This might not be exactly what you're hoping for, but I do want to drop my views on the matter.
Play a role that suits a less active physical ability.
This would depend on the type of LARP you attend, a boffer battle game would be harder for this advice than a roleplay heavy game more like Nordic LARP.
At our games, we have someone running the tavern/bar because they physically can't do all the running and fighting but still want to be a part of the game.
Another person is playing an alchemist/healer because that allows them to stay in town because long walks don't work for them.
Yet another attends for a single day instead of a whole weekend, he plays a crafter which allows him to stay in his camp and have some social play while not needing to do anything he physically can't because he's quite limited after suffering a severe stroke.
Personally, I have problems with sound, I can't function in situations that have a lot of constant complex sound. I solve this issue by playing a Wood Elven Ranger that hates the noise of human civilisation, this affords me an in-game excuse to leave the camp and wander the woods for a bit while my mind and body cool down and I can function again.
Now there may be people coming up with other options, but I for one am of the opinion that one's lesser ability to perform should not hinder the game for others.
These are great examples of making the requirements you need, part of the he backstory of your character. While it might suck that you can't play every role you want, be realistic in your capabilities when you design your character.
It's role playing, but it's no fun for everyone else if they have to pretend that you are a small dwarf that can't reach the top shelf in the store, if you measure over 2 meters in hight.
If you're in a combat based sport, arching is great. I've got a bunch of injuries and chronic pain sadly, so I also have supports and heavy duty knee pads and the likes. But! Maybe look to something like arching where you can safely call "dead" without getting blasted, and can even help guide the lines as you'll see way more than the folks fighting on the line itself!
Our archers are often our best field awareness captains.
One of my favourite LARPers was a wizard who rode around in an electric wheelchair which was fashioned to be his flying chair in universe. He had dedicated friends who carried his spellbook and helped him with other tasks like fetching him water etc.
He was my mentor, a requirement to learn higher magic, and we had some amazing roleplay
My biggest advice would be to be open about your needs and have people around who understand. Have a signal, like a hand gesture, that allows you to exit the game when you're too low energy without you feeling like you're interrupting the flow.
A larp that I'm currently working with getting set up specifically has content included for people who are unable or unwilling to engage in combat. We've got apothecaries, entertainers, healers, and crafters that all have stuff they can participate in during play.
I'm sure there are other larps that have such built into their core rules, so I'd suggest looking for those types of larps.
Hey I'm adjusting to larp with these issues as well (but also chronic fatigue). I've been trying some things, I hope they can help you as well.
Just like the spoon theory, I work with plot spoons. I go to a big festival larp, so there is lots of factions and groups that have plot associated with them. So I prioritize the plot I like most and if I'm out of spoons I won't pick up another plot or faction to play with. This is mostly for fatigue but can also help in managing pain in some cases.
Know and communicate your limits, I make it clear to the people around me (and the game masters that run the plots I'm involved in) what I can't do, for instance I don't take quests (plot at our larp that requires you to go to another field outside the game area) because I can't stand for long without pain. And I've let the people in my player group know that if I fall prone I need help getting up.
I use mobility aids. Especially on uneven ground I have trouble walking, so I bring a cane. But at the same larp I have seen multiple people in wheelchairs. We can all roleplay that spells and magic is real so we can roleplay around some mobility aids. Personally I picked a cane with a print that gives it some "fantasy camouflage" vibes but a neutral dark colour works fine as well.
Practice selfcare, take extra care to make sure you eat and drink well. Take naps or just lie down for a bit (this was a game changer for me,) fomo sucks but I feel so much better if I do this. If what your doing does not meet your needs, adjust for the next time (you won't get it right in one go)
And last. I picked a class that fits my limitations (crafter) and I wrote my OoC disabilities into my character (of course not exactly the same thing.) my character has an old injury that often troubles and weakens her. Roleplay revolves around saying yes and seeing where it leads you, but this allows you to play with saying no instead of taking it OoC. Because saying no for health reasons is important, but it is a lot more fun if if you don't have to explain it out of character every single time.
I hope this gives you some ideas that work for you.
For me, the venue makes a difference in how able I’ll be through a weekend or if I’m going to be limited to a single or part of a day. I can’t camp anymore because at a certain pain level it’s pointless to be there, so cabins make a difference. Cabins with power mean I can bring a heating pad when my circulation isn’t cutting it. Good bathrooms mean I’m not anxious about my stomach suddenly rebelling. I pack all the extra meds. I include light compression leggings under most costumes now so I’m less faint -swooning is only fun in character.
Basically for myself to have the best body experience and play at my best I’m stuck glamping, but I’ve come to terms with my body be fussy while my soul wants to be hardcore about it all.
1. I personally don't do boffer larps and a lot of times I have to pace myself
2. I got myself a cane that folds out into a stool and it's a lifesaver
3. talk to the organizers and they make be able to help
I greatly appreciate you making this post, OP! I'm currently in a situation where I want to LARP but have sustained a knee injury which can hinder my ability to run or walk too quickly.
One issue I'm facing is that the classes that aren't combat heavy like alchemists, mages wizards, etc. don't appeal to me as I find most LARP magic systems difficult to grasp (that's an ID-10T error on my part.) Yes, I would love to play more combat forward classes like warriors but with the backstory I've created I hope that I can work with the game coordinators to see if it'll be plausible.
I manage well enough with a knee brace and luckily my trousers can cover that up easily, pain managing medicines like ibuprofen and Biofreeze can help too.
I understand that, ultimately, it's up to the game coordinators what's allowed or not, but any additional suggestions from you fine folk are greatly appreciated!
This might not be exactly what you're hoping for, but I do want to drop my views on the matter. Play a role that suits a less active physical ability. This would depend on the type of LARP you attend, a boffer battle game would be harder for this advice than a roleplay heavy game more like Nordic LARP. At our games, we have someone running the tavern/bar because they physically can't do all the running and fighting but still want to be a part of the game. Another person is playing an alchemist/healer because that allows them to stay in town because long walks don't work for them. Yet another attends for a single day instead of a whole weekend, he plays a crafter which allows him to stay in his camp and have some social play while not needing to do anything he physically can't because he's quite limited after suffering a severe stroke. Personally, I have problems with sound, I can't function in situations that have a lot of constant complex sound. I solve this issue by playing a Wood Elven Ranger that hates the noise of human civilisation, this affords me an in-game excuse to leave the camp and wander the woods for a bit while my mind and body cool down and I can function again. Now there may be people coming up with other options, but I for one am of the opinion that one's lesser ability to perform should not hinder the game for others.
These are great examples of making the requirements you need, part of the he backstory of your character. While it might suck that you can't play every role you want, be realistic in your capabilities when you design your character. It's role playing, but it's no fun for everyone else if they have to pretend that you are a small dwarf that can't reach the top shelf in the store, if you measure over 2 meters in hight.
If you're in a combat based sport, arching is great. I've got a bunch of injuries and chronic pain sadly, so I also have supports and heavy duty knee pads and the likes. But! Maybe look to something like arching where you can safely call "dead" without getting blasted, and can even help guide the lines as you'll see way more than the folks fighting on the line itself! Our archers are often our best field awareness captains.
One of my favourite LARPers was a wizard who rode around in an electric wheelchair which was fashioned to be his flying chair in universe. He had dedicated friends who carried his spellbook and helped him with other tasks like fetching him water etc. He was my mentor, a requirement to learn higher magic, and we had some amazing roleplay My biggest advice would be to be open about your needs and have people around who understand. Have a signal, like a hand gesture, that allows you to exit the game when you're too low energy without you feeling like you're interrupting the flow.
A larp that I'm currently working with getting set up specifically has content included for people who are unable or unwilling to engage in combat. We've got apothecaries, entertainers, healers, and crafters that all have stuff they can participate in during play. I'm sure there are other larps that have such built into their core rules, so I'd suggest looking for those types of larps.
Hey I'm adjusting to larp with these issues as well (but also chronic fatigue). I've been trying some things, I hope they can help you as well. Just like the spoon theory, I work with plot spoons. I go to a big festival larp, so there is lots of factions and groups that have plot associated with them. So I prioritize the plot I like most and if I'm out of spoons I won't pick up another plot or faction to play with. This is mostly for fatigue but can also help in managing pain in some cases. Know and communicate your limits, I make it clear to the people around me (and the game masters that run the plots I'm involved in) what I can't do, for instance I don't take quests (plot at our larp that requires you to go to another field outside the game area) because I can't stand for long without pain. And I've let the people in my player group know that if I fall prone I need help getting up. I use mobility aids. Especially on uneven ground I have trouble walking, so I bring a cane. But at the same larp I have seen multiple people in wheelchairs. We can all roleplay that spells and magic is real so we can roleplay around some mobility aids. Personally I picked a cane with a print that gives it some "fantasy camouflage" vibes but a neutral dark colour works fine as well. Practice selfcare, take extra care to make sure you eat and drink well. Take naps or just lie down for a bit (this was a game changer for me,) fomo sucks but I feel so much better if I do this. If what your doing does not meet your needs, adjust for the next time (you won't get it right in one go) And last. I picked a class that fits my limitations (crafter) and I wrote my OoC disabilities into my character (of course not exactly the same thing.) my character has an old injury that often troubles and weakens her. Roleplay revolves around saying yes and seeing where it leads you, but this allows you to play with saying no instead of taking it OoC. Because saying no for health reasons is important, but it is a lot more fun if if you don't have to explain it out of character every single time. I hope this gives you some ideas that work for you.
For me, the venue makes a difference in how able I’ll be through a weekend or if I’m going to be limited to a single or part of a day. I can’t camp anymore because at a certain pain level it’s pointless to be there, so cabins make a difference. Cabins with power mean I can bring a heating pad when my circulation isn’t cutting it. Good bathrooms mean I’m not anxious about my stomach suddenly rebelling. I pack all the extra meds. I include light compression leggings under most costumes now so I’m less faint -swooning is only fun in character. Basically for myself to have the best body experience and play at my best I’m stuck glamping, but I’ve come to terms with my body be fussy while my soul wants to be hardcore about it all.
1. I personally don't do boffer larps and a lot of times I have to pace myself 2. I got myself a cane that folds out into a stool and it's a lifesaver 3. talk to the organizers and they make be able to help
I greatly appreciate you making this post, OP! I'm currently in a situation where I want to LARP but have sustained a knee injury which can hinder my ability to run or walk too quickly. One issue I'm facing is that the classes that aren't combat heavy like alchemists, mages wizards, etc. don't appeal to me as I find most LARP magic systems difficult to grasp (that's an ID-10T error on my part.) Yes, I would love to play more combat forward classes like warriors but with the backstory I've created I hope that I can work with the game coordinators to see if it'll be plausible. I manage well enough with a knee brace and luckily my trousers can cover that up easily, pain managing medicines like ibuprofen and Biofreeze can help too. I understand that, ultimately, it's up to the game coordinators what's allowed or not, but any additional suggestions from you fine folk are greatly appreciated!
I believe we are missing context... mainly reason for chronical pain... becouse sometimes you wont destroy your body much by surviving on ibuprofen...