LARPing
Acting out fantasies
LARPing is live-action role-playing—a form of interactive gaming where participants physically act out their characters rather than describing actions at a table or through a screen.
Players don costumes, wield foam weapons, and improvise dialogue in elaborate fantasy scenarios: We spent the weekend LARPing in the woods.
Figuratively, LARPing describes performative behavior that feels like playing pretend: He's not really a revolutionary, he's just LARPing.
Nature, symbol, or role
- personaAssumed public identity
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
scenario · motivation · interaction · plot · narrative · conflict · in-character · NPC
Mythical small beings
- dwarvesMythical small beings
- orcsSavage fantasy humanoids
- goblinsMalicious mythical creatures
- dragonsMythical fire-breathing reptiles
magic · sorcery · quest · kingdom · enchantment · wizardry · necromancy · mythology
Protective combat covering
- cloakSleeveless outer wrap
- tunicLoose hip-length top
- tabardSleeveless heraldic overgarment
- garbWhat one wears
prop · sword · shield · staff · mask · makeup · prosthetics · chainmail
Professional mutual-aid society
- clanRelated group sharing ancestry
- chapterDivision of a book
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
fellowship · camaraderie · faction · alliance · troupe · network · meetup · society
Temporary halt or exclusion
- escapismHabitual mental retreat
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- world-buildingCreating fictional universes
- settingContext of events
environment · realism · authenticity · engagement · participation · bleed · debriefing · emotional
character
Nature, symbol, or role
- personaAssumed public identity
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
dialogue · scenario · motivation · interaction · plot · narrative · conflict · in-character · NPC · protagonist
elves
Mythical small beings
dragons · magic · sorcery · quest · kingdom · enchantment · wizardry · necromancy · mythology · spellcasting
armor
Protective combat covering
garb · prop · sword · shield · staff · mask · makeup · prosthetics · chainmail · leather
guild
Professional mutual-aid society
convention · fellowship · camaraderie · faction · alliance · troupe · network · meetup · society · group
suspension
Temporary halt or exclusion
- escapismHabitual mental retreat
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- world-buildingCreating fictional universes
setting · environment · realism · authenticity · engagement · participation · bleed · debriefing · emotional · intensity
combat
Armed hostile engagement
safety · marshal · referee · rulebook · stats · skills · abilities · leveling · experience · campaign
LARPingreal life
Existence beyond imagination
authenticity · reality · breaking character · sincerity · civilian life
LARP, LARPer, LARPers, action, playing, player, players, played, roleplaying