What to bring

 This is a list of kit that may be considered indispensible for coming to LRP, assembled by a committee of peers for the benefit of new players. It's a very generous list, but if you've at least thought about everything on the list, then discarded what you consider unnecessary, you have a good chance of being prepared for the weekend.
 
  • Event ticket, event guide, map, directions. And a smile and thanks for the Security and Crew who book you in and tell you where to park/walk. Be overprepared; scout camps are usually off the beaten track, and a satnav or webmap with a street address or post code may not get you there.
  • OOC Cash. For food, booze, fags, to spend at the vendors’ stalls, or to help you get home in an emergency. Some people bring hundreds, but £40 is a good fallback fund.
  • Clean OOC kit for going home including footwear. Because trying to get home in wet, muddy kit is rubbish.

For camping:

  • Tent. Double skinned with a porch, and enough room to sit up and change in and store your dry clothes. A three man tent is comfortable for one LRPer and a slight squeeze for a couple.
  • Something to sleep in and on. Including an airbed or rollmat, a decent sleeping bag and a pillow. Something to wear to bed - at least a clean t-shirt and pants – are a relief as well.
  • Torch. A small torch to see in your tent and maybe to illuminate your path at night; NOT to wave around and dazzle people with.
  • Washkit. Including baby wipes for makeup removal, and whatever you prefer to clean your teeth, wash your body/face, and smell nice. Other options include talc for foot hygiene, anti jock-itch, creams and lotions for your skin, hair care, Vaseline, nail scissors, razor, contact lens case and solution and mirror.
  • Tictacs or chewing gum. Or anything to reduce the morning after breath and make the GOD ladies smile.
  • Condoms. You’re the best judge of whether you’ll need these, but if you might, bring them. Be responsible.
  • Personal first aid kit. Plasters, paracetamol, antiseptic cream, any other regular medication (make sure you have declared any medical/health condition), maybe something soothing for your throat.
  • Hangover cure. Whatever your poison, or anti-poison, may be.
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent. Even if the forecast is for four days of sleet. Trust me.
  • Toilet roll. With a plastic bag or another method of carrying it to avoid embarrassment. With the best will in the world, sites often run out.
  • Tools. A sharp knife is invaluable, provided you pack it smartly away before you start LRPing or drinking and it’s clearly not an IC knife. A multitool is useful but not essential. Tools for repairing kit (eg. pliers and hole-punches for armour, or a pot of latex and brush for weapons). Gaffa tape. Rope. String!
  • Bottle opener, can opener, corkscrew. The little, old-fashioned can-openers do work; ask someone to show you how to use them.
  • Matches or lighter. For lighting fires, paraffin lamps etc. And even if you don’t smoke, having a light for someone else’s fag can earn you their eternal gratitude.
  • Rubbish bags. Because even if your faction issues some, they might run out, and it’ll be ponk to litter a site just because you didn’t bring anything to put your rubbish in. Also useful for transporting wet and muddy things home.
  • Food supplies. If you’re not planning to use the catering facilities. Store sensibly, eg. coolbox.
  • Water. Keep a big old bottle or two in your tent.
  • Socks. Thick, warm dry socks. Two pairs per day. Seriously. Can’t stress this one enough.

For LRPing:

  • Your copy of the rules. Available from GOD.
  • Costume. Obviously.
  • Warm/waterproof costume. Your flouncy shirt and leather trousers look great, but are they any good when it rains or is cold? Bring something decent IC to be warm and dry in. Again, no matter what the forecast says.
  • Spare costume. You may die and need a new character; a friend may need to borrow something; you may want more than one alternative outfit for monstering; or you may fall down and get wet and muddy.
  • Monster kit. Dark, simple LRP "generikit" will do the job: a shirt, a tunic, baggy trousers. Prevent your monster looking like your PC in a red tabard.
  • A chain or thong for your character card. Or 50p to buy one from GOD. Also, if you will be carrying spellcards or equivalent, think about how you will carry them: on the chain or thong, or in special card-holders (available from the vendors for about £5).
  • Comfortable boots. Broken in, waterproof and suitable for RP, although “dry and comfortable” should be more important than “looks cool.” Simple black boots (army boots or Doc Martens etc.) will do the job.
  • Weapons. If you don’t have your own, your friends may have some to share or – very likely – your faction will have a stash, but check in advance.
  • IC eating and drinking vessels. A good tankard costs a couple of quid from a charity shop (or about five quid from the onsite vendors); wooden bowls can be got easily enough too (charity shops, kooky gift shops, eBay, Woolworths and IKEA are all worth looking in). The onsite vendors sell little leather loops for clipping your tankard to your belt for a quid.
  • IC money and props. You start with 2 silver coins of your very own (!), so find a pouch or something to keep it in. Also consider other stuff your character might have in his pockets; old-fashioned playing cards or dice, nine-men's-morris set, luck charms, rune stones, jewellery. Rope. All adds to the look.
  • Make-up/prosthetics. Obviously essential if you're playing a nonhuman or other exotic, but valuable even if not, if you're monstering or - again - if someone you know needs something, or you die and decide to go for a radical change at an event.
  • Booooooooze. Enough for yourself, and some to share. It's good manners to offer visitors to your camp a drink; plus you'll probably underestimate how much you can get through.
  • Fags. If you smoke (if not, then don't take it up; it's a terrible habit). You always smoke faster at events than you do in everyday life; overstock and pack two or three times as much as you think you need.
  • Snacks. Crisps, sweets, chocolate, fruit. Fizzy pop. This may sound like a terrible list, but you're outside, exerting yourself all day and sweating; you need sugar, carbs and salt more than you need vitamins and fibre.
  • Water. And something IC to carry it in. For some reason, dehydration is a major issue at LRP. Have a little common sense.
  • IC tent furniture. So your IC tent isn’t just a canvas cave. Chairs, tables, paraffin lanterns (a big must!), throws, cushions, etc. Wooden boxes serve both as a handy way to tidy away your booze, snacks and kit and a simple seat or table.
  • Camera. It’s good to be able to capture memories of your awesome weekend. Also, sometimes you can commission a watercarrier to try and take good piccies of you on the battle-field, although the rules on this are tighter now.

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Last Modified: 2 October 2009