LARP Beginners Guide: What to Expect For Your First Event

You kind of figured out what larp is, and are looking to join your first event. But what can you even expect at a larp? How does a larp event work, and what are things you should prepare? What can you expect once you arrive? Those are all questions I often get asked by people who want to start playing larp, so I collected them all in this video full of practical larp tips.
If you'd like to thank me for this video or to fuel my crafting addiction you can visit my ko-fi: ko-fi.com/mari...
Photo attribution thumbnail, from left to right:
Nieske: www.flickr.com..., Event: Verstand en Verlangen
Hagen Hoppe: hagenhoppe.com/ Event: Greylight 2142
Photographer unknown Event: Vortex Adventures
Music attribution:
All music from filmmusic.io/
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: filmmusic.io/s...

[@MarisArmoury]

That Totoro joke took way too long to edit 😅 Anyway, what is your best tip for starting larpers? Or if you are just getting started, what are you still curious about?

[@chickenpermission]

Signed up for my first LARP in November, in Georgia, USA! New group, but the people have been absolutely fantastic in helping me find resources and their manual was extensive as well. I am eager for my first LARP and thankful for videos like yours!

[@MarisArmoury]

Sounds like a nice warm welcome! Have fun at your first event!

[@chickenpermission]

​@@MarisArmourythank you!

[@bladestormjones]

... I know that look at 1:44... This is going to end badly for me, isn't it...? As cliché as it may be, my best tip is "Have fun.". It's meant to be something you enjoy, not a chore. And yes, Type 2 fun definitely counts. (For those unfamiliar with the fun types: Type 1 fun is "This is fun! Let's do that again!", Type 2 fun is "That was a horrible experience. ... But it was really cool! Let's do that again!". Type 3 fun is "That sucked. Never again. Just no.")

[@MarisArmoury]

Well.. I am not one of those people finding the weird outliers and combinations in the rules... And yes! Larp is a hobby you should be doing for fun (of whichever type you like)

[@MobTheGlitch]

I'll be joining a short larp(first time ever) at the festival in Otterlo next weekend. This has been pretty helpful, thanks! ❤

[@larp-platform]

Good to have you! We're having a lot of first-time larpers at the event next week, so you're not the only one! :D

[@MarisArmoury]

Oh nice! In that case, see you there! And have fun!

[@blahanger4304]

hehe I can't help but think about Red Fang's Prehistoric Dog video :)

[@TAW-hi2md]

I found a good local Larp and want to go to a Saturday event coming up, but don't know if I want to be involved in that event or just be there and take it all in. I do want to wear garb though (I have some, as I used to be in the SCA) - Is that weird to show up in garb but just be hanging around watching everything?

[@MarisArmoury]

It depends a bit on the event, but in general, larp doesn't 'do' audience, everyone participates! But it would also be completely valid to join with a simple player character and take it all in that way, but who knows, maybe you end up getting sucked into the story~

[@jackiejames4551]

On average, how many people attend a Larp?

[@MarisArmoury]

Good question! But difficult to say. You can technically have a larp with 2 people, but there are also events with 10.000+. In general, here in the Netherlands, larps average between 80-120 people. But I can imagine that, for example larps that take place every month, like sportslarps in a public park or vampire games, are smaller than that.

[@LadyNieske]

I have played at a larp with 16 people, and at one with 5000 people... it really depends on the larp and the story they wish to tell