Who are you?

Having looked at one of the requests for video subject content I’ve decided to attempt to tackle the mammoth task that is character creation, I’m sure there are other methods of doing things bar the steps I take but if my sharing helps or explains anything then we've gotten somewhere with this post.

First off with the character creation I think you have to look at the event you’re going to and its style. Might sound like a no brainer but it's something to consider, an elf in a Victorian style horror larp probably wouldn't be wise. But situation plays a part in the history of your character. Most systems are relatively free in your background as long as you don't expect special treatment due to it. So those who desire to play a noble remember that it's up to other characters how much they acknowledge your authority.

I find the first thing to look at is what theme would I like my character to have if any. I've role-played as a Viking, a gentleman thief and a Japanese noble. Those themes we're the building block I started from and worked upwards. Personality tends to begin to come in at this point, how I expect the character to act, how they are in general interaction. This I find is an ongoing process as its pretty organic, as in real life experience defines and moulds us. I'd say half of any of my characters personality change and develop as I continue. To aid the personality of your characters I think a good old think about developing parts of your own persona and exaggerating parts you want your character to embody further. For being a Viking I look at the rowdy parts of my nature and multiply it. Why aim at traits you already have when your partaking in escapism? Well my reasoning starts with its easier to start with what you know and it aids the transition between the real life you and your character. But also I think we have desires about who we should be and what we'd like to be, we criticise our own selves and see places we would want improved or changed. Larp allows for that, you can be the braver, more charming person or you can explore the darker parts if you desire, it’s like having any form of personality barrier removed and you can become a role you thought too inappropriate for every day dealings. Cool huh?

Once you've come up with a skeleton of a personality a thing you’ll flesh out as you go along I would think. I find the voice comes next, sometimes it’s your own but I find I invest more into the character if I change my voice, seems to become more of a diverge from the original you. Unless you like role-playing yourself where I guess this is mainly a pointless post. Make it so the voice is easy to maintain, a weekend of a raspy deep voice plays murder on your vocal cords believe me. I find once you have all this together History comes about, some would say history is more important, it defines your personality and sure it does, I think when you start a character you've kind of got a background already thought up or at least an idea. The reason I leave it until last is well, your history should suit the character and so making the persona and voice I think its easier to write the history. If my character acts snobbish there’s probably a background that reflects that. I think you either start one way or the other but I find a main point to be is it all happens together as an ongoing process to say one starts before or after another is a little too hard to call.

Well I think that about covers creating the character at first. The rest kind of develops as you play the character. I will however leave you with a few tips. And feel free to comment and tell me how you make your characters as I know there’s no universal method.
Don't isolate yourself. Characters that are unfriendly should at least have a few friends at an event or it could be a long one.

Just go for it and don't take yourself too seriously. People will banter with your character so don't get too upset when people mock you in character, as it is well just in character.

Mocking people’s characters? Don't push it too far nobody likes being goaded too much.

Don't be too untrustworthy, like in real life being antagonistic or too chaotic does tend to leave you high and dry when you need allies.

Just have fun, act how you want to act but remember all actions have consequences.

Peace,
Gin
Larp it Up team

Larp it Up Extended!!

Travel

Good morning readers, I hope you’re faring better than my hair this week. My hair? An odd metaphor sure but stress may very well see me bald. One of the most enchanting parts of Larp events is there seeming abandonment from the rest of the world. I guess to aid in the escapism it’s a necessity. So transport tends to be a necessity I don’t think in any of the events I’ve looked at there has been one under an hour’s journey which presents a problem when you can’t drive. Now other members of our illustrious team can drive, which is great but with funding short maintaining cars for enough of us to get to an event can be tough. Consider this 6 people all the equipment, tents, food and the like tends to take up a lot of room. Two cars is a pain that’s for sure. So we’re left with several different options.

Train? Logistically a nightmare, getting kit on and off the train tents and gazebo in tow? Not to mention dragging all our weapons about, then obviously for the event we go to we have to make our way from the train station which is taxi’s on top of that.

Hire Car? Viable sure but we’re looking at £150 minimum price so there’s our more viable option. But if you’re paying £60 for the event add food to that and all the other equipment we need to purchase before this event, the money pouch is certainly feeling lighter.

We’re trying to see if we can get the Baron’s car back on the road but then that’s mot, tax, insurance and any repairs. But it’s probably more viable as a long term solution but may end up costing more and with funding stretched as thin as it is we’re in a bind.

So you see my hairs thinning as I write to you in earnest panic but if I have to walk I probably would. What travel issues have you had in the past and what’s the best method you’ve found? Not trying to mooch a lift (Unless your offering) Haha. But all in all it should be fine, I tend to get lucky in the end.

Gin.

Larp It Up Team

Larp It Up Update Video

Check Out The New Update Video

Mtb
Larp It Up Team

Introductions and other such fluff

Hello there readers, I'm Gin to get that introduction out of the way. You should be hearing a lot from me over the course of the blog's life. You could call this blog a supplementary aid to the YouTube channel where we can cover all the nooks and crannies that the videos couldn’t via time constraints. I'd like to draw you away from such a preconception. Here you get to read interviews with some of the officials and experts I can get my hands on and I’ll be looking at articles and preconceptions centred around the hobby.

I also want to attempt to look at Larp events specifically, those that I attend you'll get my full objective review of the system, and I’ll attempt to give you at least the scope to tell if the events for you or not. I won’t play favourites as I know each system has its pro's and con's and some suit others more than they do me.

But then all these activities I intend to tackle won't do justice to it being called a blog, You’ll also get to hear the trials and tribulations I encounter when it comes to Larp and all the work that has to go into it. Hopefully you'll learn from my mistakes or can relate to the problems I encounter. So keep your eyes out for my next post coming this week.

Gin.
Larp It Up Team

Larp It Up

Hey Guy's,

Welcome to the Larp it up blog, we are going to use this blog to review larp in much more advanced ways than we can in the video's. Gin has joined the team and has agreed to write the blog for us so look out for his blogging, also check out the new video that has just got released.

Look out for updates soon.

Mtb