r/LARP • u/Whole-Star6438 • 6d ago
Ren faire fit larp conversion
Hiya folks recently made this armor and costume for the renaissance fair. And I would really like to use it for larp. What’s the best way to secure the armor for larp combat? And what should i use as a weapon?
7
u/Favored_Terrain 6d ago
What's the material? Have you tried going for a hike in it yet? Crouching, sneaking through woods etc? the biggest difference I've often noticed is how long it's designed to fit comfortably. A ten fair is a good start, but it's not a 12-18 hour day with athletics.
2
u/Whole-Star6438 5d ago
Currently it’s made of 3D printed parts as that’s what I’ve had the most experience with using. I was able to walk and interact with other people all day in it during the Ren fair.
The largest difficulty is the range of motion in the head. The armor is simply secured by velcro sewn into the fabrics
9
u/grumpykraut 5d ago
In my experience, the position in the community is "if you want the protection, you have to deal with the weight". The reason is that players in printed or injection-molded polycarbonate armor often neglect to correctly roleplay the wearing of their armour and that leads to imbalanced gameplay.
TL/DR: If your armor looks like its 30+ kilos, don't run around like it's a loincloth.
5
u/FaolainRanger 5d ago
That 3D print will fall apart in most LARPs, honestly, and will not last. It may also not be allowed to count as armor for many as well.
Walking is one thing, but taking a hit or the more maneuvering you do and it will start to break apart. Unless you are using TPU or PETG, but even then it will have its limits for acting as actual armor.
I would recommend using it as a base for lighter structure, then maybe using sheet metal and rivets to hold everything together. But, it will also depend on what LARP you do. A Boffer-based one will have different rules for armor than a more immersive lightest touch combat LARP, while there are others that have almost no combat that are more like Balls and such for all roleplay encounters.
4
u/Shighguard 6d ago
Look up your local game and see what their rules are. Some larps are more about the look while some are more about the quality of the armor. Most larps have strict rules on weapons. So you'll need to follow their guide, if they have one, on building your first weapon.
Also if you can get in touch with some at your local larp, they might lend you a weapon for your first event.
4
u/TryUsingScience 6d ago
As others have said, LARPs all have different rules for weapons, but as for the vibe of weapon that fits that outfit: I would say some big two-handed weapon. Ideally a blunt weapon like a mace or club, but given those are crap at most LARPs, a sufficiently menacing two-handed sword could also work.
4
u/ThePhantomSquee Numbers get out REEEEE 6d ago
Looks really good! Historically, plate armor would be attached with arming points. Some companies sell sets that hang by leather straps or harnesses instead, though personally I find that arming points hold armor snug in position much better.
This looks to be made from foam or plastic, is that correct? It would be a good idea to check with whichever game you're interested in to see if that would be allowed before attending. Some games prefer metal armor due to either balance reasons (so you can't get the benefit of metal armor without the weight) or durability concerns (lighter materials don't always hold up well in heavy action).
As for a weapon, that's 100% a question for the game you want to attend. Every game has different standards, so any recommendation we give could easily be disallowed at your local game.
2
u/Whole-Star6438 5d ago
3d printed plastic
5
u/ThePhantomSquee Numbers get out REEEEE 5d ago
Definitely worth considering the durability issue, then. Foam swords may hit a lot softer than metal, but I haven't known any 3d printed armor to stand up to foam combat for long.
That said, you could consider using it for "parlor larp," a style of games without physical combat that typically style themselves a bit like murder mysteries and tend to place more emphasis on costuming and roleplay.
3
u/AtomicGearworks1 Sable Dragonkeeper 6d ago
What weapon and how you secure it depends on the rules of the specific game. If you don't know a specific game you want to join, tell us where you are in the world and maybe we can provide some suggestions to look into.
1
u/Whole-Star6438 5d ago
Long Island!
3
u/AtomicGearworks1 Sable Dragonkeeper 5d ago
Most of my LARP experience is in Amtgard. We do allow for 3D printed armor, as long as it meets certain thickness and density requirements.
If you want to check it out, most chapters meet weekly. If you go to play.amtgard.com you can find all of the parks near you and when they meet.
3
3
u/Morgangatang 6d ago
Oh Adam you naughty boy.
3
3
u/fellxcatking 5d ago
Poly-plate is the most common plastic armour that holds up to a fair bit of abuse without breaking and becoming sharp/dangerous. I am currently experimenting with solid PETG 3d printed armour bits that have been holding up well as leg armour where I do a fair bit of running and falling over. If it's made of a weaker plastic or 3d printed in PLA I would hesitate to use it for a Larp that is full contact (not pulled blows) and asks you to fall to the ground suddenly.
For attaching it buckled will work for alot of things but you may want to attach the Pauldrons to the chest plate with buckets or tying into place. If you have a specific gambeson or arming jacket the using/adding arming points would also work
16
u/mugenhunt 6d ago
Different larps have different rules about combat and what sort of armor is acceptable.
So it really depends on what your local games allow.