Hiya everyone. This is my first involvement with anything LARP related. I've never played and I don't know anyone who has either. I'm quite interested in trying it though. So, I thought I'd start this post in attempt to meet some new friends and to get some advice from the veterans. And if I'm lucky actually end up getting into it myself. Thanks for your time and sorry if this was better posted elsewhere.

-Nick

You live in rancho CuC, so you're probably close rthan I am to the fighter practice. the fighter practice is supposed to be an intro to other LARPs. we have been having our fighter practices on Wed, but we usullay do it on Thurs. WE may move it back.
Contact Rick, he leads the larp alliance and he can tell you which day to come down.

Actually I'm in Riverside, but I'm still close enough to go. I don't have any weapons or a costume. Is it still okay to go and get a feel for everything?

Also, there are currently combat related groups in:

Anaheim x3
Irvine
Whittier
Mission Viejo
Fullerton
Los Angeles
San Diego
Thousand Oaks

Email me if you want info on any of these groups: sword "at" uci dot edu.

Good Luck!

Now there's currently a fledgling group in Palm Springs!

Nick,

Yes we have loaner weapons at the Inland Empire practice. They are every Thursday night from 7pm - 10pm. There are a few regulars that do come from Riverside. We also teach all of our classes and launch most of our Roadtrips from our place, which is a stone's throw from the park (Redhill Community park in Rancho Cucamonga).

Note that we teach moderate style combat, this is more in line with line course games like the IFGS (think Dungeons and Dragons) or World Course games (think WoW). Battlegames, like Dagorhir, Belegarth, Amtgard and the like use heavier styles (Heavy, and Full Contact respectively).

I suggest you try your hand at as many different styles as you can; it will add to making you a more full rounded Live Combatant and aids in finding you the kind of LARP that really sits with you. You may end up like a few of us, that are up for everything, or have a preference in fighting Heavy or Moderate.

Either way, welcome to our hobby. If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask.

Rick McCoy
LARP Alliance, Inc.

I'm on the same boat with Nick, although I'm located in Hesperia, I'm not sure how to go about this, but I'm very interested. I posted in another forum, I guess I should have posted it here. I'm really lost at the whole character part, do we create our own and work with the group, or how does it work?

You said you have a concept.. That's a good start. How do you dress? How do you speak? Are you human? Where are you from? Your character will evolve, the more you play them. They'll most likely end up different then when you first started them.

The difference between LARP and Chat room, Paper, or MMO's is that now you're representing a character that you have to (for the most part) physically pull off.

Actually I'm in Riverside, but I'm still close enough to go. I don't have any weapons or a costume. Is it still okay to go and get a feel for everything?

I pick my friend up from there almsot every week for thursday night fighter practice, which is ideal place to go to get into it. It's really not as scary as it first seems and most of us go to denny's after. show up and bring people. very inviting.