A live-action game (LAG) is a

game A game is a structured type of play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or video games) or art ...

where the participants act out their characters' actions.

Play overview

Some live-action games are described as a "flag wars", "

combat sports A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, submitting the opponent with a hold, disabling the opponent (''knocko ...

" or "battle gaming". Although these are strictly live-action games, they lack the plot and "character assumption" that is usually a part of live-action gaming. That is, each player assumes the persona of a character (like a "handle" in an online environment) and maintains that persona until the character dies. This variation is similar to the variation that also exists in table-top and computer games. Some table-top games (like ''Monopoly'') do not require the player to assume a distinct persona, but games like ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...

'' do have this requirement. The same is true of computer games—the player of the single-player version of ''Half-Life'' assumes the role of a character with a name and personality; The player of ''Tetris'' does not. Live-action gaming is sometimes described to novice players as a hobby lying somewhere between LARP and

historical reenactment Historical reenactment (or re-enactment) is an educational entertainment, educational or entertainment activity in which mainly amateur hobbyists and history enthusiasts dress in historical uniforms and follow a plan to recreate aspects of a histor ...

. This is accurate in that the game contains the

WYSIWYG In computing, WYSIWYG ( ), an acronym for what you see is what you get, refers to software that allows content to be edited in a form that resembles its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product, such as a printed document, web ...

philosophy and minimalist rules of historical reenactment, but adds the unpredictable outcome and player-created plot found at some LARP events.

Rules

Rules for live-action games are extremely simple compared to other forms of live interactive games like

American Football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

Orienteering Orienteering is a group of sports that involve using a map and compass to navigation, navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specia ...

. Combat is simulated, with one hit causing a wound. There are no 'hit points' or other conventions. Game rules are not used as stand-ins for components of the imaginary environment. If a novice player cannot immediately understand a rules convention, that rules convention is not used. Referees are not used and players are relied upon to be honest in their application of the rules. A special effort is made to convey and adhere to the spirit of the game.

Environment

The key to live action gaming is an attempt by the game directors to create a

environment. Instead of using a laminated card to represent a magical staff, an actual staff is used, as one might build for a

play Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

. Weapons (such as buffer swords or

airsoft Airsoft, also known as survival game () in Japan where it was popular, is a team sport, team-based shooting sport, shooting game in which participants eliminate opposing players out of play by shooting them with airsoft pellets, spherical plast ...

guns) are almost always part of the experience. Players stay "in character" at all times (except for medical emergencies). There is no convention for removing oneself from the playing environment.

Production

Live action games are run by a staff that writes a plot that binds together the expected events of the game into a rough storyline, creates obstacles for the players to overcome, and plays the adversaries in the game world.

Implementation

A single live action game can span anywhere from 2 hours to 14 days. Active groups can run as many as 18-20 events per year, with a mix of new players and veterans at each event. Most events are run by volunteer organizations for the enjoyment and exercise of the players and staff. Some events are free and use publicly available sites (such as college campuses), while others charge a fee to cover a private site rental (such as an outdoor camp) and equipment (and sometimes food).

Notes