Life is LARP
Here is some sage advice as heard from a seasoned larper:
We all just costume up each day for whatever live action role play genre we haphazardly chose for ourselves. We prepare with as much equipment and magic potions as our start capital may allow and set off to learn the hidden rules. Everyone is usually keen to try and find the rosebud hack, but there may be other quests along the way. We swing our fake swords in conversations full of pre-determined phrases and gestures we have heard and seen other players exchange. Careful not to pierce each others skin with little slips of the tongue or (larp gawd forbid) any honest emotion.
Everyone just larps away in their own little enclave of subjective expectation and external judgment. When someone has a good run for a while they may set their eyes on a castle or a bigger horse to carry their ineffective armour (ultimately, it will not protect from death). We love to come across a fellow larper who signals interest in tapestry close to our own thread count preferences. Whenever this happens, we may play together for several seasons, honing tastes and skills. We may indulge in a shared quest even, to distract from the finality of the game.
Seldom players actually break character. If this happens, others will encourage a quick return to the larp routine, making it difficult to sustain any lucid moments. Authenticity is a concept we mostly know from ads. Hardly anyone is ever prepared to admit how much we constantly regurgitate the larp of others. Choose your goals as carefully as your idols.
While you larp away your little lives, it is most important to beware of the viking/white pride/fascist/toxic masculinity type larp genres, everyone. While their costumes and larpy demeanour may look appealing, do beware of any of their yesteryear allures. It is important we always larp the other way whenever we come across these players. They are becoming harder to spot, so keep your eyes peeled.
