[LARP] Costuming & Props

[Matt-M-McElroy]

Hey folks,

What are some of the best LARP costumes you've seen?

Do you have any recommendations as far as online shopping for costumes and/or props for Live Action games?

I've purchased from:

http://www.lrpstore.com

http://www.velvetgarden.net

Thanks,

Matt

[Emperor Norton II]

First hint- Don't look goofy.

Chances are, if you wouldn't wear it out on the street, your LARP character shouldn't either. While it may be cool to wear a mask and black robes in Elysium, no one wears that shit out on the street wthout wierd looks and questions- the kind of things vampires and mages avoid.

What kinda LARP are you joining, anyway? That's a good first step to asking for advice.

[Matt-M-McElroy]

What kinda LARP are you joining, anyway? That's a good first step to asking for advice.

I'm looking at running an Obsidian LARP (http://www.twilight-games.com/obsidian.shtml) once a month here in Milwaukee.

I've been running LARPs off-n-on for over 13 years now. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to touch base with others and see what ideas/experiences they have (and new resources for costuming can't hurt either).

Regards,

Matt

[Redfeild]

I've got the Book of Props for Minds Eye Theatre.

Looooooooooong out of print. Out when the game was a box set. Its got costume, make up, and set advise. Its good stuff.

I disagree about the 'goofy' comment.

From a world perspective o/nWoD is populated by alien creatures. 1) Sure they had been human once but over time (centuries even) fashion for these guys change. 2) I get the vibe from the nWoD book that most people just look the other way anyway. 3) many of the critter types have some form of obfuscation which makes goofy dress null and void. 4) It was originally a gothic punk world. I was and still is over the top. 5) finally, not everyone players MET WoD. Goofy may be the standard or even in vogue.

From a game perspective I can understand that 'freaking the norms' is not cool. But there is a line between there right not to see strange people in the park and my right to were what I want when I want. Sure tone it down a bit in public but if you work so hard to be invisible then how will people ever even know LARP exists? Doing is the best advertisement you have. Its better than fliers, its better than bulletin boards. In the 90's we began playing at the park. By the time our troop went cam we had 40 or more people on a regular basis. I hear rumor that the kids we would not let play are now making there own troops for lack of ours.

Please see the RP Gamers Stand Tall thread.

[JustinCognito]

I do a monthly Changeling LARP. When you have a game about fantasy and imagination centered around a somewhat medieval paradigm, you've got to expect goofy. That's not to say it doesn't work; the other players are able to pull off the medieval duds well, be they a simple circlet or the full sidhe noble regalia.

Still, if you think the costumes worn by other players are goofy, go for more of a "street" theme in your character. For example, I'm currently engaged in the Changeling LARP, and plan to take part in a V:tR LARP run by the same people when I have the time. For Changeling, I play a troll gunslinger patterned after cowboys of the Old West; I usually dress up in the character's mortal seeming, which consists of your typical urban cowboy duds (barn jacket, boots, blue jeans, white hat). For Vampire, my character is a Daeva boxer who was Embraced by his coach after being crippled in a title match. My costume consists of sweatshirt, sweatpants, and sneakers.

The setting supports a lot. Don't feel you have to go for a certain "look" because it's commonplace.

[ArmoredSaint]

LARPs need to feature more armour.

[Jadasc]

I do a monthly Changeling LARP. When you have a game about fantasy and imagination centered around a somewhat medieval paradigm, you've got to expect goofy.

Quoted for truth. Furthermore, making and wearing outrageous costumes is, or can be, *fun*. You may not be able to get away with it on the university quad, but if you've got a space of your own in which to play, go nuts.

[Black_Flame]

Changeling is a good exception when it comes to goofy props/costume. Mortal eyes don't see that you're really dressed like a medival knight, have blue skin, and massive horns.

A Vampire exception is the Nosferatu and a few other Vampires who just aren't supposed to look normal. And, if you're supposedly at an Elysium, there's always the off chance that your character just changes out of his/her street clothes, out of the sight of mortals.

Mage-- well, sometimes Paradox flaws, Curses, Echoes, etc. can be a bitch.

Werewolf-- well, Metis obviously have flaws that can be difficult to hide. Beyond that, the game may be set at a Sept, where characters are safely away from prying human eyes.

But LARP isn't limited to MET, either.

For period games, dressing according to period is a definite bonus.

For games set in alternative realities... what looks kind of off for the modern world might be completely normal.

In general, though... yeah, staying away from goofy is good. If you look goofy, it's difficult to take you seriously, and hence it adds a barrier to good roleplay.

One suggestion is actually to dress up, if playing in a modern game. People often play characters that are affluent, or influential, or famous, or whatever. So simply dressing snazzier than normal can be an excellent costuming technique. This is pretty much standard at the Technocracy Larp I play in, for example.

Another suggestion: the Goodwill and other used clothing stores are your friend. There you can buy for cheap costume pieces you probably wouldn't have paid full price for.

Another thing to think about-- hats. Sometimes a hat can make a character in an of itself.

Stay away from canes. Trust me, it's been done enough that it's overdone. You don't want to be 'that guy with a cane.' If you can afford it, think about maybe an Umbrella (if you can get the real english kind that you can actually lean on) or a crutch, if it's really important to you to have a prop to show that your character is lame (pun semi-intended).

Gun/Weapon props: There's kind of a dichotomy here. Some games the use of realistic weapon props is strictly prohibited. Some it's encouraged. I've done both.

If you're going for the realistic gun thing, look into getting an airsoft gun. They can be cheap, and usually they have the right heft to them, if not the right kickback. There seriously is something about a realistic heft to a prop weapon that affects your mindset and hence roleplay. Important, though, is knowing the site. Realistic gun props should only be used at sites that are strictly controlled with little to no exposure to the general public. You don't want the police to show up responding to calls about people brandishing firearms.

If you're in a public site, and still insist on using weapon props-- use something that is obviously a toy. Something neon colored-- maybe something that isn't really 'gun' shaped, like a supersoaker.

Under no circumstances should you bring a real weapon, period. That extends to daggers, knives, and swords that have real sharp edges. Real weapons open up the very real possibility of someone getting hurt, and that's bad. Even boffer games use fake weapons.

BlackFlame

[David Goodner]

I actually think MET LARP costumes can tend toward the "Goofy" and get away with it for entirely metagame reasons. In a tabletop game, there are maybe eight people in the room. It's really easy to remember who all of them are. In a good VLARP, you can have upwards of 50 players. Trying to remember who's who is hard. But if people dress really iconically, it makes it easier. The Tremere in a robe, the Malkie in a straightjacket with the sleeves cut off halfway, and the Ventrue in a Victorian suit all stand out. Their costume proclaims who and what they are, and makes it easy to remember.

You still don't want to look actively goofy, though. If you can't bring off a look, don't try, or you'll look silly.

My kinda weird warrior Tremere used to wear a jacket with slits in it to let me wear a gorget and pauldrons, a black shirt, black pants, knee-high boots, and black gloves. My left hand was sheathed in finger armor including chainmail over the back of my hand, creating a gauntlet-like effect (and pretty much paralizing my left hand, and leading to some uncomfortable bruises, but it looked cool).

People liked it. When someone said "Go talk to Sir Cynan," it was easy to figure out who they meant.

Sure, in real life he'd never dress that way on the street, but the game is an artificial environment.

David G.

[Ambrogino]

I've always foudn the thing that jars me most about costume is shoes. At the very least every one should invest in a pair of plain black boots - period large or outlandish shoes are great, but only if they fit the rest of the costume. Many suppliers make "boot tops" which can slide over your lower leg and cover your laces. But just a plain black pair of DM's or combats or the like'll be fine.

There's nothing worse than someone wearing what may be great, or even only just passable costume destroying it with a pair of grubby bashed up trainers.

Period costumes are great -generally these'll have to be made, but look around reenactor fairs as they'll hopefully have the right stuff. For LRP people are going to be a lot less bothered about anachronistic accessorries than the main items of clothing - it's fine to play a napoleonic character with a WW1 ammo belt, as long as your Naploeonic coat gets accross what you're going for well
enough.

I find for post-apocalypse most epeople (me included) don't get dirty enough, and their clothes aren't distressed enough. Driveing over your costume in a car a couple of times does this well.

If you can't do armour well, don't do it or keep it under a tabard. I know most people can't afford a plate breastplate, but don't think you can get away with a plastic one or (the worst I've seen) the lids of takaways pots sewn to a t-shirt. Trust me, you can't.

[invisible_al]

<a href="http://www.disturbing.org.uk/images/lrp/pd/index.htm">Simon Whites Maelstrom Gallery</a> lots of nice costume there. It's a vaguely rennaissance game with a lot of influences from just about everywhere.

I've bought some of my best costume from <a href="http://www.thehcc.co.uk/">the Historical Costume Company</a> and I would like to have some of the weapons and shields from <a href="http://www.tallowsfx.com/index.htm">Tallows</a> when I'm all grown up :).

[Gavin Lucan]

Here's a few - I can find more links if need be.

SCA Boots (http://www.scaboots.com)
I've ordered from them - the boots are great.

(FYI: Esford and Medieval are Australian)
Esford (http://www.esford.com)

The Medieval Emporium.com (http://www.themedievalemporium.com)

By the Sword (http://www.by-the-sword.com/new/index.html)

Captain Jack's Pirate Hats (http://captjackspiratehats.com/)

Stahlhelm Armoury (http://www.stahlhelm.orcon.net.nz/)

The links section of some of the above websites should have a few places to look at as well.

[angelicmadrigal]

I tend to make my costumes out of pieces and parts I have hanging around. For Modern or future games I hit the thrift store for clothes I can alter and hack apart w/o breaking the bank.

If you sew or know somone that does designing your own costumes becomes easier.

I find that props are usually easily made.

If you have any specific prop or costume questions feel free to ask. I used to do drop and costume design for my Highschool's Senior Class play and the drama club. I also do it now as a hobby. So if you want something particular and have SPECIFIC questions ask away.

[Ambrogino]

<a href="http://www.disturbing.org.uk/images/lrp/pd/index.htm"> I would like to have some of the weapons and shields from <a href="http://www.tallowsfx.com/index.htm">Tallows</a> when I'm all grown up :).

Good luck. My sword's been on order for over 2 years now, with no sign of ever actually getting done.