how realistic is too realistic?

[Hisnameisjack]

Im not a fan of cheesy looking physical reps. of guns or weapons, but what is going to far? i play airsoft fairly often so i have some high quality guns, most i  think would be easily passable as "fake enough" but i have an all metal AR-15 airsoft rifle which was about $360, it takes any attachments a real AR-15 would take. it has the orange tip an all, but on the side its labeled .556 Carbine so it could be confusing. to see it the guns link is here
http://www.hobbytron.com/ElectricClassicArmyAEGArmaliteM4SPCAirsoftGunJGAR005M.html

[`_100003005030 (Zero)]

Pretty sure every LARP has a clearly defined weapons policy.  A lot, I'm sure, depends on venue (and presence of mundanes), but generally speaking, the more real it looks, the less likely you'd be able to use it.  Someone with far more LARP experience than I can tell you more, though, I'm sure.

[SSR667]

The more real it looks comment is usually what applies in LARPS and other events.

Each con has it's own rules. A good generalization is no edged weapons at all, (Boffer <> Edged Weapon) and all firearm replicas must be peacebonded by security staff. If you don't know or ARE NOT SURE then find security and they will be happy to explain the rules to you. (This approach works at any Con and most events). Please note the "ARE NOT SURE" in caps. The reason for this is that a couple of years ago I assumed I knew the rules at several events and was most unpleasently suprised to find that I had missed a couple of memos by not reading up / checking for updates.

For example: Lynn and I took the kids to the Monroeville zombie walk a couple of weeks ago. (First time to a zombie walk) The 4 year old did not want to be a zombie so she went as "Zombie Bait" and her older brothers went as "Hunters". Each brought a yellow NERF gun and NO ammunition. We checked in with the staff and found that they were very greatfull that we did as several "Hunters" had Arisoft weapons and were being quietly asked to put them back in their cars. (The mall didn't allow them. This had changed from the previous year as someone had been nervous about the Airsoft weapons.)

[Avie]

Airsoft guns are NOT legal in NJ (don't ask how I found this out.  Just know that it was a REALLY long night.)

I personally hatehatehatehatehate playing in LARPs that permit them, and never intend to ever allow them to be fired in any game I run.  I got popped in the face while playing an NPC, and it was just miserable.  More than actually hurting, it was ridiculous to be doing a favor, playing a big baddie and get shot in the face. 

If you can't have a good time without a super real gun, you're not doing it right. (IMNSHO)

[SSR667]

I personally hatehatehatehatehate playing in LARPs that permit them, and never intend to ever allow them to be fired in any game I run.  I got popped in the face while playing an NPC, and it was just miserable.  More than actually hurting, it was ridiculous to be doing a favor, playing a big baddie and get shot in the face. 

Tell me this was an accident and not a group of people that decided to skirmish with pellet guns? This is why I didn't even let the boys bring NERF darts to the zombie walk. It would have been all I needed to have one of them shoot someone in the eye and say "Whoops, accident"

I don't have a problem with Airsoft guns being used as long as they are not loaded and the GM or associate makes sure the weapon is unloaded / cleared first (The reason for peace bonding). I didn't bring anything authentic looking because I couldn't contact anyone who could answer the questions about them.

I can't speak for all of the LARPs that go on at you cons but the ones that I've been in have never had an incident like that. I've never even seen someone get as much as a splinter.

[Hisnameisjack]

okay i sorta figured, i saw a lot of realistic looking airsoft guns that got peacebonded, its just mine are a little eehhh, a guy can have dreams right?-i was helping with security at the time just cause i really had noootthhing else i wanted to do and its mostly just checking for badges-

 anyway i can see why people would be against having them in the con because of the main stream people who are really stupid with guns, -I shoot alooootttt, and whenever our local range has an general public event, i spend the whole time in fear with idiots and their guns, I've got stories to tell.....-
but i really wanna know how a guy SHOT you in the face with an airsoft gun that should have been unloaded.....

[Avie]

Oh, not at all.  They use airsoft guns in their boffer larp as approved "weaponry".  I get it's a stylistic thing, but I'm very much not a fan.  To each his own, and all, but not on my watch.  Ya know?

We peacebind everything.  if there's the slightest chance you could get shot in a stairwell by an overanxious member of NJ's Finest, we mark it, saying "we've seen it and he's not a doofus carrying a live weapon."  and often, things that aren't dangerous get bound for exactly that reason. "Yes. One of ours has seen this, blessed it and unless you use it as a mace, it's not harmful."

[pstproductions]

Airsoft guns are legal in NJ, but it varies from county to county and township to township. It is another weird NJ law that gets confusing.

A way around this is the loophole of using them under a theratical prop wepon permit. It is a way around using them in many states that are outright AirSoft non friendly. We have been using AirSoft weapons, set to non fire as we do not use live combat in any of the Cthulhu Live events we run for over 6 years. They actullay are much safer then Cap Pistols as those can cause hearing loss if you end up firing it to close to someone's ear.

For live combat games, such as TerrorWerks, we have an entire legal gymnastics that we have to go through as we are using the AirSoft guns live. However what we use are low power AEG's running 150 to 200 fps and use very strict safety guidelines and even have waivers players must agree to sign before entering the play area.

As long as intelligence is used with AirSoft or any type of prop weapon it can be an effective way to bring a little more suspension of disbelief to your games.

[Jarons20]

There are a few groups that do use Airsoft and replicas nut they have the rule that no one leaves the room with anything looking like a real weapon. Sometimes they dont allow any boffers or even nerf to leave the room. Not naming names but there is precedent at Dreamation, but ask security.

[Avie]

This gives me a headache.

Folks, if the hotel catches you with an illegal or potentially illegal weapon, they are going to handle the situation according to local regulations and laws.  Which includes legally being able to detain you until somebody with a badge shows up to question you and ascertain your threat level!!!!

If I catch you with something that looks like a real working firearm, you will be asked to remove it to your room. 

After the moron who asked if he could use live pistols as props in a LARP last year, I'm not taking any chances.  If it fires anything more serious than a nerf dart, leave it at home.  And if you don't, and it becomes a conflict, I absolutely will cede responsibility for you to the hotel, the local cops and whatever other authorities involve themselves.  Anything that would get you shot by a cop for having it in your hand in a dark alley is NOT PERMITTED.  Just don't do it. 

Nobody is so patently pathetic that he needs a gun to make him cool.  So no, your LARP costume does not REQUIRE your guns. 

I generally trust folks to think for themselves, but I have more doubts every year. 

seriously - the headache I have?  enormous.

If security tells you to put a weapon in your room and you refuse, we WILL turn it over to appropriate authorities. 

(am I really having to post this? really?)

[Avie]

BTW - folks who press the issue and try to bend the line bring us closer and closer to "no weapons. at all. None."

So, if you catch on that a buddy is being a dink, point out to him that the day we declare no weapons, regardless of how cool and/or safe they are, it's his fault. 

I often teeter on the line of "administering this is plain too much.  Ban them all."  and wouldn't that suck for folks who can't imagine a costume without a weapon?

[Hisnameisjack]

well in that case....hello Mr. Nerf Maverick....

[Kate Beaman-Martinez]

Smart boy.

[wcshoe]

(am I really having to post this? really?)

Yes, you are. yes, really.

[Avie]

Yes, you are. yes, really.

::cries::