LARP
What is LARP?
LARP stands for Live Action Roleplay. You know the sort of roleplay where you sit around a table rolling dice, describing what your character does? This isn't that. In LARP, you act as your character would, and interact with other people who are also "in character". This may well involve wearing costumes and possibly armour, and whacking people with latex swords, though LARP comes in many flavours, with different settings, varying degrees of whacking-people-with-swords. It's sort of almost nearly like a cross between re-enactment and improvisational theatre (but shh, don't tell them we said that), with - usually - a generous helping of fantasy. "Cross-country pantomime", to give one of the more amusing definitions I've heard.
You might occasionally see it without the A - LRP. I've seen this used interchangably with "LARP", but where the A is taken out for a reason it's generally to differentiate the kind where you get out there and bash people with foam weapons (LARP) from the kind with no acted-out combat (LRP).
Is LARP for me?
Does the idea of donning fantasy garb and telling your character's story through your words and actions in an immersive roleplaying environment intrigue you? Do you like the idea of being someone else for an evening, participating in an interactive and ongoing story that you can help shape and influence? Just really got a hankering to run around hitting people with a latex sword? You might want to give LARP a go. It can't hurt to give it a try, and you may - like me - find yourself feeling like you've discovered the best thing since sliced bread.
There are LARPs to suit all tastes, ranging from non-combat to full-on outdoor adventures, from pseudo-medieval fantasy to modern day and beyond.
What will I need?
Besides a little imagination, not much. If you want to come along and try the campus LARP, we don't expect you to have stunning kit from day one - we ask that you avoid wearing clearly branded clothing, jeans, or trainers if possible (as far as footwear goes, a sturdy pair of boots is highly recommended), but the roleplaying is the important bit. A poke around in the many charity shops of York may yield bits and pieces surprisingly suitable for LARP and for very little money. If you decide that LARP is definitely for you, and you're willing to spend a little more, there is usually a trader selling LARP kit in the Spring convention, and lots of people trading at LARP events during the summer. With regards to weapons, the society has a few that people can use.
LARP kit may be bought online, but it is highly recommended that you don't buy LARP weapons off the internet - you should be sure that what you are buying is safe and of good quality before spending your money on it (and hitting people with it). Weapons will be available at conventions and events as mentioned above, and if you prod a more experienced LARPer, they will probably be happy to give you an opinion on something you like the look of.
It may be worth mentioning that there are LRPs (and probably LARPs, but the ones I'm mentioning here aren't the bashy kind) set in the modern day, such as the White Wolf games (Changeling, Werewolf, Vampire). They're a whole different kettle of fish to the more combat-oriented pseudo-medival LARPs, but it goes without saying that modern clothing is fine for them.
LARPy Info
Campus LARP Systems
Regularly run on the campus of the university, this is where you'll get your weekly LARP fix.
Shattered Legacies - Wednesdays and Sundays - more information
The current campus LARP system, which is heading into its fourth year of five. Bi-weekly (Wednesdays and Sundays), a pesudo-medieval fantasy system, with a balance of outdoor combat and indoor non-combat. A great place to start - come along for the introductory missions on the Sunday of the Autumn term convention, or have a word with the ref team any time.
Contact: 
Shadovald - Ended
The previous campus LARP system, it has run its course and finished, but you will hear people reference it from time to time.
White Wolf/Isles of Darkness Systems
"The Isles of Darkness (formerly Camarilla UK) offer a wide variety of live roleplay games inspired by the New World of Darkness campaign setting published by White Wolf.
"Each game hopes to tell stories of personal horror and heroism amidst a world full of dark and dangerous creatures, where the greatest monster of all might be found by looking in the mirror (in more ways than one!).
"For further information you might like to join our Google group."
Vampire: The Requiem - first Saturday of the month - more information
Contact: 
Changeling: The Lost - second Saturday of the month - more information
Contact: 
Werewolf: The Forsaken - second Saturday of the month - more information
Contact: 
Event Systems
Not weekly or even monthly, an event system will instead have a small number of weekend-long events over the course of a year, generally spread across the warmer months.
Maelstrom - official website
A popular game with a strong element of PvP (Player versus Player), lots of people from York go to this one.
Curious Pastimes (CP) - more information - official website
A faction-based system with a heavy PvE (Player versus Environment) lean, CP also has a number of Yorkites in its player base.
EOS - official website
It has a fun magic system, you will likely go through characters at speed, and yes, there are players from York.
Lorien Trust (LT) - official website
I don't know of any Yorkites who go to this one, but it's well-known enough that it should probably be listed here.
