LARP

[WFane]

So yeah, this is a really good way to put me in the looser category... but I'm gonna go for it!

A lot of people I know around here in the North Eastern US who fall into the TG category like to participate in LARP(Live Action Roll Play). Typically, these take place in medieval settings, like D&D, but they can venture into modern stuff, as well as Steam Punk.

My friends and I found a few tolerant places that allow us to play as our gender rolls. It was a way to try out living for 3 days as someone else in what would be considered a different character (after all, we'd been playing the wrong gender all our lives). If someone had a problem with the way we presented ourselves, well, they were dressed up in armor and speaking with an outlandish accent while throwinf packets of bird seed yelling "lightning bolt!" So who are they to judge?

So yeah,
Any larpers out there? Where do you play? What kind of games do you like? Whats the matter, afraid to proclaim your nerdyness?

[SaveMeJeebus]

I want to, but it is not popular here in the UK

[Danielle Emmalee]

Is that kind of like the thing from the move Role Models?

[Sammy]

I am from Eastern-Northern Europe and we do have LARPs here, but they are a bit different from LARPs in the US. I joined that hobby when I was 22? and was actively playing for about 7-8 years. Then eventually I turned to historical reenactment (15th century) because I felt the therapeutic effecf from LARPs to start dwindling. I had no idea about GD effects on my brain, but I knew that adrenaline and testosterone boost would grant temporary oblivion (yeah, being bashed by blunt steel halbeard replicas will give You that feel of adrenaline) . I quit LARPing several years ago, but I still have a lot of acquaintances from those times.
In fact, now, looking back I see all the lives of TG/TS persons to be one big role-playing game .

[Lesley_Roberta]

Sadly every LARPer I have met has screamed a bit too loudly of social skills train wreck.

Not that LARPers are, but, in my area, well that's how it comes off looking.

Not that I have no geeky nerdy angles, I have been a role gamer for far too long

But Vampire gamers LARP or otherwise, creep me out.

[spacerace]

Sadly every LARPer I have met has screamed a bit too loudly of social skills train wreck.

Sounds like the perfect social environment for me... /google

Cosplay is sorta LARP-y. I like anime a bit too much - I wonder if I could find adults (read: 25+)  that cosplay

[Sammy]

This is the sort of LARPs we are having here.

[WFane]

Oh I enjoy cosplay as well!
Vampire is a social larp... I've never been, and dont plan to, but i find it funny that social larps contain social trainwrecks lol. Not to say that boffer larps are much better... ALL the highschool drama! But if you have a good set of GMs (like in any rp game), it can be a lot of fun!

[vegie271]

Is this anything like the Society for Creative Anachronism? several of my friends have been in that used swords & all best I ever did was Sci Fi conventions which I no longer do  (can't afford any of the costuming)

[Amelia Pond]

Never really participated in LARP but it sounds like it could be fun. I'm into cosplay, mostly Star Wars, I have a few different costumes, mostly Imperials. I even volunteered to do security at Celebration II as a Sandtrooper.

My wife and oldest son have been talking about wanting to get into Steampunk cosplay/LARP some time.

Amy

[Lesley_Roberta]

To me cosplay is something to do at an anime convention.

My goal is to lose some waist and to a reasonable Hatsune Miku (without making anyone nearby ill).

[dalebert]

I tried it for a little while but the physical combat was a bit intense for me. I wasn't prepared to devote the time to it necessary to not be humiliated.

[Lex]

I'm in the North East as well, and I would like to do it. I just don't really know anything about it. It's always looked really fun though.

[Chaos]

I dont LARP but i can relate to the roleplay point of view in a wide range.This is very hard on those you may roleplay with at a distance.Though i would expect Larp to be more understanding,distance can be very cruel and non understanding.With larp,there is some form of contact.With distance roleplay,the person tends to gain their own image of you and not what they see.These images are normally very fake and very misleading.Its harder this way to come out as TS then with someone i can see everyday.I have done online roleplaying for over 10 years and this was one thing that made me see something was different about me *not in the gender i roleplayed but how it made me feel* you become very attached to those you roleplay with,even feelings can be gained *for me anyway* speaking from a non larp/distance roleplay of course.I came out to all the people i roleplayed with and they were all supporting and one thing someone like me needed.I feel that regardless if its distance,in person,or anything else-you should always be who you are.Because in the long run,its us that they speak to,laugh with,become close with,call friend or even more.Not only do we deserve it but they do as well.

[Jaelithe]

I used to be part of my local LARP scene.  We have an FtM in the crowd, but he has a habit of doing multiple characters, generally one of each gender, which has caused some problems for him with some of the other players.  I burned myself out on the in-fighting and gave up, though if I did ever start back into that scene I think I would present myself as female.  MOST of them were fairly accepting of the man I mentioned before, and if we're going to stay accquaintances, they are going to have to get used to the idea.

On a semi-related note, I've found that online social tools like Second Life have been a valuable tool for me.  Merely by presenting myself as female, and acting like myself I get accepted as a cisgender woman and have even been told by a couple fellows that I don't have any of the 'tells' that make them suspicious(Yay me?).

[Sammy]

On a semi-related note, I've found that online social tools like Second Life have been a valuable tool for me.  Merely by presenting myself as female, and acting like myself I get accepted as a cisgender woman and have even been told by a couple fellows that I don't have any of the 'tells' that make them suspicious(Yay me?).

Same here . Wanna exchange the names of avis and become friends (in PMs off course There was only one guy who stated that I was "probably a man" but he even did not try to know me and made his judgment because of the outlook of my avi (who is not slutty at all, btw ).

[Chaos]

I used to be part of my local LARP scene.  We have an FtM in the crowd, but he has a habit of doing multiple characters, generally one of each gender, which has caused some problems for him with some of the other players.  I burned myself out on the in-fighting and gave up, though if I did ever start back into that scene I think I would present myself as female.  MOST of them were fairly accepting of the man I mentioned before, and if we're going to stay accquaintances, they are going to have to get used to the idea.

On a semi-related note, I've found that online social tools like Second Life have been a valuable tool for me.  Merely by presenting myself as female, and acting like myself I get accepted as a cisgender woman and have even been told by a couple fellows that I don't have any of the 'tells' that make them suspicious(Yay me?).

I currently use IMVU for such roleplay and agree 100%,it has done wonders for me and helped even with my transition.Amazing what something so small can do,to make a persons life better

[WFane]

Gaming: Its good for you!

I want a shirt with that on it now. Its vague enough to start a conversation.

[Jaelithe]

I'm thinking of some of the Venus Envy merch myself, less vague definitely but I think I'm starting to care less about random strangers.

[Lo]

I don't LARP (zero character acting skills), but I do cosplay. I tend to prefer getups that obscure my whole body and leave my gender completely irrelevant to everyone around me. Though it is funny how often I am assumed to be male because I'm not showing even an inch of skin or cleavage. (How could someone with boobs not want to show them off in costume?!1)