LARP Jargon
Like any group, LARPers have developed their own terms to discuss our hobby. Some terms are similar between all LARPers and others are unique to our particular community. We don't ever want new players to be confused or feel excluded, so we have attempted to note all the jargon you might hear when playing Citadel.
Many of these are covered in the General Rules section, but some of the more important ones are repeated here.
Basic Blacks - This refers to basic attire that is worn when a player is volunteering to NPC or Monster. Black shirts and pants are preferred to be worn, as it provides an easy and nondescript base for costuming.
BGAs or IBGAs - In-between Game Actions. These are available at Checkout after a game, and allow a PC to tell plot what their character has been up to between games. BGAs can be used to make money, explore the world, or research. BGAs do not usually allow you to fully resolve conflict, as that is something we want to do In-Play, nor are you guaranteed success in what you are trying to accomplish. If you are unsure what to do for your BGAs, please Contact us or join our Discord to chat with other players! We would be happy to give you some ideas.
Blanket - This refers to the amount of Experience Points (see also Build and XP) that everyone receives for paying for an event. This is typically 10 XP for a three-day event.
Boffer - A weapon padded with foam, covered in duct tape, dacron, or other material. Latex weapons are not technically boffers, but are sometimes referred to as such.
Boss - A high-powered monster, tied into a specific plot or storyline, just like in video games. This can be a major campaign villain, or a major monster that must be defeated before the storyline may progress.
Brew - A consumable item created by Alchemists which grant a game effect and are destroyed after use. You can think of them like magic potions.
Build (noun) - Another name for a character's Experience Points (see also Character Points and XP). Characters have a Starting Build when they create their character, and it increases with every game purchased.
Corkscrewing - The practice of walking around a character who is on their knees and can't move their legs, forcing them to spin around rapidly to continue fighting. This is an unsafe behavior.
Character Points or CP - Another name for a character's Experience Points (see also Build and XP).
Charging - Crowding an opponent so that they must retreat or step aside to avoid physical contact, which is considered unsafe behavior. See General Rules for more information.
Cheater Chain - Despite its name, there is no particular stigma attached to this term. It refers to micromaille, a type of chainmail armor with very fine links. A full shirt of this armor typically weighs much less than your standard set of chainmail.
Cheater Dodge - This is a nickname for a Dodge that is purchased by itself (at greater XP cost) instead of purchasing it through an upgrade to your Defensive Maneuvers. See the Combat Skills for more information.
Check-out - The end of play form, where Experience Points, Feedbacks, and BGAs are completed.
Circle, Circling, Circle Test - This is an old term used to describe an In-Play test or other contact with an instructor to advance in a specific skill. Skills that require an In-Play test to advance will be noted in the rules.
Claws - Boffers made of red tape or dacron, usually in a short length. Claws imply natural weaponry, and as such, cannot be disarmed. Many monsters use claws as their default weapons.
Closing Ceremonies - A final address from staff to the players at the end of the event.
Crunchies - Weak monsters who are expected to be killed quickly but who provide entertainment for combat focused characters.
Culture Packet - A packet of information given to players who choose to play a given in-world culture. Culture packets should not be shared with others, not even people who play the same culture. They should only come from game staff.
Delve - An In-Play way to talk about going on a module that takes place within the Citadel.
Draw or Death Draw - After a PC dies In-Play, and a resurrection is attempted, they must see a Marshal to have a death draw done. The result of the draw determines whether the resurrection is successful or if it results in a Permanent Death. The draw may have other effects, for good or ill.
Event - Also called a "Gather"; a single game session. "During an Event" refers to the period of time which is considered "In-Play"
Fate of the Party - If a player has to be called away from a module for any reason, they may opt to take "fate of the party", indicating that they accept the outcome of the module in their absence, without being able to take part. Any consequences that the rest of the module party may endure or reward they may obtain is shared with them.
Feast - Dinner on Saturday night of an event, which is provided by the game and included in the event cost. This is typically held in the Tavern, and most often provides some interesting opportunities for roleplaying with both players and NPCs.
Field Battle - Generally, this is the largest battle at any given event. Most three-day events involve a field battle, and it usually occurs on Saturday evening.
Floon - Excitement, enthusiasm, or interest. E.g., "I'm bursting with floon for the event this weekend!"
FOIP - "Find Out In-Play". This means that the answer to an OOP (Out-of-Play) question is something that can only be discovered within the game world, and will not be answered in any other fashion.
Flub or flubbed verbal - When a player says the wrong tagline, wrong word in a tagline, or stammers on their words when attempting to state a tagline. This doesn't count. The player that flubbed the verbal does not expend the resource, nor does the player that was targeted actually take the effect.
Game-off - The official end of play at a given event. Clean-up, packing up, and the like must still be completed after this point.
Game-on - The official start of play at a given event. Check-in, getting into costume, and set-up should be completed by this time.
Gather - An In-Play term to refer to a game event, meaning a time when all or most of the player base is "gathered" at a given location for play.
Guide - Also called "Marshal", a non-player who oversees action in a scene or module. Marshals settle rules disputes, give stats to Monsters, describe a scene if elements cannot be phys-repped, and otherwise represent Plot to players. At Citadel, "Guide" is also an In-Play term used to refer to specific characters who always act as marshals.
Hellgrinder - Any extraordinarily difficult or brutal combat-heavy module, field battle, or event.
Hold - A game-pause, generally called due to an unsafe situation, rules dispute, or plot fiat. During a Hold, everyone must freeze and look down. A Hold ends when all issues are resolved, with a count of "3...2...1...lay on!"
Hook - See also "Module". The hook is the character or marshal that comes to let you know that the module is ready for you, and leads you to the location.
IP - "In-Play". Events, items, and actions which take place in the consensual reality of the Game World. See also OOP. Players are expected to remain "In-Play" as often as possible during an event, and it is polite to keep "Out-of-Play" actions and conversations away from those who are "In-Play."
Jumpy-stones - A form of physical challenge in which players are forced to leap from position to position. To miss a jump is to fall into something universally bad for your character.
KBA - "Killing Blow Active". This is shorthand for an NPC or monster that is given permission to perform Killing Blows. See Killing Blow.
Killing Blow - An attack administered to an unconscious or otherwise helpless character, this involves touching said character with a weapon and saying, "Killing blow three...killing blow two...killing blow one." Once the countdown is complete, the target is dead. Not all NPCs are "Killing Blow Active", or KBA. Only NPCs which are KBA may deliver a killing blow to a PC.
Lay-on - The call to end a Hold, indicating that play may resume. This is usually said at the end of a three-second count so that everyone can prepare and resume their positions.
Lich-Marshal - A Marshal who is accompanying a specific NPC, and calls out effects, defenses, and manages their stats on their behalf. Usually indicates that the NPC in question is a high-powered monster, or a Boss. The term comes from the classic Dungeons & Dragons Lich, which is a very powerful, undead wizard.
Marshal - Also referred to In-Play at Citadel as a "Guide", a non-player who oversees or "marshals" action in a scene or module. Marshals settle rules disputes, give stats to Monsters, describe a scene if elements cannot be phys-repped, and otherwise represent Plot to players.
Medic - Calling "medic" means that someone has been injured Out-of-Play and needs real medical attention. This is never to be called for In-Play injuries.
Metagaming - When a player character acts on Out-of-Play knowledge. This is against the rules and should be avoided as much as possible.
Module - An adventure that occurs outside of the main In-Play town area, and can be as straightforward as hunting a pack of troublesome beasts or as involved as Delving into the Citadel. A staff member, or "Guide", will always be present during a module to show you where to go, explain the situation, and answer any questions.
Monster, Monstering, Monster Shift - Playing an NPC during a player's required volunteer time. Although the term "monster" is used, this can also mean playing any variety of NPC.
Monstertown - The Out-of-Play area where the Volunteer NPCS, and other staff reside.
NPC - "Non-Player Character". Also known as "Monsters".
One-Day - A type of event that ends the same day it begins. Most One-Day events begin in the late morning and run until the early evening.
OOP - "Out-of-Play". Events, items, and actions which take place or exist in the real world, not in the consensual reality of the game world. Stuff that "doesn't count". See also IP. A person that is Out-of-Play is designated by a single weapon or hand resting atop the player's head, or by wearing a white headband.
Orange Headband - Someone who has opted to have no part in combat, most often for medical or safety reasons. This non-combat status is indicated by wearing an orange headband. Anyone wearing an orange headband should avoid combat or move to the side if combat occurs, and everyone else should actively avoid or ignore them. Players wearing an orange headband will always take "Fate of the Party" if combat occurs.
Packet - A representation of magic or a thrown effect, typically made of birdseed bundled up in a bit of colored cloth, and tied with a rubber band. The person hit with a packet must take its effect (or otherwise mitigate it). Also called Spell Packet, although it may represent other thrown effects.
Packet-Chucker - Slang for a character who primarily throws packets instead of engaging in melee combat. Also called a "Caster".
PC - "Player Character", this refers to those who play a given LARP, as distinct from Staff and Volunteers, who are called NPCs.
Perm - To permanently die as a PC, meaning that one must create a new character in order to continue PCing.
Phys-Rep - Short for "Physical Representation", this refers to a prop item used to represent a thing, for example, a foam boffer can be a sword phys-rep, or a bit of rope might be the phys-rep for a wall of fire. This term is a catchall which can apply to pretty much any prop.
Plot - The Plot Committee or Staff for the game. Check out the About Us page to meet Citadel's Staff.
Production - In-game item creation, such as Artificing, Alchemy, and Inscription. This is accomplished at specific times during an event; or as part of BGAs.
PVP - Player-versus-Player. Indicates situations in which the PCs are pitted against each other, in combat or socially. At Citadel, PvP combat or behavior is generally frowned upon, but is not considered a violation of sportsmanship. However, it likely cause you to make many enemies among the other players.
Rez - Short for "Resurrection", this refers to a dead character or monster coming back to life and returning to play. In Monster parlance, this refers to how many times a given group of volunteers should attack, be killed, and return to play.
Rez Point - This is the place where a group of NPCs gather out-of-play before coming back into play. A Marshal will inform the NPCs where this Rez Point will be in a given situation.
Roll(ed) - Utterly annihilated; what happens when a group of PCs or NPCS come in and kill everyone in their path with ease and minimal casualties. When it happens to PCs on a module, it is sometimes called a TPK or "Total Party Kill".
Rules - The game's core guidelines and policies. May also be shorthand for the "Rules Committee" or "Rules Marshals", who are responsible for making calls about disputes.
Shield Wall - A bunch of melee fighters with shields who have formed a line, holding their shields in front, to face the enemies.
Site - a given State Park or other area where an event is held, includes both In-Play areas, like the Town, and Out-of-Play areas, like Monstertown.
Slime-Module - A generic term used to describe an adventure in which players are likely to get dirty, wet, or otherwise gross. These warnings should alert players not to wear their nicest clothes or have the choice to opt out if that doesn't sound fun for them.
Spell-Blossom or Packet-Blossom - Having a fist full of packets, usually so the bulbs are visible between the fingers, forming a "blossom of packets". This is sometimes related to a packet-users power level, as it is assumed that they can use all the packets they are displaying. In game, this can represent that a spellcasters hands are wreathed in magic.
Stats - Statistics, refers to either the numbers on a character card, or the abilities and skills given to certain monsters. PCs improve their stats by spending Experience Points.
Stick-Jock - A term for a player who LARPs for combat, and is less interested in roleplay. More generally, a PC whose primary focus is being a melee brute.
Sword-and-Board - A character who uses the combination of sword and shield for combat.
Tag - A slip of paper or card listing the properties of an In-Play item. Tagged items are subject to in-world effects. In cases where it is impossible, inconvenient, or unwise to trade phys-reps, like, for example, when weapons are taken from a monster In-Play, players are given the tag for the item instead of the actual prop.
Talky - An NPC whose primary function is to come in and talk to the PCs; they may or may not have any combat skills, as combat is not expected to be their primary function.
Tarp-Wrangler - An NPC or Staff member who assists in setting up modules, called so due to the copious amount of black tarp used in doing so.
Tavern - The central building on site, usually the dining hall and kitchen building. This typically an area where PCs gather.
Text-Prop - A physical In-Play text, such as a letter, scroll, or other document.
Town - The area of the site which is considered "In-Play", most often used to refer collectively to the player base. Players sometimes use this as the group term for things the player base does as a whole, such as "the Town killed the bad guy".
TPK — “Total Party Kill”. What happens when a PCs are completely rolled on a module; used specifically for modules because those usually involve a small group of PCs, or a ‘Party’.
Trapping — a safety violation in which one player pins or “traps” the weapon of another, so that they may not freely move their arms or the weapon.
Turtling — a safety violation in which one hides their full body, most often using a shield, removing all legal targets from view/access.
Unicorn — The practice of repeatedly raising one’s hand to his head in order to say “Out of Game” comments during the middle of In-Play scenes. This practice is so named because the motion frequently looks as if you are making a horn with your hand gestures
White Headband — Worn to signify when someone is “Out-of-Play” and should be ignored by all “In-Play” characters.
XP — Experience points. See also "Build" and "Character Points".