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Simple LRP Costumes (A Minimal Aesthetic?)

By Leah @AmabatLeah · On May 16, 2016

I run LRP games that have reasonably high visual standards because I enjoy creating those environments for my players. I find good light and sound effects more immersive and am running the game I want to run (tempered by the fact it also needs to be the game that those I work with want to run). Zap Fest was not the standard event for us. We had a very low budget and we’re aiming for the look and feel of a 1950s B-movie sci-fi film. We aimed for monsters and settings more evocative of that look.

I would also like to run a game where we simplify the visuals as much as possible. Costumes are replaced with plain white t-shirts with words printed on them. I think I would end up with a whole pile that just read ‘Human’ for the players. Possibly all the NPC shirts would also just read ‘Human’. I suspect that would amuse me. Buildings would be labelled ‘forum’ or ‘house’ or whatever was appropriate and any items the players encounter would be represented by tokens bearing the appropriate label.

(Ed: The ‘Human Being’ shirt in the image above is available from Origin 68 – please go take a look, they have some seriously cool stuff!)

Like Zap Fest and Jurassic LRP if this was ever run it would be a one off event. We would be looking at pushing the boundaries to the extent that we’ve removed an element of the game and see how it effects the way things run. It would also take quite a large amount of effort to put that little into the game visually. The lighting effects would still be used, and would probably be more effective if we have succeeded in reducing the game environment to mostly white.

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Leah

I spend most of my free time involved in LRP in one way or another. I part own and run Mandala Studios in Coventry and have been running games through them for 5 or 6 years. I also crew Empire LRP. I have catered a variety of events and banquets and the events I run are a mix of genres (SciFi, Fantasy and stupid - next year I'm running a dinosaur event).

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1 Comment

  • Jim Thompson says: May 16, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    In my mind this touches on an interesting idea of inanimate objects giving us agency to do or be something. In a more familiar larp the swift addition of latex tips to my ears would make me an ‘elf’ and be able to access game mechanics that other, non elf, could not. I think the opportunity afforded by your idea might be that you could explore very different concepts in your game. What if my T Shirt defined much more what I might or might not be. What if my shirt made indicated I was something not normally animate? Likewise with my details written for all to see on my shirt how would this affect other players interacting with me? Would you need words? Would different types of clothing hold different in game powers? Might I need to change clothes, and by assumption my character, in order to be successful in the game? Or would I start the game with a minimally complete shirt, the aim through interaction would be to complete my shirt or the details on my shirt? It is generally thought that different types of clothes make us react differently, I slouch in my hoodie, I stand straight in my suit. I wear them at different times with different social settings. I react to the way other dress. there is a whole game around the pageant of clothes!

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