LARP

Photo courtesy wyvernrising.org

If you have used your Medieval Costuming from PearssonsRenaissanceShoppe.com for Live Action Role Playing, then you have probably come across the fact that most LARPs are Fantasy-based.  By fantasy, we mean that they involve magic, evil monsters, supernatural entities, and even races other than human.

If you are planning on attending a LARP that has other races such as elves, dwarves, orcs, etc., you can still use costuming from our store.  You’re just going to need to utilize some Medieval costuming accessories.

Orc:  In most settings, Orcs are a green skinned race of brutes, pirates, pillagers, and warriors.  Although each setting has its own take on Orcs, more often than not, they are green.  Perhaps a basic undertunic can be a great start for an Orc costume.  You’ll also need to pain your face green.  If possible we recommend green cake makeup if you can find it, as it tends to stay on your face better.

Photo courtesy wyvernrising.org

Elf:  Other than nice costuming the only major component you will need in order to be an elf is ear tips.  You can find these at costuming stores that sell face makeup, Halloween stores, or other places that deal in makeup adhesives.  You can keep these ear tips on with Spirit Gum or any other type of theatrical adhesive.  Depending upon your world, there can be various types of elves.  The kind shown here are known as Dark Elves.  If you plan on playing a dark elf, we again recommend black cake-makeup in order to keep the makeup on your face for a longer period of time.

Photo courtesy wyvernrising.org

Dwarf:  Dwarves are usually a hearty race that that are stout, strong, and always up for a good mug of ale.  The most distinguishing feature of most dwarves, men and women, is their facial hair.  The longer and fuller the beard, the more heroic and epic the dwarf will be perceived.  Get yourself a nice beard and you are good to go in the Dwarf department.

These are just a few examples of the races that you’ll find at most LARPs and how you can easily incorporate makeup elements to Medieval Costuming in order to fit in at any gaming enviornment.

All of the Renaissance costumes that you find at PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com can be put to a variety of uses.  As we’ve discussed before, one such avenue for our Medieval clothing can be a Live Action Role Playing game or LARP for short.

LARPs are fully immersive games that put the player directly into the game world.  You create your character and you actually play that character anyway that you’d like.  There are various genres and types of LARPs out there, but once that we’ve recently come to know very well is Wyvern Rising.

Wyvern Rising is a high fantasy, low body, boffer combat LARP.  This group is based out of Hazleton, which is located in North Eastern Pennsylvania and they typically hold their events at Hickory Run State Park.

Currently in its 7th season, Wyvern Rising has been providing LARPers the opportunity to place the dashing hero or the sinister villain.  You can play a human, elf, dwarf, orc, or a number of other races that are unique to their world.  You can be the gallant warrior, the swashbuckling rogue, the devout priest, the studious mage, or a skilled craftsman.  With all of the different combinations of character types, really the only question that can be asked it, “What role will you play?”

If you are planning on attending a Medieval LARP (Live Action Role Play) event, there are a number of things that you’ll need.  You will need Medieval clothing, Medieval boots, accessories, and a weapon.  But you obviously can’t use a weapon like the one you see in this post’s picture.  The object during a LARP is to successfully strike the opposing player with a weapon.  Using actual steel or wooden weapons is very unsafe.

That is why most LARPs use what are known as boffer weapons.  Boffer weapons are typically constructed out of PVC pipe, closed-cell foam, open-cell foam, Goop adhesives, and duct tape of various colors.  When constructed properly these weapons form a safe alternative and allow for actual combat to ensue at LARP events.  The types of weapons you can actually create through this method are only limited by your imagination.

For detailed instructions on how  you correctly and safely construct a boffer weapon, please visit this boffer weapon construction guide, provided to us by our good friends at Wyvern Rising, a Fantasy Medieval LARP based out of North Eastern Pennsylvania.  If you chose to follow this guide to make your own weapon, please note that the weapon sizes/requirements are specific to their rules system.  If you are making your weapon for a different LARP, make sure to find the correct weapon lengths, then return to this guide.

Last week we brought you a post that demonstrated the various signs that you can use to identify an approaching thunderstorm.  We wanted you to be able to have a way to know when you should seek shelter to protect both your Medieval clothing, and your lives.

But what happens if you are far away from shelter and a storm arrives rapidly?  What are you going to do?  If you keep the following tips in mind, and put them into practice, you will be able to ride out the storm.

1. Don’t Panic:  Although a thunderstorm is bad, it is not the end of the world.  By remaining calm, and taking notice of your surroundings, finding a safe place for you and your fellow campers can be very easy.

2. Get Out of the Open:  Lightning is drawn high points.  If you’re in the middle of an open field, that makes you the highest point.  The best plan would be to get indoors, but if that is not possible, at least get out of the open.

3. Avoid Tall Structures/Trees:  While you’re seeking shelter from tip #2, make sure it isn’t something extremely tall, such as a large tree, radio tower, etc. Lighting will also be drawn to these tall objects, so avoiding them is a must.  If an indoor shelter is not possible, consider finding a ditch or ravine so that you become lower than your surroundings.

4. Split Up:  Lighting has the capability of striking multiple people who are grouped together. Make sure to put some space between all of the members of your group so that the lightning does not travel from person to person.  You can stay within sight of your group, just so long as you are not all huddled together.

5. Remove Metal:  Lighting is also attracted to and flows through metal.  Make sure to avoid metal structures and to remove any metal jewelry or accessories, like weapons or armor, that you may be wearing or have with you..

6. Get Out of Water:  Lighting flows through water.  Even if the lightning strikes a body of water hundreds of yards away, the current can still flow for a very long time.  If you are swimming or boating, get out of the water immediately.

Summer is the best time of year to go camping or LARPing.  Although there are some extreme enthusiasts who still do both hobbies in the winter, the majority of people LARP in the summer.  The only downside to the summer, is that it does present danger in the form of thunderstorms.  Thunderstorms don’t only threaten your Renaissance clothing, but also your life.

At most camp sites, you are unable to access the internet or watch TV to learn of approaching severe weather.  Additionally, LARPs requires you to keep modern devices, such a cell phones, in cabins or tents.

Therefore, we have compiled a list of things to keep your eyes and ears open for, to help give you a heads up that a storm might be approaching.

1) The Temperature:  Storms are typically generated by warm air rising to fuel low pressure systems or cold fronts.  That is why most storms happen on days when the temperature was hot and the air was humid.  So if you noticed that it is really hot and humid and not even lunch time, the chances for a storm are increased for later.
2) Tree Leaves:  When rain is approaching, trees and other plants turn their leaves upside down so that they can absorb the water.  A tell-tale sign of a storm is when you see the underside of leaves on all the trees.
3) The Skies:  Keep an eye to the skies.  If you notice a line of clouds or a subtle darkening of the sky, its a good bet that a storm isn’t all too far behind.
4) The Calm:  That phrase, “the calm before the storm,” was born from this situation.  A storm front is usually so massive that the normal movement of air is dramatically decreased by the approaching system.  So if you notice that there is no wind and that things are eerily calm, seek shelter.
5) Thunder:  Obviously if you can hear thunder, you know a storm is nearby.  But thunder can actually travel for several miles and serve as a warning.  If it is hot or humid, keep an ear out for thunder, so that you can stay safe.

Any of these signs can help alert you to the presence of a thunderstorm.  Staying alert and aware is the key to safety.  If you observe any of these signs, make sure you seek shelter immediately.  Next time we’ll let you know what to do should you become trapped outside during a storm.

If you are considering purchasing Medieval or Renaissance footwear, there is one very important thing you need to remember:  Water damage.

If you are going to be taking these Medieval boots to a Renaissance faire, SCA event, or LARP weekend, odds are that you will be wearing them for a long period of time.  During that time, you may experience a lot instances where water may present itself:  Crossing a stream, rain water, puddles, swamps, morning and evening dew, plus many others.

Water can easily damage and slowly start to cause leather boots to rot away.  That is why it is extremely important that you take the time to waterproof your footwear.  Waterproofing your boots will increase the lifespan of your boots, which will help you save money in the long run.

So before you take your Renaissance boots out into the world for the first time, make sure that they are waterproofed!

If you are a LARPer or a Medieval/Renaissance reenactor, it is getting to the time of year where you must be conscious of your camp fires.

During the summer months, forests can get very dry.  Moisture continuously evaporates as the sun’s hot rays beat down upon the forests, fields, and brush in the camps that are typically used for these types of events.  The danger is increased if there has been a long period of no rain.

If your campground is extremely dry, then all it can take is one spark to set off a massive fire.  But you can do a few things to help keep the danger of a fire low.  The first is to pay attention to see if there are any fire advisories.  Most park offices will issue these when the forest is dry so that you know that  you need to take extra care.

Secondly, only use indoor fireplaces or well established fire pits that are surrounded by large stones.  Starting a small camp fire in a place that is not protected can easily spark a forest fire.

Lastly, once you are done, make sure to put out your fire.  By leaving your fire smolder all night, or all day while you go into the woods, a rogue ember can fly out and into an area of brush.  Likewise, all it takes is one gust of wind to blow hot ashes into a dry area of the forest.

So take extra care this summer as you build your camp fires so that you don’t accidentally start a brush fire that can present a danger to your favorite campgrounds.

Now that you have yourself a great Renaissance or Medieval costume, what are you going to do?  Yes you can use it for educational purposes, theatre, or even for Halloween.  But don’t you want to be able to have some fun while you’re wearing your authentic outfit?

There are two great options for you to consider, where you would be among countless others who share your passion for the Renaissance era.

1. Renaissance Faires:  Renaissance faires are a wonderful opportunity for you to see what life was actually like in the Medieval era.  You can eat Medieval food, watch knights joust, and experience any number of activities that are sure to keep you entertained.  The best part?  They encourage people to dress up in Renaissance costumes to help increase the atmosphere.  You can find a directory of all the major Renaissance faires in the country here.

2. Live Action Role Playing:  Live Action Role Playing, or LARPing, is a unique activity that actually puts you into a Medieval adventure.  When you attend a LARP event, you actually develop a character, put on the costuming, and in some cases pick up weapons (usually made of foam or latex) to do combat with other characters or monsters.  Typically, there is a staff that helps to create and run the game world.  Therefore, your character is always, “in game” the entire time you are at the event.  A directory of LARPs can be found here.

So make sure you don’t let your Medieval costumes sit around and gather dust.  Make sure you get out and show off your awesome new outfit!

Have you ever participated, or are you planning on joining a LARP?  Do you know what a LARP is?  LARP stands for Live Action Role Playing.

LARPing can be a very entertaining hobby.  Typically, a group of players, which can range in number from ten to a hundred, gather together at a campsite.  Once there, they all develop a character.  They come up with the character’s name, interests, jobs, etc.  Then the group will role play being those characters and will interact with one another.

There are often times a number of people who actually run the game and progress the story.  They do this by presenting challenges, playing character important to the world of the story, and by playing monsters or villains.  Most LARPs actually involve live combat through the use of latex weaponry.

Once the weekend event starts, the players are in the world of the game constantly.  You live, eat, and sleep as your character.  That means that even when you are sleeping, you can be attacked.  It is this completely immersive nature that keeps LARPers coming back for more.

One of the key elements for your character is your costume.  You’re going to be in this costume for an entire weekend, do you definitely want to look for something that is comfortable.  You’re also going to want a costume that looks impressive, to help maintain the atmosphere of the game world.

If you are in need of a handmade, high quality, durable, and authentic fantasy costume, then you should look no further than PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com.  We have a vast selection of costumes for a variety of characters for both men and women.  All of our outfits are handmade, comfortable, and sure to last.  So make sure to browse through our selection, so you can find the costume that makes you stand out amongst the rest.

Which LARPs do you attend?  Tell us about your favorite LARPs, LARP stories, or about your character by leaving a comment!