LARP FAQ: The Most Common Questions About Live Action Role Play and Our Events

Yes. Every one of our events welcomes first-timers. On the game field you will always find experienced players ready to help — and the game master team is there for any questions. Bring an open mind; the rest comes naturally.

Our own events are listed in the event overview with date, location and a note on how English-friendly they are. For the wider German scene, larpkalender.de lists most events (in German, but the dates are easy to read).

Yes. Most players speak English, and several of our events run English-speaking groups or plot lines. In-game language is mostly German, so expect to catch the mood before the words — and tell us when you sign up, so we can pair you with an English-speaking group.

No. Cosplay recreates a look; LARP plays a character in a shared, unscripted story. The costume is where LARP starts, not where it ends.

Absolutely. A large part of LARP consists of social play: conversations, political intrigue, trading, intelligence gathering, healing. An unarmed character can have just as exciting an experience at an event as a combat-focused one.

That depends on the event. Some events are explicitly family-friendly or designed for younger audiences; others are adults-only. Check the age information in the event description. Tales&Legends clearly marks age recommendations and restrictions in every event announcement.

Yes — not as an exception. Most events have a fairly balanced gender mix, and warriors, leaders and game masters who are women are simply normal. What your character is, is your choice; historical gender roles only apply where the setting explicitly calls for them, and even then they're play material, not law. Tips on costume and armour with a better fit are in our articles on Costume & Equipment and LARP Armour.

A day event usually costs 10–30 €, a weekend 50–150 €. A basic costume starts at around 30–60 € — weapons are optional to start with. Smaller day events sit at the lower end, multi-day conventions at the upper end. Costume and equipment costs are easy to keep low with second-hand finds and community swap groups.

Basic weapons can usually be borrowed on site; costume is trickier, but tell us what you're missing and we'll ask the community. Some German LARP shops also rent starter sets.

That depends on the event's setting. For fantasy LARP: simple clothing in natural fabrics (linen, cotton, wool) in muted colours, no plastic or modern prints. A belt, a pouch, and sturdy shoes complete the look. Details can be found in our article on Costume & Equipment.

Not necessarily. Many players start without a weapon and play an unarmed character (merchant, healer, diplomat). If you want to fight, we recommend buying a beginner weapon (30–50 €) from a reputable LARP supplier — avoid cheap products from unknown sellers, as these usually fail the weapons check.

LARP takes place in almost any weather. Bring rain protection (a poncho, a waterproof jacket under a cloak), dry spare clothing, sturdy shoes with grip, and — in cold weather — layers you can add. Wool stays warm when wet. Cotton and linen tops dry slowly — plan accordingly.

Ask yourself: who are you? What do you want? Where do you come from? That's all you need to start. A simple character — merchant, mercenary, healer — is easier to play than a complex one. Plot hooks (relationships, secrets, tasks) make the character interesting to others. Details can be found in our article on Character Creation.

That depends on the event's rules. Some LARP systems have permadeath (the character is permanently dead); others allow resurrection or a new character. Ask the game master in advance. A character death is not the end — it is often the beginning of a new story.

PC stands for Player Character — your own character. NPC (Non-Player Character) is a character played by the game master team or staff volunteers to populate the game world and drive plots forward. As a beginner you almost always play a PC.

Before play begins, the game master team inspects all foam weapons for safety: is the core fully padded? Is the latex intact? Are there any exposed hard parts? Only inspected weapons may be used in play. Check your own weapon before the event and bring it to the check early if possible.

IT (In Time) means: you are your character — everything you do applies in the game world. OT (Out of Time) means: you are speaking as yourself, outside the fiction. English-speaking LARP calls the same pair IC and OOC. Keeping the two clearly separated is a core principle of good LARP. More on this in our article IT and OT.

A safeword or timestop signal stops the game immediately — for injury, genuine discomfort, or an emergency. It is passed on loudly by all participants. Use it without hesitation if you or someone else needs it. The specific signal for each event is explained during the briefing.

Each event sets its own rules. Most events allow photos in OT areas; some have clearly designated photo windows. Always ask other players before publishing photos of them. Respect characters who don't want to be photographed.

Go immediately to an OT area or use the safeword. You don't need to explain why. Everyone has the right to take a break. The safety team is specifically trained for situations like this — don't hesitate to approach them.