Article: Choosing between a new LARP vs. an old LARP

Many decisions need to be made when deciding you want to begin LARPing. One of the first choices you will encounter is which game to attend, and more often than not you will have quite a few choices in front of you. A large factor in narrowing down your choices should be the age of the game. This is one of the most important factors that many people overlook but looking at the age of the game can really affect the game play that you will experience.

Listed below are the common pros and cons of a new game compared to an older, more established game. It is up to you to decide which you prefer to have in a game.

Click here to see the pros and cons and help support me at Examiner!

One of my recent blogs on Alltern8 is about LARP Cliques! As with any social group cliques happen and I decided to look deeper into the different cliques that can be found at a LARP. The first LARP I ever attended was practically ALL mean cliques, it was so close to turning me off from LARPing. Thankfully I left and decided to give LARPing another chance. The next LARP I attended was clique free at the time due to it being so new. I enjoyed that while it lasted but ended up leaving once again as the cliques began to form. I’m currently enjoying a game that is clique free and I hope it stays that way.

Article: Avoiding the LARP Killer: Cliques

Attending any LARP for the first time you begin to experience nervousness. Excitement. Fear. And some of us? An anxious panic that doesn’t abide until you are comfortable in a circle of bodies that you can disappear in to. It is like sucking your thumb, or carrying around your blankie. Not good for us but we need it all the same.

Those very safety circles are what usually cause the most trouble at any social gathering with numerous people; summer camps, any sort of class, parties, LARPs etc. These circles are also known as cliques.

Ahhh cliques… how I despised them in high school, college and now they are following me still in LARPs. Let me explain to you that I’ve attended multiple LARPs over the years and at some of these LARPs the cliques are either painfully obvious, you have to look for the cliques to find them, OR there are no cliques to be heard of. I want you to understand that clique drama does not happen at some to most LARPs but if you do encounter them my hopes are that you are aware of what is going on and you can still escape unscathed.

Cliques are usually easy to spot. Large groups of people that generally look alike, share interests, views, purposes, or patterns of behavior can be the beginnings of a clique. They’ll usually have an elitist attitude and keep to themselves. Being a social type of gathering, cliques will throw a kink into the flow things at any LARP.

The staff of a LARP needs to constantly be on the look out for cliques and head them off before they are completely established. That is, if the staff even cares about their game or if they are just in it for the money. And a staff that cares about the game is a staff that you want to be supporting each month.

Once again you are new and have a clean slate… use this to your advantage, learn as much as you can about everyone and look deep into yourself. Alright, alright. I know that sounds cheesy but I mean it, really ask yourself early on what you want to accomplish in the game so you can preplan and not stick your foot in your mouth. Do you want to be good, neutral or evil?

To continue reading about the types of cliques you will see at a LARP please click here!

Before I bore you with my nonsense let me wish you a very Merry Christmas officially and onto the show…

Article: Playing True To You: Creating Your Character

As a girl LARPer, I’ve received MANY different tips, hints, and straight out rules from guys whether I ask for it or not. It’s just natural for someone who knows something very well to want to ’show off’ to the new people, including to the damsel in distress.

Some of these words of wisdom made me roll my eyes or actually stand up and pay attention. You’re probably thinking ‘how hard is it to just pick a name, class and race and just roll with it?’ Not hard at all actually… but you won’t truly enjoy yourself, and when it comes time to actually role-play your character you don’t want to be stumbling around for history to talk about.

Just ask the LARPers that throw their entire self into creating this second personality, they love it! It always goes back to that saying my mother use to tell me; you get what you put into it.
Your first step in really putting your heart into creating your character is you! Sit down in a quiet, dark and cool room. Close your eyes and just begin to let your mind wander. If your mind begins to wander to the chores you have to do, the bills you have to pay, or going to work tomorrow quickly pull your mind back and imagine yourself walking through a small medieval town. Look at each of the…

Please continue reading by following this link!

After the latest event of Seventh Kingdom IGE I overheard some conversations from players about their old games and I was shocked to hear a topic repeated over and over. If you were a popular or decent looking LARPer… you become the topic of most of the cruel rumors that are spread. I thought as LARPers we’ve had enough of this judgmental nonsense throughout our lives but it seems it never ends. Here is my article on what I’ve witnessed during my years of LARPing.

Enjoy!

Article: Attractive LARPers and Misunderstandings

Alright. I’ve seen this MULTIPLE times and I think it’s time to speak out. Being an active and attractive LARPer myself, I’ve also been on the receiving end of these crazy and sometimes cruel misunderstandings.

What the heck am I talking about? You’re an attractive LARPer (either male or female, yes I’m including you guys too!) you’ve attended a LARP long enough to make a name for yourself and get the attention of every other LARPer in the game. You’re on top of the world! The attention is intoxicating and you can’t get enough of it. Until you catch wind of the rumors… about you.

Why is it when you’re getting the right kind of attention people need to say the wrong kind of thing? You know what I mean…

“She’s sleeping with him. AND him. AND him.”

“He’s a player and will sleep with anything that moves.”

Click here to continue reading and help support my blogging career!

It could be worse though… nothing could be going on. And nothing is not good. Currently though I am reclining in a recliner that is practically swallowing me whole while listening to country music, my keyboard clicking away happily and the sounds of a settling house. The smells of the Christmas tree, cookies shaped like little snowmen and my hot chocolate next to me make me a very happy girl!

I have a few articles in the queue for Alltern8 so until those are posted I have an announcement!

Here is a great chance to get hold of a fantastic prize, a Beta Key for Star Trek Online generously donated by Cryptic Studios associated with Alltern8. These keys will activate on the 4th January. One key available to one per entrant. Only one entry allowed.

Taking place in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Players will have the opportunity to become a high ranking Starfleet officer and will participate in missions that will take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets and even inside other starships. Star Trek Online offers total customization, where every ship players command can be customized, from colour to construction. Additionally, anyone can create their own species in Star Trek Online, as well as customize the look of their avatar’s uniform.

Click here for your chance to win your very own key!

Article:

LARPing and Dating… Not a Myth

LARPing is a social event. I know! Can you believe it? Being a social event there tends to be some social interaction between people. Usually awkward, not looking in each other’s eyes, shifting your weight from feet to feet, and you can’t remember what you talked about after you walk away. Did I even introduce myself? What class is she?
Yup, that about covers a conversation between two people that are use to interacting with a screen between themselves and humanity. But you are subjecting yourself to actual social event outside of your basement so that alone is something to be proud of.
Most players when they think about the stress of carrying on a conversation do not even think of forming a relationship with someone unless they can call to trade Magic cards. Furthest from their mind is starting a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.
And yet when guys gather around to plan an outing to the local LARP just the mention of lady LARPers have them cheering each other on, slapping each others back and drawing up intensive plans of who is wingman. But they are usually the first ones to mumble a hello and hightail it out of there to the first girl LARPer they come in contact with.
There are many girls out there that have the same reaction! We plan on meeting a lot of guys but it becomes overwhelming when we finally arrive to the camp. If you don’t have the confidence of a movie star the reactions you receive are intimidating enough to send anyone running for cover. And if you have the confidence to actually receive and handle the attention accordingly you become ‘untouchable’ by the guys who are nervous around confident girls and the stuck up princess to the rest.

To continue reading please click here!

Along with thinking about LARPing… is anyone else super excited for New Moon?!?! I know I am! I have to admit I was an Edward fan in the books… but now? Completely leaning toward Jacob’s team at this point! And I don’t understand why everyone hates Kristen so much. I understand she’s grumpy and hates that she’s famous now, but to hate her?

Anyways, now for my second official article:

Article:

Female LARPers

and Our

Hierarchy Struggle

LARPing is both a male and female activity and yet… there always seems to be one girl LARPer for every 10 to 15 guy LARPers. These numbers will change as the game grows larger or smaller and while some games do have a stronger presence of girl LARPers the situation is still pretty dire for the guy (and 6 others) trying to get the attention of the cute fairy. Chick LARPers are a hot commodity in the LARPing World and we’re all not what we seem to be.

Girl LARPers come with all sorts of interesting stories, skills and features. One has skills with those swords that you would never realize just looking at her while her best friend can heal you before you even realize you need it. The other girl across the camp makes amazing food treats over the camp fire at the same time other girl in the kitchen is burning water but remembers every single rule mentioned in game. Some wear a corset like no other and some wear leather and chain mail like it is going out of style. Can’t forget the girl with the dramatic story of how her parents are the King and Queen, and that girl glaring at her? Well, she’s possessed by a demon.

No matter our skills, features or storylines we all play two games when we come LARPing whether we wish to partake or not. It cannot be detected by the untrained eye while guys are usually completely oblivious even when we do explain it to them… I expect it is how she is wearing her corset that has their attention elsewhere.

When the ‘other game’ is explained to you it usually takes a moment to fully understand the complexity of it. Many other girls when I have asked their opinion full heartedly agree with me that this goes on at any LARP they have ever participated in. While when I bring it up to guys they usually laugh it off until they see it in action. And when that happens, well, let’s just say you should see their jaw hit the ground. What is this ‘other game’ I’m referring too?

Welcome to an inside look on the female LARPer’s Power Struggle. The Cat Fight. The Hierarchy Scuffle.

To get down and dirty check out the rest of this article here!

I just noticed that my very first article is up on the Alltern8 website! I’m so excited and nervous all at the same time. This is something I never thought I would even try to do let alone actually have it liked enough to be posted! I have to admit when writing this I became very self conscious… would it be accepted? If it was accepted would people be interested enough to read it? And if they did read it will it catch their interest and look for my future articles? One can only hope. So without further ado, my very first masterpiece:

Article:

It’s Time For Change – View from a US Larp

When I mention LARPing to someone, the response I usually get is “Excuse you”. Excuse me? No, excuse you good sir for I feel bad that you have not been able to experience the eye opening experience you could have LARPing. Most people when they hear about LARPing they instantly become condescending and judgmental. Funny thing is… I’m not getting the looks like I did five years ago.

LARP stands for Live Action Role Play. LARPing began in the 1970s and although no one can agree to where this term was coined or who exactly thought it up we do know that the first game recorded began in 1977 in Washington DC in the United States. Players who partake in a LARP call themselves LARPers. Eh, so what? I can easily find that on the LARPing wiki right? But read it again… LARPing has been around for 30+ years. This ‘idea’ has been around for a long period of time and this ‘idea’ has not been played around..

To continue reading my article please support me and Alltern8 by visiting the site by clicking here.

Thank you so much for supporting me and my dreams! Be sure to check by for more articles!

I’ve never read anything truer. I really am speaking to the world when I write my first post. Now will the world care to read what I write? And if they do will it be to their liking? I should hope so since my goal is to have my voice (or fingers in this matter) heard!

The main use of this page will be to get the word out about the other blogs that I will be posting. What other blogs you might be asking? As of right now, none. But that is soon to change! I finally have the opportunity, a big thank you to Alex with Alltern8, to speak about something I love.

LARPing.

I won’t go into much detail just yet, but be sure to keep an eye on this page for links to those blogs and behind the scenes commentary.

Before you leave please check out my pages listed to the right, they are constantly under construction!

Thank you!