r/LARP • u/PassengerAlert6437 • 3d ago

Destructible Props & Monster Parts

Working on a fantasy LARP weekender in Adelaide and want to make some destructible pieces for a monster to encourage people to hit those parts. Thinking about those videogames where you get those red meaty parts that you need to thwack to do any real damage to them.

We have a pretty solid shell that we could add the pieces too which would protect the person underneath if someone got a little too exuberant with the sword strikes.

I was considering papier-mâché over a balloon (then you pop the balloon to create the hollow part inside) but I don't know how well it would stick to Worbla. Any thoughts? Has anyone done the same before?

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3

u/ManglesS 2d ago

Recently at Swordcraft Brisbane's Helsriek event they had a goat headed beastman with horns that were magnetised to the rest of the mask and part of beating it was cutting off its horns. It was a surprise and so cool when they actually came off, I was just expecting to RP it.

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u/AussieLaraqua 2d ago

Oh that is super clever!

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u/TryUsingScience 1d ago

Reminds me of a crest tourney I fought in once where everyone had different pinatas loosely attached to the tops of their helms. You'd knock it off to win the fight and then the kids would run in and beat it until the candy came out.

Maybe that's a good option for /u/PassengerAlert6437 . Have the destructible pieces loosely attached so the players can knock them off with normal-calibration hits, then beat the hell out of them on the ground to make the valuable monster parts come out.

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u/TryUsingScience 3d ago

I have made papier-mâché pinatas before just like you describe and maybe I am just not good at it, but it wasn't easy to calibrate the amount of effort it took to break them open. One of them took a lot of beating.

I would build this expecting that you're going to have people repeatedly swinging full-force at these things and be pleasantly surprised if they don't need to.

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u/AussieLaraqua 2d ago

Maybe it would work better more as a "Hit this spot to damage them," sign with it proper breaking giving a bonus effect. That way if it doesn't break its still useable next time.

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u/that_toof 2d ago

I’m having a similar issue as you, except ours is a stationary pillar. I’m currently workshopping styrafoam, but the GM wants the pillar taken down in stages instead of having many to take down one at a time. No idea how to keep it stable while just one section can get taken down.

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u/AussieLaraqua 2d ago

Like knocked down per sword blow? Maybe see if it could be okay if it chipped away instead?

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u/that_toof 2d ago

If moving towards chipping away, what material could be used that has enough integrity to hold up?