Don’t Touch or I’ll Sue: American larp as national metaphor
How American larp both reflects and is influenced by American values. Notes for my talk, given at Solmukohta 2012, Gen Con 2012, and Wyrd Con.
Tag Archives: Knight Realms
Leaving Mundania Hits the BBC!
The BBC films a segment on Leaving Mundania, and a great review from Geekadelphia.
Leaving Mundania Reading @ The Fallout Shelter
Does the idea of larp fascinate you or pique your interest? Do you live in New Jersey? Do you play Knight Realms, Dystopia Rising, or another local game? Been to the DREAMATION Continue Reading →
In Defense of “Larp”
“Larp” sounds weird and gets a bum rap from pop culture. But you should use it anyway. Viva la “larp”!
I Caught a Fish THIS BIG: Realism, Tall Tales & American Larp
Does the historical inaccuracy of boffer larps reflect America’s truncated past? Plus, I finally find a way to use the words “simulacrum” and “hyperreality.” Come for the theory, stay for the shameless jargon-usage!
How To Assemble A Great Larp Costume
It’s all about the pockets. Why you should vacuum in costume and other tips from the fourth installment of the first timers’ guide to larp.
Giant Spiders Jumped Me On My Way To Bed
I spend last weekend medieval camping in the wilds of Sparta, New Jersey at the Knight Realms LARP as part of my book research. Well, not quite medieval camping — I and around 60 others huddled in heated cabins that had electricity, but we wore medieval style dress and lugged around boffers. Continue Reading →
When the Game Carries Over
That in-game emotions sometimes spill over into the out of game world is one of the hazards of LARPing. Say someone kills your character in-game, knowing that in doing so, they’re causing your character to lose stats. Would you bear them ill-will once the event is over? I always thought my answer would be no. After all, it’s the risk of conflict, penalty and the unknown plot point that makes LARP exciting. But a few months ago I learned otherwise. Continue Reading →
I Hate Rules
I love the idea behind LARP and tabletop role-playing — that a group of people are getting together to collaboratively tell a story. But whenever someone explains the mechanics of a game to me, my eyes glaze over in seconds and I start thinking about what kind of hat my character would wear. Continue Reading →
What is LARP?
I’m at work on a narrative nonfiction book about Live Action Role Play, also known as LARP. The book, tentatively titled Leaving Mundania, is the story of LARPers, self-described geeks who come from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. Continue Reading →