LARPing Around
By Stephen Weese 

            So you are at work, having lunch with some co-workers, and the subject arises: what is everyone doing this weekend? Bob says, “I’m going bike riding in the mountains.” Jill says, “I’m doing yard work, and then spending time with the kids.” Then you say, “I’m going to dress up in a fantasy costume, run around pretending I’m someone I’m not and while I’m at it, whack some other folks with a big piece of foam on a stick!”

            Only that’s not what you really say. What you really say is something like this: “I’m going camping with some friends for the weekend.” “How nice!” everyone exclaims. Because there is no way in hell you are going to, on your lunch break, explain what you really are going to do this weekend.

            Welcome to ‘The Shame of the LARPer.’ What would Bob and Jill possibly think of you if they knew what you were doing? Who would they tell? What would your boss say? You might kiss that promotion goodbye! Perhaps you’ll tell them you have another, less shocking hobby, like sadomasochism and bondage. Or maybe you could tell them you are just an axe murderer spending the weekend stalking your next victims. But never, ever, must they know that you are a LARPer.

            But maybe you can win Bob and Jill over. You can’t tell them all at once. On the next lunch break you mention, casually, Dungeons and Dragons^®. Was that a suspicious look from Jill? Does she think you are a devil worshipper now? But wait, there is some hope: Bob played some D&D in college.

            You catch Bob by the water cooler the next day and ask him about his old D&D character. He opens up about Dalmar the Assassin that had a poisonous and magical dagger. You start to see some light ahead: maybe, just maybe Bob will understand.

            Later in the week you and Bob talk about gaming more. It turns out he played Final Fantasy^® on his Playstation^®. Was that a flicker of the Torch of Hope you see? Why yes, Bob loves console RPGs! Maybe you can convert him to the LARP side. You casually mention that you play a game that takes all weekend sometimes. He seems interested. You go back to your desk thinking you’ve almost got him; soon, he will join you.