusing to watch, but are VERY VERY creepy people. I prefer to stay inside and play a game of D&D, while being watched by like twenty people. Our games draw spectators and it feels pretty cool. I continue to amp the game up, its like professional sports with out the exercise.
I've met LARPers that are fun, LARPers that are cute, and LARPers that are obnoxious to the extreme.
You can substitute "LARPer" for "D&D player" and the sentence will remain true.
Yeah I think people are totally breaking that stormwind fallacy they all love to trot out.
I've met LARPers that are fun, LARPers that are cute, and LARPers that are obnoxious to the extreme.
You can substitute "LARPer" for "D&D player" and the sentence will remain true.
Yeah I think people are totally breaking that stormwind fallacy they all love to trot out.
You're not using it correctly.
Alright, got a question for everyone who's posted LARPer hate: Have you ever as a child played pretend with friends? You know, cowboys and indians, Knights and Dragons, that kind of stuff. If so, you are a LARPer. You role-play in live action with others, often with fake weapons (good old sword = stick, trashcan lid = shield). You are/were a LARPer.
So, really, you're willing to categorize an entire group of people based off of a few bad individuals... wait, this is the Internet, so yes.
Hell, I know a guy who LARPs. He's a cool guy, he's not crazy, and damn if I said one bad thing about LARPing, he could probably hurl my fat ass through a wall.
Wow....
Alright, got a question for everyone who's posted LARPer hate: Have you ever as a child played pretend with friends? You know, cowboys and indians, Knights and Dragons, that kind of stuff. If so, you are a LARPer. You role-play in live action with others, often with fake weapons (good old sword = stick, trashcan lid = shield). You are/were a LARPer.
So, really, you're willing to categorize an entire group of people based off of a few bad individuals... wait, this is the Internet, so yes.
Hell, I know a guy who LARPs. He's a cool guy, he's not crazy, and damn if I said one bad thing about LARPing, he could probably hurl my fat ass through a wall.
It's not so much that I disagree (see my earlier posts), it's just that that last bit undercuts your argument rather significantly.
But hey, if I was a fat guy who spent alot of time around him, I would be campagining aginst people speaking ill of larping too....
I know plenty of people who could hurl me through a wall. I don't know any that would.
I've met LARPers that are fun, LARPers that are cute, and LARPers that are obnoxious to the extreme.
You can substitute "LARPer" for "D&D player" and the sentence will remain true.
Yeah I think people are totally breaking that stormwind fallacy they all love to trot out.
You're not using it correctly.
Would it help if I said the 'spirit' of the stormwind fallacy?
I found it amusing that some of the people here are more than willing to clump all LARPers into one group, but dangle the stormwind fallacy in people's faces when it suits them.
Wow....
Alright, got a question for everyone who's posted LARPer hate: Have you ever as a child played pretend with friends? You know, cowboys and indians, Knights and Dragons, that kind of stuff. If so, you are a LARPer. You role-play in live action with others, often with fake weapons (good old sword = stick, trashcan lid = shield). You are/were a LARPer.
So, really, you're willing to categorize an entire group of people based off of a few bad individuals... wait, this is the Internet, so yes.
Hell, I know a guy who LARPs. He's a cool guy, he's not crazy, and damn if I said one bad thing about LARPing, he could probably hurl my fat ass through a wall.
I used to crap myself when I was a kid, too. Were I to continue that behavior today - barring some medical condition or something - I bet you'd see me in a less than favorable light.
I mean really
Comparing crapping youself to Larping. Nice!Umm ... again, it's not the what, it's the how. A very, very important distinction.
For me it is neither the what nor the how, it's the who. The LARPers I've met personally have been creepy and off-putting, but that doesn't mean all LARPers are which is why I'm still open to the idea.
Of course that movie is in no way representative of LARPers. The people in that movie are all way too attractive...
Hey I happen to know and/or have seen in action some really attractive LARPers
(On a totally unrelated note, my opinion of "attractive" and that of the rest of the world do not often see eye-to-eye)
Note the word "could" in that sentence. It does not say "will" or "might". It hints only at the physique of the person in question, not in the slightest to his behaviour.
I know plenty of people who could hurl me through a wall. I don't know any that would.
Note that the could, paired with the "if I talked bad about larping" implies that, if noone where talking bad about larping, he could not throw you through the wall. This clearly demonstrates that he gets some sort of rage strength from people bashing his hobby.
Note the word "could" in that sentence. It does not say "will" or "might". It hints only at the physique of the person in question, not in the slightest to his behaviour.
I know plenty of people who could hurl me through a wall. I don't know any that would.
Thanks. That's what I meant, I just managed to butcher it when I posted.
Note the word "could" in that sentence. It does not say "will" or "might". It hints only at the physique of the person in question, not in the slightest to his behaviour.
I know plenty of people who could hurl me through a wall. I don't know any that would.
Note that the could, paired with the "if I talked bad about larping" implies that, if noone where talking bad about larping, he could not throw you through the wall. This clearly demonstrates that he gets some sort of rage strength from people bashing his hobby.
That grammatical linkage is what I was pointing out as well.
I don't think anyone doubts that LARPers can be physically fit or strong. I personally worked with a guy who went to a LARP where they used wooden swords and shields instead of foam ones. Setting aside the safety concerns, I imagine carrying several pounds of wood (plus they likely had some kind of padding or modern armor equivalent) while walking through the woods for several hours is quite a workout.
I carry around several pounds of wood, all day everyday. That's nothing. The real exercise comes from chasing people down.
If you know what I mean.
I carry around several pounds of wood, all day everyday. That's nothing. The real exercise comes from chasing people down.
I would think if you carried several pounds of wood1 around all day everyday that people would be chasing you around.
* * *
Of course that movie is in no way representative of LARPers. The people in that movie are all way too attractive...
Hey I happen to know and/or have seen in action some really attractive LARPers
(On a totally unrelated note, my opinion of "attractive" and that of the rest of the world do not often see eye-to-eye)
Damn straight, you should have seen the "Real girls of gaming" calendar one of the LARP groups released this year. Heck i've got it up on my wall right now (Seriously check it out on there Facebook group).
I was really suprised to see six pages of LARP hate here on the boards. I seriously thought that a group of people who over the years have been equally mocked by there mainstream contemporaries, would be a little more forgiving with a subject they obviously know nothing about.
LARPers & Tabletop players have more in common then they have differences. Heck they are doing exactly the same thing you are doing at the table top, but they are being a whole lot more active & personable about it. To be completely honest, after years of playing table top games, i reckon most players could afford to go out into the woods & run around for 3 days straight (Thats right i'm calling many of you unhealthy... myself included).
As for the people who are saying "I met a LARPer once and he was a freak... All LARPers therfore are freaks," i would only say "Thats a very broad brush you paint with." I personally hate Vampire LARPers, i find them to be moppy, completely insular, overly dramatic emo-kids who need to get some sunlight & who need to wear some other colour then black. But i've seen some Werewolf LAPRers (same company, same city, different group) who are outgoing, happy & more then welcome to new players & wear colours.
It all depends on the sort of game & the sort of gamer it entices.
Trust me when i say that most average people would rather hang with a LARPer then a RPGer. LARPers are usually more outgoing & personable (usually). LARPers also have a larger range of skills they have learnt from LARPing that can be applied in the real world (Seamstressing, basic arts and crafts, leather working, metal working etc etc).
In conclusion i would like to say: Shame on you D&D players, it makes me sad to think i am one of you, that you would scorn a thing that most of you have never tried. Imagine how your life would have turned out if you had met a freaky RPGer & you said "That guy was a freak, hence all RPGers are freaks, i'm not going to be like him or play a RPG."
-M
Would it help if I said the 'spirit' of the stormwind fallacy?
I found it amusing that some of the people here are more than willing to clump all LARPers into one group, but dangle the stormwind fallacy in people's faces when it suits them.
The stormwind fallacy talks about RPing and Mix-Maxing being adversaries.
For future reference, do not advise one behavior and then - in literally the next line - go totally, 100% against it. Makes ya seem ... silly. If that was the intent, success. If not, well, I'll just call your argument for tolerance uninspiring.
Wait. Don't paint with a broad brush. All Vampire LARPers are moppy, completely insular, overly dramatic emo-kids who need to get some sunlight & who need to wear some other colour then black. Yeah, I think I got it.
For future reference, do not advise one behavior and then - in literally the next line - go totally, 100% against it. Makes ya seem ... silly. If that was the intent, success. If not, well, I'll just call your argument for tolerance uninspiring.
Actually you will see if you look closely that i said "i find" i never said "All." I was showing that you can dislike a particular sub-group of a hobby without black balling the entirity of the hobby. I also never said "This group of people are these things," what i said is i have found them to be such. This would signify that the people of a particular group that i have met, have acted in a particular sterotypical way. The statement was used as an example to highlight my point. You really should have read it a little closer (The devil is in the details).
I also then go on to say "But i've seen some Werewolf LAPRers (same company, same city, different group) who are outgoing, happy & more then welcome to new players & wear colours." Which continues my line of logic, that different sorts of games appeal to different people & different sorts of fans. That a fan of one fandom may not act like the fan of another fandom. Which is where my next line comes into play and says "It all depends on the sort of game & the sort of gamer it entices."
Now i'm going to make an assumption (probably erroneously) that you are a fan of either the vampire game, or the vampire lifestyle & you thought i was trying to mock that fandom. I promise you, this is far from the case. I was only using my own extensive interaction with people to make a case for not making snap judgements about a thing, that one has not experienced. Especially when one has experienced the same sort of mocking due to a similiar hobby (aka Table-Top RPGs), one should feel at least a little kinship for that groups struggle for legitimacy. In other words "Oh Kettle, how black thou is."
For future reference keep an eye on the details, for that is where the devil hides.
-M
Oh, I seen 'em. You still say one group of WW LARPers is crappy and another is ok. Broadly painting an entire group that's smaller than some others have doesn't mean a damn thing. You can rationalize it any way you like, though, I don't care.
For the record, I have never played Vampire or any other WW game. I have never LARPed. And I never will. Just not my style. I'm all about the Shadowrun, though. LARPing that would be cool, but also a felony.
Oh, I also maintain that the hobbies have few similarities. Game material may be similar, but actual gameplay is a world apart. I don't throw things at the minis on my battlemat when I use Chain Lightning, for example. And I don't hit my DM in the head with a foam stick when I'm using Lion's Roar, either. I just move my figure (not myself), tell the DM what I'm doing and then roll the appropriate dice. Nowhere near the same thing as running through the woods screaming oddball battle cries as I attempt to trounce the badly costumed troll with my poorly crafted foam over PVC broadsword. The differences are akin, if you like, to playing Madden 2010 with my pals on my flatscreen or actually going outside and playing football - in badly crafted NFL unis, fake cleats, cardboard helmets and a 'ball' made of duct tape wrapped around a pine cone. Sure we're using the same subject material to have fun, but the way we're using it is markedly different. It's not a pot/kettle situation. It's a pot/fork situation. And this particular pot has no qualms telling those forks out there just how bent they are.
As far as shared kinship through past mocking, I also don't see any. High School was a long time ago and I honestly can't remember the last time I let some ****' comments about my hobbies bother me. I've forgotten if not forgiven and, for all intents and purposes, the result is exactly the same. It just doesn't matter. So I really don't care that some of my comments here - even though I've been purposely out there - have struck a nerve. The fact that they did simply confirms the reasons for them. And if anyone feels the need to bash me about my D&D playing, please feel free to go ahead. I've played the game for nearly 20 years. I couldn't care less what anyone thinks about that and nothing anyone says is going to change anything about my D&D past, present or future. So no, I don't feel a shared pain with my LARPer bretheren. We're two different animals, you see, and I just don't feel the sting from the D&D stigma like I used to. And even when I used to, it wasn't even a sting.
Oh, I seen 'em. You still say one group of WW LARPers is crappy and another is ok. Broadly painting an entire group that's smaller than some others have doesn't mean a damn thing. You can rationalize it any way you like, though, I don't care.
Once again i will point out that i never said crappy, that was all you. I just pointed out that just because you find one type of player wierd, thats not to say you need to ignore an entire hobby.
As for a Shadowrun LARP being cool, i can only say i'm not a huge shadowrun fan, but yes it would be cool... To see how cool check out the following link (Dont worry i'm not going to rick roll you)
www.dailymotion.com/video/x69xev_shadowr...
As for you not having played in a LARP before its pretty obvious from some of your statements. You also come off sounding like you have some sort of chip on your shoulder about LARPing (No offense intended). But i think on some level you may understand the kettle/pot situation. For instance you yourself said that you have played for 20 years & "I couldn't care less what anyone thinks about that and nothing anyone says is going to change anything about my D&D past, present or future."
Then you can understand exactly how LARPers feel. They are out there enjoying themselves, not hurting anyone. The circumstance may be different but the erdana; color:#000000; font-size:9pt">derision & misrepresntation of its players is exactly the same. The fact that you don't care what someone thinks when they discover you are a gamer, doesn't stop that person from thinking those things. For example for over a decade people thought that D&D caused people to kill themselves & it was only played by people with no social skills, living in there parents basement. Thats no more true then the idea that all LARPers run around yelling numbers hitting each other with poorly constructed foam weapons.
I don't insist that you try to understand them, but you may want to give LARPing a go sometime, you may even enjoy it... Or you may hate every second of it with a burning geek rage. Either way you will at least be able to make an informed choice on LARPing & you can say "I tried it, it wasn't for me."
-M
p.s Just as a side note I'm not a LARPer either
There good and bad in all- what this movie is more about is people taking soemthing too far. It could be medical study, the cinematics and backdrop of larping was used- albeit a twisted one. Most larps specifically state do not swing a prop weapon at anyone as well as no real weapons on the person period. Stats and games like rock paper scissors are used instead.
Yes some larpers dress up - I have on occasion. But some people dress up for d&d too, and both are at their heart - plays that are written on the fly by players, within certain guidelines.
The only people who will take this movie at the value of 'larping is bad' are those who are closed minded (purposefully), already hated it, or don't want to try to understand because of how they were raised.
Just enjoy it as a movie and don't run amok about it. If anything its more of a movie FOR larpers and gamers than a bond movie or lord of the rings. Gamers will get nuances, dressing up, some average joe nongamer won't get those things as well. It will hit gamers harder because of that.
In all honesty, I kinda look at this in the same way I look at Star Wars vs Star Trek. When we have those stupid 'arguments' here, I take a hard line anti Star Bores (get it?) stance. I personally don't like SB, but I don't really care that other people prefer it to ST. At any rate, since the base topic is geekology, I tend to get pretty out there with my comments (and others frequently do in response - I'm lookin' at you, Micha!
) because, to me (us), it's all in good fun. When I make fun of LARPers and LARPing, it's kinda on the same level. As you said, LARPing doesn't hurt me in any way so, to my world, it's largely meaningless. But it's a geeky hobby like D&D and I'm on the D&D 'side' so I go a bit overboard. When people get all upset about this 'attack on their hobby', though, things just get sillier. And it doesn't do a thing to help the base perception some have about LARPing, either. 'Leave LARPing alone!!1elevnt1!!y!' isn't the best way to inspire sympathy. And there I go exaggerating again. Oh well, I guess I prefer entertaining myself to geek solidarity. I suppose that means I'll burn in heaven or something - depending upon who you ask.I'm a larper. I'm a d&der. I'm a tcger.
There good and bad in all- what this movie is more about is people taking soemthing too far. It could be medical study, the cinematics and backdrop of larping was used- albeit a twisted one. Most larps specifically state do not swing a prop weapon at anyone as well as no real weapons on the person period. Stats and games like rock paper scissors are used instead.
I have never seen a LARP like that: one that uses RPS (rock-paper-scissors) or stats to determine the outcome of fighting. In all honesty, from my point of view, there is no point to LARPing with prop weapons if you're not going to use them. If a person plays in a LARP that uses RPS (or stats) to resolve combat, they are essentially playing a tabletop RPG outdoors; often with more (but not necessarily higher quality) props than a normal game uses. They might as well just sit at a picnic table and play the tabletop version of whatever they are LARping. That is however, just my opinion. And as my grandmother once told me: "Opinions are like buttholes. Just because everyone has one doesn't mean you should air yours out in public."
I was really suprised to see six pages of LARP hate here on the boards. I seriously thought that a group of people who over the years have been equally mocked by there mainstream contemporaries, would be a little more forgiving with a subject they obviously know nothing about.
For all the times I got mocked by my peers for playing D&D, I am very glad to have a target that is socially acceptable for both me and my non-D&D playing peers to join up together to mock. Afterwards when mocking LARPers, Furries, or whatever is over with then the next time they mock me I could be like "at least I'm not one of THOSE people" and then we would get drinks and have a couple of laughs at other nerds' expenses.
It's you declaring "this is how far you can get sucked into another world, and no further."
What's the difference between watching the Lord of the Rings universe, writing your own story in it, writing your own story in it with friends and dice, or dressing the part with your friends and making your own story in it?
In the end, it's all letting yourself be immersed in a world of make-believe. It's only the means that differ.
Some people put the "acceptable" point of lame at tabletop RPG, some at LARP, and some people will call you "lame and nerdy" for reading any book other then a Playboy.
You simply drew your line at LARP. I draw it a lot lower, even though I don't LARP. Let people do what they enjoy. There's no such thing as "too nerdy", "too geeky", or "too lame" and especially if it's coming from a tabletop-rpg player, that's kinda sad.
There's no such thing as "too nerdy", "too geeky", or "too lame"
There really is.
and especially if it's coming from a tabletop-rpg player, that's kinda sad.
What's really sad is assuming that being a tabletop-rpg player automatically makes one nerdy, geeky or lame.
There really is.
I disagree, but whatever.
What's really sad is assuming that being a tabletop-rpg player automatically makes one nerdy, geeky or lame.
I didn't mean to see a tabletop-rpg player is geeky, lame, or nerdy, merely that he is perceived as being so by many people, and that, despite knowing what it's like when everyone thinks you are geeky, nerdy and/or lame, you still need to go out and call other groups of people lame, geeky and/or nerdy.
Personally, I think they should know better.
I disagree, but whatever.
Yeah, cos nothing says simple, civil disagreement like a dismissive "whatever" tacked on the end. Sure you don't want to throw a "talk to the hand" or "face!" in there too?
I didn't mean to see a tabletop-rpg player is geeky, lame, or nerdy, merely that he is perceived as being so by many people, and that, despite knowing what it's like when everyone thinks you are geeky, nerdy and/or lame, you still need to go out and call other groups of people lame, geeky and/or nerdy.
Personally, I think they should know better.
The implication seemed to be that tabletop RPGers are such big nerds they have no right to criticise anyone else. My sig sums up my thoughts on that claim.
As an adult who's gone out on the front lawn with kendo swords and told his best friend and his little brother to 'come at me with everything you've got' (and won, I might add), I can see neither shame to that bit of fun nor a high ground between it and people who dare to apply a story to their pretend sword-fights. You've seen wackos LARPing? Good for you; blame the fact that they're wackos. Unless you have some ground-breaking claim as to the toxic and madness-inducing nature of duct tape and insulating foam, there's nothing about LARP that makes people any crazier than tabletopping does.
Consider this: if you see a disproportionate number of social rejects LARPing, maybe it's because social rejects have already become inured to the kind of vitriol that even other geeks heap upon the hobby. If playing a certain game marks the participants as pariahs it will drive away the regular folk who fear that stigma and will accumulate those who are already considered pariahs and have nothing to lose. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy to say that only losers LARP, and one of which this community should be ashamed.
Yeah, cos nothing says simple, civil disagreement like a dismissive "whatever" tacked on the end. Sure you don't want to throw a "talk to the hand" or "face!" in there too?
I'd have loved to make it a discussion and respond to your arguments and/or examples to why your opinion differs from mine, but alas, there were none.
The implication seemed to be that tabletop RPGers are such big nerds they have no right to criticise anyone else. My sig sums up my thoughts on that claim.
I explained what I meant. Sorry if you read something else in it; it's written text, it happens. What I explained, was what I meant to say.
Consider this: if you see a disproportionate number of social rejects LARPing, maybe it's because social rejects have already become inured to the kind of vitriol that even other geeks heap upon the hobby. If playing a certain game marks the participants as pariahs it will drive away the regular folk who fear that stigma and will accumulate those who are already considered pariahs and have nothing to lose. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy to say that only losers LARP, and one of which this community should be ashamed.
Here Here. I totally agree, & i am suprised to see so much negativity and scorn thrown on somebody elses hobby, by people who have had to tolearte similiar due to enjoying something not mainstream.
-M
Hmm, it would seem, superficially atleast, that focusing more on character development than killing things would infact make them worse at RP-ing vampires.
Do they get roleplaying bonuses for sticking glitter on themselves before the game?
LARPers are the true basement dwelling virgin types, that make the rest of us look bad. The emos and goths mentioned in the 2nd or 3rd reply who over dramatize everything - ever. Weak minded people who can be wholly consumed by imaginary things (video games, RPGs, sports, etc) and allow it to dominate all actions in all facets of their lives do deserve scrutiny.
"Lightning bolt" on youtube never gets old, and sadly whenever I talk to someone and find out they actively LARP (not like "oh yeah I tried that **** once, it was lame") I immediately lose a decent amount of respect, I know it's wrong of me but I'm only being honest here.
I find it awesome that nearly everyone in this thread agrees that LARPing is wholly inane and "gay" for lack of better words.
LARPers are the true basement dwelling virgin types, that make the rest of us look bad. The emos and goths mentioned in the 2nd or 3rd reply who over dramatize everything - ever. Weak minded people who can be wholly consumed by imaginary things (video games, RPGs, sports, etc) and allow it to dominate all actions in all facets of their lives do deserve scrutiny.
"Lightning bolt" on youtube never gets old, and sadly whenever I talk to someone and find out they actively LARP (not like "oh yeah I tried that **** once, it was lame") I immediately lose a decent amount of respect, I know it's wrong of me but I'm only being honest here.
I lost pretty much any respect I might have had for you after reading this post.
Rendevous are pretty cool because they have black powder shooting contests, hatchet thowing contests, and other games that were popular in that time period. Even at that though, its still people pretending to be something they are not.
I have no problem with Larpers or Larping and have thought about doing it several times. In fact one of the guys I game with invited me and my wife to an event later this summer. The only thing that is keeping me away is the stigma that goes with it.
The guy I game with is pretty cool guy so that makes me think it could be cool but seeing these opinions of it is making me think that maybe it won't be as cool I think.
I lost pretty much any respect I might have had for you after reading this post.
Seconded.
I lost pretty much any respect I might have had for you after reading this post.
Seconded.
Thirded.
Actually, I think LARPing seems somewhat interesting. I already fight with boffer weapons (my favorite to use being a greatsword), so it wouldn't be too much of a leap. Just so long as the rest of the group is sane.
I really don't see that much difference between people who go to Renaisance {sp?} Fairs or Rendevous (These are things where camp out in wooded areas using only gear that was available in 18th and early 19th centuries.) and those that Larp.
Rendevous are pretty cool because they have black powder shooting contests, hatchet thowing contests, and other games that were popular in that time period. Even at that though, its still people pretending to be something they are not.
I have no problem with Larpers or Larping and have thought about doing it several times. In fact one of the guys I game with invited me and my wife to an event later this summer. The only thing that is keeping me away is the stigma that goes with it.
The guy I game with is pretty cool guy so that makes me think it could be cool but seeing these opinions of it is making me think that maybe it won't be as cool I think.
The Ren Fairs people usually at least try to be historically accurate and they don't shout "Lightning Bolt" or wear silly masks.
In Europe those are usually paired up with historical battle anniversaries, so you get reenactments. And we also have proper knights using real (blunted) swords. It's more of a tourist trap than a game really.
Hmm, it would seem, superficially atleast, that focusing more on character development than killing things would infact make them worse at RP-ing vampires.
Do they get roleplaying bonuses for sticking glitter on themselves before the game?
Are you trying to suggest that twilight characters develop? I cannot say this is not so, but it would be the first time I have ever heard of such. It would also be in direct conflict with other testimony I have heard.