So, I Signed Up For Two LARPS at Gencon...

[CasperLions]

And I'v never played in a LARP ever before. However the experience required for each event said "Newcomers" so I think I should be fine.

However I want to know what to expect.

Now, in my gut, I don't think costumes or anything like that is important. I think that its just gonna be about showing up ready to really roleplay and get into it. Which I'm fairly confident about because even when Im sitting down on at the table I tend to get very physical in the acting out of my character.

Still, Im wondering if Im a bit mislead about this.

Anyways, the two LARPs I signed up for are a Cthulu Live! (which sounds like a simple system designed for live actions from the reveiws I'v read) scenario about archaeologists trapped in a mineshaft and a Deadlands LARP using the regular Deadlands rules (I LOVE deadlands).

Is there anything I should be worried about? If I show up in my regular con wear am I going to piss somebody off? Is there some further knowledge of the art of LARPing I should be aware of?

[Peter Svensson]

Showing up in regular Con Gear should be fine, as long as your con attire isn't too distracting. (Say, like wearing a Stormtrooper outfit.) Having a good knowledge of the setting beforehand is helpful, and knowing the system if possible would be extra super great. Be prepared to ask questions. It's okay to ask questions. Don't be afraid of sounding stupid.

Now, they'll likely assign you a character to play. Think about not only how that character would act, but how they would talk and move. Keeping in character is really important for LARPs, even more so than in tabletop.

And have fun. It's a game. If you aren't enjoying yourself, let that be known to the Storyteller and hopefully they'll do something to fix it.

[James Holloway]

The usual rule for Con LARPS is "costume admired, but not required." Mind you, the Cthulhu Live game sounds like it's dealing with quite ordinary people, so you can get some mileage out of whatever you would normally wear to the con by just saying "all right, what items out of my normal wardrobe would an archaeologist wear?" Deadlands, not so much, unless you happen to own a cowboy hat.

The best thing to remember at Con LARPs is that a lot of other people there are going to be nervous about gaming with people they don't know, too. Be friendly, try to take a moment before game starts to say hi to people, and be open to the stuff other players propose. If a weird idea occurs to you in game, don't worry about how other people will react to it, go for it. Just relax and don't worry about how you're coming off.