Larp Necromancers and How to Play Them in Larp Games

Larp Necromancers and How to Play Them in Larp Games

Live Action Role Playing – Necromancers in LARP/LRP

The idea of Live Action Role Playing or LARP is to take on a different persona to who you are in everyday life. Whatever genre the game or system you are taking part in is based on will decide and almost definitely limit the type of character that you can play. My article is about playing a Necromancer and the different ways they can be portrayed by you on larp events.

Necromantic Larp Costume

When you go Larping you will need to gather a costume together and a number of props and phys reps that improve and add to the overall look. A classic fantasy Necromancer is likely to be swathed in black, probably a robe and a hood, gloves too can help and a pale complexion of someone who has forgotten what it is like to venture out in daylight. Any extras you can add to this will make the character look more impressive. Skull motifs look good plus a surgeon’s bag or similar collection of instruments needed when dealing with dead bodies.

What is Necromancy in Larp?

The Encarta dictionary describes necromancy as the practice of attempting to communicate with the spirits of the dead in order to predict or influence the future. On Live Action Roleplaying events necromancers will not only talk to the dead but in many cases will attempt to animate them as zombies skeletons or even more powerful types of undead such as mummies wraiths and vampires. A classic live role playing necromancer will be trying to raise an army of undead to conquer the world!

How to make your larp Necromancer a bit different

Not every necromancer has to be the classic fantasy type described above and seen on numerous movies and portrayed in fantasy books. A necromancer can be an expert in all things to do with dead bodies lost civilisations and ancient languages; a slightly darker Indiana Jones. They could be a very scholarly type or a different version of a medium oracle seer or fortune teller. It is up to you whether or not you want to make your larp character that bit more unique and any player in any live role playing system could be their usual class or type during the day but at night has a morbid fascination with all things dead!

How not to get your Larp Necromancer killed

Playing evil characters in larp is always difficult; there is a very fine line between role playing evil and actually turning the other people larping against you. In a player vs player system like Herofest you will find it very important to make friends or allies with other like minded characters and can actually join a necromancers faction called the Tombs of the Dymwan, however remember evil is often selfish and can turn in on itself so beware your allies as well! In a player vs monster larp system like Heroquest make a point of being evil towards the monsters and not towards other players who are then much more likely to fight alongside you and aid you rather than leaving you to get killed by monster attacks.

Other useful information on Necromancers on Larp events

It is always important when starting a new live role playing character to discuss it with the referees who are in charge of that lrp system. They may have particular ground rules for necromancy which you will need to adhere to. In most cases they will be able to aid you with your character background and even link you in with campaign history and past events. Remember like in all larp the most important thing to do is to have fun and enjoy.