Inside the wild world of live action role playing — hundreds attend Boddington’s Shattered World LARP

Live action role playing is a global phenomenon with events held in far-flung corners of the globe, from Germany to Russia — and now even Boddington. LARP is the live enactment of a fantasy storyline where liked-minded people come together to revel in their passion for the genre. Many participants train throughout the year, design their own costumes and craft their own characters meticulously ahead of an event. From May 21 to 23, Shattered World LARP drew 250 passionate fans to Eugene Smallberger’s property in Boddington. The LARP format brought invited guests into the fictional land of Nexus, where they acted in character to carry out the will of one of four “gods”. Ms Smallberger said that while the event was competitive and featured live combat, it was mainly an inclusive opportunity for a diverse group of people to come together. “Different people from different walks of life ... we’ve got doctors, we’ve got lawyers, we’ve got town planners, we’ve got unemployed people, we’ve got everything,” she said. “It’s not a thing where you need to be from a certain background to join in.” Sam Bowden used to serve as lead storyteller for the Tiasolen LARP that he ran on his property in Oakford. On most days, he is a GP in Langford, but during the recent Shattered World event, he was Josef — fish guard and sailmaker of the Bay Region Coastguard. Mr Bowden said part of what drew him to Shattered World and LARP was its escapism and the chance to be with friends. “I’ve always been a bit of a nerd so I enjoy that sort of fantasy idea. It’s also the physicality of the combat, which is safe combat but very challenging,” he said. “It’s a sort of escapism with friends, camping in a field with friends. You get that weekend away where you’re no longer worrying about other things.” Shattered World offered a range of challenges ranging from gathering crystals to fighting monsters, or each other. However Mr Bowden said that it also offered the chance to chat over a drink in the central tavern. “(The tavern is) usually pretty boisterous ... it’s wood panelled, it’s sort of made-up internally to have a mock Tudor look and it’s filled with people,” he said. “It’s got a fire and people can get in there out of the rain and the cold and share a drink and a laugh, and on the Saturday night there’s a large bardic contest.”