Who's Ever Going To Read This Anyway

I don’t know how much you guys might know about LARPing (aka Live Action Role Playing) but lately I have seen a lot of it. This cult phenomena has become almost mainstream, being featured in hit movies (Role Models) as well as being focused more closely on in Documentaries (Monster Camp.) It also has been brought to my attention in Independent comedies (Momma’s Boy) and Adult Swim cartoons (Frisky Dingo.)
This brings the fantasy of World of Warcraft and Dungeons and Dragons to life (both of which I have to admit I have not played.) This is like The Renaissance Faire on a whole new level. People actually dress up like Knights, Ogres, Wizards, Lizards and Kings. They battle, with magic potions (which are birdseed in handkerchiefs) and foam swords. And after watching the all the movies and show’s I’ve mentioned I realized something…
I’m jealous of these people.
Don’t get me wrong, some of these people, ok most of these people, have really unconventional/pathetic OG (Outside of Game) lives by society’s view. Two room-mates in the Documentary have been seniors in high school longer than most people ATTEND high school. But that’s not to say that all these people don’t have a life. Some are college students, office workers, they might even do what you do for a living. But they don’t let their OG life define them.
America is where you can be anything you want to be. So why can’t they be Gandthal, King of the Lysicthians? Who are we to judge?
I had a debate with a friend who said that these Larpers were living in a fantasy world that isn’t real. Isn’t real? What’s not real about it? They are there with like minded people. When their character dies, they feel real emotions (in Monster Camp two girls embraced and cried when one’s character died.) That wasn’t an act, there were real tears. Are you telling me that isn’t real?
They aren’t really fighting, my friend suggested. But they have weapons and they do damage, it’s agreed upon and rules are followed. The same way we do in the real world. They have IG (in game) coins and they have agreed upon the value of that, the same way we have done with the paper and metal we get from the government.
They have complicated math, rules to everything, a hierarchy of society, they make real friendships and bond with real people. This is WAY more than your fat roommate never leaving the computer playing WOW with people he’ll never meet in his life. This is real bonding, marriages have happened, love has been found and lost, just like this world we believe in. If there are 60 people Larping around you, and you are the only one in OG clothing and aren’t following the rules, who are you to say what’s real and what isn’t?
I’d love to try Larping. I don’t think I’d be able to do all the math something about 20 people yelling different numbers and all the memorization needed for the spells and stuff, but I definitely respect those who can and do.
Now I do expect to get some flack for this and for anyone who would think about blasting me I’d like them to look at themselves, do you ever pretend to be something you aren’t? Whether it be one face you show your family and another you show your friends? Or perhaps you have separate twitter accounts so you can live a fantasy of being something you aren’t =-) Whatever it is, it would be a fantastic feeling of release to be able to live a fantasy, and wouldn’t it be amazing to have a group of people believing you are who you want to be, and you can do the same for them?
Just saying.
But seriously… finish high school. WTF?