Why Everyone HATES Larpers...

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Larping is the one geek subculture that never got the cool pass. Today we will explore its history and its future.
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[@JimmyTheGiant]

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[@JivecattheMagnificent]

Let's be real, my dude, CS 1.6 was fully rad.

[@yblob5872]

As a larper in the uk I would say the gathering held by lorien trust it is be a good choice for a beginner and there rules are decently chill so you could probably get permission to film Plus it's been going on for decades with different factions that are unique to each other and some rich lore through its world

[@LawfulBased]

I love how the terms larp & larping were not even once explained in this whole video. 😁 Not like I will ever go on google with one click now. 😏 But I deduce it comes from "relapsing" and reliving certain stuff & scenarios.

[@q44021]

Before making fun of LARPer you have to know that... atleast they touched grass.

[@kroooassant9899]

yea and for sure they smoke it just a little bit.

[@nellkellino-miller7673]

Yeah, I bet the people who ridicule them haven't seen a tree in months. It's not for me, but I have many friends who are into it and they are mostly very fun lovely people.

[@MyILoveMinecraft]

@@kroooassant9899 haven't met a druid who didn't have some weed

[@killerflamingo9566]

It’s fun did it for years only stopped cause I got bored of it wanted to get into heavier re-enactments and also hitting people with a metal stick is more fun lol

[@nellkellino-miller7673]

@@MyILoveMinecraft Or DMT... wink.

[@greggiorgio1846]

LARPing is a real "you had to be there" kind of thing. It's like going with your friends to see a great jam band or to a rave.. yeah, I could explain it or show you a video on KZbin, but you really wouldn't get it unless you experienced it. LARPers are a fun and accepting bunch. They are quirky and smart.. They are great at being social. It's a social game after all. I think it would be more accepted if people thought of it as it really is - It's improv acting in an interactive story. It's acting, just like in movies. That means it's really challenging and you totally suck at first. If you apply yourself you slowly get better at improvising and understanding the rules and plotlines while making 50 new friends that you will see pretty often. The players tend to stay year after year, so you get to know people the way you might have in school. That's rare as an adult. It's easily the most well rounded activity in geek culture. It involves friends, aspects of camping, being physical, being clever, playing a game that has many different facets from fighting to politics to crafting. It's pretty cool, but really you had to be there to understand.

[@Mark-nh2hs]

I had a friend who was into Larping and tagged alone a few times and they were all great individuals willing to help out. The only thing I had difficulty with was Wizards.... Yeah a bit cringy. The people who played wizards were great people but when they cast "Spells" I couldn't take seriously.

[@balduinvontrier128]

And it goes as deep as you want it to. I got really into tailoring. Not that I'm good at it, but it's an extra hobby on top of Larping. And you can get into Martial Arts, Acting, Music, Pottery, Making your own Wine to bring it along, smithing and a whole lot of other stuff. You can have an interesting, fun live full of things you learn and experience you wouldn't have otherwise, just by larping hard enough.

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

"Quirky!" Oh god fml

[@adonaiyah2196]

I unironically think larping is the coolest aspect of any part of nerd culture

[@Polska_Edits]

Yea

[@danteshollowedgrounds]

Yeah, fair enough and I do too even though I hate D&D don't get me started on that goddammit or WoW games.

[@ledbol]

Agree. Letting yourself being a kid is very good for psychological health. Because our inner child is the only real part of us.

[@OfficialDoyLum]

Oxymoron

[@HumaneApproach]

And that many warriors from the past didnt even want to join battle, was scare. It was brutal murders, Humans loosing life and wifes loosing husbands and.... Etc. I believe elder warriors like this would cry and laugh and be angry. (But surely we need to do something).....

[@LordTimzor]

I casually larped as a teen. Threw together my own costumes and even owned a larp sword. At that time I suddenly got to socialize with like minded people and participate in some battles, and it was fun! Now that I'm an adult with a job I consider getting back into it, but properly this time. It still seems like great fun.

[@jackcouch8322]

I think you did it properly the first time. Now you can go back into it but bigger.

[@JivecattheMagnificent]

Go for it dude.

[@slimjong-un5743]

NEEERRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDF

[@truthlight2816]

I'm actually with you bro.

[@ronselporter4739]

best of success

[@3089io]

One time a long time ago maybe like 20 years ago, before I had ever heard of LARPing. I was on a picnic date with a girl and all of a sudden over the hill comes this crazy scrum of 50 or so orcs and wizards with big swords and stuff. I was stunned. It was rad. LARPing is cool.

[@slimjong-un5743]

Shuddap nerd

[@FuneraryDirge]

I used to work with a guy who did LARP, genuinely one of the nicest, kindest individuals I've ever met despite the fact we disagreed a lot on some things, I really admired the dedication and craftsmanship of his work that he would show me, it is not cheap or easy to make, he would tell me countless stories and it honestly sounded like fun but it's not really my thing, much respect though for anyone who has a passion.

[@robotsaysbeebooboop]

Soy boy probably

[@FuneraryDirge]

@@robotsaysbeebooboop the fact you said soyboy in 2023 tells me you probably got the same jawline as the sid the sloth from ice age, lame ass hahahahaha

[@ArcheryDaddy]

I was a National Taekwondo Competitor, Flamenco Guitarist, Military Veteran with combat deployment, business owner, and Archery enthusiast. Was NOWHERE near this type of community. Until my PTSD and depression kicked in. Decided I was sick of staying home and only target shooting with my Bow&arrow. Looked for an Archery club, Nada. But you know what was available? Shooting some nerds. Nerds that would go on to be extremely welcoming, helpful, and good for my brain. So naturally, I dived head first into the LARPing world and made my first costume as detailed as I could and am trying to be active in the community. Met some AMAZING people who give without asking for anything in return. I’ll stop whoever in their tracks if they have something stupid to say about LARP as a whole.

[@jpsholland]

I was into archery too. Years ago. I still have my Nichizawa TD-II. It was short lived as that world, at least in the Netherlands, is filled with dentists, doctors, high end government people, solicitors and more of that absolutely humorless people. I went into larp too and like you said, they are nice helpfull people. But then came covid.......

[@SkillTree]

Hey! You showed one of my vids! We are heading to Conquest this year and would be MORE than happy to help you get to know the LARP scene. We are fairly new to it but have fallen absolutely in love with the community and the experiences we have had so far. Nice rundown of the history. Cheers

[@RicktheGrumpyGnome]

Skill Tree…. new to the scene but making a big splash with their relentless pursuit of the extraordinary. Looking forward to meeting you at ConQuest!

[@SkillTree]

@@RicktheGrumpyGnome Absolutely! Swing by our camp!

[@RicktheGrumpyGnome]

@@SkillTree Rest assured, I most certainly will.

[@anothersettlementneedsyour9628]

It’s kind of funny that LARPing is considered nerdy, yet sports like American Football are not. It’s at the end of the end bunch of adults, dressing up in armor, playing games from their childhood and taking it super seriously.

[@SymbioteMullet]

One has good marketing and millions of dollars tied up in it. That changes the perception a lot. Having fun isn't as marketable as you'd hope.

[@caoj9]

american football is an all-out war with real injury risk and violence, so yeah, people will take it a bit more serious lol. dressing up is not a luxury, its a necessity. but i understand your point

[@Hanstra]

A better comparison would probably be pro wrestling

[@San-li9ml]

@@Hanstra well yeah but people make fun of Pro Wrestling often also.

[@toughbutsweet1]

And still just chasing a ball around a field.

[@krisumusic]

Swedish/nordic LARP is on a whole other level. It's movie quality. We look at it like a movie being filmed, without it actually being filmed! I'm an orc larper from Sweden currently in two different orc clans. One was formed in 1994 and I just joined it this year! I'm also a full-time musician and gym junkie/calisthenics athlete. So perhaps, I'm a weird combo that defies a lot of stereotypes. Most people don't really get "LARPing". It's not about fighting with foam weapons. For me, it's about looking like we're straight out of Lord of the Rings, IMMERSION and improv-acting! When hundreds of people are serious about it. It feels amazing! But there are things that even makes me cringe. Plastic armor is one thing. Real leather and real steel is a must here! :)

[@paulie-g]

I say whatever is fun and people can afford (or physically wear - period accurate armour can be *heavy*) is fine. You may well have higher standards for your particular group to improve immersion, but it doesn't invalidate other people's fun. Just as the various Historical Martial Arts groups don't get to invalidate your fun because you don't *actually* fight. I've had some experience of that scene and the cost for the equipment is astronomical (for a hobby), especially given that it does actually get damaged (all the hits are real and full power, especially hardcore in group battles).

[@jackincorporated6099]

NERD!!!

[@elpsykoongro5379]

@@paulie-g armor is not heavy unless it's tournament armor

[@elpsykoongro5379]

One of the things that I didn't liked about LARPers is that they used foam instead of real steel Knowing there are those who do use steel is amazing, I have a steel Irish axe with me

[@paulie-g]

@@elpsykoongro5379 Dunno, the ones I tried out for HMA were heavy. Not as heavy as genuine period pieces, but you've got to be very, very fit to last even a couple minutes. And that's not counting being hit.

[@himonightbreeze]

I think the thing keeping LARPs from breaking through into the mainstream the same way D&D or MtG did is because there's no universal system. Every larp is essentially operating under their own rules. There will be similar rules, but no two systems will be identical. The few games that were widespread like NERO and Solar are dying out now. Most new LARPers' first question is "Where's a game?" Because it's not like you can go pick up a LARP pack from your local game store. Don't even get me started on the cost. A D&D book costs ~$50. A deck of Magic cards is about $20 out the box. My chainshirt costs $130 and that was for a cheap one. And you're in England. That's a great spot for LARPing. Europe is bursting at the seams with LARP groups.

[@Philtopy]

The way Larp looks in america is the way Germanys larp looked like 20 years ago. Everytime I show people Conquest, Drachenfest or EpicEmpires videos and images of the high quality standart of the groups here in germany, they are positively suprised and love it! So I think the reason why Larp is seen as "cringe" online and in america is because of low quality costumes, boffer weapons and point oriented combat. Many People find it hard to immerse themselves into something that looks so ... artificial.

[@himonightbreeze]

Yeah, but the thing is most American larpers are hobbyists, while larp in Europe is kind of a way of life. It's like comparing a casual gamer's performance to an e-sports pro when they're not even in the same league.

[@erikarnold4737]

Some civil war reenactments are considered larping as well. These guys will camp out and fulfill their duties outside of combat for like an entire 3 day weekend, like making camp and maintaining equipment.

[@himonightbreeze]

I had a friend in high school that did civil war re-enactments because her parents got her into it, and I asked her one time, "Not to be sexist, but what does a woman do at a Civil War re-enactment?" She said, "Mostly just making stew." And she loved doing it, so there's really something for everyone when it comes to larps.

[@oscaranderson5719]

milsimming: it’s just larp but set in the 90’s.

[@Fwootgummi]

As a former cosplayer LARPers amaze me! Not only do they have the total confidence and ownership over what they like enough to potentially look a fool in the name of fun, but they're willing to do all that on the spot! They care for one another, there's a true sense of community with LARPers that cosplay also has but less abundantly. With cosplay you can just put on the costume and look like the character, it's a whole other thing to act like them.

[@ibisskb]

Funny enough, nowadays the line between cosplayers and LARPers is far blurrier than ever. Cosplayers are more likely nowadays to act as the characters they cosplay as, and LARPers may bring their character to events just to have some fun. Currently a original character cosplayer, and I can't wait to see other original characters out there at cons.

[@himonightbreeze]

My non-larp friends think it's cool, and my armor makes me feel like a badass.

[@himonightbreeze]

​@@ibisskbNo disrespect, but wtf is "original character cosplay" I thought part of its whole thing was dressing as a recognizable IP? If it's just dressing as and/or pretending to be a character you created, that's LARPing without a rule set.

[@ibisskb]

@@himonightbreeze Formally, it leans more to recognizability, but some people just want to have fun. It isn't LARPing though, as there's no RP group in the first place. To be fair, OCs are the butt of jokes just because well, everybody can do one and it's hard to make them a recognizable IP, as that'd involve creating a entire medium for them. Just imagine if Naruto was just an OC. OC Naruto would be called garbage because it's just an anime character that fits within the most typical anime tropes.

[@anblueboot5364]

@@himonightbreeze I think OC cosplaying became a lot more popular with D&D becoming popular, you know people simply wanna dress up like their D&D characters in an semi realistic anime style. ^^ And welp as the other guy says: OC cosplaying is becoming its own genre like: Here is my WH40K death corps of Krieg OC, even though looking like any other Krieg character he owns like that one tiny thingy from his childhood.

[@beol_]

Hi Jimmy, I'm the Art Director for the largest LARP Event in the world, ConQuest of Mythodea. It takes place in August of every year, and has 10,000 Participants. Ready for an adventure?

[@Lyseas]

Believe him, I know him, Conquest is great. @beol_ greetings from Domhal

[@ORKOdudley]

Current and active larper. Larping is a great escape from reality and all your stress, when in character there is no room for embarrassment and shame because everyone is welcome, in on the joke and playing the game. At first, I thought it was dumb, but my friend took me along, and by the end of my first event, I was hooked. I was on the front line during covid and only survived the anxiety of losing loved ones because one day, I will return to Erdreja. I will be traveling nearly 300 miles to another event in two weeks to put my Ork head back on and ground some elves in the dirt.

[@black_forest_]

Where would us elf players be without you guys, thanks for being the best antagonists :D Pretty much all orc players I have ever met were such great people!

[@drsnova7313]

This needs a large bit of correction: LARPers are looked down upon even in nerd circles primarily *in the US* - the situation is very, very different in Europe, where they're "the cool nerds", and LARPing isn't really stigmatized. And that's also where the vast majority of large, cool, big production events are. You don't hide it here as your "dirty little secret". I think a big reason for this difference is that, for a variety of reasons (among them geography, disposable time and imcome, gatekeping vs free-for-everyone, selfishness vs. community spirit) - US LARP often just looks far worse than LARPs in Europe, and a thing that looks bad or amateurish is more easily ridiculed than one that looks good and professional. The difference was far worse 10-15 years ago and the US is catching up - but that doesn't change how it looked then, and how you can still see it in pictures and videos.

[@TheWildManEnkidu]

I wonder if it's due to the US partially being removed from the culture in their environment and so on. In Europe we grow up in places where sometimes we're never more than a short drive or walk from a castle, roman ruin, greek temple, old church or neolithic stones and burials. But in the US, they are quite far removed from that culture unless they can take a specific interest in it, like in nerd circles. There is less to stimulate the imagination in regards to fantasy or history, aside from Civil War Re-enactment or Wild West shows, which are more relatable and ingrained. Maybe due to Europe's proximity to, and familiarity with old timey things and magic, we just kind of 'get it' a bit more. Whereas in the US, it can only ever be something that ends up feeling 'adopted' or approximated to?

[@ThePWAH917]

@@TheWildManEnkidu Your point about the Civil War/Wild West is very interesting to me. As someone living in Texas, I've seen a decent amount of what would otherwise be called cowboy LARP at state fairs and rodeos. Even the more goofy wild west shows here have a certain level of immersion for costuming, sets, etc. Makes me wonder if there are any European attempts at recreating that for comparison.

[@TheWildManEnkidu]

@@ThePWAH917 There are actually some Wild West shows I have seen/know of in Europe. One is a Wild West town in Germany called Pullman City. Germans are sticklers for details and from what I have seen, it is fairly authentic (maybe due to so many settlers in the US being German, perhaps enhancing a need for accuracy?) but I can also imagine many a native Texan would roll their eyes at some things there too in regard to accuracy with clothing and so on.

[@TearThatRedFlagDown]

Yeah. Every LARPer I know also practices HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) so if most of them actually do that here in Europe maybe that adds to why it's better here.

[@Lily-gr1ct]

My friend who LARPs describes it as "beating up nerds". But it's also much more than that. It's all the leadup to it. It's the creating of a character, not just in personality, but in reality. It's various arts and crafts, people picking up and learning serious skills such as leathercraft, sewing, chainmail making. Armour and weapons tends to be foam but so much is handmade and built all by the players and their friends. And honestly, if you want the best homemade mead you've ever tasted, go to a large LARP. Nothing compares, and people will make a tonne of bottles for the event. For the several day events, it's also not just a big ol' battle. At least described to me, you'll be camping in character, making meals on a fire and just living like that for a few days. It's also just a massive piss up and a big social. I never went to any myself but had a few freinds that did. It was partially the cost that stopped me, as the outfits can get expensive, especially if you don't make your own

[@pimedus9675]

Lol... i describe it exactly like that but always add to it that im the biggest nerd of them all. :D

[@pimedus9675]

Lol... i describe it exactly like that but always add to it that im the biggest nerd of them all. :D

[@himonightbreeze]

I got into it because I was getting bored with just rolling dice and adding numbers from a paper that tells me what I can do. In D&D, if you want to pick a lock in the middle of a fight you'd just roll a slight of hand check on your turn. In LARPs, you have to sit and wait a little while depending on your skills and however long it says it takes to unlock it determined by the lock's strength. So you could be sitting there defenseless for a few minutes all while an actual fight is happening around you. One of those scenarios is just way more exciting than the other.

[@goodoldfashioned]

I've never heard of larping until now and to be honest it seems super fun, it is really not clicking in my brain that they are bullied for it especially since actors are so praised in society

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

Actors are in movies. Adults dressing up and going into a park with their friends pretending to be witches and wizards and ogres and such would get strange looks even tho such a thing would be completely okay on an acting stage or in a haunted house or working for theme park. Outside of something for a performance for others or a job, adults simply getting together and playing ‘lets pretend’ in dress-up and in public (tho sounds fun to me) Yes, gets you bullied.

[@JackQNielsen]

It’s all about the context. I doubt many of these acclaimed actors are going out to your local public park, wailing on each other with foam sticks, then taking the semantics of the situation way too seriously.

[@captainmycaptain8334]

@@TheDawnofVanlife It is a performance, its role play youre in character preforming for everyone else that is there. luckily now more 'celebrities" are being honest about being into nerdy shit like dnd so maybe theyll bring it mainstream and yall can stop bitching about it

[@slimjong-un5743]

Just means you're a nerd really

[@ayoo_wassup]

It's about framing. And immersion. Movies have 100 years of work getting them to translate well to us. Also considering below 1. Most actors are generally on the more attractive side. 2. Their Acting is more convincing= less cringe. 3. legitimacy bias, as someoneone mentioned above. If there is an established culture or industry (more importantly, money) involved. People view it as Okay. If it's less organized, less polished, and overall kinda fanfiction feel. Then it gets shit on. It's not meant to be enjoyed by someone that's outside the frame of the group. In fact. It directly excludes outside viewers. so it looks all the worse from the outside.

[@kris123o]

A cousin did viking larping I believe. Dude had a full set of armour, proper sword and everything that looked super expensive. And he showed me videos and they were literally storming a castle with hundreds of people, shit blowing up, fires raging around the field and by the broken down wall. Shit looked intense and cool af

[@kyusama347]

Goddamn you nailed it! I was mocked for playing dagorhir in my early highschool years. Friend's parents thought it was stupid. But It ended up shaping me, introduced me to new friends and experiences, gave be better social skills. Heck, my parents got in on it and they loved it. Larping is truly a magical thing.

[@aaronjv]

YT's algorithm brought you to me. I am a longtime larper (since 1986), and a few weeks away from flying to Europe for a blockbuster Call of Cthulhu horror larp in a 16th-century Polish castle. I am impressed with the research you did with the video. While I feel you left out a few things (mock trials, Model UN club, military wargames/simulations, the Commedia dell' Arte in Italy, etc.), that was a nice summation of the art form. I do think of larping as an art form, a subcategory of Performance art, a sibling to live musical performance, stand up comedy, stage magic, theater, etc. As an art form, there are many different trends, styles, movements, leading figures, fads, developments, etc. The fantasy boffer campaigns you often see are to larp like super heroes are to comic books, i.e., the most popular but not all kinds of comics. To me, some of larp's problems are: Larp is a stupid name for this activity, but it's embedded like a tick There are different hubs of larp groups that focus on one style--Dagorhir, as you mentioned, or Vampire: The Masquerade. But there is no uniform way of doing it, like Dungeons & Dragons--other ttRPGs either follow the D&D model or go in a distinctly tangential or opposite direction. There isn't a larp union or guild advocating for larp to the mainstream. And one of the biggest: larps require a willing imposition of belief from the participants, as opposed to a willing suspension of disbelief (what movies ask for). In other words, in a larp you have to be active, not passive, You have to actively believe that someone throwing a packet of birdseed and saying "LIghtning bolt!" is really blasting a powerful bolt of electricity. It requires your buy in, your imposition. For many people, that's too much of an ask. They are worried that their inexperience will "ruin" the experience of the other participants, because they won't buy in, or they are called to "work" (improv act/role play) in a way that doesn't break the larp--although that is hard to do, it is not impossible. I believe many people avoid having to "perform" (aka role play) in front of others, so they avoid larping. This might also go into why they disparage it so much. Lastly, in some countries--the Nordic ones, German, etc.--the stigma of larping is not so present. In Denmark, for example, larping is the third most popular pasttime, behind football (soccer) and handball, ahead of tennis, rugby, etc. It might be higher or lower now, that was in 2012. If you want to experience a larp, just let me know where you are and where you can travel to.

[@Mbeluba]

Where exactly is the Polish Lovecraftian larp? I'm a Polish larper and I haven't heard of it.

[@drsnova7313]

@@Mbeluba I'm guessing they mean "Miskatonic University", actually an Italian LARP, but held in Poland, in Kliczkow castle.

[@Mbeluba]

@@drsnova7313 All right, I'll check it out then

[@trala8911]

I think a lot of cringe culture is essentially “how can anybody be THAT confident while looking THAT stupid?” And it’s easy to discount this as nothing more than bullying, or jealousy. But the reality is that a lot of what maintains societal function and order is just a fear of looking stupid. I don’t think it’s only “cringe” that makes people dislike larpers. It’s also a desire for social cohesion; a drive to keep society on an even keel, whether or not that concern is misplaced.

[@taintedmyth0s636]

It literally is. Cringe culture (when it's not just literal bigotry) is people who are getting upset about people enjoying themselves in a way that they don't understand. Being like "I don't think that's fun, therefore I'm mad at anyone who thinks it's fun." There's also a big aspect that's just bullying autistic and/or lgbtq people and covering it up by calling those people cringe

[@drpretzel2086]

I used to do HEMA and so many people were like oh you larp. It was soul crushing sometimes and tiresome explaining it over and over again

[@owwh2976]

Same here.

[@thermmal]

Same here

[@TearThatRedFlagDown]

I don't do either, but I do actually know several people who LARP and also practice HEMA.

[@hxpocritical7108]

I do Olympic fencing (sabre) and HEMA sure looks dope

[@spliffdelakong5422]

Can't remember who said it but it's something like "you're the worst kinda person if you shit on someone's happiness." Larping is lame too me but I have nothing but respect for the people that are confident enough to larp and I can't lie, it seems like it'd be fun. Do you.

[@Burnitdownnn]

your vids are becoming better and better. so is your social commentary and the conclusions you draw. Keep up the good work man!

[@mytruecrimelibrary]

My ex bf and his friends went to Bicolline every year and they would literally spend months getting ready for it. A lot of dedication and hard work would go into preparations for the event.

[@gregorysteffensen3279]

Bicolline looks amazing, I definitely envy the folks who can make it up there

[@MrCmon113]

And you left him after you got bonked too hard with a foam sword or something?

[@mytruecrimelibrary]

@@MrCmon113 no, we were just too young (like 20) but he's a great guy.

[@towelie5997]

Oh man, i had no idea how big larping has become! To think that there are multiple events with 1000s of players right here in Germany really peaked my interest. I think i might just look into this for a yearly vacation instead of getting fat, hungover and bored at some beach. Thanks, Jimmy!

[@benmurray7163]

Well done, man. That was a good effort at giving the whole LARP thing a proper assessment. Good job

[@wakazuzu]

Mead, fighting and buxom wenches! What's not to like?

[@anblueboot5364]

As someone who just this year started organizing his own events and is deeply involved with my local nerd culture/scene:: More people want to get into LARP but don‘t know how to do it than ever. I know a lot of cosplayer or well talk to a lot of cosplayer and like nearly all of them talk to me how they try to get into D&D and are curious about LARPing. But to me it seems: this hobby has an crazy invisble Barrier, non LARPers are like unable to penetrate without getting to know a LARPer by accident on a cosplay convention or a medieval fair. additionaly depending on your own events: you‘re not lore accurate with what ever clothing you got. Luckily those events are scarce and most LARPs here in germany tolerate you from whatever background you are but welp wouldn‘t want to appear on a WH Fantasy LARP without lore accurate clothing. Same goes for witcher and DSA LARP, ngl not knowing about either lore makes me scared even wanting to visit those events even though I‘m super curious about them xd

[@chuckyberry]

The thing is, until you've been to a larp and been truly immersed in a world, you'll not understand the feeling of being and belonging. It's something that other larpers probably don't need to explain and describe, you just understand. Plus, I'd say its growing like mad. It just requires a lot more commitment in terms of kit, costume and community and so is probably not as accessible. However! It is silly, and funny. It's warming and rich. It's exciting, scary, terrifying and a whole colour chart of emotions. You actually feel those feelings, so its very real. It never films well, nothing can capture the magic of being in those places. I hope Curious Pastimes tries really hard to make it look non-silly but still fun: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJDPpImDaLhgiZI

[@himonightbreeze]

When you feel your in-game feelings outside of play, it's called "character bleed" or just "bleed" and it's a bitch. One of my friends had their character perm, and it legitimately affected me outside the game.

[@distortedquantity4669]

in the Ph, larping had a very small life, it did not lasted long but the community plus the people outside of the nerd culture was very strong and supportive of it, literally a prestigious university in the Ph, the "Polytechnic University of the Philippines" allowed the zombie larping games to happen on their campus grounds while all these students walking by smiled and sometimes took pictures with the players dressed in military uniforms and these zombie players so dedicated to their roles.

[@markdavids2511]

Nice people, enjoying some harmless fun out in the fresh air, what’s to hate?.

[@toreadoress]

I don't know, I don't think many people really hate or mock LARP-ers especially these days, in the 90s yeah I remember there was kind of a stigma the same way "nerd" culture as a whole had that these are people refusing to "grow up" or living in mom's basement and thing like that. But now where comics, games, anime etc. are watched and liked even by the "normies" I haven't really heard anyone hating on LARP-ers. Usually when I have conversations about LARP-ing the worst I've hear people say "that's not for me". I think the video would've been more relevant maybe 15 years ago.

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

Dressing up to play-act something is something humans have always done 😂😂 Adults just have given it different names over time. And it’s fun anyway.

[@BritGamingchanel]

I really wish you would have touched on empire larp here in the uk, it’s our biggest one and it’s a hell of an experience even for someone who doesn’t actually want to do the rp part they can just exist in this cool world get drunk and eat good food.

[@DavoWillo]

From what I’ve seen, it seems like they are a pretty welcoming community, and a way for some people who might otherwise not get to meet likeminded ppl other than online to get together and have some fun.

[@amazanta1605]

Gotta love the abundance of videos

[@Matt-uo8gq]

Love your content bro, just found your channel the last few days, have not stopped watching!

[@grayesan9106]

I've been a fan for a long time. It's nice to see you finally making a video about my subculture 😂

[@MoshHewson]

Brings me immense joy to see some of my most genuine and cherished friends in some of the footage here, who I would never have met if not for the question "hey, wanna come bash some nerds in a park?" All the best parts of my life came from this derranged hobby and I cherish that

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

Love your work Jimmy!

[@BresciGaetano]

Role games and larping Is super cool... The problem are the people that you find in that environment that are totally not cool and mostly cringe. That kept me away from that even if i'm always been a nerd, i just prefered to put my time in electronic music, rave party organization, sqwatting and riots. Luckly thing are changing and i'm old for street life.

[@himonightbreeze]

One must learn to embrace the cringe.

[@vast9467]

Cringe isn’t inherently bad, it’s not cringe if you’re having fun

[@arrows3576]

You sound like you were sitting in a giant tank of cringe, looking at everyone else and going "why are they so cringe-coloured?"

[@christopherdaboycollin5417]

Great video once again jimmy i would recommend you to attend one of those huge larp at least once.Its an experience like no other

[@AdamMclardy]

The best thing that helped LARP is the costume and weapons got better looking. Dag still looks like the old lighting bolt videos. But in other larps once your in full kit the public love watching it

[@OllieNorthover]

That post-apocalypse larp looks amazing, with those mad mac cars drivong around. I would absolutely love to go somewhere that feels just like you're in a Fallout game.

[@gregorysteffensen3279]

Wasteland Weekend is awesome -- I've been twice and going a third time this year, and I've hit a point where I actually have some clout in the city after a couple epic heists

[@BDNB-baddognobiscuit]

Brilliant video. Ty for making it!

[@Lycan3303]

lightning bolt!!!! lighting bolt !!!! gets me every time xD

[@bodins]

I'm guessing you're UK based, in which case there are loads of LARPs going on Empire is the biggest, still growing, 4 events a year and regularly gets around 3 thousand attendees. Really great setting, much more focused on Game of Thrones style politics and huge battles Curious Pastimes is another great system, probably half the size of Empire and much more high fantasy. Again they do 4 events a year, with their "big" event over August bank holiday. Lorien Trust is maybe the oldest running UK larp. Never been to it, but another fairly big system. Then there's countless smaller games based on popular IPs and history like the Witcher, LOTR, Vikings, pirates, Hunger Games, Zombie games, warhammer etc etc I don't think I've ever been bullied for being a LARPer, you get the initial piss taking but then that always turns to curiosity and then people wanting to come try it. It's regularly described as cross country pantomime, don't take anything too seriously, get together with some mates, make up some crazy stories, drink lots of beer and have a laugh!

[@g_reezzy]

curious if you have a link for the Hunger Games system? Never heard of that before, would love to look at rulebook and uch

[@aaronbecker5617]

I'm a role-playing game fan but I've never really been into LARPing but I respect their commitment

[@himonightbreeze]

I encourage you to make that leap, bud. It's a lot of fun. Plus, you'll be able to tell your players/GM you know what carrying a loot chest while fighting off goblins feels like anytime encumbrance is brought up. Also gives you hella ammunition against a GM with an "I'll allow it if you can prove you can do it"-attitude.

[@Lorenny_]

Some of the finest video essays on KZbin

[@elen5871]

i did this vampire: the dark ages larp (mind's eye theatre) at a really fuckin sketchy hotel near the interstate when i was a teenager. this was WELL before it was cool lol, probably 1999 or 2000, but i had such a good time pretending to be a 13th century romanian apothecary and playing rock paper scissors, and just being able to get away from home (and meeting people who understood my situation) quite literally saved my life. 😇 and ended up getting me incarcerated for 13 months 😆

[@JivecattheMagnificent]

Well there's definitely a story here...

[@elen5871]

@@JivecattheMagnificent you have no idea lol. its not really something I want to get into the darker details of but I grew up mormon, I'm also gay as hell, that doeant really mix, so I was constantly running away from home and skipping school when I was 14-16 to snoke wwhed and pretend to be a vampire, when they finally caught me the judge threw my ass in a state run wilderness rehab program for "juvenile delinquents" until my 18th birthday 🤷 I totally did not fit in, I was in there with some hardcore ppl and I *literally larped* but I also brought my vampire the masquerade books with me and started up a game during free times. also we played a ton of magic the gathering. that part was dope. the rest, no.

[@JivecattheMagnificent]

@@elen5871 Yeah it sounds like there were some highs and a lot of lows, hahah. Dang, well hey, I'm glad you got out and that you lived to LARP another day, brother.

[@sergez6172]

I remember being at a con when i was 14 at a local college back in 2008 and fantasy and nerdy stuff was still very small in my country but they had a larp on the last say in the forrest around the campus which ended in a big battle, not gonna lie was extremely fun, and like this one dedicated group for free armed about 60 people with thse realistic latex weapons and like tunics and shields (if you wanted) dam it was fun do i think you got like 3 spawns but like two team's of 70 people each finally meeting up at this path and literally instincts kicked in and at the sound of "charge" everyone running at eachother even do before hand the organizers were like try not to accidentally trample anyone but once that charge started it was full on! Have never done it since but would highly recommend atleast once in your life.

[@janeweightman9863]

I grew up in the Bromley area so Chislehurst caves where the Labyrinth club is held was fairly near by and we would visit the caves because they are cool and sometimes see them. I was always curious but never actually give it a shot. Honestly yeah I get it's kind of cringe but honestly I could see it being fun, I'd like to give it a try one day... haha

[@simonspoke]

I went there in my youth! It was a great laugh getting drunk and running around the caves hitting each other! 😂

[@KuzzenFeralFerret]

Damn I never knew they did LARPing in Chislehurst Caves, not been there since I was a kid but that just seems like it would be epic

[@simonspoke]

@@KuzzenFeralFerret It was, it really was. 😁

[@goliath8922]

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts" -Bill

[@jakopars]

I love your videos mate

[@jakerooke174]

That looks like a lot of fun

[@akaking7499]

I don't know about America but in Europe larp is the Jock nerd hobby. It's a lot of action and physically demanding to wear and fight in heavy armor that also involves camping and outdoors. I know plenty of Larpers who aren't into other Nerdy hobbies, and know plenty more nerds who are too intimidated to larp.

[@suburbanyute340]

that looks like a ton of fun tbh.

[@ilikerunescape1100]

I larp at the biggest larp in the U.K always something ive found interesting and so glad I started doing it it’s good fun

[@romanyrobes25]

Hmm, UK LARP er here, started in 1992, now I make costume for a living. 32 years in and still loving it.

[@Sirenology_Studios]

Amazing video, I'm starting LARP soon and I can honestly say I've never been more excited!

[@FluxNomad678]

It seems like a kind of free style theater.

[@leithafae]

As a LARPer thank you. I enjoyed this video and listened to it and tbf yes we get a tonne of stick. .But I have been an officer during ww1 in a mansion at home like the tv show downton abbey, i've been a regency officer, an elven scout and many other things and you know what i have made memories and deep friendships. I think a lot of people fear the unknown and fair enough we are taught that from the womb to fear the unknown. But when you throw yourself into that unknown you learn so much about yourself and humanity. I can tell you having fought in big battles it teaches you how far you'll push yourself to try and stay alive as your character. the depths of love you feel for your friends and also how much you can grow as a person getting past your own walls in your head. Why do i love LARP its gave me the ability to grow as a person and to experience so many cultures and people. I LARP internationally and locally and I've learnt so much of other cultures thanks to LARP.

[@Julia-mx3ki]

My first real contact with LARPing was when I was in the Hospital and my roommate was a pretty serious LARPer. The Stories she told me sounded pretty amazing, the places, the storylines, the craft, the intrigue. It really made me wanna try it myself.

[@neginesuke]

I do larp, closer to combat sport that rpg, I always have a good time. For me it's a fun way to exercise. The group I'm apart of is known as Combat Historia. I made two videos sort of showing off what it was like. I would also like to get a bit more deeper into larp as it's honestly really fun.

[@MysticVoltriasIsCool]

I will never fail to understand why people hate LARPing, this shit looks epic as fuck it's like playing IRL Mordhau and For honour shit's cool af

[@metalmonkey0026]

Honestly i want to try it out

[@jorailotter3427]

The distinction is this: There are two types. There are those who use escapism to escape society (people) and are considered cowardly because they lack social skills (which most humans develop at childhood). This is why nerds/role-players often have childish tendencies because haven't had enough social experience to tell what is awkward behavior and what is not. The other type is someone who has developed social skills but still enjoys "nerdy" hobbies because of the escapism. I was an over 6 foot rugby player in high school, was a popular musician, had no problem meeting girls, but loved all the nerdy stuff because of the escapism. In simpler terms: One type uses escapism/roleplaying to feel acceptance in a fictional social world while the other uses escapism to get away from mundane, feeling constrained in world that feels like it is a big machine forcing you to do things, or even probably because the fictional world is simply more pleasant (people there are more pleasant and easier to deal with). Nothing cowardly/weak about it. There is a third type: those that are so lost in their fictional world within the real world that they begin to treat the fictional characters in their lives as real relationships, and that is not only sad, but they have a hole in their lives that needs filling.

[@veduci22]

"often have childish tendencies because haven't had enough social experience to tell what is awkward behavior and what is not." Never heard of autism spectrum? It's not caused by the lack of social experience but it has strong genetic basis and the brain is actually not developing in the same way as in neurotypical people.

[@jorailotter3427]

@@veduci22 I am not including autistic people or disorders of any kind. That is a whole different story. The topic is about role-playing geeks and/or nerds. Ie: people who are generally regarded as "weak" or "weird" because of their social behaviors. So I am comparing pure geeks/nerds from average joes who still like nerdy things. There are people who are not practiced in social skills. I am just trying to make a point that not all RPG fanatics/nerds are cowardly or stupid in any way, just that society needs to have a more open mind in understanding such people.

[@MeTTax82]

the title does not suite the video

[@skinnyfatz8483]

The way I see it they ain't hurting anyone, looks fun. There should be Star Wars Larping XD "Don't try it Anakin! I have the high ground"

[@chrisb9179]

Jim, I don't suppose we could get a list of the videos you used to make this one?

[@anthropo1]

Incredible story pacing in the video

[@Hakuru15]

Larpers are pretty fucking cool, probably the most fittest people too cosidering youre logging equipment around

[@chuckruffing6283]

Did you see the video? The vast majority are not fit... lol

[@v0dka885]

@@chuckruffing6283 ok pedo

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

@@chuckruffing6283 Actually a lot of the clips were from joking on LARPers which has the normal nerdy shutin stereotype. Either supper skinny and looks like they could be broken over a knee or overweight. Plenty of LARPers run the normal range of most people who do casual activity…in other words the whole range of fairly normal body type. And the ones who get into the heavily physical games are not overweight.

[@chuckruffing6283]

@@TheDawnofVanlife Sure...

[@TheDawnofVanlife]

@@chuckruffing6283 I mean if you are expecting them to look like gym bros (and gals, there are lady LARPers), most of them don't. But neither do say bowling clubs or casual golfers or other activities where people gather and do something active. Or honestly, casual gym goers. Not everyone needs to look like a gym rat, health and fitness is not a binary... it's a range. Anything that involves getting up and moving around is a literal positive. And the best way to get people moving around is have them involved in something they like. If you think all LARPers look like one thing, you are very wrong.

[@keiththorpe9571]

Back in the mid-to-late '80s, I was involved (somewhat casually, though I was a dues-paying member for several years) with the SCA, Society for Creative Anachronism. I never got involved with the IFGS. We in the SCA were more interested in reenacting Medieval-Era European society, culture, and warfare. There was no fantasy component, and trying to introduce such elements into our events would get you mercilessly dealt with. Take part in the Grand Melee in the guise of your IFGS elfin ranger...you'd last about 5 seconds. Now, I knew plenty of people who did both Fantasy LARPing and SCA...but you kept that fantasy stuff out of your kit when at an SCA event. My SCA name was Tyrian of Owlthorp.

[@AdamMclardy]

I started in SCA but then moved to LARP as it’s just way more fun

[@katbaldwin7078]

I am Scadian that came over from civil war reenacting and does Ren faire. I keep my fantasy Ren faire stuff out of my normal sca wardrobe unless at Pennsic.

[@Lee-vk1xy]

@@katbaldwin7078 I thought about both LARPing and Civ or Rev war reenacting. For some reason never got around to the former and the cost of getting into the latter put me off. I suspect I'd feel the same about the SCA now but when I got in most made their own stuff and it wasn't nearly as high a quality or authenticity as is currently the case. Still love it on the field a Pennsic.

[@FredzDimension]

as someone who has a solid portfolio of larp related content on their own channel and a passion for their hobby I think this is the best history of the hobby ever.

[@damianrodriguez7165]

Where I live there used to be a community of Larpers [Don't know if they're still around] but I remember they used to host small events at local fairs, fun mini-larp sessions with foam weaponry and stuff. It was fun and all, sometimes people would join them and personally I never saw the appeal but I did see how confident these people were when they were in their element. I do remember there being this one giant buff dude, literal gentle giant but intimidating as fuck. Reason why I don't know if they're still around was because most of the fairs I attended were High school ones where the whole community could attend, graduated and I don't go to fairs anymore.

[@Perfectly_Other]

As A LARPer and long time Subscriber I'm loving that you're covering a hobby that I love so much. And in such a positive light not falling into the stereotype trap. The friends I've made through LARP have genuinely saved my life, and been the only people who consistently stayed with me through my darkest moments. They're the people who have helped me just be myself and rebuild my self esteem. Systems in the UK I would recommend you check out. Fest systems: Curious Pastimes or Empire, Linear Larps Fools and Heros (National system with local groups) Off the Vine Adventures (family friendly) Smaller Systems. Gruntz! (Sci Fi/ action LARP) Any EYELARP event but specifically 5 kingdoms (medival fantasy) or Hoist the Colours (Pirates) Insomnia (Horror LARP Survival Event) Pioneers (Sci Fi Larp) There is also a LARP festival held in london each year called the Smoke which has a number of half/one day LARPS running over a weekend which are very roleplay focused with very littel if any combat

[@powerthrucontrol]

At my last larp I tried combat archery for the first time at the tournament. I placed second. I took my winnings, and auctioned them off to the highest bidder for around $200 CAD. These are all things I'd never do in reality, and frankly, I could use that character development.

[@yemn6243]

"A braille dictionary" - I'm stealing that one, that's brilliant

[@TezlaGrey]

Started off larping, went into HEMA, and now I'm saving up for a suit of armor for buhurt

[@thrifikionor7603]

As an european larper i feel that much of the negative image comes from US larp which just looks awful in most cases, especially stuff like Amtgard which personally i wouldnt even call larp (it really is more comparable to sport like airsoft) but they insist it is larp. Stuff like "minimal clothing standards" is something they seem to hate with a passion and good advice that comes from experience, like avoiding cotton and replacing it with linen because linen is so much better at dealing with warmer weather and sweat (really important, body odor!) is usually struck down with so much anger as if i insulted them. I have both, linen and cotton shirts and the difference is huge, only wear cotton when i know theres little fighting and the weather is not too hot. Linen on the other hand can be worn multiple days and still doesnt smell. Its just the perfect fabric for this kind of hobby together with wool.

[@landsknecht_voran]

Never heard about hate on larpers. Never been bullied.

[@csansolo]

Very instructive, I barely knew any of this.

[@vicarious7858]

Dunno about you guys but if I get to hit people with solid foam swords count me in!

[@shorgoth]

Larping builds up character and keep you in shape. Once you learn to get past embarassment you get confidence as you learn that what you were told all your life, that playing is childish and awful crap like that aimed at hummiliating you is all bollocks. Everyone plays, only they play differently, play is a way to learn, to experience life, to activate your brain. People who don't play tend to be depressed or heavily traumatized. Larp came a long way throughout the years, when I started it was isolation foam and tape to make weapons, now there is a whole industry of weapon making that looks good at a first glance, realistic armors and clothes. It evolved a lot on the visual side. Sadly it does gatekeep the game. When I started you could have a costume and a few weapons for less than a hundred bucks. They would probably be frowned upon today in therm of look but it had the advantage to be welcoming for people from poorer backgrounds like mine. I'm on the autistic spectrum, it allowed me to get out of my shell and find positivity in my life instead of the constant harassment and beatings I was getting at school simply for being different. I learned how to socialize, developed my charisma and what works and doesn't work through harmless games and characters. I can't play anymore though, I realized that I was feeding my CPTSD I had developed at school by fighting over and over again, by keeping my guards up in the dark woods hunted by "monsters" Also I lost 1/3 of a lung in a combat training incident... so there is that. But I can't say I don't miss it everynow and then...the community, the freedom out of a boring normal modern life.

[@thomasmaholtz7475]

I love larping ever since I heard of it and I love it ever since

[@notthathealthy4422]

Love your videos bro, you should try do something about the Bush Doof/Hippy life, I think I've seen your one about the hippy culture but bush parties and Psytrance festivals are a whole sub culture of their own

[@oscaredwards8131]

if you want to document a larp i reccomend talking to either skill tree or living anacronism

[@adamdavidsonx]

Not something I would ever do but I think it is very interesting. I admire the creativity.

[@DuranMediaSolutions]

Excellent video!!

[@matthewbell4897]

Great video.

[@SvRijswijck]

I was expecting either clickbait or a huge cringefest of incorrect stereotyping, but as a Larper myself I can say this is a good piece.

[@kurtbrayford6491]

one thing many people forget, many larpers wear armor and run around in it for hours its hard a week later I still have lactic acid build up from it

[@slimfix2311]

never heard of larping till now

[@hm1lk1]

There are new nordic larps that are more like Lars von Trier. You should include them too.

[@Hostility1812]

i remember hitting up amtgard events with a local group 15+ years ago. I was always an athletic kid playing sports so the competitive side of amtgard really drew me in. And still to this day I break out the boffers along with sca and armored combat.

[@adsr3870]

That missing period in the ellipsis is driving me insane.

[@alleadonai]

I had a buddy who is in the SCA. Watching them fight is pretty fun... lol