Live Action Role Playing, or LARPing, may look like fun, but it's basest elements--wearing renaissance fair clothing while pretending to fight dragons--are socially indefensible. While you may never be able to unsheathe your broadsword in public without scorn, a few LARPing games have actually emerged of which you need not be ashamed to call yourself a player.
5- Historical Reenactments
While it sounds kinda lame and maybe just a little bit tacky, these folks actually deserve some credit for starting the entire LARPing genre. People around the world have been recreating historic events for ages. From wars to journeys to document signings all societies gather to celebrate or commemorate past events in the hopes that some points in time will never be forgotten. Educational and occasionally mind-blowing, historical reenactments deserve a little more credit than they're given. If nothing else it gives old people something to do on weekends besides greet people at Wal-Mart.
4--Dinner Theater Murder Mysteries
Just because Sherlock Holmes never existed doesn't mean you can't try your hand at the art of deduction to solve a crime. Just seek out one of the many dinner parties happening in your area and join in on the fun. Each guest is given an identity and at some point a murder is committed within the group. The people involved learn more about their characters through various clues but also must avoid being killed off by the looming murderer as well. Though you may not know all the guests, you can be sure excitement, drama, intrigue and mystery will all be in attendance at this party.
3-Paintball/Laser Tag
If there's one thing people like doing it's pretending to kill other people; far better than dealing with the mess and nasty jail time involved with the real deal. And what better way to kill people than to do so in large groups? This desire was met by those who created paintball and laser tag-the best ways to realistically enter a combat zone without having to worry about post-traumatic stress disorder. Designed for kids and adults alike, these games allow for the thrill of the kill while bonding with your peers. Just ask the church groups, Fortune 500 companies, birthday party-goers and middle-aged men seeking to finally take down Charlie.
2-Sexual Role-playing
There comes a point in every relationship when things get "comfortable" (e.g. boring in the sack). Some people shop around for toys or videos. Others go to couple's counseling. Some search outside of the relationship for a new fling to liven-up their libidos. But if you want to avoid that last one, try investing in the most titillating LARP game around--the sexual variety. By dressing up and taking on a new persona you get the exhilaration of a one-night stand without the hassle of trying to remember the person's name or the embarrassment of STI's.
1-Assassin
Perhaps the easiest game to assemble, Assassin is the up-and-coming sport of cities and campuses everywhere. It's been around for awhile, but it's gaining speed and if you aren't familiar with it you better pay attention: Assassin basically involves a group of people where each person, armed with a water pistol, is hunting someone while in turn being hunted by someone else whose identity they don't know. Once you take your mark out their target then becomes your new prey. Killings can take place any time, any where, so you must be prepared to defend yourself at all times-even in the middle of a Poli Sci lecture or while you're sleeping, or both. Paranoia is a luxury you can't afford to be without. Assassin combines the mystery of a dinner theater murder, the brutality of paintball, and the sexual tension of bedroom role playing--that is, if you're playing it with the right people.
