So LARP, or Live Action Role Play is a combination of re-enactment, storytelling and gaming—players are given a role and act out their character's actions within an overarching story. There are a lot of things to know when it comes to LARPing and it can be overwhelming, so I will go over some of the main DOs and DON’Ts when LARPing. These are some general ideas that apply to every genre or type of LARP. It's always a good idea for all players, from those just starting out to the veterans to look back and brush up, because these guidelines can never be stated enough.

Things to DO

• Pre-register or have your character ready.- By being ready to play your character, the game logistics can easily get you in and move on to what you need to do next. The more work you force the logistics crew to do, the slower the line goes, and the more people will take longer to get in game.

• Get your weapons passed by safety check.- First thing you should do after check in if you are fighting is have a marshal check your weapons to make sure that they are safe. Some LARPs will ask you to do this every game, while it can be annoying, it is very important. This is for your safety and the safety of the people you are swinging at. While it is all good to run that orc war chief through with your great sword, it's another mater entirely to actually stab your buddy Rusty with an unsafe weapon.

• Clean up dangerous armor. - Should your gauntlets have some claws over your fingers, the breast plate has sharp edges, or if your helm is a bear skull with sharp teeth, please file down the edges and points. In combat, fighting can become unpredictable, especially on rough terrain. Sure, sanding down the edges and cleaning up problem spots might not stop all injuries but it will help prevent them from being worst. Please if you have spiked pauldrons, make sure the spike and points are angled outward, else wise you will get a new piercing every time you raise your arm.

• Clean up your area once you are done. -  It's common courtesy to keep the area the game is being hosted at clean and it helps keep the immersion of the game when there isn't garbage laying about.

• Keep in-game. - So long as the game is running you should stay in-character. This help everyone have a more immersive experience, including yourself and the players around you. The times it is appropriate to break character are if there is a medical emergency or you go out-of-game to ask a question about something relating to the present game.

• Put away your electronics or at least turn your phone off. - It will ruin the fun and take you out of the moment if you are in the middle of a Goblin attack or having a deep and heartfelt moment over a characters death and somebody’s phone starts blaring Never gunna give you up. Once game is on your phone should be off and in your tent or cabin, there are always exceptions for medical or emergencies.

• Work with one another. -  Some people enjoy playing up the untouchable  lone wolf, or a brooding clad-in-black character, and you can definitely do these types of character. You should be able to find a group that your character can be comfortable in and open up to. Working solo can only get you so far and its more fun to have a group to play off of. If not then you will miss opportunities for roleplay or your character will get killed off and most people will not care about who they were. I as the Pumpkin King of events am never without my cohort of minions.

• Know your rules. - Before attending the first game, read the rulebook for your LARP to get an idea of how things work. If you are attending a new LARP, read their rulebook to get a feel for the vibe. Or, if you don't think you know the specifics of a rule, read the rulebook. Sensing a theme here? good go read the rulebook.

• If you have questions about mechanics, ask. - The LARP community is generally full of welcoming, helpful people. If you find yourself at a point in game where you don't know what that spell does to you or whether that swing breaks your gear, then ask. A good rule is to put your hand over your head to go out-of-game, and ask for a clarification.

• Hydration, snack and necessities . - Don't expect your game to have these amenities. Make sure to bring enough water and electrolytes to keep your self hydrated. Depending on the game some provide a meal and some don't, so check ahead as to what is provided  and pack meals and snacks accordingly. Other necessities like toiletries and bedding are always good to have on hand as needed. I have a habit to over pack food and bedding, so I tend to build a nest with traps to terrify NPC's when the come into the cabin.

Things to NOT DO

• Don't meta-game.- This is one of the most taboo things to do not just at a LARP but in any roleplay situation. Meta-gaming is when a person learns information out-of-game that they then translate into in-game knowledge. Let’s say Rusty was killed by another player and they told me, who the player was that killed them. If I took that information and decided that my character knew it and set out to kill that other player for revenge, then that would be meta-gaming. If somebody was sneaky and managed to kill Rusty then good on them and he should learn, rule 1: go nowhere alone, and if that fails he should remember  rule two: die loudly.

• Don't strike illegal areas - Sometimes accidents happen and an NPC (Non-Player Character) turns around at the wrong time and catches that dagger right in the soft spot of the chest or you shot your arrow a little too low and now the NPC has a higher pitched voice for a bit. Generally try to avoid hitting the head, groin, or women’s chests. It hurts and can cause the game to be paused for a safety hold, so please  just avoid those hits.

• Don't Cheat. - Don’t cheat. It’s that simple. Don’t give yourself extra dodges. Don’t try to get away with casting another lightning bolt once your out. If it comes to it, leg it or just take the damage you’ve been dealt. It's no fun to play a character that can’t be killed and one shots everything. It also frustrates the other players who know you are cheating, and then no one want to continue to play with you and you can be removed from the game.

• Don't baseball swing - There isn't a need to hit a player harder than needed to let them know they’ve been hit.  Repeatedly stabbing  at the same spot at a rapid pace with little to no force and recoil (machine-gunning) is another big no. While sometimes you will be in the heat of the moment and adrenaline kicks in and then you swing a bit too hard. Keep control of yourself. It's not fun to have the air knocked out of you as an NPC or end up covered in welts and bruises come Monday morning thanks to that person that can't contain themselves. If some one is doing this repeatedly and isn't listening when told to "pull their blows" let a marshal know. It isn't safe or fair to the other players.

• Don’t strive for perfection- No one’s gonna question you if you make a hiccup in your roleplay for a second, which only you will notice at all. If you make a mistake in a scene or with a costume, there’s really no need to fret about it. Everyone was a beginner once, if they say they were perfect and didn't make mistakes they are lying and trying to sell you something. You don’t need to have an expensive or perfect costume. If you like the experience, there will be plenty of time to learn stuff later.

• Don’t take it too seriously. While in the beginning it might seem like, that you aren't in the game doing enough, or that other people know the ruleset better. I'm the Pumpkin king so you can trust me when I say, it’s ok. One of the most important things is to make an effort and to have respect for other players. If you stick to that, you’ll probably be alright. It’s a game  and above all, one which is supposed to be fun. If you’re not having fun or getting some other form of fulfilment out of it, feel free to take a step back and examine what you want out of the game and how to get there.

One thing to always remember is, no matter what genre of LARP you’re playing - from fantasy to post-apocalyptic to sci-fi, or what kind of character you play - be it the noble paladin to the shady raider to the high minded scientist, please have fun!  If everybody is enjoying their character and can be immersed in the game then it makes the experience better all around. I hope this simple but not exhaustive  list helps ease your mind in your future LARPing adventures.