LARP Weapons Part 1: Types of Weapons

Introduction – Why a Blog About LARP Weapons? 

As we kick off the 2024 LARP season, we are launching a 4-part blog series about weapons. We picked this topic because just over 10% of all online LARP-related searches are related to weapons. We have three goals with this series; to build our knowledge of this important part of our industry, to provide something meaningful to the LARP community, and to be a bit nostalgic, taking a bit of time to remember the early days when armor weighed a ton and spell packets left a cloud.  

I am both eager and a bit intimidated to introduce the series. I am eager to write about a topic that is very integral to our community. As I stated, internet searches for LARP weapons and armor rank right behind searches for “LARP near me”, but I am also intimidated because I personally am not an expert nor very knowledgeable on the topic despite my many years as a LARPer. I mostly play non-fighters and have never made a weapon. We are, however, committed to reaching out to the experts and doing our research to bring you great information. 

The Blog Series 

  PART 1: Types of Weapons- In this blog we are going to describe weapons and armor, categorize by type, and reference where they may be used by different LARPs.   

  PART 2: History of LARPing Weapons- We will take you back to the late 1980s and early 90s and trace the changes in LARP weapons over time. 

  PART 3: Weapon Making- This blog will talk about the materials and process of making a weapon.

 PART 4: Merchants: In our final blog we will provide a list of merchants where you can purchase weapons and        an evaluation of their offerings websites and any testimonials or feedback, we have gathered from our        interactions with LARPers over the course of our interviews.

Finally, in each blog we will also feature one merchant who specializes in either making or selling weapons. We’ve invited them to share their favorite LARP stories, lessons learned, and advice. We are excited to do the research and bring this series to LARPers and we are interested in your input and engagement, so please see the call-to-action at the bottom of the blog and reach out if you are a merchant, know a merchant or have any weapon information to share. Let’s go on this learning journey together as a community. 

Types of Weapons 

In our research we learned that the naming of weapon types is a bit controversial and certainly has been influenced by history and pop culture. We have chosen to apply a more modern interpretation and what we believe aligns with our particular LARPing community’s use of terms. We mean no disrespect to any historians or to the opinions or terminology of other communities.

2023 Internet searches by Weapon Type:

 LARP Swords                                  29.9% 

 General Weapon                             20.2% 

 Pole Weapons                                 11.7% 

 Other Melee/Throwing Weapons     12.5% 

 DIY Weapon Searches                     8.4% 

 LARP Shield                                     8.4% 

 Ranged Weapons                             6.3%  

 Firearms                                            2.7% 

A Special Merchant Story - Darkmor Weapons LLC 

Our first featured merchant is special. You could say I’ve known him his whole life. He is my son Nick. He was born on my favorite holiday, Halloween. He runs a small LARP in Michigan, attends Ren Faires as a merchant and has been making LARP weapons for years He’s made shields for charity audition items, and a few years ago he custom made swords and shields for all the grandkids. So, you would think that would have given me some knowledge, but I had to take out the pen and paper and tape recorder and do the interview because, it was all Greek to me. 

Nick doesn’t make the traditional New England-based NERO / Accelerant approved weapons. He uses different materials and a different process that makes the weapons a bit more sturdy and last longer. He goes for realistic-looking and durable. 

His preferred materials include 4# EVA Foam a fiberglass rod core, (either 1 ⅜ , ½ ,or ⅝ rods ), adhesive contact cement, Plasti dip for the coating, acrylic paint, and spray-on flex seal. Over time he says his two biggest lessons learned on materials related to reinforcing his tips using pieces of leather and using Flex Seal to protect his paint jobs. 

Nick makes a variety of weapons for his LARP team such as Swords, Axes, Spears, Mace, and Shields. For the faires, he tries to stock smaller sizes and then he spends all day sparring with the kids who flock in to buy them.  

Over the years his techniques for making the weapons have changed. He took woodworking in high school so I guess I should not be surprised that he now has the table saw, band saw, router, belt sander, etc. Gone are the days of hand-cutting and sanding. He uses an orbital palm sander, ankle grinder and cut-out wheel.

Nick’s advice to someone starting out: 

1. Do not be afraid of scrap. Make your templates a little bit larger than you need.   

2. Try strips of leather in your tips; it will prevent them from ripping off. 

3. Mark all sides of your foam. 

Closing

This blog introduces our new series and provides a detailed list of LARP weapon types with descriptions and features the materials and equipment used by DARKMOR LLC in making weapons, plus a few bonus tips and lessons learned. In upcoming blogs, we promise to bring more great info.   

Call to Action 

If you are or know a LARP Weapons merchant, have a great story to share, or have any feedback about this article we’d love to hear from you, please reach out to weaponsblog@larportal.com.

And anytime let LARP Portal simplify your administrative processes and give you and your players more time for LARPing and Haunted Houses. Contact us at demo@larportal.com today for a free demo.