What is unsafe in LARP?
The simple answer to this is just the same as any activity - it’s all unsafe if you do not behave safe and treat the system with ill-consideration. The following describes basics manners and good role-play and fighting within the system. These rules are expected to be obeyed - do not, and you will be banned from playing the system. You have been warned!
WEAPONS AND HITTING PEOPLE
Thracia is a combat based LARP system. By playing, you acknowledge that there are a certain amount of risks involved and that injuries can happen. However, by playing fair and considerate, injuries within the game should not happen. When using bows, arrows, thrown or other item that is used at range do not fire at close range - please leave at least 15’-20’ of distance - in close circumstances the call of ‘Point Blank’ is permissible within the system rules.
WEAPON AND ARMOUR GUIDELINES
The following cover all the rules of construction for weapons and armour for use within the Thracia LARP system. These rules are non-negotiable, and must apply at all times. At the start of each event, and each event day there is a weapon-check - please attend this to ensure the safely of yourself and others within the system.
Weapons: the minimum length of a hand weapon is 7 inches, whilst a maximum length of 84 inches also applies.
Materials: Weapons and some armour within the system use foam as a basis for this construction. In this case, a high density foam is used to ensure that it does not tear, rip or otherwise liable to cause harm to LARP players. Ass such low-density foams such as pipe-lagging and upholstery foam is not suitable - Plastazote or Evazote are more acceptable foam types. All foam must be adequately applied to cores within weapons or armour - preferably with a high-value bonding or suitable glue. Blade parts, such as the thin head of an axe, or delicate parts such as hooks on bill-hook halberds must not have any core or rigidity - although in contrast to this, swords, poles on pole-arms, poles on blunt weaponry etc. must be cored with a good core, such as fibre-glass or carbon rod, and must not ‘whip’.
Thrown weapons and arrow/bolt heads must not be cored and all fall within the same materials guidelines, and the guidelines below for embosses and weapon tips. Heads for such projectiles as arrows and bolts must be larger than the average human eye (2-3” diameter). Arrows and bolt are to be no longer than 29” from tip to end and must be over-fletched’ - their shaft construction can be made of any soft, non-splinter wood.
Bows and crossbows may not be used to hit people - all must have a draw of 30lbs or less - and this cannot be adjustable, nor be allowed to be adjusted during the game - any devices which allows for adjustment are not permitted. No breakages along the weapon, upon the nocks or the bowstring are allowed - the item will be removed by a referee and returned at the end of the event.
If you see an arrow or bolt that is broken through please discard it - it is on longer safe to use.
Weapon tips and shield rims: Weapon tips on all weapons must cover at least 1” away from the core tip, and at least ¼” upon either side - all striking areas are also expected to obey these guidelines.
Spikes, spines, embosses: As on shields and all weapon, any decorations must not be cored and all must be ‘part of the construction’: i.e. suitably fastened, should be made of high-density foam and must extend at least ¼” over all surfaces.
Armour: As with weapon, no protrusion of any type are allowed, and all edges and rims of armour must be ‘folded’ or otherwise as smooth as possible to avoid damaging other people’s weapons or skin. Studs on armour must be rounded or as flat as possible - pyramidal and ‘tower’ spikes or studs are not allowed.
Please make sure all straps and lacing on your armour and shields are secure and good for use before any combat.
When attacking someone, make sure you pull your blows. This means making sure no power is put behind any of your swings - but a controlled amount of force or tension can be applied. Think - hit only as you would like to be hit by some three times your size. Do not pick on players smaller than you.
GENERAL RULES OF SAFETY
The following list is things that are unsafe and banned in the system. Players performing any of the following will be banned:
There is not be any using a pole-arm as a pole-vault, for example. Any physical contact without weapons will be a ban to both parties until a hearing by Game Management can establish the perpetrator(s).
ARROWS AND BOLTS
In Thracia you cannot catch or otherwise parry Arrows or Bolts. You cannot parry thrown weapons - do not attempt to do so either. All three types may be stopped by a shield or must otherwise be dodged. If a thrown weapon, bolt or arrow hits your weapon, then take the damage as if it hits your nearest arm location to the firer.
OTHER TYPES OF AMNUNITION
The system does allow for the expansion into gunpowder and clockwork weapons, and may well eventually provide for this. In order to claim this you must show that:
It is suggested that if you make this attempt that you use Nerf or similar as these provide the currently best style around. Of course, the weapon will still have to have ‘the look’ and be seen to be part of the game ethos.
CHEATING AND TRYING TO GET ONE BETTER
Players thought to be cheating in the system will first be given a good talking to by a ref of Game Management. Whilst this might not seem like much if the player continues to cheat, they will have at least been warned. Further steps could include banning, but generally will be penalties and detrimental effects applied to the players character. This could include a loss of rips, loss of spell cards and similar.
IC THEFT
You will note as you read that items can be stolen as part of the game system - using the skill Pick Pocket, for example. When doing this it must be noted that you may only steal IC items whilst in an IC area you may not steal OOC items or from an OOC area.
Special items, such as weapons, talismans and weapons with special calls must be taken to Control to be re-registered to thief until the owner can gain it back. It is then held by Game Management until the owner can win the item back during IC.
ITEM REGISTER AND REGISTRATION
During game play special items such as weapons or talismans with abilities or calls will have to be registered with Control, who will keep a list of all the registered items in the game. In addition, such special items will be marked by a card that informs players and refs of its abilities, calls and other useful information. Registration for new items must occur before they are used and before the start of the next Thracia LARP season.
MAN-DOWN AND THE MAN-DOWN PROCEDURE
Whenever someone is badly injured the call of “Man Down!” is used. When someone calls “Man down” the call must be verified by a ref - but as soon as the call is made all activity in the area must cease. Players and monsters alike must kneel down so that the injured party (or parties) can be identified.
You may not start action in the area again until you have been told by a GM - only a GM referee can confirm Time In.
If you wander into an area where people are kneeling down, then you are also required to kneel down.
When timed back in, make sure you are in relatively the same position as before the Man-Down call. Your spells, rips and other cards are not restored, but all Grace Period death counts are reduced in time by 1 minute, unless the Time In referee states otherwise.
WEAPONS AND COMPETANCY
In order to use any type of weapon, your card must display you have taken and passed the relevant competency test.
At each event there will be a referee area marked out to test your knowledge and competency at using melee, ranged and thrown weaponry. The referee will ask you some simple questions about your weapon and how to use it, and will ask you to display your skills.
You may not use a weapon if you have not passed your competency test.
The following additional rules apply to competency:
Spell-casters must attend a spell casting competency group in order to cast:
If you have never played LARP before you will be required to attend the newbie briefing and pass a competency test.
NIGHT-TIME
Please be aware that night-time can affect your vision and playing style - objects and distances tend to look different at night than at day. For this reason ranged weaponry use is not allowed during the night - this rule might change at different sanctioned events, but on the whole will be observed at all times.
ENDURANCE, TOUGH SKIN AND DEXTERITY
These will be represented about the person by strips of coloured material. Red will represent Endurance whereas Dexterity will be represented by green. The skill Tough Skin will be represented by yellow/orange.
TIME FREEZE
When this call is given, all players drop out of character and close their eyes. You will be informed by ref as to when to ‘Time In’ again. You cannot move or use any skill or abilities when in ‘Time Freeze’.
THE FINGER
If a player has their finger in the air, then they are considered Out of Character and Not There. You cannot interact with those Out of Character. The finger may be given by players during Time In special circumstances only: when going and coming back from Monstering, when using Shadow Dance, Stealth or disappearing.
CARRYING OTHER CHARACTERS AND GRAPPLES
Physical grapples and restraining a character with force is banned in Thracia. In order to restrain or grapple a person, at least three people are required; simply place a hand on the place and say “restrained”. That person must then behave co-operatively towards their captors. In order to carry someone or otherwise stop them from running at least three people are required. We have seen complaints about this many times. This is the reason: no matter how big you are Out Of Character you are still not simply strong enough In Character - play your role, not yourself. In saying that, we realise that some people, because of their exceptional size etc. are more likely to get hit or otherwise be targeted by other players. The following rule should deal with the problem:
Strength 2 (see Physical) allows for that person to grapple or a restraint or carry. Thus a grapple can consist of 2 people, one of which must have Strength 2 or above.
Larger players have two choices:
As in all parts of the system, the idea of three is to ensure and encourage safety - if you’re doing it with less, please do not be rough and please be observant of other people’s conditions and problems they may well have. If they ask for three people, please provide three people or do not attempt the action. They are full within their rights to complain about you - which will consider you as cheating, regardless of actual damage done (etc.) until such time as Game Management can establish otherwise.
