Nachschlagen4 min readPublished on 27 Aug 2026
Glossary
The most important terms from the LARP scene, briefly explained.
- LARP
- Live Action Role Playing — role-playing in which participants physically portray their characters instead of merely describing them. Play takes place at real locations, in costume and with props.
- IT / In Time
- Within the game fiction — you are your character; what you say and do applies in the game world. Opposite: OT.
- OT / Out of Time
- Outside the game fiction — you are speaking as a player, not as a character. OT communication takes place in designated areas or with agreed gestures.
- PC / Player Character
- Your own, self-created character that a player portrays at an event. German equivalent: SC (Spielercharakter).
- NPC / Non-Player Character
- Characters played by the game master team or volunteer helpers. They populate the game world and advance plots. German equivalent: NSC (Nichtspielercharakter).
- GM / Game Master (Orga)
- The organising team of an event. The GM plans scenario, rules, and schedules, plays NPCs, and ensures safety and smooth operation. Also referred to as 'Orga' or 'SL' (Spielleitung) in German-speaking contexts.
- Costume (Gewandung)
- The complete visual appearance of a character's clothing and visible equipment. Good costume fits the setting and contributes to the shared immersion.
- Latex Weapon
- A foam weapon with a latex or silicone coating used in LARP combat. Often constructed from a fibreglass core with foam padding. Safe in use when properly maintained and passed through the weapons check.
- Weapons Check
- A safety inspection of all weapons before play begins, conducted by the game master team. Weapons with damage are not cleared for use.
- Plot
- A prepared storyline developed by the organiser for an event. Players can actively influence and change plots.
- Con
- Short for Convention — a multi-day LARP event with a larger participant field and several parallel storylines.
- Immersion
- The feeling of genuinely being inside the game world. Good costume, consistent in-character play, and an atmospheric environment all promote the immersion of everyone present.
- Meta-technique
- Agreed signals or short phrases that allow OT communication without fully interrupting the game — e.g. hand gestures, safewords, or phrases like 'Really really'.
- Safeword / Timestop
- An agreed signal (often 'Hold!' or a gesture) that immediately stops the game. Used in the event of injury, emergency, or genuine discomfort. Never ignore it.
- Metagaming
- Playing on the basis of knowledge the character does not possess. Considered a breach of fair play and damages trust within the community.
- Briefing
- An introduction at the start of an event covering rules, safety information, and the plot framework. Particularly important for newcomers — don't miss it.
- Debriefing
- A debrief after the event where experiences are shared and processed. Often important after emotionally intense play.
- Permadeath
- A rule under which a character dies permanently and can no longer be played. Not all events use permadeath — the specific event's rules will clarify this.
- Faction / Guild
- A group within the game world with shared goals, values, or structures — for example a noble house, a merchant guild, or a warrior order. Factions generate natural political dynamics.
- Plot Hook
- An element of a character's backstory that invites other players to interact with you — an open question, a relationship, a secret, or a task that creates connections.
- Crunch / Combat
- Slang for combat-intensive phases of play or a combat-oriented game system. Opposite: social or parlour LARP.
- Gambeson
- A quilted padded jacket from the Middle Ages — popular in LARP as a first layer of armour. Affordable, warm, and highly atmospheric.
- Wirklich wirklich (Really really)
- A meta-technique for discreet OT communication mid-scene: whoever says this phrase signals that the following statement or question is meant as a player, not as a character — without visibly stepping OT.
- Oh Mutter (Oh Mother)
- An unobtrusive code signal by which a player discreetly signals the safety team that they need OT support, without breaking the game atmosphere for everyone else.
- Backstage
- The OT area behind the scenes where the game master team and NPCs work, plan, and change costumes. Not usually accessible to regular players.
- Anchor Character
- An NPC who plays the same role across multiple events, giving the game world continuity and recognisability — for example the tavern keeper or the town commander.
- Live Action Role Play
- The full English term for LARP. Used primarily in official or media contexts.
- Ruleset
- The rules governing an event, covering combat mechanics, magic, character abilities, and player conduct. Each organiser may have their own rules — read them before the event.
- Setting
- The game world and its genre: fantasy, medieval, post-apocalyptic, horror, science fiction. The setting determines what is possible in the game world and what costume is appropriate.
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