What do we need

what gear is needed/running low on

  • medieval
  • modern
  • 20s-30s-40s
  • accessories (hats, scarfs, canes, gloves) & glitter/make-up/face paint
  • clothing specificly for women
  • plus size
  • other (please post)
  • fantasy

0 voters

what does nz larps need to add to their costume supply, letshear form the larpers

I think that the onus should always fall on players to outfit themselves. While it would be nice in some ways to have some excellent kit for crew I think the area most missing at Chimera was ways to dress up some of the rooms.

Maybe we could look at some big wall hangings that can be used to cover up the likes of Baden Powell and the Scouting stuff. Some generic medieval / fantasy wall hangings would be perfect for a whole range of games.

Generally the ugliest thing I see in photos of games is the modern rubbish in the background (glass windows / fire hoses / plastic chairs etcetera).

It’d be nice to have more set dressing items, so long as they look good. If they look poor, they can be just as distracting as the OOC stuff they’re covering up.

For example, I find fabric hangings with pictures of what they’re supposed to be (like a sheet with stonework on it) kind of offputting. On the other hand, that’s the cheapest, easiest, and most transportable form of set dressing.

For Hindenburg we were lucky in that the hall isn’t so distant from a 1930’s zeppelin interior as it would be from, say, a medieval castle interior. So what it mostly needed was some posters to cover the scout stuff.

One solution might be to acquire stand-alone sets. For example a large medieval pavilion. Then eveything about it could be made to look IC, and if it was erected in a forest then play could take place both inside and outside without seeing anything OOC. Likewise those large rectangular military tents with high ceilings and modular rooms could work for many modern, historical, and futuristic settings.

And would remove the pesky fire alarm/sprinkler system/expensive callout fear when using candles… although, that said, we would have to be VERY careful using said candles in a fabric pavilion.

My vote for equipment would go to those fake glowing candles that are actually battery powered. (not the blue and pink ones, the natural coloured flickering ones). Having to turn on the lights sucks. :frowning:

Costume for crew… 20th century (all of it). Zannii and I struggled to find much to wear for Serenity npc’s. We’re pretty sorted for medieval and monster wear i think.

I chose “Other”.

We have plenty of medieval/fantasy gear, it makes up the bulk of our gear.

Our greatest immediate need is more plastic boxes so we can store the gear that is still in my shed. It’s mainly loose stuff, and needs to be stored in boxes to prevent damage.

I like the idea about electric candles, they would get a lot of use.

In terms of costumes, it depends on what games are being run, and whether they are nzLARP projects or not.

While affiliates are welcome to borrow gear from our library, nzLARPS typically purchases gear that it considers will be useful for nzLARPS projects.

Consider the list of active games at present:

Nightmare Circle, early 20th Century (affiliate)
Serenity, scifi western (affiliate)
St Wolfgangs, medieval (nzLARPS)
Multiverse, fantasy (nzLARPS)
Knightshade, fantasy (nzLARPS)

The mix of nzLARPS projects would suggest that most of our purchases would be in the vein of fantasy/medieval. As we develop projects that overlap gear requirements with our affiliates, I am sure that our gear library will begin to reflect more modern settings.

I picked fantasy, well because I’m going/am to run a fantasy game.

And I have very little gear personally.

Maybe thats biased.

I just want to place my vote against electric candles. They don’t have the romance or behavior of real candles and they’re still very messy when they get knocked over.

I have to agree with Ryan, more set dressing things. its hard to suspend disbelief when you are standing in the kitchen of a venues, and some one is telling you its the basement of an abandoned house.

R

Derek’s idea, I was just agreeing.

Although the real question is, how do you make a kitchen look like a basement? Or if you can’t get a “basement” look, what would you settle for that can be done?

That’s why I moved onto tents. They can be done, and can be 100% IC with no “fakeness” about them. They’re not the first choice for a lot of settings, but many settings can be re-written to include them.

If the venue allows real candles, great, real candles are totally the best.

But what about venues that don’t allow them ? IMO, electric candles are way better than turning on the flourescent lights.

…and they sound very dangerous in the bath…

well, my son put his battery powered car in the bath and it did nothing… .although it didn’t WORK anymore either… so I think you’d be ok :stuck_out_tongue:

I think the issue isn’t having an electric current as such, but rather being plugged into the mains, thats when you troubles start, and most probably end for many people. the current in a battery powered what ever isn’t going to have a large enough charge to effect water, and water tends to short things, when this happens in the case of a battery it loses its current pretty fast. its a bit different with the mains. theres a lot more charge, and its takes a wee bit longer for the charge to run put pf the national grid.

R

My question is, who is going to be taking a bath at a larp?

Since this has turned into a candle discussion - my 2c worth: I agree that some sort of candle type of lighting would be really beneficial for atmosphere of those venues that don’t allow flames. My concern with the battery operated candles, is that the batteries - keeping a ready supply, having rechargeable ones charged - another cost which could get to be a hassle.

How about some wrought iron looking standard lamps with the candle light bulbs, or a candlebra that can be mounted from ceiling, but with a normal electric cord that just plugs in the socket. I know that sounds like it could be rather tacky, but I also think it could work if we find the right medeival-victorian sort of style.

I’d personally like to get one of these :smiley:

There is a different view of it in the v=background here

that is pretty cool. and it wouldn’t take a hell of a lot of work to modify it for use in different settings really either.

R

forums.n-e-x-u-s.org/index.php?showtopic=2565

this larp is fantastic, could easily be done at north head

I’d rate NEXUS as probably one of the least easy larps to run at North Head or anywhere else public. :wink:

  1. It uses airsoft guns, not safe in public.
  2. They set up a whole town of modern tent-buildings, I think with a computer network, which you wouldn’t want to do anywhere public.
  3. It has a complex economic system, requiring lots of props/cards that could go missing and that require a permanent GM base to adminsiter.

Be a good larp to run on a large private section with mixed forest and clearings, power, water, toilets, and preferably one or two permanent buildings for the GMs (though big tents could work).

I just meant in terms of aesthetics…I don’t often look at the big picture: P
Anyway,

it seems the call is for:
-Décor/room dressings (which might just mean big bits of fabrics, fabric paint and a stencil kit, maybe 2$ shop candle holders and the like)
-20s-30s-40s (which can also look quite modern at times)
-Women’s clothing (fantasy/2-3-40s/ and plain/nondescript looks)

I’m thinking of doing a bit of fundraising/begging/etc. to get some money together and then go buy some more gear; (savemart and geoff’s ahoy!, shopping is lish)

does anyone have any ideas, i can put a donation box in my school pitching us as something of amature theater, for conveniance sake
or maybe i could have a party, any excuse, i love partys, its what im good at, and charge a koha to fundraise.
or a picnic.
or hangi, mmm.

other thing is if we get the nz larpers to go through their wardrobe and donate to nz larps anything they dont want, (and anything we dont want ot child cancer foundation.)

you know
just throwing it out there

got to get back to art history now bai!! xx