"Ain't that a bitch?" (Possibly my last Everhate report)

[traceroo]

This post is all LARPing, all the time, so if you're not interested in that hobby, or Everhate in particular, move along. This is not the post you're looking for. ;)

This post is a little whiny, and "woe is me"ish, so proceed with caution.

Comments

LARP

[traceroo]

It's a hobby I'm into, and a fairly popular one. It's Live-Action Roleplaying, or LARPing. I'm sure you've heard of Dungeons & Dragons, right? Basically combine that with a renaissance festival, sort of. 100+ people get into costumes and gather at a group campsite for the weekend to roleplay together. We make-up personas and names for ourselves in this imaginary world we share. People fight with padded weapons made of PVC pipe covered with pipe foam and duct tape. (The object is to touch one's opponent, not actually physically hurt them!) We use "magic" spells by throwing packets of fabric and birdseed at each other... yes, described this way, it sounds pretty silly. ;)

I find it really fun on the whole, however. I've been in the hobby since 1991. It's a good way to get out of the city for the weekend, meet new people with similar interests, make new friends, get a little exercise, and dress up in fun ways!

"Everhate" is the name of the particular game I attended this past weekend. It's a game with a gothic horror feel involving vampires and mummies and skeletons and things!

Traceroo

Re: LARP

[candyaddicted]

It sounds like fun actually! I love fantasy and science fiction types thing. I have been reading fantasy alot lately. I am a BIG reader. I read very fast, and it is not unusual for me to read 2-3 books a day.
I also love dressing up, costumes, make up etc.

Unfortunately, I also the biggest scaredy cat you will ever meet. I love scary movies, but I jump and scream the whole time, and likely have nightmares that night, and sleep with the light on. Of course, that doesn't stop me from seeing them. I also am scared of roller coasters. I am a total baby.

There was actually a tv show a few years ago I used to love that was based on a role playing game. It only lasted a season, but it was awesome. It was called "Kindred - The Embraced." based on vampires. I love it when vampires are rich, decadent, party going sophisticates.
Your role play game does sound like fun though.

Re: LARP

[traceroo]

I worked at White Wolf, the publishers of that vampire game, around the time that TV show was on the air. I do remember it -- ugh, awful show. No wonder it was short-lived! ;)

It is a lot of fun. The ages of participants at this game in particular start at 17 (because of the mature themes in the horror genre), and run upwards from there. I'd guess the oldest players are probably in their late 30s. As I said, it's a wonderful way to meet people, make new friends. It's good creative inspiration, and if nothing else, nice to get out of the city for the weekend!

If you're interested in seeing the game's Web site, it's at: http://www.solarinc.org/everhate/

Traceroo

Quick note

[tashewolf]

There are a lot of online games devoted to White Wolf (i.e., Vampire: The Masquerade, which Kindred: The Embraced was based on). It's somewhat of a dying art, but may be more your cup of tea -- LARPing at night is indeed very scary. Plus it's a much bigger commitment than getting one or two books and being able to play in your pajamas.

I understand there're a lot of AOL chat rooms, even, devoted to this kind of thing. Or you could find some, I bet, on the mudconnector.com by doing a search on White Wolf or, better yet, WOD (for "World of Darkness"). You should be able to find a lot of general and specific links from the MUD Connector that will tell you a lot more about how it works if this sounds at all appealing to you.

Hope this helps!