Feeling Funny: Cosplaying & LARPing

As the overlord of all that is Geeky, there is very little within my demesne that makes me feel the least bit uncomfortable. But every now and then I stumble upon something that makes me consider the fact that I may have unknowingly entered an alternate reality. Today we will be discussing those possible refugees from mirror-Earth, the Cosplayers and the LARPers. For those of you that reside in the blissful realms of ignorance, Cosplayers are those individuals that are so devoted to a character, or show, or book that they attend events and conventions in painstakingly handcrafted costumes inspired by their devotion. LARPers, the Willow to Cosplaying's Buffy, stands for Live Action Role Players. Literally it's people acting out pen and paper role playing games like D&D or Vampire: The Masquerade, complete with their own foam/latex weaponry and the occasional bit of armor.


Cosplaying apparently began in Japan, and most of the inspirations originate in the games, animes and manga of the Land of the Rising Sun. The next largest genus are the Sci-fi Cosplayers, those brave souls that garb themselves in the vestments of the Klingons, the Minbari, the Jedi, and the Cylons. Finally we have the occasional Cosplayers that delve into the realms of Western comic books or movies, but this breed is far more scarce than it's brethren. I'm not quite sure drives a person to cosplay. Is it the pure, beautiful love of a character? The chance to lose ones self in the realms of fantasy and adventure. Or are they just looking for an outlet for their underutilized sewing skills? Whatever the case, while their choices may be debatable their devotion and dedication is never in doubt. Many cosplayers spend scores, if not hundreds, of hours on their costumes and accessories; they truly wear their hearts on their selves.

LARPers on the other hand seem to spend much less on style than they do substance. While some attend LARPing events in home made chainmail or Troll outfits, most seem content to carry foam weapons of all sorts. Their goal isn't a spectacle as much as a grand adventure. LARPing conventions often span entire weekends and draw hundreds of participants.

What do I think of these Geekiest of pastimes? While I've never participated in either activity, I can absolutely see the allure. The sense of community and camaraderie that these events engender must be deeply fulfilling, and lets be honest, it this any worse than going to baseball fantasy camp, or a murder mystery weekend, or even a chili cookoff? And they're funny to look at.

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