Trip back to Amtgard

   Today I went back to Amtgard for the day. I've taken a couple of months off, and it seems to have cleared the BS out of the game, for me anyways. I like this pace. I show up, kick some ass, and go hang out with peeps elsewhere. This makes me wonder if more LARPers should do this at their games. Hanging out in Nashua, I see a lot of people hashing out in character stuff over coffee at Denny's, or even out at a bar. I don't get it, I mean, there are movies about giant robots that you could be talking about. It's healthy to unplug. It's good for you to get out of the game for a while, then when you get back in, your perspective is clearer. You remember how to have fun.
   There's stress in a LARP. In no other type of game are you under the pressures that a LARP puts on you, especially a boffer LARP. YOU are the character in a LARP. There's no miniature to rep you, no character sheet, except maybe in Nero or something, but you're still repping that sheet. When people picture your character, no matter weather your a half turtle demon, or space vampire, they're going to picture you, in your LARP outfit. The things your character does in a LARP will reflect directly on you. Failure can't be blamed on a bad roll, you have to own it, because it was you who didn't measure up to the situation. Of course, it works the other way. Winners are revered out of game, kind of like great athletes. What all this ads up to is pressure. Kids who LARP can be really hard on themselves for in game stuff. Because actual live people appear to be counting on your abilities. Over time players loose that "just having fun" feeling, and start doing work.
   Don't get me wrong. Having people count on you is good for your self esteem, and is in itself fun. You have to know when and how the scales tip over into work. When that happens taking a break for a few weeks can reboot the whole situation, get you back into the fun of the game, and make things feel as righteously silly as dressing up like a warrior, and swinging a padded sword is supposed to be. So take a look at your game. Are you stressing out about a big battle. Maybe you can take a break. Your LARP friends will understand, and if they don't, maybe they need to take a break with you.