A physical combat LARP battle at a Lorien Trust event

A theatre style LARP taking advantage of a decorated room at COSI Columbus.

Find best prices and huge selection of cheap kids toys and games online, educational toys, outdoor toys, character toys, electronic toys and much more.

Larp

A live action role-playing game (LARP) is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out some or all of their characters' actions. The first LARPs were run in the late 1970s, inspired by role-playing games and genre fiction. more...

Home

Action Figures

Beanies

Construction Toys & Kits

Diecast & Vehicles

Toys & Games

Wargames & Role-Playing

Confrontation

Heroclix

Magazines & Publications

Pirates

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Other Dungeons & Dragons

Fantasy

Horror

Larp

Other Role-Playing

Science Fiction

Superhero

Scenery, Props & Paint

Star Wars

Table Top/ Historical

Warhammer

Warmachine

The activity gained international popularity during the 1980s.

LARP groups have highly varied approaches to rules, costume, degree of physical acting out, focus of character activity, and genre. LARPs range in size from small private events lasting a few hours to huge public events with thousands of players lasting for several days.

Terminology

LARP has also been referred to as live role-playing (LRP), interactive literature, freeform role-playing, interactive drama (indrama), and wide game. Some of these terms are still in common use, however LARP has become the most commonly understood term internationally. It is sometimes written in lowercase, as larp. The live action in LARP is analogous to the term live action used in film and video to differentiate works with human actors from animation.

Play overview

Players physically portray characters in a fictional setting, improvising their characters' speech and movements somewhat like actors in improvisational theatre. This is distinct from traditional role-playing games where character actions are described verbally. Unlike in theatre there is usually no audience, as LARPs are played for the satisfaction of the participants.

The setting, characters, and rules may be defined in a LARP publication, invented by the organisers of the larp, or created by the players themselves.

Play usually takes place within a defined physical space. This may be a public area or a private building or section that has been borrowed or hired for the purpose. Play usually starts and ends at pre-defined times, and may occur over hours or days. If members of the public who are not involved in the LARP are in the play area, they are typically ignored or treated as part of the fictional setting.

Beyond these basic common features, LARPs vary greatly. In particular there is a broad spectrum of settings that play takes place in, methods of physically representing the characters and the settings, game rules, and types of activity that characters are involved in.

Production

Players may dress as their character and carry appropriate equipment, or costume and gear may be portrayed by physical symbols or entirely imagined. The environment in which play takes place may be dressed to resemble the imaginary setting, and special effects may be used to represent unusual occurrences in the setting.