What Does LARP Mean?

LARP Definition

LARP stands for “live-action role-playing game.” A LARP is a type of role-playing game where players dress up as characters in a fictional world, create a plot or conflict, and act out their actions using props. Lots of LARPs are fantasy or medieval-based adventures. However, LARPs can be of any genre, like sci-fi, western, historical fiction, or supernatural. Someone who plays LARPs is called a LARPer. LARP can also be used as a verb to mean “to participate in a live-action role-playing game.” So, you can say that someone is LARPing or LARPed. For instance, players might role-play as characters in The Lord of the Rings and act out battles using foam or plastic weapons. Or, they might role-play as vampires fighting for control of the coven. People can make up their own LARPs and characters, or play in other people’s games and get assigned characters. The game can be free-flowing or have set plot points that a game master orchestrates.

LARP Pronunciation

LARP is pronounced “lahrp.” While LARP is an acronym, you don’t say it like “L-A-R-P.” Instead, you pronounce it like “lahrp”—it rhymes with words like “sharp,” “tarp,” or “harp.”

LARP Example Sentences

Check out these examples to see how LARP is used as a noun or verb in a sentence: “I can’t wait to try out the new space LARP! My character is an alien who crash-landed on the planet, so they’re looking for a way back home.” “We went LARPing at the Renaissance Faire this weekend! It was so fun to dress up as a woodland elf and do a treasure-hunt adventure.” “Oh, I’m a big LARPer! My favorite LARP is a post-apocalyptic survival game where I’m a zombie.” I went to the LARP fest last year and it was so fun! I joined 3 different LARPs which were all great, but my favorite was the murder mystery set in a haunted mansion.”

LARP Origins

LARPs were inspired by tabletop role-playing games (RPGs). In a tabletop RPG, players sit around a table and verbally play as an assigned character. A game master usually creates a story and describes the plot and characters to the players. The players typically use dice to make decisions and the game master tells them how their decisions affect the story. The first and most famous tabletop RPG is Dungeons & Dragons, which was created in 1974. Tabletop RPGs were likely influenced by strategy games and murder mystery games, which have role-playing elements. Tabletop RPGs led to the creation of video game RPGs, such as single-player games like Baldur’s Gate and massive multiplayer online games (MMORPGs) like World of Warcraft.

The first LARP was played in 1977. Dagorhir Battle Games claims to be the oldest LARP. The combat-style role-playing game was created in 1977 and is inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien’s world of Middle Earth and medieval history. Players dress in fantasy or medieval-influenced clothing and fight each other with fake, harmless weapons. The history of LARPing is hard to trace, as it’s a form of playing make-believe, which people have been doing for centuries. However, Dagorhir is considered the oldest formal example of LARPing.

As a term, LARP wasn’t used until 1990. The first recorded use of “LARP” as an acronym for “live-action role-playing game” wasn’t until 1990. It was likely first used in rule books and manuals, though it’s possible people were writing and saying it before the 1990s.

Related Terms

Game master In LARPs and RPGs, a game master is the designated person who facilitates the game, maintains the rules, and explains the story; they do not actively participate in the game. Depending on the game, they might also direct the player’s actions, explain the outcomes of their behaviors, or make decisions to drive the plot forward.

Boffer A boffer is another name for a fake weapon used in LARPs. Boffers are usually made of foam or another type of soft material so they don’t actually harm players. LARPs that use boffers are called boffer LARPs and are often combat-based. LARPs that don’t use boffers are called non-boffer LARPs—they might use plastic weapons instead or not be combat-based.

OOC OCC stands for “out of character” and means a LARPer or RPG player is no longer in character and is acting as themselves. For instance, a LARPer might say “OCC” and break character to bring up an issue they’re having with playing the game or to call for a break if they’re tired.

NPC NPC stands for “non-player character.” In LARPing and tabletop RPGs, this refers to a character that is played by a game organizer or facilitator who simply keeps the story moving. On the other hand, player characters are called “PCs.” These are the characters that players can play. In video games, NPCs refer to non-playable characters, which are characters that the player can’t control or play as.

Cosplay Cosplay is a combination of the words “costume” and “play.” People who participate in cosplay, called cosplayers, dress as characters from movies, TV shows, books, and video games. They often role-play as them, too. People often cosplay when they attend fan events and conventions, such as the San Diego Comic-Con.