This IT specialist also serves as chapter director of the North Texas Chapter of Heroic Interactive Theater. In other words, he's a LARPer.
First and foremost, what does LARP stand for? Live Action Role Playing.
Oh, is it similar to what takes place in the (2008) movie Role Models? We laugh at that movie. LARPs like that are few and far between. We chuckle at it a bit because there is a lot more story involved in what we do. There is more role-playing, a lot of fighting. It's more like reenacting a "choose your own adventure" book.
When were you first introduced to LARP? In high school. It was a fun and interesting way to hang out on the weekends. People can be who they want to be without dealing with stigmas. I made friends through LARP that I'm still friends with today. I've been LARPing for going on 15 years now.
Describe a typical LARP event. The staff puts on the game, which can last up to 36 hours. Think of it as Improv Theater. There is always an overlying story or plot that changes with every game. Storytellers provide the background information that allows their characters to grow and develop.
The youngest player is 10 years old and our oldest player is in his mid-60s, with most players in their late 20s or early 30s. We're big on making people feel comfortable. No drugs. No alcohol. Rule breakers are asked to leave quite quickly. We want to provide a safe environment for people to come out and be themselves.
LARP is family-friendly. We hope parents will let their kids come out. There is math involved in the game, and players benefit from working as a team, learning leadership skills, not to mention it fosters creativity.
Where do you host events? Weekend-long events are typically held at Lake Murray State Park, near Ardmore, Oklahoma. It's the closest, least expensive campground in the area. One day events are held at local parks like River Legacy Park in Arlington or Rickel Park in Hurst.
How many people attend? Splintered Realms is the name of our campaign. We have been running since May 2012 so we're the new kid on the block. We have the largest attendance in the area. There were 83 people who attended the last weekend-long event. For a one day event, we expect between 45-60 people. There is a good mix of men and women, too.
Tell me about your LARP character. His name is Pathwalker. He's an elf that is a nature lover. A tree hugger. He fights with a sword and shield and casts nature magic. He's been around for four years consistently so he's a high-level character. Little parts of my personality are represented in my character.
Would you consider leaving your full-time job to pursue a career in LARPing? No, because if I did this full-time, I wouldn't have a passion for it.
What brought you to Fort Worth? I'm originally from Wichita, Kan. My wife, Melissa, got a job at TCU, her alma mater, which brought us here. She comes from a non-LARPing background but is now our logistics manager and often does more work than I do.
Initially, Melissa thought LARPing was for "very nerdy people" who she felt were just weird. Four years later, she is one of several people from a variety of professions and backgrounds – librarians, pilots, doctors, welders and educators – who come out to play because they want to be someone different. (And have fun!)
There are several players with autism spectrum disorder or other cognitive disabilities who become heroes. Sociologists have taken notice and have begun researching the positive effects of LARP. Not only that, Justin and Melissa have encouraged community philanthropy by organizing food drives, adopting a soldier, running as a team in Relay for Life and other local races.
To learn more or participate in the next LARP, visit Heroic Interactive Theatre on Facebook.
