While Cosplay and LARP share many characteristics (the main one being costuming) they aren’t the same thing.
What separates them?
Cosplay, from the words “Costume” and “Play”, is about costuming and re-creating the design of already existing/original characters, there’s less role-playing (if any) and no combat. The only thing you need to cosplay is a costume. I say “only” as if it was a simple arrangement, it’s not – trust me. Oftentimes costumes are extremely detailed and precise.
Cosplay isn’t as much of a game as live action role-playing is. LARPs revolve around a plot provided by the Game Master for the amusement of the players. Attendants immerse themselves entirely in their character and act out their actions.
To structure a game of LARP, Game Masters use rules and systems for battle and character development. Unlike Cosplay events, LARP games are heavily focused on role-playing and immersion. Live action roleplaying is a performance art while cosplay is a visual art.
While both use costumes, larpers use them as a tool to strengthen their character while Cosplay is about the quality and precision of the costume and its ability to mirror a character.
To understand them better, let’s start by taking a look at each activity, individually.
- Cosplay
- Emulating a character’s design
- Roleplaying isn’t required
- An art form for the eye – only representational
- Generally, there’s no fighting involved
- Focus on displaying costumes
- Cosplay Characters
The performer wears a self-made costume to represent a character. Usually, the cosplayer finds inspiration for his/her character in movies and books. However, some characters are originally created by the cosplayer.
Costumes are also sold online too, and sales have grown rapidly. In 2008, the cosplay-costume industry reported a profit of 35 billion yen, approximately $310M. Even though many cosplayers make their own costumes, there’s still a market for accessories like wigs, body paint, jewelry, hair dye and much more.
To perfectly replicate a costume takes a lot of work, especially the details of the costume. To master the craft the cosplayer can benefit from skills like sculpturing, sewing, woodworking and painting.
There are no boundaries to what a cosplayer can do to improve his costume. Most cosplayers tend to modify their bodies to resemble the character they represent. This is done by changing the color of one’s skin, using colored lenses or getting fake tattoos.
There are more extreme methods, of course.
Some people shave off their eyebrows to achieve the desired look.
The costume is then worn by the performer at fan conventions where they are exposed to thousands of like-minded cosplayers who wear their own costumes.
- Competitions
At these conventions, the cosplayer can participate in competitions where contestants are judged based on the presentation of their cosplay. The judges may look for these qualities and how well the contestant represents them
- Accuracy
- Accuracy is about styling accordingly, dressing and using the right props for your character.
- Presentation
- The contestant’s ability to act, move and mimic famous characteristics.
- Crafting
- The level of detail, quality and functionality of a dress plays a major role.
- Ability to charm/amuse an audience
- It’s advantageous for a contestant if he/she can manage the presence of a crowd well
The more you resemble the character you have chosen to replicate, the better you will score. Cosplaying on stage is about more than looking like the character in questions. Acting, quality of the costume and attention to detail are just a few of the things a contestant has to be prepared for.
Let’s move on to LARPs for a while. I think we’ve got Cosplay covered.
What is larp?
- LARPing
- Roleplaying your own character
- Boffer fights
- Acting
- While costumes are important, they are not the main part of LARPing
- LARP events are campaigns where players are sent on quests
- LARP Characters
Characters in LARP are either created by the player or the Game Master. Cosplayers aim to replicate a character while LARPers usually draw inspiration from fictional characters when creating their own. Characters must fit the genre and theme of the event.
These characters are the heart of the event, developing new skills as they advance with the story.
When creating a character for a LARP, the player should include as much information as possible, ranging from something as basic as the character’s name to something as deep as his/her absolute worst nightmare.
LARPers use “Character Sheets” to keep track of their character and its attributes. These attributes and skills improve as the character gains XP-points. With in-game currency, the characters can purchase skills to broaden their arsenal.
Some LARPs are free of combat. Instead, storytellers challenge the characters with other tasks. Depending on how well they perform the task, the storyteller can decide to let the party advance or penalize them.
In games where combat exists, it’s often conducted with boffer/foam swords and hit-systems for safety concerns. Game Masters also act as supervisors who keep the game balanced and fair by restricting player characters from becoming too overpowered and cheaters from cheating.
Game Masters can have a hard time supervising a crowded game, players are therefore trusted to be polite and honest on the battlefield.
Cosplay vs LARP
It seems like Cosplay and LARP are two pretty different things when you look beyond the costume. However, both larps and cosplays gather thousands of people from all over the world who enjoy themselves and their costumes while making new friends.
I’m sure there are LARPers who attend Cosplay conventions and Cosplayers who run amok with boffer weapons at LARP events. Generally, people who like acting, fighting and storytelling will find LARPs more amusing. On the other hand, people who enjoy the thought of crafting a character costume and displaying it for others to see will most likely pick Cosplay over LARPs.
Someone who likes roleplaying will find both amusing, in LARPs there’s more acting. However, cosplayers can roleplay their characters too. There’s no need for cosplayers to roleplay though.
“The best part of LARPing is the storyline, no doubt.”, according to Michael Andersson, a 23-year-old from Southern California. “Acting has always attracted me. When I started LARPing, it was very natural for me to become my character.”
To act or speak in front of a group can be hard for some. In LARPs, it feels like people understand that. There’s nothing wrong with being introvert, many LARPers are.
“It gets much easier over time, especially when you’ve developed your character and the way you roleplay. It seems like people feel less anxious when they are in character – they aren’t themselves, they are their character” Michael says.
What about Cosplay?
“The thing about Cosplay that always brings me back to these conventions is the community. Over a single weekend, I’ll meet thousands of people who share my hobbies. I never feel judged for what I do” says Camille, a 19-year-old girl living in South Korea.
Finally, I guess you can say LARP and Cosplay are two different things. However, they share some elements that might interest the same crowd.
I’ve tried both and honestly, I like them a lot.