Cryptid Chronicles: Legacy of the Ancients
So, you're a first-time LARPer? Cool!
Welcome, travler! We're honored that Cryptid Chronicles gets to be your introduction to this amazing hobby, and we'll do everything we can to help you have an awesome, super memorable game experience.
Read on to gain some super useful information from people who have been LARPing for years!
What do I pack?
Packing for your first LARP, or any LARP really, can be a daunting task. Here's our list of items you'll need:
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1. EXTRA SOCKS! Your feet may get wet and/or cold, so having plenty of socks is a great idea.
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2. Pajamas -- we suggest that you make sure they are seasonal-appropriate in case you have to venture outside to reach the bathroom.
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3. Comfy, yet sturdy, shoes -- these can be all-black sneakers or boots with no logos, but the more they complement your character/fit the game's setting the better!
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4. Your costume and any jewelry, face paint, etc. that you need to represent your character.
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5. Plain, black clothing for your NPC shift -- shirt and pants highly suggested.
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6. Shower/bathroom supplies such as a towel, shampoo, soap, toothbrush and paste, etc.
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7. Any props your character needs, such as a spell book, glow sticks, etc.
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8. Food -- most LARPs offer a meal plan that you can purchase, and some even provide snacks, but since that's not a guarantee it's wise to know this information ahead of time and plan accordingly.
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9. Drinks -- most LARPs have basics like a water cooler on hand, and many include coffee with breakfast if you purchased a meal plan, but it's smart to bring extra drinks like Gatorade to help keep yourself hydrated.
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10. Pillows and blankets, possibly even an air mattress or cot -- most LARPs have something akin to Boy Scout cabins, which may or may not have beds of some kind, so make sure you know before hand how each site is structured so you can bring the necessary items. Please note that no LARP provides bedding -- that is always something you need to bring yourself just as if you were camping.
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11. Bug products -- any time you go outdoors there will be bugs, and if you need an EpiPen definitely make sure it's handy on you in case it needs to be administered in an emergency situation.
What Sort of Meals Are Offered on the Meal Plan?
Most LARPs strive to offer dinners that are hearty, warm, protein-rich and come with a vegan/vegetarian option. This could be meals such as chili, burgers/veggie burgers, soup served in bread bowls, macaroni and cheese or build-your-own sandwiches.
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Breakfast is typically served warm on Saturdays, such as omelets, waffles or pancakes, while Sunday is normally a cold breakfast such as cereal and fruit.
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Lunches are not commonly offered at LARPs, just as snacks typically aren't, but this does vary from LARP to LARP. Remember, this is merely a basic guide -- every LARP does things differently!
Why Do I Need NPC Clothing If I'm A PC, and What The Heck Is An NPC Versus a PC Anyway?
Great questions; I'm so glad you asked!
There's more detailed information about this on our NPC page, but a very brief answer is that you are a PC (player character), while the LARP staff are called NPCs (non-player characters). You both fulfil storytelling roles, and both get to have fun weekends, so it's just the terms used to differentiate staff from players.
The reason you need to bring some NPC clothing is that, once per weekend for four hours, you get to be a temporary staff member! You'll be sent out on mods (think of mods like game missions) as things like strange creatures, villagers, royalty or one of dozens of other possible things that need to interact with the PCs. You'll have a chance to combat your friends, help the story progress and earn an in-game reward for your character (such as gold, potions, etc.) as compensation for your time.
How Do I Know What Weapon/Props/Costume To Buy?
This is almost a more daunting task than knowing what to pack!
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Our first recommendation is to speak with friends who have LARPed before. They'll be a great resource, and can defintely guide you to the websites they use/make suggestions for your character.
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If you don't have any friends who LARP no worries! You can hop on our costume discuss page at our by clicking this link (Discord), and we have a whole page on there just for discussing costumes, weapons and props!
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If you still have concerns, or want to know if a weapon would be likely to pass safety inspection, then you can always email us at cryptidchronicleslarp@gmail.com. Johnny or Alanna would be happy to talk to you directly, and we may even have items available to rent so that people don't have to buy weapons or costuming until they're sure of what they want.