Welcome to the Realms!

The Realms is a world of medieval fantasy. Modern day technology does not exist. Instead, people live by wits and courage, by magic and the sword.

The Realms is a world far different from our own. It isn't based on our world's history, and only loosely based on our own geography. Within the Realms such things can be found as terrifying monsters, magical powers, armored knights, and pious monks. The only limit to the contents of this new world is the limit of the creative mind.

The Realms is a world where you can become a valiant fighter, a sneaky thief, or a powerful sorcerer. You can become a ruler of men, a soldier of fortune, or a peasant farmer.

Enter the Realms and learn the ways of the sword become an apprentice mage or squire to a knight; grab a goblet , join the feast, and listen to the bard's tale as you gather at the banquet; compete in the tourney and improve your swordsmanship; take up your bow and fire at the approaching army.
You're in the Realms now and you'll never be quite the same again.

What is This?

This is the rulebook of the Realms, a Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP) game system. The building blocks for playing the game are contained here, but there is more to the game than could ever be explained in one small book. Covered here you will find what you need to know about combat, magic, and other aspects of playing the game.

What is the Realms?

The Realms is a LARP system. This game has been in existence since the late 1980s. The term, "The Realms," is also used to refer to the community of LARP enthusiasts who attend events held by these rules. The Realms has evolved considerably since its conception through the participation and imagination of more people than can be credited. Unlike most LARPs today, the Realms has a skill-based combat system, and is community-based rather than being run by a single, static council or corporation.

For those who aren't familiar with what playing in a LARP entails, it is a lot like acting. The difference is that while the Event Holder (EH) sets the stage, the lines are all yours. You decide what "part" you want to play. Are you a mage, a warrior, a noble, or all of the above? Once you arrive at the event site you slip into your character's persona. You stop acting like yourself and begin acting like your new part. Now this is all fine and good until you decide your character would pull out a sword or wand and slay some other character in front of you. For one thing, really killing people with real swords isn't legal or nice. For another, there isn't any magic in the real world, so when you wave your wand at someone, nothing really happens. This is why there is a system involved. The system is designed to help resolve situations that we cannot practically resolve on our own. The Realms uses foam-padded weapons to resolve melee combat (sword-fighting) and the game supports a magic system as well (for all manners of wondrous things not possible in real life). The specifics of the Realms system will be discussed in more detail later on.

How Do I Start Playing?

First off, read this rulebook. Read the whole thing. That might seem self-evident, but you would be surprised how many people dont follow that simple suggestion. The Event Holders of the game get together and modify the rules every year. It is a good idea to re-read the Omnibus each year, so you can be up-to-date on rules modifications and changes.

Next, you will need to make a character; this is the person you play while at events. This alter-ego will be the vehicle you experience the Realms through. Creating a character is old hat to many who have played table-top role-playing games, or other LARPs. If you are unfamiliar with creating a character or want some tips, please see the Creating a Character section. Characters are often referred to as Player Characters or PCs.

After creating a character, the best way to become acquainted with the Realms is to simply go to an event. Most people will be happy to explain what's going on to you. There is so much that can happen at an event that it is better experienced than explained. Attending practices is also helpful, as you not only become acquainted with the combat system, but also get introduced to other players.

Important Notes

Anyone who is a danger to themselves or others will not be allowed to participate. Before carrying out an action that might be considered unsafe to yourself or others, check with a marshal.

For the safety of all participants, any form of unwanted physical contact is strictly forbidden.

Any acts considered unlawful in the mundane world, such as theft or rape, are considered unlawful in the Realms, and any perpetrators of such will be handed over to the authorities.

Participants' tents, bags, packs, pouches, and possessions are completely off limits and out-of-play. No exceptions. Even if officially in-play items such as Realms currency, magic items or magic weapons are concealed within a participant's belongings - you may never, under any circumstances, go into and remove those items from their tent, bags, packs, pouches, or possessions without the occupant/owner's explicit permission.

Repeated disregard of the rules will not be tolerated.

Failure to follow the above laws can and will be punishable by sentences that are as light as sitting out of a tourney to as severe as being removed from an event site and prosecuted for violations of Federal and/or State law.