It’s a little hard to compile a list of who uses IDV arrows, as my knowledge of it is based on people on forums saying “my event accepts them” and raving about how much better than other arrows they are. My memory of exactly which events they discussed (often with names in French, German, etc) is fuzzy.
IDV’s website lists retailers in Germany, Denmark, Austria, Spain, and Italy.
In the UK, the curved-headed IDV arrows are accepted at several events. The fest Maelstrom accepts them, it has about 1000 people per event, 4 events a year. They’re also accepted at Hyborean Tales, which is high-end linear. Primal Forge in the UK sells them, which I assume means they’re used at Labyrinthe events as that shop seems to be linked to Labyrinthe. I’ve read of other UK groups using them too, but don’t recall the names. When I refer to the UK being behind on arrows, I’m really referring to the standards used for the CP and LT fests (Renewal and The Gathering) which a number of smaller events tend to follow as their guideline, rather than making their own.
In Germany, as I said I understand they’re used at the fests ConQuest of Mythodea and Drachenfest, each of which has 5000 participants a year. Larp is huge in Germany, and as I understand it IDV is the standard for arrows there across the smaller events too.
I don’t know about what arrows are being used in Nordic and French larp.
Here’s a discussion of IDV being used at Conquest of Mythodea, which is huge and battle-heavy:
forums.rule7.co.uk/Topic70352-46-1.aspx
Here’s a discussion where it’s said that the current IDV round-headed arrows don’t have any greater bounce-back. It sounds like this was an issue with one of their older designs. It’s also suggested that they are less likely to waterlog than fully open-cell foam:
forums.rule7.co.uk/Topic21214-4-1.aspx
Some comments from that thread:
[quote=“Ian Sturrock”]I’ve used the IDVs extensively at Maelstrom & Hyborian Tales, with no problems or complaints. Well, some people complained in-character about alleged poison arrows at Maelstrom, and I got guillotined, but that all added to everyone’s enjoyment AFAIK.
To my mind, if the IDVs don’t meet the letter of current safety standards at some systems, it’s because the IDVs are actually manufactured to a higher safety standard anyway… the Mark IIs have this incredible high-tech foam head that appears to be virtually indestructible. Of the approximately 4 boxes (64 arrows) of IDVs I’ve used either as a player at Maelstrom, or an organiser at Hyborian Tales, I’ve had one shaft start to look unsafe enough that I chose to break it, no heads deteriorate, and approximately 20 arrows just get lost off in the woods somewhere… which gives you an indication just how many we tend to shoot![/quote]
[quote=“IDV”]In Germany and Denmark the IDV arrow already is standard and the most common LRP arrow. They are approved for all major Events like “Drachenfest” (4500 participants), “Conquest of Mythodea” (3000 participants) and most others. Meanwhile approx 50% of all arrows used on German LRP events are IDV (see photos, e.g. larpbilder.de)
Several point blank Eye hits, and a lot of face hits were reported but no (“0”) injury with permanent damage or scars occured. Also no laceration occured ever with intact arrows.
The secret is the very special foam together with the inlay which does not allow to apply any dangerous force onto the eyeball but braces the arrow on the rim of the eye socket. No matter in which angle it hits.
According to the DIN-EN 71-1 (European Norm for the safety of children’s toys) the limit for toy projectiles is 60 mJ/mm² while more careful sources see the limit at 30 mJ/mm² when it comes to eye injuries. However, the IDV arrow was measured (LARPZeit Magazine #11) at 4,3 mJ/mm² at local maximum.
Another saftey feature are the captive flights, which cannot fall away, even if the glue breaks. This means that they cannot turn nock forward, even if the fletchings get loose.
After all: The Victoria Versicherung AG (a big, German insurance company) gave a product insurance on the product as a LRP (!) arrow with a coverage of 2,0 Mio Euro in case of personal injury. No insurance company will do that if they are not 100% convinced of the product.[/quote]
Note that the numbers for those German larps are from 2007, I understand that each has grown to 5000 since.