LARP stands for Live Action Role-Playing, a type of game or activity where participants physically portray characters in a fictional setting. It combines elements of traditional role-playing games (RPGs) with improvisational theater. Players act out their characters' actions  and come up with their dialouge on the spot. They also often wear costumes, use props including larp-safe latex foam swords and daggers or nerf guns among others. They interact with other participants in real-time. While the setting for a larp can be fantasy, historical, futuristic, or based on popular fiction, Shadowhaven prefers fantasy or supernatural themes for most of their larps.

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In LARP, the story evolves based on the players' decisions - so your action or inaction as your character matters. Events are typically held in outdoor or indoor (parlour larp) environments. LARPing is a way to immerse oneself in a fictional narrative while playing with others who are also playing characters.

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You can see some of the ShadowHaven crew in action in episode 3 of Huiki Haere here: https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/huiki-haere/season-1/episode-3/play

A parlor LARP is a subgenre of LARP that are run indoors and have a heavy emphasis on social interactions, role-playing, and storytelling. Unlike traditional LARPs, which can involve large numbers of participants, physical combat, and expansive outdoor spaces, parlor LARPs are usually set in a single indoor location, such as a room or house. 

Parlor LARPs are great for people who enjoy role-playing over action and want a more controlled, character-driven experience or who need more accessable play environments.

LARP games often come in two formats: Weekend Games and Day Games. Most of ShadowHaven's games (and all of their Halloween Games) are Day games, which means that they span all or part of a day. Day Games are frequently one-off games, but not always and this is also true with ShadowHaven's Day Games. Some run once, others continue along the same theme and plot lines.

Much like traditional table-top roleplaying games (TTRPGs), there are almost as many different rule systems as there are LARPs. Here are some common features that you'll find at a Shadowhaven LARP:

Hit or Life Points: we typically use hit or life points for characters.

Damage: weapons usually do a specific amount of damage per correctly called attack.

Armor: armor, when worn, typically adds to your character's overall hit points until damaged by a spell/special ability, or certain amount or kinds of damage.

Spells: we love spells at Shadowhaven and usually use one of 3 types of spells: 

Touch or Point spells: can only be used either by presenting the person being cast upon with a spell card, by touching their upper shoulder (same spot you'd get a vaccine in) and saying the spell name, or by pointing at the effected player and saying the spell name.​

Range spells: typically involve either a spell packet thrown by the caster at the target at the same time as they say the spell, via point or voice call, or using the same mechanics as a spell packet but with an appropriately tagged larp-safe ranged weapon.

Rituals: rituals are spells that the players must act out by collecting the ingredients and reciting the appropriate incantation. How well it works (or doesn't work) entirely depends on the role play of the caster(s).

Area effects: some spells we like to use cause area effects. These are fun to role play and a time out will be called in the effected area and the spell effect to be roleplayed will be explained before the lay on is called.​

Weapons: we typically allow only larp-safe latex foam weapons, larp-safe bow and arrow with no more than a 9kg (approximately 20 pound) pull, and nerf foam darts. Live steel, even in pockets or peace-tied, are never allowed.​​

Please note, we use 'theatrical' style fighting with swords which means you always pull back on a blow so that it barely touches your opponant. ​

Safety: we use "time out" both for safety time outs and for pausing game play to explain a scene or effect that players are experiencing. For all situations "lay on" re-initiates game play.

​Play style: we love both player-led plot and GM facilitated plot. The one thing for sure is - we prefer role play. Even in the heart of battle.

Safety: we use "time out" both for safety time outs and for pausing game play to explain a scene or effect that players are experiencing. For all situations "lay on" re-initiates game play.

    
Please note that all locations we use require indemnity - which means that they are not liable for your safety. Similarly, playing a LARP with Shadowhaven is assumed to be "at your own risk". We will do our best to promote everyone's safety, but it's up to players to keep their own safety and the safety of others in mind while playing.
     
​Accessability: we strive to be accessible to all regardless of disability or need. That said, some locations may not meet our preferred standards and any deficiencies we have noted will be clearly express to players in advance (such as: uneven terrain, strobe lighting, etc.). If you experience an accessability issue during one of our games, please report it to us as soon as possible so we can rectify the situation.
 
Inclusivity: all are welcome at Shadowhaven games and we strive to be family friendly - which includes LGBTQA+ friendly. We do not tolerate any form of bullying, sexual harrassment (even if the player causing the situation didn't think it was harrassment), racism or discrimination. That said, not all events are for all ages players. Any restrictions on age limits will be clearly stated in the ticketing of the event. This is usually due to restrictions by the event venue or due to the presence of alcohol. At events that do allow underage children, parental consent or parental involvment and monitoring of their children will be expected.