Animosity between traditional gamers and LARPers?

[Umbran]

While by far my primary gaming mode is tabletop, I've done quite a bit of LARPing.

I've played in the long-term White Wolf larps a couple of times, but found that most of them don't appeal to me. If it's going to be White Wolf/Mind's Eye Theatre rules, I far prefer the mini-campaign variety, lasting 5 or 6 sessions. That does away with the clique-ishness that long-term larps tend to develop. It also deals with the power balance issues of putting new/weak characters in with old/strong ones.

I've tried a bit of live-combat, but didn't care for having my character's abilities tied to how fast and well I personally could swing a padded stick.

What I do like are "theatre style" games. They're a hoot and a half

The larp/tabletop animosity is, in fact, highly analogous to the "powergamer"/"real roleplayer" animosity. It is a similar combination of ignorance and intolerance of other tastes. It seems that everybody needs somebody to pick on.

The thing to remember is that there's actually lots of different types of larp. They aren't all White Wolf. Nor do those that aren't White Wolf require you to wear and/or use fake weapons.

 

[Negative Zero]

Re: larps

...i've always view people who like to larp more as "actors" than gamers. ... actors, are to me at least, creepy because i dont like to see fake faces on people. scares me the way clowns do, ya know...

that's funny, coz i'm an actor, and i use PnP DnD for that tye of deep exploration of personality types all the time, and LARP, other than the novel curiosity factor, doesn't really hold any appeal for me.

then again, i always found people who thought clowns scary were just bent! lol

incidentally, i hate fake faces on people too. no need to hate on a guys's job just for that tho

~NegZ

 

[Henry]

This animosity extends back to the early 1990's, the birth of "modern LARPing." Live Action Role Play stole away a huge number of players who were getting tired of playing D&D, and looking for something more rules lite and heavier role-play. You honestly can't get more "rules lite" than LARPing. The D&D plyers blamed LARPing for losing popularity, and the LARPers saw D&D as "backwards."

Now, there is a little more understanding, but by and large there is still some hostility born of lack of understanding. Frankly, I do not LARP - I am far too self conscious to do so, and look like a fruit loop when I do. If you LARP, more power to you - I just can't see the appeal.

 

[Holy Bovine]

It seems that everybody needs somebody to pick on.

Well, there are always the furries



**brrrrr**

 

[Cedric]

Well...I've been table top gaming for 12+ years, and alot of it during that time. 2-3 times a week.

But I have also loved LARP's...in a convention environment. In a campaign environment, I don't think they work that well.

But I helped run the LARP at Origins in '98 and '99. And besides that I've been in dozens of Convention LARPs (all based on White Wolf's World of Darkness).

Let me say, LARP's are a blast. I don't really get into costume, I don't go "over the top" in that regard, I just roleplay my character. And I have had SOoooo much fun.

Cedric

 

[Popey]

I LARP, my DM LARPs. Hell, most of the LARPers I play with play a myriad of PnP RPGs. And everybody I LARP with was very nice to me when I was new. Maybe it's because Iowans are generally nice people, or something. I dunno though. I enjoy LARP and PnP a lot, though I do LARP more then I play PnP, mostly because those games are easier to get into then small D&D groups.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I'm a LARPer, and most people out of the LARPs that I'm involved in do play Tabletop games, usually the most common being the WOD games and D&D.

 

[Tsyr]

Well, there are always the furries



**brrrrr**

Oh come on. Leave furries alone.

 

[Bob Aberton]

speaking of which,

Are there even rules for LARP?

Or is just like theater, only everbody has a different script?

Just curious...

 

[shouit]

speaking of which,

Are there even rules for LARP?

Or is just like theater, only everbody has a different script?

Just curious...

It depends on the game, from what I understand. White Wolf has a set of rules called Mind's Eye Theatre, or something like that. I believe they use rock, paper, scissors for their dice and combat, but I don't know much besides that.

My two cents is that I am not into Larping all that much. I have done it once or twice and I have a harder time "disbelieving" (or suspending) reality with LARP, then table top. Don't know why.