the author admits its not worth comparing the two as they're different thing, quotes anecdotal evidence to put down LRP in some areas but doesn't balance it with the same in living history, and adds nonsensical comments like " I am hoping it was just that person and not representative of LRP-ers as a whole." If you think thats true then why mention it. If you've seen sufficient evidence to make this worth commenting on then stand behind it.

There is some value in it comparing kit of LH/reenactors to LRPers. I agree LRPers probably aren't much different a demographic in terms of income to LH people. But you're not taking into account the fact that someone who does LH might focus on one or two historical periods (correct me if I'm wrong) whereas a LRPer might have a dozen different characters, only 6 of which are in play in various systems at any one time (when you count backup characters etc) - all of whom need kit, and house space to store it in.

On a personal note, I disagree with the phys rep vs authentic issue. Aluminium chain works fine, can look great - end of story. It doesn't quite look like 'proper' chain but neither does that orc in the latex mask look 'quite' like a real creature. We allow for suspension of disbelief and costume/kit acts as triggers for this. As long as there's nothing which is particularly egregious in a costume then its fine. If its better then great - all adds to the game. I see absolutely no benefit to the game in whether or not a player is wearing waterproof socks or authentic woollen things. Should someone be penalised for wearing phys rep plate vs real plate - why? If it looks good, and I am convinced they are wearing metal armour in game - what do I care if they spent £100 or £10,000 on it. (eg latex plate vs reenactor grade plate). If it looks crap then thats different.

What I don't like about living history and this is totally anecdotal and might be wrong. The size of your wallet defines what you can play/dress up as by the very nature of it and I really like that this isn't the case in LRP (coming from someone who's spent £1k on kit for one event before now) Because nothing less than absolutely authentic is acceptable for LH, you have to pay exhorbitant prices for costume - clothes, armour, weapons etc and if you can't afford that then you can't take part at the level you want. Sorry you can't play a knight but you can play a peasant...

RE living history fayres - I've often found them horrendously overpriced. I've seen hand made clothes going for £800 which were appalling in quality. I've seen ridiculously overpriced fabric and leather (and I don't mean paying a premium for authentically produced items). I've personally had experience of a costumer (Anne Laverick - don't get me started) which was shocking in terms of service. I've met nice traders there and I've met snobbish idiots. I've also seen some very nice stuff there at reasonable prices but its a mixed bag.

My point - there's dicks in all walks of live. Living History is too different to LRP to compare "gamewise" tho it might look similar on the surface. There's good and bad traders on both sides, there's good and bad costume on both. LRPers do often spend comparable sums to LH people but its spread over wider areas. LRP is also more open to people with less income/less willingness to spend that sort of money on a hobby and that is a good thing in my opinion.

And for the record I've seen LH people at exhibitions standing around in full kit chatting about football and the telly - wearing modern glasses and watches. So it ain't that far removed from the 'fest-style' complaints that always get trotted out in LRP.

In Lrps i have been too i have met many great people but i do agree with the author that people take it over the top.  I have seen people go up to others and tell them they where being too rough when they scratch their precious plate or hit a little to hard.  I mean I have personally been shouted out for hitting someone to hard in the head with a peice of latex when they where wearing a metal helmet... this was coming from someone that was trying to panel beat me to the point every time i parried my sword was bending almost to breaking point.

As far as kit goes... I can't sew never have been able to and never will be able to probably... so i buy all my clothing from various people that are much better at that sort of thing than myself.  In the end larp and lh are expensive as hobbies go the cloths aren't cheap but the ones i have i like and are good quality.  The armour isn't cheap more so i think for LH than larp.  The weapons aren't cheap either once again more so for LH rather than larp.  In the end though its not what you spend on a peice of kit its how you feel wearing it... as long as you look the way you want to look for teh character your playing <in lh as well cause your just playing a character in a sense> then who cares .

In the end their are good and bad people from both types of play LH and LRP, you just have to put up with the good and bad of both.  They both have their alluring qualities and both have some qualities you might well could live without but we all enjoy them and if we didn't why would we keep going :-).

Duty is as heavy as a mountian, death as a lite as a feather.

The bird of paradise alights upon the hand that does not grasp.


Praise menoth.

The Whispering God is your friend... trust the Whispering God...

Ruins of Empire

1st - 3rd Feb, 2008, Gladstone scout centre, Chester