Modern Interpretations of LOTR: LARPing

LARPing stands for Live Action Role-Playing and is a craze that has spread across the world since it's origins in the late 1970's. It is a game where participants physically act out the actions and dialogue of their designated characters in a fictional setting created from real surroundings. These events are organised by 'gamemasters' who control play, decide setting, lay out rules of play and act as a sort of referee during play. The outcomes of the characters' actions are controlled by game rules or previously agreed amongst the players.

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LARPing evolved from table-top role playing games with the first LARP group called 'Dagorhir' being founded in America in 1977. The craze expanded rapidly in the 1980s and the decades to come and have been transformed into what can now be very large scale events lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days with up to tens of thousands of participants. There is usually no audience for a LARP event and is performed purely for the enjoyment of the participants. 

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Simulated weapons are often used such as foam weapons or airsoft guns in order to mark hits in combat. Alternatively play can be paused to negotiate hits by the rolling of dice, rock paper scissors or calculated by comparing characters' attributes. 

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular themes for these LARP events with it's range of different characters; elves, men, dwarves, orcs, etc. There are many Lord of the Rings LARP events organised across the world, however, one of the most accessible for UK fans is 'Festival In The Shire' which held a LARP event from 13th-15th August 2010 at it's venue in Wales organised by LARP experts Andy Rimmer and Gideon Lawrence.