LARP
Costumed adventure game
LARP stands for live action role-playing, a form of interactive gaming where participants embody characters through costume, improvisation, and physical action in real-world settings.
Fantasy LARPs with swords and sorcery are most visible, but the form spans genres from vampire intrigue to post-apocalyptic survival.
There's a huge LARP happening in the woods this weekend. (Lowercase larp is the common spelling.)
Nature, symbol, or role
- personaAssumed public identity
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- in-characterMaintaining a persona
- bleedLose vital fluid
immersion · improvisation · motivation · portrayal · accent · mannerisms · retirement · debrief
Roleplaying session director
Imaginative mental wandering
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- vampireBlood-drinking undead creature
- post-apocalypticAfter global catastrophe
- steampunkRetrofuturistic Victorian science fiction
sci-fi · horror · historical · cyberpunk · western · pirates · zombies · dystopian
Hypothetical different version of existence
- make-believeImaginative play or fantasy
- escapismHabitual mental retreat
- daydreamingIdle mental wandering
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
pretend · recreation · respite · retreat · dreamworld · alter ego · weekend warrior
Supernatural or illusory power
- elvesMythical small beings
- dragonsMythical fire-breathing reptiles
- questSeeking journey for something
- sorceryPractice of dark magic
wizardry · dwarves · goblins · necromancer · paladin · ranger · bard · enchantment
Principles governing behavior
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- skillsLearned competencies
- abilitiesPowers to perform
- downtimePeriod of non-operation
crafting · economy · tags · call-and-response · rock-paper-scissors · stats · levels · classes
What one wears
- kitGrouped supplies, one purpose
- costumingCreating performance attire
- tabardSleeveless heraldic overgarment
- cloakSleeveless outer wrap
tunic · robe · surcoat · doublet · jerkin · corset · armor · hauberk
character
Nature, symbol, or role
- personaAssumed public identity
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- in-characterMaintaining a persona
bleed · immersion · improvisation · motivation · portrayal · accent · mannerisms · retirement · debrief · workshops
gamemaster
Roleplaying session director
fantasy
Imaginative mental wandering
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- vampireBlood-drinking undead creature
- post-apocalypticAfter global catastrophe
steampunk · sci-fi · horror · historical · cyberpunk · western · pirates · zombies · dystopian · superhero
alternate reality
Hypothetical different version of existence
- make-believeImaginative play or fantasy
- escapismHabitual mental retreat
- daydreamingIdle mental wandering
adventure · pretend · recreation · respite · retreat · dreamworld · alter ego · weekend warrior
magic
Supernatural or illusory power
sorcery · wizardry · dwarves · goblins · necromancer · paladin · ranger · bard · enchantment · grimoire
rules
Principles governing behavior
downtime · crafting · economy · tags · call-and-response · rock-paper-scissors · stats · levels · classes · modules
garb
What one wears
- kitGrouped supplies, one purpose
- costumingCreating performance attire
- tabardSleeveless heraldic overgarment
cloak · tunic · robe · surcoat · doublet · jerkin · corset · armor · hauberk · chainmail
guild
Professional mutual-aid society
crew · faction · fellowship · convention · meetup · gathering · newbie · veteran · organizer · discord
melee
Disordered group skirmish
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- duelPrearranged one-on-one combat
- shieldwallInterlocked defensive formation
siege · ambush · flank · respawn · healer · tank · hold · battlefield · warband
- roleplayroleplay, acting, character, cosplay, D&D
- RPGsDungeons and Dragons, Final Fantasy, Skyrim, GM, Baldur's Gate
- Geek CultureTrekkie, Whovian, otaku, cosplay, cosplayer
- immersive experiencesvirtual reality, VR, augmented reality, AR, mixed reality
- interactive entertainmentaudience participation, improv, karaoke, game shows, trivia night
- acting termsmethod acting, overacting, character voice, dialogue, body language
LARPtabletop RPG
Group storytelling with rules
board game · MMO · video game · Dungeons & Dragons · console gaming