First Time LARPers | ft. Skill Tree

Come join us as Abby interviews Cl3ver and Madi from Skill Tree about their first LARPing experience!
PATREON
/ larpshire
INSTAGRAM
@larp_shire
TWITTER
@LarpShire
CALIMACIL
Find all weapons we used at calimacil.com?aff=19
(Use this link and we will get a portion of the proceeds to use to buy more props for the show!)
Music: www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Ale and Anecdotes by Darren Curtis | www.darrencurtismusic.com/
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Planning by Alexander Nakarada | www.serpentsoundstudios.com
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Medieval and Celtic Music | LANDS by Alex-Productions | onsound.eu/
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Wintersong by Alexander Nakarada | www.serpentsoundstudios.com
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Neverland by Alexander Nakarada | www.serpentsoundstudios.com
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Adventure by Alexander Nakarada | www.serpentsoundstudios.com
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[@Scampcam]

My first time (blush): I entered the game without a name, was so anxious i built it into my character, then figured out a name and decided the delay of introducing themselves was part of the character, got accused (later) that i wasn't a first-timer; because i'd come from cosplay so my kit was reasonably high standard. The first night, i made a friend and they asked to borrow a dagger to conceal on their body. Of course! Must be buttering some toast or something. Nobody had explained to me metal and magic were an explosive (literally) combo. So the evening they perform a high magic ritual in the camp, tell everyone else to shoo away a reasonable distance and then my buddy throws the dagger into the circle and destroys an artifact these vets had been making for years, using it for the first time (it was too op and nobody really wanted it, so people were kinda glad). yay chaos! if you ever come to the UK (presumably for Empire), look up some of the other Larps. Fields of Illusion, for example~ First time mistakes: Overpacking. Never figured out how not to, but i've got it down to "somewhat efficient". Taking the train and not driving, not that it's an option. Spending way too much on stuff. Practice facepaint before you get there!

[@Test-UCKC]

"D&D is just the entry drug" That makes so much sense now that I think about it! OMFG!!

[@LaineyBug2020]

I still think it would be cool to disguise a couple go pros and drones as magical items so somebody could film the whole thing!

[@SanguineSelian]

There was a film crew out there, and there is a 2 min video of the event. It is more of a promo, but that Is okay as it was the first one. As it progresses so will coverage

[@Scampcam]

i disguise mine on my head :3

[@DruidicRifleman]

Like Brandon,, f hiding one in side his tricorn at Revolutionary war battles

[@jonanderson3050]

Don't worry about being so old, Cl3ver, I'm even older and we can now sit around the fire together getting hammered on Barbeque Water and complaining about back pain .

[@hirsch5922]

I do LARP in Germany, which arguably has a very high standard of garb and I firmly stand by a few things: Better to wear modern shoes and not break your ankles than wear cool boots and faceplant on the battlefield. Bring backup pants. Test your garb before you live in it for four days. Bring a notebook and a pen that is reasonably period and write down peoples names. Get warm sleep gear, even if your event is in August, summer nights still get cold. People will lean into what you give them. LARP is a little cringe and that's okay, we all feel a little silly sometimes.

[@SanguineSelian]

First time mistakes -bad footwear -packed too much stuff that wasn't needed -didnt have appropriate clothing for the weather Things to look for for beginners -first big ticket item should be quality footwear -know what the weather is going to be like and pack accordingly, a wool cloak in rainy cold weather is a must(for those medieval based events), and linen is your friend in the heat. -GOOD SOCKS! Some suggest wool, but whatever you a good Padded sock is essential -packing is a learn as you go process -what ever your kit is, medieval armor to wasteland to just shorts and a tshirt, put it on and go move in it. Run jump walk sit stand whatever, find out what works and what doesn't. My two cents

[@LarpShire]

💯 🙌

[@OmniSphere]

Similar comment here. First focus items were good boots and a good sleeping bag for colder evenings. It's easy to open up a sleeping bag if too warm. MUCH harder to compensate for when it's too cold at night.

[@SanguineSelian]

@@OmniSphere yes! I tend to modern camp when I go but my essential items are my cot, a heat reflective foam pad and a basic blanket, if it gets too cold I just throw a cloak on as well. And I usually sleep like a baby even when it's 30 something degrees out.

[@debbielarps]

I can definitely recommend Empire for immersion and interpersonal roleplay. Because of the size of the game there isn’t a huge amount of plot from the plot team that gets filtered down to most of the players, but there’s a lot to be said for the player-led plot that exists, and the battles are really fun.

[@beepythevellfire]

My first larp was Empire, and three years on I'm still going. 😃 I am in the UK though, and only a couple hours drive away. You're right about how involved you want to get - I get massive FOMO as I miss quite a lot of events due to the lovely lovely (not) British weather. PD make the events as accessible as possible, however the realities of being a wheelchair user at events which turn into The Muddening mean I can't really get round so it's not worth going. I'm currently praying to the larp gods that July's event is a) dry and b) not in a heatwave. 😂

[@navarrduphoenixx]

“D&D is like the entry drug. LARP is like the hard stuff.” This is so true for so many people for so long. And then you start to crave harder drugs, like “I’ve DM’d some tabletop games. Maybe I’ll join the staff and help run a larp event.” But then that starts to pale, and you think,”I miss the rush of the early days. I’ll write and run my own larp.” So you do, and it goes well, but you could do better, fly higher, closer to the sun…. You look back on the ruins of your life. The shattered friendships. The untreatable damage to your body and soul. You been chasing the high if that first larp for twenty-five years. You’ve experienced emotions that don’t have names outside of a specific party of a specific faction of a specific race in a larp that only ran twice. You’ve run a few successful larps in a handful of genres. You’ve learned a lot from the larps that failed disastrously. Maybe you should run a blockbuster larp? Your magnum opus. Just you, a handful of your friends, a hundred acquaintances, and up to four hundred kick-starter strangers that can afford a $250 entry fee, plus travel expenses to a campground and winery in rural Michigan. I’m not saying “every” larper goes through those exact steps. But I’m also not saying it’s uncommon in the community. Love you all. Hope to see you again. The Hadrians are pulling out all the diplomatic stops in 2023. The Empire will enter all negotiations in the Marches with the energy of a sleeping Corgi puppy. Also, there will be tea.

[@LarpShire]

😂😂😂😂

[@codycampbell260]

My first time was with you guys, and I had never heard of your channel in my life. Glad I could be the reason some shoes got destroyed though.

[@LarpShire]

Would never have known it was your first time! Your RP was on point 🙌

[@Scampcam]

what did you doooooooooooooo XD

[@bretlemieux2489]

My first time larping was like 25 years ago I only had one set of cloths armor and way too many weapons

[@arranbtag]

Still awaiting my first LARP I’m due to attend Empire mid 2023 and found both channels looking into what it was about now I have watched pretty much all the videos and subbed to both channels plus Living Anachronism too and it has helped me to create my character, my sons character and on the way to creating The Boss’s character (Missus) and minor backstory thank you to all of these types of channels and yourselves as I would have had no idea where to start, if and when you do get to Empire come find me I’ll be in the Navarri Camp or on the battlefield slotting Orks 🍻

[@Scampcam]

alotta my buddies want me to go empire, but money. A lot of my buddies want me to crew because of that. XD but transport money!

[@LarpShire]

Hey, thank you so much! That’s really encouraging! Glad we could be of help!

[@arranbtag]

Jonatc87 I’m trying to find one up north in Yorkshire I can go look at and try a dabble before going Empire but can’t find any that tickle my fancy

[@arranbtag]

@@LarpShire and your content it great keep it up going to be smashing some fake wolf rugs for my tent shortly

[@michaelangelomaimone3181]

To be fair, it is a staple of RPG play. “I need to do [x important thing]… want to play a few rounds of gwent?”

[@pirategrldez]

I submit Mythic Adventures in Central Florida for your perusal. It's very story based and even the combat is story based. But yeah, I love LARPing and I've only been once so far. But OMG. I was a full time NPC and I just wish I had had a way to make in game money to afford to buy things off players. My NPC worked in the Tavern's kitchen and didn't really get any tips. Tips (legit) focus on footwear first. If you have to dump most of your costume budget into footwear: do it. My group recommends Sandlar boots (they sell at local Ren Faires in Florida and online). Thrift store costumes still happen with experienced players with multiple seasons under their belt (we are on season/year 7 now). Pouches are king. Have all the pouches. I have mobility issues so I'm turning my walker into a wagon with a large box to hold stuff in so I'll have the "best pouch ever". Hydrate. Hydrate. Food. Even if you bring a bunch of bananas and two jars of Pickles, do it. You will thank me for the pickle juice after running around in a field for 2 hours wearing full garb and leather or metal armor.

[@LarpShire]

We will have to check out Mythic Adventures! Love the innovation with the wagon idea!

[@michaelyoung7261]

Visiting SkillTree ghost Monkey (cause I barely comment and aren’t a patron) This was a fun to listen to as I head home. And yes, good footwear is important. Everywhere I’ve worked has compensated me when I get new work boots cause dang those are expensive

[@DarkLotusRen]

I wish there was a larp like Empire over here on the west coast of the states. I've been searching for four years and haven't found anything with the type of immersion and roleplay focus I wish I could experience.

[@alexandralebeau9559]

Hello! Very fun video. Very relatable hihi. My first LARP experience was Bicolline last August for the Grande Bataille! (and then I have been again 2 more times for other smaller events). I had friends who were doing LARPing for many years and hearing about their stories, I thought I would NEVER EVER do that (I can't sleep outside in the cold! I can't spend full days with wet clothes and shoes! I can't RP and improvise some cool lines, I do not know drama! I can't run around, and hit people with foam weapons. You need to be really motivated to do that! - were my thoughts). But then, you know, one thing leads to another, I thought, why not just try it. I borrowed a medieval tent which was quite the thing to set up...hehehe. We had no money for costume, so we dressed up as lower class individual. We just walked around and talked to people and we attended the newbies guided tour (highly recommend). We met good friends and enjoyed it a lot. First timer mistake - I thought that our sleeping arrangement should also be as decorum as possible. WE FROZE AT NIGHT! So, we learned the hard way that what is in your tent, is in your tent and nobody cares. So please bring your sleeping bag.

[@CAPace09]

Another excellent video with good suggestions all around.

[@starsixseven9259]

I would love to see these water bottles

[@reneesteeves3698]

Awesome! Have you or your guests from Skilltree ever been to Bicolline in Quebec?

[@LarpShire]

We have not been to Bico yet but we all want to!

[@CAPace09]

@@LarpShire let me know if you do.

[@reneesteeves3698]

@Larp_Shire and let me know too!!

[@thee_number_six6227]

I'll tell you how I found out about LARP, Knights Of Badassdom

[@LarpShire]

Classic 😂

[@helios4810]

Welp, now they've both been stolen.

[@LarpShire]

Mwahaha

[@CAPace09]

#freemadi #freeclever

[@Struthio_Camelus]

#OccupyLarpShire

[@donaldmcdaniel1773]

This is so weird...lol...