Three of the Biggest Things I’ve Learned to Become a Better LARPer – Part 1

Tales from the Field

I’ve been knee deep in the world of LARP for years, and let me tell you, I’ve heard some wild stories. It’s not just about the epic battles or the tear-jerking narratives; it’s also about the bizarre, the hilarious, and sometimes, the outright frustrating aspects of our beloved hobby. I’ve heard about players getting so fed up with a toxic game that they’d deliberately get their character killed off just to escape. One memorable tale involves a player who, in a fit of desperation, stormed into a midnight encounter with no gear, daring the first PK’s to end their character’s misery. Instead, they somehow terrified them, who mistook them for an overpowered player!

These kinds of experiences, both my own and those shared by others, have been a real wake-up call. They’ve reinforced the idea that being a better LARPer isn’t about having the coolest foam sword or the most intricate costume. It’s about the kind of person you are within the game and within the community. In my journey, and through observing countless other players, I’ve seen three huge lessons emerge as vital: Integrity, Compassion, and Helping Others.

Integrity: Keeping It Real (Even in Fantasy)

Integrity in LARP is all about playing fair, being honest, and not letting your ego or desire to “win” override the shared experience. I’ve seen firsthand how quickly a game can crumble when players lose sight of this. Cheating, for instance, is a prime example. Nothing shatters the immersion faster than hearing about a player who refuses to take hits or consistently exploits rules. We’ve all heard tales of those who “miraculously” shrug off fatal blows or ignore death counts just to loot bodies instead of roleplaying a helping healer. It seems their ego outweighs their honor, and it really damages the community spirit. Players like that can even encourage others to cheat and drive away the good, honest players. I’ve heard stories of a particularly notorious cheater who “died” multiple times but always reappeared alive and fully geared for the next event. It reportedly got so bad that some players started delivering extra killing blows just to make sure the death stuck, it shows how far LARPers will go to try and enforce the rules! The bottom line is, if you’re gaming the system just to feel powerful, you’re breaking the unwritten code of integrity that keeps larp games fun. We’re all here to have a good time, not watch someone play God Mode with a foam sword.

Then there are the game owners and organizers. Most are fantastic, but a few, I’ve heard, let the power go to their heads. Players have recounted experiences in games where owners acted like they had console commands in real life. One minute they’re a fellow player, the next they’re bending rules on the fly or giving their buddies overpowered abilities. It’s incredibly frustrating for everyone else. A LARP runner who forgets that the game is for everyone, not just their personal ego trip, is reported to be incredibly toxic. They’ll brush off player feedback, manipulate outcomes, and generally treat the game like their personal fiefdom. I’ve even heard about real-life drama stemming from this: one time an enraged player reportedly slashed the tires of someone’s car after a session (which is absolutely not okay, but it illustrates how heated things can get). Fistfights, screaming matches, out-of-game alliances shattered,  these are the kinds of stories that emerge when those in charge lose their integrity. These days, if players spot that “power-mad GM” behavior, they’ll often call it out or simply walk away. No weekend of make-believe is worth real-world violence or drama.

Integrity also extends to authenticity, with yourself and your gear. Many players have learned this the hard way. There’s the story of a player who showed up in a very expensive custom chrome armor. He gleamed head to toe like some Warhammer paladin, but the design looked more BDSM than medieval, and it was utterly impractical. It had metal plates and leather straps everywhere, great for a photoshoot, perhaps, but not for a muddy field. Sure enough, the first hot weather day at the game and a couple of combat rolls later, “Sir Shiny” was miserable. His fancy armor didn’t breathe, didn’t bend, and weighed a ton. Many players, myself included, have had similar experiences with overly ambitious gear choices.  You see them sometimes, the adventurers. There was one with a chest piece with real leather and metal plates, that looked formidable just standing by the tavern fire. But in a real fight? Useless. Couldn’t twist, couldn’t breathe. It was a quick, hard lesson to watch: looks mean nothing if the gear isn’t practical.  In fact, historical plate armor faced similar issues, it offered top-notch protection but severely restricted mobility. Modern LARPers have largely learned to use lighter materials like aluminum or foam to get the look without the pain, because freedom of movement is everything. If your costume leaves you “completely out of breath after five minutes of combat,” you’ve got a problem. I’ve learned that faun legs are a nightmare to run in; it’s far harder than it looks, a constant battle for balance and grace that rarely succeeds. And charging up a hill in 50 pounds of armor? That’s not just heavy, it’s a brutal test of endurance. It takes serious training and conditioning just to move, let alone fight.

So, for many players, the approach to LARP now involves a mindset of fair play and practicality. They’ll take their hits (even if it knocks their character out of a big battle), they won’t abuse rules even if nobody’s watching, and they won’t let vanity trump reality when it comes to their kit. Maintaining integrity keeps the game a game. Everyone has more fun when there’s trust that we’re all playing by the rules and not being jerks. And if someone isn’t? Players often report they’ll speak up or find a better group to adventure with. After all, LARP, like any community, can have its share of difficult people, and no one wants to contribute to that. Instead, many try to set an example: play hard, play fair, and laugh it off when things don’t go your way. That’s how respect is earned in this hobby.

Continued soon in Part 2: “Compassion: The Secret Roleplay Superpower”, so keep an eye out in the next few days!