Thousands of figures and characters can be found at our events. At the beginning it can seem very tempting to completely imitate a well-known character – but this becomes very restrictive over time and can lead to limited acceptance in the game. If every adventurer would be called “Geralt” and every lady “Mellisandre” or “Daenerys”, it would be quite boring. Think about how to change your role model to become your very own character and not a copy from a game or movie. This is, as mentioned, a difference to cosplay.

Besides an individual name, it is advisable to change the character’s story. Add a few strokes of fate, disadvantages or fears. Generally, deficits always make a character more exciting than things he or she can do perfectly. Instead of thinking “How great can I fight/do I look?”, ask yourself what your character is afraid of, what she doesn’t want to lose, what she can’t do and what dark secret nobody should find out.

Now you slowly have a rough concept of how to create your unique character, preferably with an individual name and background story. You may have a pretty accurate picture of what the character should look like.

Again, it is recommended to deviate from the original. Firstly, because an exact copy of a movie or game costume can be much more elaborate and expensive than you might want to afford. On the other hand, however, because you want to live the character not only in single scenes on a stage, but around the clock instead of just portraying it for an instant.

Instead of an original Viking replica, you can start with an off-the-peg linen shirt. Instead of original leather shoes, pretty gaiters over your old hiking boots are sufficient. And instead of a hand-embroidered silk blouse, your figure starts its first adventure in a chic, robust leather bodice or something similar. No need to go overboard.

By the way, you can basically achieve much more if you buy cheap basic parts and then modify them yourself, for example, with patches, seams and abrasion marks to “age” or make them look “used” and thus alive. LARP and crafting simply belong together.

Here is the main principle “You can do what you can represent” applies at all of our events. This basically means two things for your start in LARP:

– Try to play and represent your character as convincingly as you can.
– Never expect your counterpart to perceive you the way you would like to be perceived.

It is possible to play a noblewoman in beggar’s clothing. It is not easy, but possible. It is also possible that no one will believe you are a dwarf when you are nearly two meters tall, no matter how thick and long your beard is. For a start, try to play something where you can easily convince others that this character is beliveable.

Finally, the most important thing is to react to the other players’ characters in the way you want them to meet you. If there is a brave and noble elven archer standing in front of you and speaking in a heavy dialect, it would still be great if you would accept her as the character she is trying to represent.

Here you find the Mythodea Rulebook .

The rulebook is more of a guideline for your game, while we use a You-Can-Do-What-You-Can-Represent (DKWDDK) game framework, which most players already play by anyway.

DKWDDK means that a spell is credibly demonstrated through props and practical effects, so the afflicted player is encouraged to play out the spell effect. DKWDDK means that if you want to endure a lot, you have to wear a lot of armor, alternatively you can represent your armor credibly in a different way or convince with nice fighting. DKWDDK means less stats, less rule foxing and more beautiful, believable game play and acting.