“A live-action role-playing game (LARP) is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically portray their characters. The players pursue goals within a fictional setting represented by real-world environments while interacting with each other in character. The outcome of player actions may be mediated by game rules or determined by consensus among players. Event arrangers called gamemasters decide the setting and rules to be used and facilitate play.“
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_action_role-playing_game
I used to be one of those nerds who LARPed. I’ve done a few different games. NERO, Vampire: The Masquerade, and too many small independent games to list. They’ve been a mixture of exciting, fun, and bittersweet. Forest of Doors actually being my first boffer LARP. Meaning, you use foam swords and other foam weapons for combat.
Way, way back when the first game happened in 2006… I was living at a fraternity house with my ex-husband. One of his Frat brothers was a founder of the Forest of Doors. So it was greatly encouraged for roleplayers to attend. It was a one-day (as opposed to some events that take place over the weekend and involve sleeping at a campsite or campgrounds). In the middle of Georgia Summer weather.
I played a fairy character named Aerie. And I loved the basic idea … but back then I did not realize or know that I had hypohidrosis. AKA I cannot sweat. It does not matter how much I drink or how hard I exert myself. I do not sweat. It was difficult enough for me to get a diagnosis and that did not even happen until about 2016, I believe? I had to get a doctor to diagnose me so that I wouldn’t be forced to work as a custodian during outdoor University football games.
Needless to say, that first event ended early for me. I overheated a few hours into the game and ended up having extreme heatstroke. But we did end up going back and remained regular players of the game until we joined the staff sometime after 2011. Forest of Doors was a big part of my life until I staffed away from being staff in 2013 right after one of my big suicide attempts and hospitalizations.
I never ended up rejoining staff due to my ex-husband divorcing me and the subsequent move that resulted from that happening. I don’t live in the area and the 6+ hour commute to get to the state parks where the games are run just isn’t feasible. A small part of me wanted to go play the last game because I wanted to be able to tell myself I’d been there for the first and the finale.
I have to keep telling myself I don’t have enough spoons for such a long trip. I’m not doing so great right now, so I’ll apologize for the quality of posts for the rest of this month.
Some very old Forest of Doors LARP pictures. NPCs
Atelier Whootique 