/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

forgot link to last thread
>>10103897

>>10142283
where get good flail?

Anything similar to this? Or combo of robes and leather?

>>10142349
Only as npc. The event I frequent has a semi-strict human only rule. So everyone plays a human, unless the organisers allow something else. But that only happens when they think you can pull it off convincingly (and it fits the story)

Are there any LARP/HEMA related shops in Los Angeles, or ones that ship there for cheap/free in a few days' time?

>>10142349
I play as a water elemental at a Changeling: the Lost larp, but the costume is just a seaweed wig and a whole lot of facepaint, so it doesn't really count.

>>10142349
Setting up a team of two trolls (golems) for our viking group next Drachenfest. Anybody any experience here with the golem experience at Drachenfest?

>>10142883

LARP Empire I think is in the area. I know their owner plays at a local LARP and will bring orders there for pickup (or you can buy during game).

>>10142692
Depends, how ripped are you? If you're fat don't even think about it.

>>10143572
Unless you're bloatmode though.

>>10143572
>>10143580
Considering getting breastplate to cover my fat

>when the guy who's rping as a blacksmith doesn't know anything about blacksmithing at all, but you can't sat anything because IG, you have no blacksmithing skills
Fucking annoys me to hell and back. Stop telling people you quench blades in blood, or that the pommel should be heavier then the blade, or that a sword should be able to cut through a spear haft instantly. That's not how any of it works.

>>10142692

>>10143933
Hmm, I'm kind of on the fence about this one.

On the one hand, I love roleplaying being healed and have a basic knowledge of medicine, so I sometimes get annoyed when healers do painfully stupid things or skip obvious steps. Since you have knowledge on smithing, I assume you will feel roughly the same when someone fucks up forging a blade.

On the other hand -especially in a fantasy game (which I'm assuming from the quenching-in-blood bit)- you should portray your role convincingly, not necessarily accurately. As long as the smith makes a show out of forging stuff which looks about right to the uninitiated, it should be fine. If he bullshits to cut corners, that's one thing, but otherwise just let them have their fun.

If it bothers you, just explain to them how shit works after the game. They'll probably be grateful for the advice, and either make their forging more realistic or double-down on the fantasy aspect, which are both perfectly fine solutions.

>>10142954
I haven't personally used a golem (although I hope to build one once finances allow), but since golems are rad, here's my disconnected ramblings.

If you're building a golem, go big or go home. Make sure it looks fine as hell. I've seen only one low-effort golem on Drachenfest so far, and it stuck out like an eyesore. If at all possible, get some kind of internal cooling in the suit, too.

Doing sieges is my favorite part of Drachenfest by far (pic related). Get at least one siege golem, if you can. However, try not to have too many siege golems in your camp (which one is that, by the way?). There's only so much gate to work with, and you don't want to steal the show from the others.

...unless you get two or more golems to operate a huge battering ram, in which case you are my hero and I'll personally buy you a bottle of mead.

Most people who have golems don't bring them to every battle. As far as I've understood, it's one part courtesy and one part not-wanting-to-be-in-that-boiling-hell-of-a-suit-for-more-than-fifteen-minutes.

>>10144445
We're in the Golden camp. I'm not up to rules, but I thought both of our golems will be tier 3 golems which can smash gates or the likes by night.

The main reason we'd want anything to do with opening gates during sieges would be in case of being able to open gates at 5 am. Big sieges are fun but we have artillery for that; on the other hand small sieges are were the Gold can count far more.

The usual German is a terrible fighter, and an even worse tactician. Decently armoured squats who can do something as simple as a few line moves like our group can do a whole lot when there's restrictions on number fighting from both sides.

The lightest clad guy we have is a fellow with just a chainmail and a closed helmet. The heaviest armour we have is a lamellar with shoulders and tassest and full splint coverage of all other places with a closed helmet. Everybody is forced to either have a large roundshield or a polearm.

>>10145041
>The usual German is a terrible fighter, and an even worse tactician.
I'd argue that's something specific to larpers more than something specific to Germans, but other than that I absolutely agree.

What I find especially annoying though (and afaik specific to Drachenfest) is that everyone has the "shields in front, polearms behind" mentality to the point that shield-bearers will literally step out of line to push themselves in front of you if you're holding a polearm in the front line.

>...when there's restrictions on number fighting from both sides.
There are? Do the SL's actively hold back people rushing to help either side?

>Everybody is forced to either have a large roundshield or a polearm.
My group has the mantra "there's no excuse for empty hands on the battlefield". It has worked well for us, so far.

>>10145048
Yeah, past 3 o' clock in the morning you're only allowed to have something like 25 people a side. Small groups of heavily armoured and well armed guys can deal ridiculous amounts of damage to a group of unprepared gateguards.

>>10145048
>What I find especially annoying though (and afaik specific to Drachenfest) is that everyone has the "shields in front, polearms behind" mentality
That's why you go to the landsknechtlager. We don't have any shields, which is why the greens are our single greatest enemy.

>>10145329
>That's why you go to the landsknechtlager. We don't have any shields
not true. We have the a few shield users mostly from the talhoffer group.

>>10145143
>Yeah, past 3 o' clock in the morning you're only allowed to have something like 25 people a side
it's 1:00 (with the exception of the first night when it's 2:00) and the actual allowed number is between 30 and 80 after those times, though heavily depends on specifics. Also sieges aren't allowed during that time, so now siege engines/golems

>>10145048
>What I find especially annoying though (and afaik specific to Drachenfest) is that everyone has the "shields in front, polearms behind" mentality to the point that shield-bearers will literally step out of line to push themselves in front of you if you're holding a polearm in the front line.
in the last six years I literally never encountered this. Though maybe I was in the "wrong" camps

>>10145041
>The main reason we'd want anything to do with opening gates during sieges would be in case of being able to open gates at 5 am. Big sieges are fun but we have artillery for that; on the other hand small sieges are were the Gold can count far more.
then you should throw out your whole idea as sieges are not allowed during late night.
Instead invest in thieves and other people who can scale walls or can open the gate with a lockpick. Or just try bribery and other underhanded methods

also unrelated: We had a short chamber larp last friday which was held in the National Museum of Hungary. Hopefully there will be more pics about it in a few days, right now the only one I have is about the kind-of-npc players half geared up

>>10145799
Yeah it's lost in translation here, with siege I didn't mean breaking open the camp door. Just getting in with a battle golem late at night which is allowed.
Missed out on the timer which is earlier than I thought, mainly because I haven't done a night raid anywhere before half past 4.

not sure if its the right place but anyone know a good place to buy some beige-ish leather/faux leather gloves that go about halfway up the forearm like in pic related and have no patterns or design? I've looked all over and im coming up totally blank

>>10146927
https://www.epicarmoury.com/accessories/gloves/falcon-gloves-brown/c-341/p-21777/
I'm going to be yelled at for suggesting epic armory, but does this work for ya? Also it looks more brown than beige

Sup guys! Finally got to cross scar dueling off my bucket list!

Got my buddy in the chin, but I don't wanna post his face here. I'll post more when I edit out faces in the duel pictures.

What have you been up to?

>>10147167
Getting ready to drop the final edition of our homebrew system, I'm in charge of getting the word out to the masses. Other than that, I'm trying not to buy everything at the local larp store cause pay day dropped.
How's the head Gropey?

>>10147171
Tell me more about the system? Setting/overview/basic mechanics?

Like most sharp head wounds, I didn't even feel it. The headache is a cunt though.

>>10147167
>What have you been up to?
not getting hit in the face, mostly

>>10147215
>not getting hit in the face, mostly
...but that's the point?

>>10147175
Setting is Fantasy Medieval
Mechanics are basic, but I know you wont approve to the next part.
It's a keyword system.
Blows to body still do damage, but add a keyword and instead of damage it will do X depending on the keyword.
Gots stuns, limb damage, movement effects and the like.
I for one enjoy a fight without keywords but to the other creators the keywords make up for physical limitations that come with a larp.
We still have fun though.

>>10147225
no, you have to thrust the point in the other guy's face.
Also I covered that (and the scar thing) lots of years ago with daggers when I wasn't a fully responsible adult.

>>10147167
>What have you been up to?

Doing shit to get ready for the next round of my Amerilarp. May have gotten sucked into kooky world-ending plot by solving a puzzle, whoops.

>>10147245
Can't be as bad as the admins remembered that I have wyvern eggs. Now I'm a parent who has to hunt for two venomous stuffed animals. Ergo I've been written out of the next event for maternity reasons.

>>10142349
GWAR is /cgl/ now?

>>10147257

Getting written out of the event is pretty rough. But hey at least you'll be the proud parent of two baby wyverns!

In my case, I helped solve the puzzle of a mad dream wizard (that staff posted between games), who is trying to destroy the world, and then found out he tends to kidnap people who solve his puzzles. So I'm probably going on a trip next game to the dream world.

>>10147167
>>10147175
The fuck you do nigga?

>>10147167
Is this from like Mensur or something?
Were you not afraid to die, or worse, be uglified/getting a shitty scar?

>>10148066
>Dying from mensur

>just started wrapping up after moving
>got five projects unfinished until next larp
>two item replacements, one repair and two unfinished articles
>tools are scattered across boxes, no longer have immediate access to a sewing machine
>two weeks left with a holiday in between

Why is it like this every year?

>>10144445
Why do most LARP kits usually look worse than cheap reenactment kits? Is it the fabric and construction or what?

>>10149897
you never seen actually cheap "reenactment" kits.

Apart from that, yeah material, and not enough knowledge most of the time how to make stuff

>>10147245

Well fuck me, we solved part 1 of the puzzle and part 2 came out two days ago and we have figured out almost nothing. Jesus christ this shit is ridiculous.

>>10149905
Oh i've seen cheap reenactment kits, because my kit is a one. It's worth 150e, the price mainly comes from the fabrics though, and no armor.

>>10149926
>It's worth 150e
150 euro is not cheap. There are so called reenactors out there who put just as much effort and money into their stuff as a basic shit tier larper. I can fill a whole thread with pictures of shit tier reenactors where the most expensive thing on them is their sword like objects.
Though I agree that if they have even a shit tier armor it could go expensive as a really bad armor costs nearly as much as a good one. (But then again, we can dwell into the nightmares of home made """armour""")

>>10149933
I don't know how it is in Hungary, but in Finland 150e isn't much. A decent sword or helmet will cost twice that much.

Most serious reenactment groups tend to have costume codes, which usually meant that if your kit doesn't fit the criteria you won't be allowed to take part in events.

>>10149992
it's much for a shitty costume. And you are talking about _serious_ reenactment groups that have standards, etc.
I'm talking about the below average ones that has the actual cheap equipment. The ones that people are ashamed of.

>>10150003
Ah, you mean american style "muh anceshturs" idiots. Their sort actually seem to have become a minority.
I honestly don't get why people start buying expensive armor despite having a completely shit soft kit. I mean, it isn't hard to get right.

>>10150005
yep, same for the shit tier larpers. It's basically the same kind of people who do it that way.

>>10150005
Because a soft kit isn't as "awesome" or "cool" as armor or weapons. These people want to be the great hero (Larp) or the famous warrior elite of the past (reenactment).
They seem to see their equipment more like a costume and not as normal clothing that is worn by people who are interested in its utility or in fashion.

>>10150106
Ian LaSpina has talked about this. In reenactment some people have the arms of a king or a noble, but they dress like peasants.
Thankfully i have a fetish toward poorer soliders and skirmishers. Makes reenactment alot cheaper.

>>10150194
I doubt that a peasant would wear the things that these people use because it isn't practical in any way and can often only be worn in summer at best.

>>10150106
New kid ticked me off a couple weeks ago. He wanted to know what to buy/build into first for the event. I said that garb is better than weapons since the event has a good supply of loaners to give out for the day. Fast forward to the event where he's in denim and a polo shirt. BUT THE 200 DOLLAR LATEX STAFF WAS SUCH A GOOD DEAL.
I know advice and opinions are like assholes, but dammit if had listen to me or the others he wouldnt be complaining about not fitting in.

>>10151220
I seriously don't get people like that. You don't need armor to fight, infact it might actually make fights harder and funnier since you have to compensate for the lack of armor.

>>10151494
He could have gone to the local larp store (my town actually has one) bought a shirt, pants and a belt for less than $100. If he wanted to get a sword, he then could have gotten a calimacil or epic armory shortsword with the rest. Nope, he wanted the staff. I gotta go to work but I got some ranting to do about the larp. Thank God I finally being promoted to a staffer so some of this shit can change but boy my work is cut out for me.

>>10151580
>Thank God I finally being promoted to a staffer
Nothing says "get yo shit together" like being denied at the entrance.

My own way of roping in folks to larping is to provide new guys with loaner garbs and let them have fun buying cool shit, and then shit on them in game with their cotton tunic and leather bdsm back scabbard harness whilst I rock a solid wool doublet and plate armor.

>>10151883
Since we're a small playerbase, I can't turn away people. That's the first part of the rant. We need to up our game for our larp so we can finally turn away plebs who want to play but not commit. Denim Knights should be killed and shamed on sight
Second part is that this small playerbase has led to too many lone wolf characters. It's mostly because the quest givers are asking individual players what they want to do. Like any dnd player, they dont know what they want. We need to unite the factions and stop focusing on the individual characters. We need to go to faction based questing if we want more people to come and play. I'm guilty of being a lone wolf with my character but dammit he will bend the knee if he's forced to.
Fuck it's all in my head and I've been drinking so it's all jumbled up. Fuck

Is it better to leave the inside of a wooden shield unpainted so that it can breathe out any moisture, or paint it over with oil based paint and prevent any from getting in?

Also what is superior, horizontal arm grip or angled?

>>10152394
Heater or round shield?

>>10152607
Heater.

>>10152394
A shield should be covered with linen or canvas, and then painted. Paint rarely "restricts" breathing, unless you're using some paints that are clearly not meant for shields or wood, also Angled grip since you can cover your arm better.

>>10152675
>A shield should be covered with linen or canvas

That would add extra work, material and weight. Neither of which I wish to include on my basic casual larp boffer shield.

Thanks though, I'll go with angled.

>>10147215
>walk over to the other while lightly pressing blades together and push them over while they put up no resistance

What's the point when you end up doing stuff like this?

>>10153714
just to be clear: are you asking whats the point of training or you have a specific problem?

>>10152394
>>10152616
>>10152781
Paint or at least glue sealant. A layer of canvas or leather glued down is even better.

Grip depends on shield style, size, personal preference and fighting system.

That said, you make it sound like it doesn't matter, because if you think a layer of canvas add too much weight, you need to reprioritize.

>>10153714
It's standard practice in most fencing system around the world. It's about controlling the range, meter, and blade orientation when in close.

>>10152781
>Worried about weight of canvas
>Building a wooden shield for larp
Your priorities seem a little skewed. What's your system's rules, before you waste your time?

>>10153801
>>10153892
Thirding. Ask people who know the rules of your game.

>>10153801
>>10153892
>>10154069
Gave it a complete paint job. Never had an angled grip shield before which is why I asked, and what I'm going with now.

I mentioned weight because this shield will spend more time on my back than my back will spend on a sleeping mat. Since this shield will be used at a campaign where I go military larping, with lots of patrols and marching, every gram counts.

And I know the rules regarding how a shield should look and what safety features it needs to have to be field legal. Corners needs to be cushioned and discretely covered, stable enough to not break and impale someone mid fight, no extruding pieces of wood/chippings/screws/nails, if material other than wooden planks is used it needs to be painted or similarly covered completely. Never had any shield I've made be denied by staff, except for my oldest shield that broke one day.

>>10154106
You sound like an insufferable faggot trying to sound like a badass. Your LARP shield most likely doesn't weigh more than 4kg. If this is too much, get a two litre bottle of water and carry it around the house for a few days.

Until then you can just wait for Hungarian or Gropey to laugh at you.

Pic related.

>>10154297
aren't you projecting much?

I mean I personally wouldn't worry about optimizing my shield to the gramm but the anon asked a proper question and wrote down his reasons which might seem strange for someone (I mean there ARE a shitton of US "larpers" who do the same with their ultralight weapons) it's not outlandish or idiotic and pretty sure just because of this he isn't an insufferable faggot.

I can only hope this won't be yet another witch hunt in this board where people start ganging up on someone who just wanted to ask a question in a thread which is for asking questions.

>>10154297
If I wanted to be a badass then I would stick to my 10kg, center grip round shield. Instead I'm dumping that shit and keeping my chain mail and helmet on. I'm an industrial worker, I worry more about my back staying intact than others calling my a faggot (behind my back). If I need to dump more gear in the future, which I might actually need to, then at least I won't have to make a new shield since I already have one that is at the bare minimum.

And pic related is more representative of the larp campaign and my group for that campaign. I think the group leader is a huge faggot for the direction he keeps on pushing, but we have great fun and its more of "bbq with friends" than anything else, and also hes my brother so what can you do. Hope this answers some unclear questions regarding my mission on this shield project.

I'll be saving that pic by the way, I think its a great pic.

>>10154530
What the fuck game are you playing that you have a shield that heavy? The pavase I use for re-enacting weighs less than that.

>>10154684
Was a poor student at the time of making, only had a 16mm particle board available at home (the rough industry type one). The shield boss was also quite hefty, and I had to use like ~1kg of paint to cover up the board texture since it was so uneven.

Without the edge foam its about 62cm in diameters.

>>10154701
>Edge foam
Yikes. Full foam shields look much less cringe worthy than wooden with a big ol' pool noodle around the edges. Does your larp not allow foam shields?

>>10154703
They do. But its all about how you deal with it, I cover the edge in pleather and then nail it down with furniture nails. If its not covered well enough it might get confiscated.

Pic related is my old shield, for your viewing and cringing pleasures.

>>10154701
No you sperg, what the hell LARP allows that weight?!

>>10154704
>Furniture nails
>LARP shield

The fugg?

>>10154706
Only been to two larps with that shield, do larps really put a limit on weight?
Both of those did have other shield restrictions though such as "no bashing".

>>10154713
Its to keep the pleather down, its also decorative.

>>10154703
You can just put other foam on it as well. No need to cover that bitch up in 10cm of foam, just a thin line on an otherwise historical shield with decent glue will do the trick.

At that point you're usually making decent shields instead of what this thread has shown us so far.

>>10154755
As a safety checker at several UK larps... Yeah, no. You'd be asked to put that thing away and possibly offered a foam shield from the crew stash.

And no, most larps here don't need to put a limit on the weight because most people use sensible construction techniques. I'm not trying to be salty, but it honestly blows my mind that some larps still allow foam-edging hard materials, even if they're covered for aesthetic purposes.

>>10154802
Safety is always kinda relative though. If you don't allow active use of a shield such as "bashing", "shoving" and "pushing" moves, and have a small player base that is good at following rules, then having hard shields is safe.

By the way, having a heavy shield from my experience is more dangerous to yourself than those around you. And the few times I've participated in a staged fight with "no rules", a heavier shield felt better since it didn't flail around after a heavy impact as much. Or maybe sturdy is a better word for it, since its so thick, it cant bend or break under any field circumstances. People running around with foam shields and other light shields tend to be more aggressive with their shields, and that usually leads to more injuries than heavy shields ever cause.

But that is just my view on it. I grew up getting bruised by non-sanded home built wooden swords and shields after all, and anything above that is safe in my eyes...

>>10154893
Not going to disagree with your points, it sounds like a very different larp culture to what I'm used to so I'm probably judging too harshly. But
>having a heavy shield from my experience is more dangerous to yourself than those around you
Just wanted to say, yes you are exactly right. That's why you wouldn't be allowed to carry it at most UK games. Safety checks aren't just for you vs other players, they're also meant to keep you safe too! Not trying to nitpick you here, it's just a common misconception that makes safety checkers sad.

Looking to LARP in France. I went to Kandorya in 16' and it was okay, although really god damn bland.
Any recs ?

>>10154802
>>10154893
just to add that where I'm from most certainly allows wooden shields, though we're exclusively focused on the fighting rather than 'true larp' or what have you. off the top of my head, we've got at least three wooden shields that regularly show up at practices - totally allowed, as far as it's sufficiently padded (and our national padding rules are fairly hardcore). shield bashing as a concept isn't outright banned, but a) you'll be very much frowned upon if you decide to start knocking people around with your shield with no good reason (it won't drain their hp so it's a meaningless effort; generally shield 'bashes' are used for blocking a weapon or distracting someone so you could knock them around with your weapon), and b) I'd like to see someone try shield bash another person with a tower shield. most people go for plastic shields, anyway, most often via a modified round sled/'flying saucer'.
if someone's really interested, I can go find the ruleset and translate the exact shield regulations, but it's almost 3am and I'm already distracted enough. fwiw the original shield would be a no no to me because of the risk of random nails flying around (unlikely as it is), over here most shields end up getting a fabric covering which helps with keeping the foam intact.

>>10154106
>>10154468
>>10154530
>>10154701
>>10154704
>>10154755
>>10154758
>>10154802
>>10154893
>>10155000
It's time to build a new shield, my dude. Yours is heavier than my re-enacting shields, my buhurt shields, my SCA Shields and my LARP shield.

>>10154802
Wouldn't pass in US larps either.

>>10154802
>>10155124
seen worse that passed safety checks, but that's eastern europe for you

I use wooden shield blanks as a core for my shields. If the blank has pointy edges I sand them round and then glue a 3-4cm wide eva foam strip on the shield borders. The edges can also be recreated in foam this way. I then glue a 1cm thick foam sheet on the front and cover it with fabric, no foam on the back.
This results in a realistic look and feel, I hate these typical 5cm thick coreless latexpieces.
Of course I can't use my shield actively, but most german larps don't allow this anyways and I never heard any complaints so far.

>>10155251
Slav is as slav does, amirite?

>>10155570
Slav see, slav do.
t. god tier finno-ugric

>>10155570
just to give you nightmares. Here is a pic from one of the shitties games I've ever seen (and I refuse to call it a larp as even some of the organizers is actively against having characters)
The pic is 8 years old but those fucking shields can be still seen in present pictures and sometimes I see them in other games

>>10154903
Pfff, personal safety is your own business. I wouldn't stop a guy with a home made brigantine with to long rivets sticking out on the inside.

But other peoples safety, yeah there is no exceptions there.

>>10155000
Never had an accident with my old shield, but those nails holding the edge pleather together has started to pop out recently, so yeah its getting replaced out of safety concerns as well.

>>10155124
Hey, its good for training with.

New shield feels wonderfully light, I think its around 3kg maybe. Good thing they had not invented particle boards in the middle ages.

>>10155282
I use dense pipe insulation. 2€ a piece.

>>10155251
>>10155570
>>10156137
I've heard other horror stories from larps in eastern europe, personally I would not go there without a wooden shield in front of me.

>>10156139
Me on the left.

>>10156229
>I've heard other horror stories from larps in eastern europe, personally I would not go there without a wooden shield in front of me.
It's not THAT bad. You just have to check which game you are going. Hungary is pretty mild in that regard.

Also about padding the edge of the shield, if you have a lot of time and want to do it nicely then you can but a few cm wide sheet of foam on the outer (and maybe the inner) side of the shield, close to the edge, gluing with contact cement. Then sheet foam at the edge around it glued to the shield and to the foam that is now at the edge. It makes it less bulky and nicer looking though way more work and not necessarily as sturdy, though that depends on your work

>>10156139
This reminds me:
I need to have all the terrible larp pictures. Please, everyone, share them with me so we can laugh at them together.

>>10157081
you are asking for things that you aren't ready for.

>>10156238
I've contemplated that method before. Although I mainly don't want to do that because I don't believe it would look all that great compared to a painted front that I can freely decorate compared to a piece of cloth, I don't see how much value it would add to safety if I only use it at restricted combat larps. It would need a really thick layer of foam to make it practically safe, but there is still hard wood behind it that can still break a nose or twist a finger if unlucky. It would mostly negate potential bruises.

If campaign organizers would start requiring it, then I would. But til then its just another layer of complexity that I wont bother with. Maybe if a friend could hook me up with a good cloth cover.

>>10157081

>>10157090
well, I admit its not the best method for every shield and also the result could heavily varies on how you do it. But it's yet another option.

got home so I'll post a few more shit tier pics but I won't go all out yet

I don't know what's worse about these, the costuming, the boffers, or the awful photography

>>10157378
all of those play a part in it. I mean it's really hard to find some top shelf tier shitty pics. Everyone could have bad costuming or a photo where it looks bad.
But it takes a lot of effort to make something really shit AND present it proudly and confidently as something that you think isn't shit.
Confidence is an important part.

Or you could say ignorance is bliss and they are happy while we are just elitist dickheads.

>>10157382
>ignorance is bliss and they are happy while we are just elitist dickheads
Sad but true. I'm glad I'm an elitist and a perfectionist but I often wish I could stop giving a shit and just have fun like when I started larping

>>10157384
Personally I wouldn't go back. Yeah it was fun while it lasted but I can still have fun and also improve in the process, making new things slowly but steadily. It's the stagnation that can kill the hobby

Tangentially LARP-related, but can someone tell me what the actual fuck is happening with the ACL right now?

>>10158338
I'll ask Gropey. That's his big thing.

>>10157118
Holy kek

>>10157081
When you see eeet

>>10158338
>>10158395
Honestly, I've been following since the beginning and I'm not even a hundred percent sure. Massive egos being deflated and the over abundance of individual groups being fought over by bigger leagues and how to represent the sport to the public seems to be the biggest thing.

Andre Sinou of Icefalcon Armoury was the first guy to really get stuff going, building the first volunteer team for BotN. It was made out of SCA big sticks who funded themselves, and proved that the Americans had footing we can stand on. Andre's view on a sport is one of elitism and very much in his Marine mindset of being "the best™". this prevailed for a while, with a lot of gatekeeping, and a lot of elitism.

The other half of the equation is Jaye Brooks Sr., Who was part of the original team, presents the sport with a very different mindset. He is less of a gatekeeper, and more of a shepherd, having opened up a school, encouraging people to find groups to play with, and of course being involved with the history channel's TV show, Knight Fights. Generally, growth oriented.

As of late, because of a lack of interest or uniformity between groups in order to form up an American team, major changes have been made the round to the American Bohurt community, and the USA Knights (Sinou) and ACL (Brooks) have doubled down on integration to keep it going... But there are A LOT of people who dislike, if not outright hate Sinou. He has spent so many decades crafting a reputation and image, that people are not willing to give him a chance.

Personally, Sinou has insulted my mother. Like, actually insulted my mother to her face, not an online ad hominem. She was looking to purchase a gift for me from his booth (a stainless maille skirt), and had the gall to ask for his assistance in finding the product. Apparently, women shouldn't try buying armour. This is normal for him.

>>10159077
>that sword grip
elder god tier posture

>>10159131
it's shit. real pros only grab the very end of the handle so they can have more reach.

>>10159080
Andre is a cockbag edgelord lifestyle muhreen that makes the rest of us look bad. His personality is crewcut.

>>10159131
>>10159142
Chad as fuck

>>10159144
>the virgin accurate gothic armour
>THE CHADINET

>>10159131
>>10159142
Just in case you guys missed it. That guy has low grade larp garbs, until you notice that he has shorts on.

Chainmail and shorts. Kinda like going roman with white socks.

>>10159154
nah, we didn't missed it. but to tell you the truth it's pretty fucking common with shit tier gears. like here >>10157351
The worst offenders are the guys who only have a short on them and nothing else

>>10159080
That's what I thought.

Anybody know if the spanish tercios wore gambesons? I wanna eventually build a costume based on them and i don't wanna fuck up the look

>>10159194
I'm not too big on the spanish but probably not as gambesons were already went out of style around that time period. Armor were typically worn over the civilian clothing or with some leather jacket/coat

>>10159194
Gambesons had gone out of fashion by that time, the Tercios used buffcoats for their under armor garment.

What are some good international weapon retailers?
Also to the pepole that both LARP and do historical reenactment. What are the differences?

>>10159292
LARP uses foam, reenactors use dulled steel. also often the reenactors are at a much higher level of autism about how exact their costumes are, but some larpers do match that

any tips for how to make random borrowed equipment look cool/base level kit? the only thing I actually own kit/armour wise is a helmet and my sword (probably also a shield by the time the next event I'll go to comes around). I'll probably get to borrow some shit from my team, likely in team colours, but I'm trying to put together a (preferably mostly colour-neutral) base kit that I could reasonably mix and match with whatever I get thrown at me. I'm small and a relatively light fighter, so I'll likely be sticking to leather or cloth padding, with the possible exception of something like a single chain glove - so I certainly won't be needing to prep something like an underlayer for a full chainmail. this is fighting oriented rather than larping, so I don't exactly have a particular set 'character', but I would like to look sensible (no awkward shorts or yoga pants lurking around).
what I figured so far is that I could make a basic undershirt in linen or cotton, so it's easy to throw some tabard/tunic/overcoat in team colours over it. I'm stuck on the legs, though... are dresses actually viable for combat? that'd kill two birds with one stone. input highly appreciated.

>>10159292
>What are some good international weapon retailers?
While there are various good or passable shops there is one that I cannot recommend: Larp-Handel
That fucking site basically tried to steal my money as not shipping a sword that that was ordered, doesn't replied to any complaints and at the end after a few levels of escalation they banned the guy who made the actual order from buying there ever again.

>Also to the pepole that both LARP and do historical reenactment. What are the differences?
Nearly everything.

A larp is a game that you play to have fun and there are no spectators.
Reenactment is about learning and teaching history and there are nearly always spectators. (though you can have fun doing that but it's not the main point)

For a larp you have a character that you have to roleplay and everyone else around you do the same (at least when it didn't when to the shitter)
In a reenactment you doesn't need to have an in-depth character, sometimes a social construct or less is enough. Sometimes you do roleplay to some extent but if a spectator comes to you for asking questions you have to talk to him as an actual human being. There are events where you can try to rope them in into having fun but that's not the standard and there are a shitton of bad examples.

For equipment larps the equipment is mostly followed by very light rules, as there aren't mutch to "follow" apart from the rule of cool and the games descriptions. huge majority of the time noone bats an eye for modern stuff as long as it somehow fits the look.

For reenactment you have to look authentic. Obviously there is no such thing as a 100% authentic garb, and compromises have to be made but if it's visibly out of your period then it's shit. And you have sources to follow, if you "bend" those without VERY good explanation then you are shit.

As for fighting there is a resemblance as both uses pretend fight. Larp just puts a more complex system behind it and more meta.

cont.

>>10159488
The battles in reenactment are already pre-decided by history. This isn't entirely unique as some larps also uses pre-decided battles but that's very far from the norm.

Also because larp is a game you have a lot of freedom and you there to have a good time so you don't have much responsibility apart from not being a tremendous asshole and following the rules.
Contrary to popular belief when you go to a reenactment event as a reenactor you aren't there primarly to have fun. That's a secondary option at best. First and foremost you are there to show to the masses your chosen time period that you have to back up with research, good equipment and preferably with some related skills and sometimes even have to talk to other people who don't know shit about it but interested. You have a responsibility and if you are shit at the research and equipment part you can be pretty easily falsifying history too.

There are more distinctions but it's less then 7 am here and these are the most important ones.
Some retard will always come by who will say "lol reenactment is larping" don't listen to them as they are shit both at larping and reenacting.

>>10143933
I got kicked out of the local LARP group because I got into a argument with the "quatermaster" that was RPing a Smith about the minute differences between sharpswords, backswords, and true rapiers
After my friend showed him the pictures of my forge and a couple of knives I had just finished he just stopped talking to me, the morning after the game I got an Email from the board asking me not to return

>>10159080
>>10159144
Andre Sinou is a massive fag.

I assume it's mostly a per game type of thing, but how cringey are samurai type characters for these types of things?
I built a set of armor for a Mifune(naruto) cosplay that I kind of want to get some more mileage out of since this is the last year for the local con

>>10159503
honestly, if done right it's not cringey at all. I've seen cringey version of nearly anything so I'm pretty sure it's not the chosen subject that makes something cringey

>>10159339
Get a good white undershirt, firm-fitting neutral colour trousers, a gambeson (Black or Brown works if you need to stay colour-neutral, especially the former), a couple of belts (One for your sidearm, the other just in case/to hold the rest of your shit if any), and boots.
Bonus points if you get jack-chains but they're really not that common.

I never tried dresses, but the scotts fought with kilts so I guess that's a thing? Depends on what dress.

>>10159503
Yeah, Samurais are alright. Just don't go too MUH KATANA and you'll be alright.

>>10159580
thanks for the listing, much appreciated. one of the team colours is actually black but I'm not certain how long I'll stay with them, so black seems like a pretty good 'neutral' option for the time being.
the dress thing was a very brief thought I had - I was looking through my reenactment sources last night trying to find inspiration, and I thought I read something about fighting in a dress somewhere, but I can't find it anymore today so it might have just been something I made up by reading while really tired. I do feel it could work somehow - you pointed out the kilts yourself, so I'm sure it could be done somehow...

>>10159495
Sounds like you totally had it coming.

>>10159339
To add to the advice others gave you:
Neutral colours are fine, but do NOT mix black and brown leathers, it'll probably look bad. Furthermore, try to avoid having large black areas and white areas in the same basic kit. In my experience, that's a really common colour scheme for factions at larps, and you don't want to be continuously mistaken for one of them.

>>10159495
>>10159612
This, unless your character had a good reason to

>>10159495
I'm a smith and I don't fucking know the difference, can still show people pictures of shit i made and claim fake expertise i guess

>>10159612
>>10159718
I mean I probably did yea, it wasnt like a screaming match or anything, it started when I corrected him about fencing foils not being rapiers, and that true stiff blade rapiers and their predecessors were very popular weapons before modern sport fencing "romanticized" them
>>10159726
That's on you mate

>>10159585
Are you a grill/dressing in grill clothes or you aim for something like that Landsknecht dress thing HLF has?

>>10159585
Would advise against using something like a black gambeson unless you're getting a bit more high end one. Black fabric has a tendency to show the quality far easier than others, likewise even a lot of black suits in modern times look like cheap shit. Don't opt for black unless you're willing to fork a little more.

Getting a white gambeson would be far more neutral in my opinion. If I'm hearing right you want to make a waffenrok (battle dress I guess) or some other form of surcot so all in all te colour of the gambeson matters but doesn't have the need to be heraldic?

>>10159614
oh don't worry, I'm an autist about colours (I'm also into lolita, colour balance and matching colours is a big thing)

>>10159823
the former, I'm not familiar with what you're referring to with the latter

>>10160170
noted on the black, I have done sewing of my own on the past so I think I'll be able to spot shit fabric quite well.
the colour matters a little, yeah, but it's mostly a matter of not looking super confusing when I throw a tabard/surcoat with team colours over it; no need to be heraldic.

>>10160264
>the former, I'm not familiar with what you're referring to with the latter

He is referring to my waffenrock, which is basically a 16th century gown and part of male fashion.
Also as for fighting in a dress, there are several women in the Landsknecht Lager at Drachenfest who fight in a dress, though it's mostly in formation but still it's pretty much doable

>>10158338
>>10158395
>>10159080
>>10159144
>>10159170
The ACL is collapsing under the weight of old egos. It was bound to happen.

>>10160285
https://youtu.be/HUgSC6rEkPQ

Is there a name for the cool 'showmanship fighting' they have at drachenfest tourneys and such?

How do I learn it or git gud at it?

>>10160645
It doesn't have a name becuase it's not specific or really special. It's just fighting with some rules constrain and with some unspoken guidelines. That's all.

Also most of the time it doesn't look cool in my opinion.

>>10160661
So what kind of fighting do you find cool?

>>10160663
this one is cool but there are other kind of cools too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPfLZFHcNv4

But my biggest concern with the tourney fights and duels on battlefield at drachenfest that it's way too common that the participants pretend the weapons weight 10+ kg and basically overplaying it. Falling to the other side of the horse so to speak.

>>10160665
What about the knight here for example? I think he pulls it off pretty well

>>10160645
>Is there a name for the cool 'showmanship fighting' they have at drachenfest tourneys and such?
As far as I know, there isn't a widespread name for it.

>How do I learn it or git gud at it?
Learn regular larp fighting first.

Then, find an opponent from whom you know he'll reciprocate, else you're going to lose and probably not have fun either. This step is where I usually see this kind of stuff go wrong: people trying to do show fighting during a large battle.

Then, do a whole bunch of stuff which are absolutely retarded to do in an actual fight: actively draw their attention, make sure they're watching you before you attack them, exaggeratedly telegraph your attacks, and swing at a moderate pace.

Lastly, when your opponent does anything from the previous step, give an exaggerated response proportional to how exaggerated their action was. If you block a slow, telegraphed overhead blow, stagger backwards or fall over. Give your opponent the feeling that their actions have effect, even if mechanically it does nothing.
Personally, I fucking hate the show fighting. I've always had more of a sports approach to larp combat, and so do the larps I attend (although I don't know which one is the cause and which one is the effect). When you're used to combat being a contest of skill, having it suddenly turned into a contest of acting feels disappointing.

What bothers me most is that show fighters often take offence when you don't reciprocate. I kind of understand it from their perspective: to them, it feels that not responding to their cues equates to breaking the unspoken social contract of larping. However, their ideas of what an appropriate response is are often retardedly subjective and wrong. I've seen some German dude get salty after he lost a fight, because he was effectively moving in slow-motion while his opponent moved at about the speed of the guys in the video HLF posted.

>>10160688
Forgot link
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt35zPVc67c

>>10160689
cont.

The worst I've seen was at a larp I've stopped attending, where one of the GM's was unironically convinced that swinging hammers and axes should go in slow motion, while swinging swords at full speed is okay. Likewise, all polearms were supposedly super slow, with the exception of spears for some reason. He even gave a lecture on the "actual" speed at which he thought hammers can be swung, which literally wasn't even a third of the speed he swung a sword with.

I don't know why, but the idea that axes and hammers should be roleplayed while swords and spears shouldn't seems strangely pervasive in my local larp scene. I can sort of understand it for those fuckhuge anime hammers some people have, but other than that it just seems retarded.

>>10160688
>>10160690
ehh, he tries to fight effectively instead of flashy so no problem there but that's obviously won't look necessearily good.
And as this anon said >>10160689 and it's true for nearly every fight: as long as your opponent doesn't fight in the same way as you do it will look strange or shit.
Also in my opinion most competitive swordfight will look shit for the outside observer.

>>10160288
Thanks Grope.

>>10160665
Funny, this is exactly what we do in smaller reenactment events. Exaggerated versions of actual maneuvers.

>>10160737
the amount of exaggeration does matter. You have to find the golden road inbetween and it's pretty easy to slip up and do some shit like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dDMDF-ogrk

>>10160743
Yeah, its thankfully nothing like that, and usually only the killing blows are exaggerated while rest of the fight is just normal sparring. You know TW style shit like ramming your spear under your opponents armpit to make it look like you impaled him.

>>10160828
no problem with that. What I dislike is the exaggerated versions where for example the defender holds up his shield to defend an action that isn't even started. Or when the other guy starts an attack that misses with at lest a meter because safety or some other shit and the defender tries as hard as he can to step inside range so he can parry it somehow.
But you can find examples of that in the previous video

>>10160835
I do a lot of training with new people. other than telling them to bend their knees while fighting, I always have to teach them to not waste energy on hitting my weapon. You're not gonna disarm me like that. Go for my torso or limbs dammit.

>>10161253
that and most people, at some point will go into the afghani shitter position which is a great way to get your headbutt a sword

>>10161253
Get them dusacks and train them to spar with them, they'll learn where to hit in no time.

Is there anything more satisfying than stabbing someone in the chest while they're trying to charge you? Just "What he fuck" expression on their face is worth it.

>>10161387
there is.
doing a side step with your back leg while leaving your front leg in place but moving your whole body out of the way and turning away from them, while holding out your sword to stab them and in the meantime you smooth back your hair

>>10161398
Bold of you to assume that i don't do the same. Except for the hair thing because i use a shield. Stabs are truly underrated.

>>10161408
doing stabs from behind a shield is easy mode though

>>10161413
That depends on who you're fighting and how you're fighting. Stabbing a new guy in the chest is quite different from trying to defeat a seasoned fighter.

>>10161537
then again, shield

What is your opinion on Boffer fighting? We have a yearly boffering event here in Finland called Sotahuuto. It's fairly large event seeing as +600 people attended it last year.

>>10161670
Can be great fun. typically very easy to get into, and generally accessible. Most likely to attract people with an oddly inflated sense of skill, and munchkins who cheese rules.

>>10161670
I'm going for the first time this year and from what I've heard it's fucking awesome. find a local group to practice with in advance and to attend with, you'll have a lot more fun if you know at least a little about what you're doing and if you have someone to turn to for help. expect to be assigned to a line if you're starting out.

youtube is a decently good resource for seeing how the event is - throw the event name into the search and watch some videos about it to get an idea of the scale.

>>10161374
That too! Except head hits aren't allowed so I just outpace them as they crab walk. One of these days I'll just record them fighting and show them how ridiculous they look.

How do you train people to stop apologizing for hitting people? I take my hits like a champ and roleplay being wounded and they break character to apologize. Shit like that ticks me off weekly.

>>10162050
the general exception for the UK larp scene when it comes to apologising for hitting someone is for archers if we acidentally hit a target on the head or in the crotch area.

>>10162084
As an archer, i can accept that. But mid melee when it was a good blow to the shoulder or chest? Dammit

>>10162050
Literally tell them not to, or play being wounded in practice sessions so they get used to it.

>>10162084
Mind telling me a little about the UK scene? I'm curious and I consider joining some Empire game at some point!

>>10162050
>How do you train people to stop apologizing for hitting people?
if you figure out a way that actually works for everyone tell me because I'm interested

>>10161670
no problem with battle games and the like as long as people don't pretend that it's actually larping. It's a fun hobby

>>10161670
Not my jam but I guess it can be pretty cool!
I think I met someone from your community, Gebu or something. Some chill dude.

>>10162250
Is there anything you want to know about in particular?

>>10162090
considering in the games ive played those are legit targets - yeah....

>>10162353
-How are most of the people, to each other and to newcomers/foreigners? Are they chill, or is it a tough community?
-What's the approach to combat there?
-How good are the games/standards, on a scale of U.S.A to Germany/Finland? In terms of roleplay, costumes and drama?

>>10162430
How are most of the people, to each other and to newcomers/foreigners? Are they chill, or is it a tough community?
>What's the approach to combat there?
foam Latex weapons [no boffers like many ameican larp] bows and arrows are used for ranged combat [ although they require foam latex to prevent injury and theuser to take a bow competetncy teat [or bow comp] to sho they are ablre to use them properlyprior to being allowed to use said bows in the event

>How good are the games/standards, on a scale of U.S.A to Germany/Finland? In terms of roleplay, costumes and drama?
more akin to european style where its expected of the player to make some effort to make a costume appropiate for the character.
in terms of balance between drama and combat it can depend on the event - at empire for example there may be a mix of combat and roleplay and at another event it may be a non combat event and intended for roleplaying only

that any help?

forgot this one
>How are most of the people, to each other and to newcomers/foreigners? Are they chill, or is it a tough community?
From the onjes ive been theres no real trouble that ive seen - but again this could depend from event to o event.

So, long story short, i want to play a Cossak, and i also want to have him the traditional Haircut of a Cossak, pic related. But im not bald, how can i do this? Bald cap with sewwn on hair?

>>10162577
Yeah that was pretty great actually, thanks anon!

>>10162700
How long is your own hair?

>>10162716
around 1 cm at max on the sides and 3 cm max on top.

>>10162778
If you can use hair extensions - Use them on top of your head.

If your hair is too short - There is a way to have a wig only on the top of your head. There are people who can explain it better than me in the Cosplay help thread

>rival army likes to proclaim my warband as dishonorable cowards
>proceeds to cut me down after agreeing to an unarmed negotiation
>mfw they continues with their shitty, repetitive banter

I'm gonna start stabbing anyone who uses "virtuous" and "honor" in the same sentence from here on after.

Also, fuck elves.

>>10163688
Then act like a bandit and constantly harass them with ambushes and raids.

>>10163688
what's the problem? If you have a warband than wage some war on them.
Also, no such thing as unarmed negotiation.

>>10163869
We're actually going to do that. Everyone just run or hide if we march out in force, so we are reforming to light infantry and ranger units for raids and ambushes so we can fuck people up before they even notice our approach.

>>10163879
We had a prisoner exchange that needed to be taken care of, and I wanted to demonstrate that out faction observed and followed the "etiquette of war".

I mostly just feel stupid for believing that they would honor this since they have been chanting how much they are the good guys.

>>10163953
I fucking love light infantry and skirmishing tactics.
Remember to not stick around for long, avoid open confrontation, and to ditch anything that may hinder your movement.

>>10163955
Few tips for when you're robbing people;
1. Take the lead, direct them clearly on what to do whilst threatening overwhelming force. Don't pussyfoot.
2. If you don't have them on the ground or at knifepoint within 5 seconds don't even bother and just fuck off.
3. Don't let them talk, whilst you get up close and personal.
4. Never. Stop. Talking. People when put under enough stress will have more ease responding to clear commands and certainty. That certainty is you, the robber. Aslong as you keep talking in a commanding manner on what they need to do you're pretty much golden.
5. When they refuse or whatever don't be afraid to just use force, break a kneecap, whatever. If they still don't work along just literally steal the whole belt and everything that hangs from it. Find out later wether you made any loot, a gamemaster will return the belt to the player if you ask nicely.

Source: did some robbing with a few actors who test the military on terrorism situations.

>>10163955
>>10163966
We've got years of experience in that shit, but thanks for some repetition material to digest mate!

Our ranger unit specializes in navigating and moving fast through thick terrain, and causing distractions. Expert robbers as well, but our heavy and light units aren't as routine on those so they will have to train (we had a prisoner in our camp for a whole day with a pouch full of jewels and no one bothered to check it, the value of that pouch was at least ten times higher than the ransom we released him for). Our heavy unit also got stuck at a hedge of fir when doing a surprise troop movement, so I had to clear a path with my hands while the guys with shields stood by.

There is some training and improvements to be had, but I'm more worried about the roleplaying part since breaking up two large units led by experienced larpers into multiple small units will require almost everyone to stand up in front and put on an act. Making people watch all Robin Hood movies with a notebook before an event is the only idea I have to mend the issue.

>>10164039
Sounds like a solid. On the basis of getting newer players to do good scenes I'd say try and get them in a safe zone to open up and throw some internal scenes. Experience builds confidence, and you'll have a clear sight of who's ready to be awarded leadership positions. Maybe try something like introducing who's been knocked up by one of the lads two villages back and has now come to ask for money for his newborn. Use her to single out a few promising new players.
Likewise maybe start a trivial trial over something like cheating at cards, etc. with some of them. See how they act and get them ready to do it to people they don't know as well.

You might've tried it already but it's the first that comes to mind.

While we're on the topic of bandits and light infantry, can we just appreciate how good the ragtag bandit/mercenary aesthetic is.

>>10164518
Loving the aesthetic, and need some more for extra inspiration if you guys have them! Playing a Untotes Fleisch Squire with Flowerfield this Summer right after Drachenfest and still haven't gotten around to building a costume.

>>10164537
The guy in that pic has an instagram account with the name of Medievalist_Germany.

>>10164147
>You might've tried it already but it's the first that comes to mind.

No we haven't actually, that is some pretty solid advice. I'm so gonna frame a guy in our group with alimony fraud so that he wont get to keep any of his soldier's pay. I'll try to come up with some more stuff, thanks again!

>>10164518
Highly underappreciated part of larps. Good gateway for new people to take a part of the campaign with low gear entry level and good experience yields when it comes to roleplaying. And it brings a lot of extra to the atmosphere, town guards need to be on patrols, rulers have to address the issue of banditry in their lands, merchants and nobles need to hire escorting guards when out on the roads etc.

Nothing like waking up to the town bells and grabbing your bow for a bandit hunt in the morning!

>>10164716
being a guard is one of the most fun things you can do in a larp, you just have to read the related novels by terry pratchett and also get the everything is shit feeling.

>>10164727
I love the part where you get to harass peasants, torture cultists in the prison for information and confessions, and execute criminal scum. Those were the days.

Man, I really need to find a town guard gig again. This time I'll wear some mail fulltime to avoid getting stabbed.

>>10164949
No need to go the edgelord way. Being a Corporal Nobbs is just as entertaining

>>10165220
Cpl. Nobbs is even worse with his constant harassment! I'd rather be robbed of my cash by the guard than of my dignity by having to talk to Nobbs.

https://youtu.be/ACBXbJd80a0
Adoreas Shield video has a bandit aesthetic.

>>10165220
Whats the point of being a townsguard if you cant be an asshole to people?

Though Nobbs is the most based grunt I've come across.

>Nobby Nobbs is the kind of person who joins the army to loot corpses. It is said that there's a field-marshall's baton in every footman's knapsack; Nobby's Army kit generally consists of two warehouses, complete with said batons, other armies' uniforms, golden teeth, other petty valuables and several kilos of boots, some of them still occupied. Despite his kleptomania, he is honest about the big things (at least, the ones too big or heavy to lift) and is described as someone that you can trust with your life, although you'd be daft to trust him with half a dollar. Sgt Colon also remarked in Jingo that he had heard of places where the generals looked at which side's uniform Nobby wore at the moment to learn the situation of the battle.

So uh, where do you guys order your armour from?

>>10165357
Not from mytholon.

>>10165357
Landsknecht Emporium

>>10165357
Truehistoryshop, matuls, Tomala, and a few others.

>>10165357
Truehistoryshop for early stuff, forge of Svan for later stuff (it's good for reenactment tier battles, don't do it for bohurt or bohurt clones tho), CelticWebMerchant for cheap helmets and besides that a million Facebook groups that sell stuff (UK LARP Kit (UK), re-enactment marktplaats (NL), Steel Fighting Equipment for Sale (HMB, IMCF, ACL, Armour, Armor, Swords) (INT) ) to name a few.

>>10165359
What is wrong about Mytholon? They seem pretty good from their site?

>>10165402
It's ugly. As somebody who in his younger years bought a crapload of armour from them: none of it works irl. You'll grow out of liking after buying it within the year I can promise you.

And worst thing is: it doesn't cost all that much less than random stuff from Celtic or even Forge of Svan.

Looking for cheap armour? Get a brigandine from Forge of Svan, Avant arm guards from CelticWebmerchant (they're only 75 euros and they look pretty fucking great IRL for what you're paying) upper legs from Forge, helmets from Celtic.

All in all you can be done really cheap without looking like a LARPer who just came rolling of an animecon, his backpack stacked with wallhanger swords.

>>10165402
Mytholon is all about marketing, presentation and low prices/availability. You can buy small stuff such as accessories and camp wares but everything related to clothes and armour is utter shit. Their armour will either fit badly, break upon use, or both.

And as anon pointed out, >>10165404
You can get better stuff elsewhere for the same price, or good quality stuff for a few extra bucks that you can actually use for years and has some resell value. Only downside is the waiting time. But if you don't want to deal with that then you always have celtic, or you can visit battlemerchant who is a much better choice than mytholon if you want stuff on a budget.

Mytholon used to be decent, at least five years ago. But last year I ordered a basic belt and a cotton two-color doublet, both horrible. The belt didn't have any size options on the site, but whatever size it was designed for was probably american since I could fit both hands stacked between the belt on its shortest hole to my stomach. The doublet was two color but the green was so weak and dark it might as well be sold as single color black, it smelled like a curry sweatshop that never went away, and it was 30C handwash only. Like, whats the point of even making any garbs in cotton if you cant machine wash it?
The point; you only have yourself to blame if you order from mytholon and be disappointed by what you just wasted your money on.

>>10165402
>What is wrong about Mytholon?
if you are not careful the """armor""" could get bent during transport or if you sit on it, etc.
Also the shapes are uncomfortable shit that hinders your mobility greatly.


>>10165414
>Mytholon used to be decent, at least five years ago.
nah, it was called Mütholon five years ago still.
But that said the case was always that they have a few good stuff, a few okay stuff and the rest is either questionable or shit but all of this in one shop that is relatively easily accessible compared to most larp shops.
The standard clothing (shirts, some of the legwears,etc)s tuff they have is okay, accessories are mostly okay, some of the weapons also okay, etc.

>>10165404
>Looking for cheap armour? Brigandine

I think I have in mind the exact armour I want - A visored Sallet, some cuirass, and maybe spaulders and gauntlets. Preferrably all darkened.
Where would it be best to go for these?

>>10165362
Checked their site, but I don't see any armour there?

>>10165429
Keep in mind that everything that's later period is expensive, specially breastplates.
Some good places to get stuff are:
Matuls.pl
www.Tomala.lublin.pl
www.capapie.co.uk
http://truehistoryshop.com/

>>10165429
>Checked their site, but I don't see any armour there?
they don't sell it on their site but I'm friends with them so I can get a few stuff every now and then.
Though in a few months or a year when their workshop upgrade is finished they will start to sell armour to the public

Reminder that getting a good soft kit is far more important than armor.

>>10165470
What are your standarts for 'good'? I have a few alright soft kits. Nothing to brag on a Cantonese basket-weaving forum, but they're more than enough for games and such.

>>10165494
I think anon meant the soft kit gets first priority.
But by all means, post pics, now i'm curious

>>10165357
Eastern European Bohurt armorers and US SCAdian craftsmen on Facebook.

>>10165494
>>10165500
Reenactment-tier stuff like this. However you need to consider the economic position of your character.

>>10165798
>However you need to consider the economic position of your character.
and your actual economic position

>>10165805
true, but you can get pretty damn far on thriftshops, fabric markets and effort

>>10165798
Being around people with halloween tier costumes makes me feel like I stand out more than the first time I larped as a broke teenager with that loosely threaded, half assed tunic.

>>10165500
DESU I considered posting at least one here anyway since I wanted to ask for some constructive criticism, but if you're expecting anything that'll drop you off your feet it's not really the case.

>>10165798
I get that re-enactment stuff are hype and all, but how do you judge a fantasy/anachronistic kit?

>>10165892
>but how do you judge a fantasy/anachronistic kit?
subjectively

>>10165892
>but how do you judge a fantasy/anachronistic kit?
Materials, quality, and pattern/fit and the amount of time that has been spent into making and designing it.
A good soft kit isn't hard to make, specially when you don't have to care about it being from a certain time period.

>>10165357
Battle Merchant
Zeughaus
Arma Bohemia
Waffenmeister/Lixa Rebellum
Plattnerwerkstatt

>>10154905
what type of larp do you want ? From romanesque to cost friendly, there is a lot of them.

>>10165892
>but how do you judge a fantasy/anachronistic kit?

Mainly by the quality of the material and the workmanship.
An elf with a silk or woolen tunic is believable, an elf with a polyester tunic just screems larper.
Also with leather stuff, the finishing of the edges and the overall quality of the leather is important.
Modern zinc buckles or modern hollow rivets are also bad, use cast brass/bronze parts or forged parts with oldschool rivets. Remember that no fantasy setting has access to modern machinery and factories.
Lastly, if I don't recognize costume parts from Mytholon or other similar shops, it's already a plus for me.

>>10166473
Got any place where I can source such rivets?

>>10166577
In Germany you can look for DIN 660 rivets, no idea about the rest of the world.

>>10166473
Mytholon is a great place for a starter kit, but it's exactly that... a cheap starter kit.
It's good for beginning players, but need additional work. I really like to see new player with a customized mytholon kit. Better than an elitist snoob. Not calling you that, but you surely know the type.

Problem with a cheap kit like those from Mytholon: They not always fit good and you have to reinforce the seams. Otherwise, prepare to have everything rip apart after a few games.

>>10166642
Yeah, I also started with a lot of stuff from Mytholon and still use a few pieces here and there since I mainly play in different roles as NPC.
But it's a little bit tiring to see guys that have been larping for years dressed from head to toe in gear from Mytholon or other beginner-level stores. I know some people don't have large amounts of disposable income to spend on larping, but there is a lot of stuff you can make on your own for little money.
If people are not willing to spend money or effort, they have to accept the fact that they won't look as convincing or good as people who do.

I think that your kit should be subjective to who you portray. If your kit is supposed to look like something out of Conan, by then all means do it. But do it well.
It doesn't have to follow strict historical lines. I personally like taking historical clothing and adding something to it, this way you get a good looking kit that is still functional.

>>10166660
>but there is a lot of stuff you can make on your own for little money
This, making your own stuff also brings a sense of accomplishment that buying shit doesn't give you.

>>10166577
http://www.marchand-medieval.com has plenty, if you're in Europe.

>>10166660
What I find really hard here in Germany is to get good raw materials. I do have a store where I can get cloth, but for leather and wood, even the basic qualities are sold for ridiculous high prices.
I do have a good job and I am not afraid to invest some money. But sometimes to me it seems things like leather is something you get thrown at you for little money in the US. It's really frustrating.

Pic is a hanger I build from cheap mytholon parts. I live near their main storage and every saturday they have an outlet. I got a nasal helmet for 20 Euros. I fell from the rack and has a huge dent in it. I found it perfect for a ragged mercenary or some kind of low class soldier. Looks like I was hit with a hammer.

>>10166688
Another pic

>>10166688
>but for leather and wood, even the basic qualities are sold for ridiculous high prices.
I frequently bring leather to people I know at drachenfest because I can get it relatively cheap. And by relatively cheap I mean that the german guys usually shit their pants when I tell them I can easily get 1 m2 good leather for the price that they usually pay for 1 square foot.

Also side note, the new sidebag is progressing very slowly

>>10166729
Yeah, that's what I mean. If I want to make a leather armor myself, I need at least 2 m2... after hardening the leather, it'll shrink, so a bit more would be good. But buying that leather for regular prices here, it doesn't work. It's about 100 Euro for 1 m2... In the end, I can buy an armor for the same price and don't have the work. It sucks, because I like to make things myself.

>>10166733
>It's about 100 Euro for 1 m2
I usually sell the 2,5mm thick cow leather for 60 euro per square meter and it already has a little plus on it for me

>>10166735
take a look here: https://www.lederversand-berlin.de/epages/10066594.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/10066594/Products/vtn

2-3mm cow leather, 100x50cm, 98 Euro... no wonder people go crazy for your leather. I'm envious.

>>10166741
for the 2,5 mm thick cow leather I can get peices that are nearly 2 square meters
Also I can get thinner ~1,8mm cow leathers for 50 euro per square meter.
And goat leather for 40 euro per square meter.

Technically I can get buffalo leather too but it's thick, hard and absolutely shit to work with other than being a shoe sole or for lamellar stuff.

Anyway if you come to drachenfest I can get some leather for you

>>10166744
Thanks a lot, but not this year. I keep that in mind, if it's okay, but I won't attending it this year... my second child is due a few days before.

>>10166749
for the record, I only accept newborn children as payment if they are really cool

>>10166750
taking it into account

>>10166688
>>10166729
>>10166735
>be swedish
>can get pine wood cheap at local hardware shop, almost free from a lumber yard
>can always procure quality wood from family lands
>leather and quality fabrics are expensive, hungarian buys his linen for a quarter of the price I pay
>currency is going down the shitter and makes everything worse

Fort project this summer Y/N?

>>10166753
Times are getting though for larping, that sounds like a bargain deal.

I've Larped as monsters for stories. It's horrible and besides special rules... limits the foam fighters that are the monsters. Nice way for unskilled fighters to have fun.

Found some canvas/broadcloth at local thrift store, so my soft kit is starting. A yard of the lighter weight white, 4⅓ yard of the dark blue/green medium weight, and 6⅔ yard of the heavier white broadcloth ($9ish total). Got a physical copy of the 2nd edition MTA for Christmas, so here I go. (Who donates yards of canvas remnents?)

(Sorry if image upside down, metadata has it right ways [also, damn, I had to compress and deres a phone pic to be small enough to U/l])

>>10166772
if that makes you feel any better, I can hardly get any wool for a reasonable price, and the linen is also stretching it.
And we cant get any latex or synthetic materials that are produced here, we always have to buy it from other countries.

Speaking of soft kits and all, can you guys give me examples of the set a person using a longsword or a messer would wear? Preferrably with those puffy pants cuz they're cool

>>10167004
A man with longsword or messer wouldn't be wearing anything special. The only one that comes to mind from the longsword side is whats seen in Armizare.

>>10167004
for messer literally any german civilian kit from 14th to 16th century. If you want puffy pants look for mid and late 16th century.

>>10166926
In continuation of this, what patterns should I use for the accent dark blue? For reference, I'm a knife ear.

>>10167084
What kind of pansy knife eared shit are you? Wood or? I'd personally use the houppelande and robe patterns if you're fancy ass elf, and the simpler tunics and cotes if you're a simpler pansy ass wood elf.

>>10166625
>>10166677
Thanks mateys!

Was about to start a leather belt and pouch project, glad I post pone it!

>>10167110
Well I'm not one of those stuck up pussy high elves. And I'm not one of those blood magic loving underground living freaks that call them selves dark elves, so yes, I'm a senceable fair skinned tree singing wood elf.

>>10167110
And yea, was gonna tunic, and maybe surcoat. Still no idea how to do the accent color

>>10167156
>>10167156

Since you're a wood elf, i'd personally use a brighter colour like yellow or orange. Reds also work really well with Dark blue, pic related.

>>10167159
The blue is the accent. What I'm asking, is do I just put a 2 inch diagonal stripe, and then a thin strip around the collar and cuff, or... A full on Charlie Brown zizaag, or...

>>10167164
Aw fuck, what colour are you pairing it with?

>>10167119
If you try to rivet leather together you should use some kind of washer between the rivet head and the leather and the bottom side and the leather. If you use roofing nails you don't have to use a washer on the head side. If you don't do this the rivet will slip through the leather sooner or later.
You can make your own washers, a friend of mine has made rectangular washers from brass sheet metal and chiseled a star pattern on them for all his gambeson straps. Looks great.
Also don't forget to cut the rivets to the correct lengths and use a ball peen hammer to hammer them.

>>10167174
or just not rivet leather and sew it. Looks way better in my opinion

>>10167168
White. I literally posted a pic of the fabric.

>>10167204
Im a reenactor and i hoard fabrics, i don't assume that people instantly make stuff from the fabrics they buy.
If you want to add accents to your tunic, do it the late-roman way. It's quite elvish looking in my opinion and stands out. (Can be simpler)

Another, far simpler version.

>>10167206
I suppose that's fair. Canvas/linen/broadcloth is easily dyeable, so I can understand. I do have the one yard of linen that I might dye and do something with. Was sort of wanting to go with the more simple I'm working trade, not going to a posh party look.

>>10167217
A simple under tunic is the staple foundation of every proper soft kit. I'd use the fabric for that. My current tunic is one in the top left, and it's bloody great due to it being roomy and very simple.

>>10167364
Yep, that was the plan. Tunic, then hood, then coat. The hood and coat will definitely be more colorful. Definitely could see a leaf green or bark/brown hood.

>>10167208
Absolutely barbaric, not just wearing pants, and then you also have an untrimmed tunic Reeeeee

>>10167499
That isn't me, and yes the untrimmed tunic is strange.

is there a infographic on larp materials to use and basic patterns?

>>10167547
Linen for undergarments, wool for garbs, silk if you are halal.

>>10167565
Thanks. Also, UI hear American larps suck, but the only local one I know of is Amtgard. Am I fucked if I start shelling out for armor/start making my own if they're some jeans and foam sword group?

>>10167547
Materials.
Outer garments: Thicker wools, wools in general, and maybe silks if you want to be fancy
under garments: Linen, nettle, cotton (later periods/eastern)

Patterns:
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/cloth/bockhome.html
Medieval tailors guide (can be found online as a pdf)
Reconstructing history booklets.
http://www.hurstwic.org/

>>10167567
I'm not american so I can't give you the best directions here, but Amtgard is like that.

I don't think its a waste to get a decent gear since it will raise the bar a bit, and perhaps inspire people to invest themselves. It will allow you attend proper larps if you can find any as well. But you should make a decision if you want to make a "costume" that is either low/high fantasy or historic. Going fantasy will cost less, you can cut some corners and have some artistic/practical freedom, or if you make something 100% historic then you can also attend fairs if you want to.

As for larp campaigns, unfortunately its always word of mouth that is the best way to find new larps. You should look around a bit on forums and try googling some, and perhaps contact some older larpers (like "what campaigns do you attend?").
If I were american then I would probably start my own high fantasy larp, problem here in my part of europe is that there is a high competition for players.

>>10167584
One recommendation that I have for people who are starting out with larp costumes is to get undergarments that are historically correct and fits in on the larp settings and fairs you want to attend. Mainly stuff like braies and shirts, since its easy to use them across multiple settings and character types, and because they are pretty cheap to make or buy then its financially a no brainer.

Sorry I'm late to the ACL-HMCI circle jerk, take this meme

>>10167861
I dont get it

Bad photo of wip of bottlecap armour for a post-apoc crusader/preacher type.

>>10170568
Where did you get the inspiration from?

>>10170632
Nothing in particular that I can remember, I just wanted to make a post-apoc costume and an armour, so I did both with easily accessible materials. I have friends who drink a lot.

>>10170568
I literally can't tell if you're a boy or a girl. Nice armour tho, fag.

>>10170653
I'm a chick, but I felt like making more room for the chest would be lost time. Back and front are identical sheets of flattened caps attached together with paracord.

>>10170568
you managed to make a non-shit bottlecap armour when most people just do a shitty one.
That's admirable.

For Roman style armor, is it better to make or buy for lorica hamata and segmentata?

I've always wanted to make myself a scale armor piece. It seems quite easy.

>>10170999
entirely depends on how much income,free time, skills and hatred for yourself you have

>>10164518
>>10164544
>>10164545
>>10164548
>>10164549
Fuck, all these make me want to play a P.F.I

>>10170568
Nice armor! I like it!

>>10170653
>Can't tell if they're a boy or a girl
You say that as if that's a bad thing

meanwhile I succesfully made a budget version of a... well according to the internet the english term is "last"

>>10142692
I'd like something like this. I'm not 100% shredded but I'm not a gross bloat either. One weekend I went eating mostly medieval food bc larp (berries, meat, cheese, lots of water) and I could see my six pack by Sunday morning after I showered. No idea what my BF% is.

>>10171227
Is this good enough for >>10142692 or what exercises should I do? I've started SS last week

>>10171218
Whatchu making with that?

>>10171259
mostly footwear, but I realized I can kick others in the face with it way easier than using my default foot.

>>10171243
Stay on SS till noobie gains leave, then get on a split. Won't be ready 'till next Summer.

>>10171243
as long as being half naked isn't the most important part of your setup there is no problem whatsoever with it.

>>10171269
Actual shoes, or more like socks or foot covers?

>>10171411
shoes and hose too. Have to redo this one for example because I did it very rushed the night before and event to make it ready.

>>10171428
Making shoes sounds pretty complicated, at least if you don't want to fuck up your feet. Props to you.

>>10171516
it isn't really much more complicated than making a fitting hose if you know how to sew leather.
I mean making an okay shoe. Making a really good shoe is another matter

>>10171275
oof. Which split do you recommend for someone who is working all the time? I was gonna try the full body 3x a week thing.

>>10171556
>>10171243
I should also mention, I've been doing the 3x a week full body thing for the past year.

>>10171556
Full body can be breddy gud shit, I'm more a fan of PPL but that's personal flavour.

Prioritizing soft kit for a relative newbie- what should I have before I get a tabard?

>>10171928
Please state the following before we continue, what are your:
>character's setting
>gender and age
>social status
>profession
and
>is it for summer weather or cold weather

>>10171951
Kitchen sink generic mideivalland
Male, 27
Well-to-do criminal, an open secret but I've been more help than harm. Depending on when I get a chance to buy bombs I'm loaded or penniless.
Arms dealer

Louisiana. Hot and humid or unbearably cold. It's more important that I'm comfortable in the hot humidity since that's when I do full events.

meanwhile we are in autosage so here is the new thread
>>10172557

>>10172557

>>10157118
desu at least the group matches & has a similar style...
I've seen far cringe-ier groups before.

They probably only spent 35$ on the whole group desu.
>"T-the game-master told us it was a budget Larp Challenge, honest dude!"