The LARP Helm and You

So you've finally gotten around to trying your hand at LARPing but don't know where to start. The others in your group have interesting equipment and you are still struggling with coming up with an interesting way to dress your character. This is a common problem that is easy to fix. Equipment in general can be made or purchased depending on the needs of the one role playing. Start with one item and work from there. The helm used in the LARP campaign is a good place to start.

What Do I Use as a LARP Helm?

The simplest LARPs with a low budget might use something as creative as a plain baseball cap, or decorated bicycle helm. More elaborate LARPs, the kind which many LARPers long to perform in; will often use high-end historical replicas or fantasy original helms.

Many people try to disseminate between reenactment groups and LARPers because the reenactors will generally be focusing on a specific occurrence or time period in history and the LARPers may be creating an entirely new world, often with gaming rules. The end result though is that each of these groups benefit greatly from making or purchasing historical and fantasy replicas.

For instance, what dungeons and dragons based LARP campaign wouldn't benefit from someone playing the part of a paladin? If that individual can afford a fully articulated battle ready suit of plate armor with matching helm then that would make for an incredible LARP experience. The same would be true for anyone interested in the star wars universe setting that wore storm trooper armor.

A particular LARP helm is going to require three individual questions to be answered positively before its choosing.w

  • Is the helm in genre?

    • This is an important aspect because it can be jarring to wear a storm trooper helm in a sword and sorcery fantasy LARP. This might not hold true of course if it is one that involves alternate universal or dimensional travel, such as RIFTS, and the individual is playing the part of a storm trooper.

  • Is the helm comfortable to wear?

    • This is important for obvious reasons. LARPing can go on for many hours at a time and as such an uncomfortable helm might chafe or otherwise annoy the wearer.

  • Is the helm solidly constructed?

    • While this might not seem so important in faux-combat LARPs where no one fights with anything more dangerous than a nerf sword or gun, it can still be annoying if ornamentation attached to a make-shift helm falls apart. There can be a lot of frustration if a character has to stop and continually glue their ox horn back onto their bicycle helmet.

    This is one reason why many hardcore LARPers will end up purchasing equipment that is a solid replica of historical or fantasy Helms. The replica itself might not even be combat worthy but it will no doubt hold up better than a pot with cardboard dragon wings glued to the side.

    A LARP helm can be made or purchased. So long as the helm can answer the three questions of role playing basics then it is fine. A more combat intensive campaign or a true reenactment society might require a real live combat version though. The LARPer needs to stay on top of the requirements of their group, but above all have fun.

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