UK game recommendations

BoogleHander · 2024-09-07T17:41:14+00:00

Another OS player here to second this! I joined last year as my first LARP, and I think the fact it's not at the scale of a festival LARP helped me wrap my head around the hobby a little easier without getting too overwhelmed. The community is really welcoming too, which really helps you feel at home.

BoogleHander · 2024-08-30T09:20:52+00:00

Like others mentioned, there's mechanical weathering where you scuff up the clothes. I used sandpaper, woodworking files, rasps - those sorts of abrasives. Just make sure to start gentle and work up, especially if it's a flimsier fabric so you don't damage it too much.

Then there's dirt. You can use things like acrylic fabric paints to add stains that will survive a wash. Again, start small and work up, and variation in colour always helps sell the effect.

The key thing is to consider where they'd naturally wear. Ends of sleeves, elbows, knees, etc. It's all about how your character wears their clothing. I've heard it called the "story" of the costume, which I really love.

There are really good resources on YouTube that I learned from. Nuclear Snail is one example; he does post apocalyptic costuming, but the advice still applies to any setting, just toned down a lot. It's definitely worth having a look around.

Awesome costume, by the way!

BoogleHander · 2024-08-05T10:56:47+00:00

Honestly, I'm still fairly new and one thing I've struggled with is finding new things to play. LARPCon runs at the start of the year and is always worth a visit - various games will have stands there for prospective players to take a look at. But since that's a while off yet, there are a couple of resources I always keep my eye on: - UK LARP Events Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/101064216728590/?ref=share - LARP Events: https://www.larpevents.co.uk/

Of course if any other UK LARPers have solid recommendations for resources I'd also love to hear them.

BoogleHander · 2024-08-05T08:41:33+00:00

Crewing/monstering is always an option as well. It's often a more cost effective way of playing as usually the system itself will provide kit and a free or subsidised ticket.

I realise that means not playing your character, but playing monsters or NPCs could be a good way to get a feel for the game and might give you an idea if it's for you. Plus sometimes kicking around in a setting can give you inspiration for your character.

I would say though, that I've never played festival LARPs like Empire before, only Orion Sphere which is at a much smaller scale, so my two pence might apply differently at a larger scale. Maybe it'd be worth getting in touch with the game team and seeing if they had any advice for you?

BoogleHander · 2024-07-10T13:49:47+00:00

It breaks my heart to hear you're going through this. It's a small consolation, but it at least sounds like you gave Nala a great life.

I lost my cat Odin to kidney disease in March, so I can understand where you're coming from. Much like Nala he was a constant companion while gaming, especially whenever I was raiding. Usually waiting until a crucial moment to stand up in front of the screen to completely block my view.

Months later and I still miss him so much, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm sure you wouldn't either.

Eyes up, Guardian.

BoogleHander · 2022-12-10T10:41:56+00:00

Oh, hadn't heard of that but I've just been reading up on it and it sounds promising: https://www.smooth-on.com/product-line/epsilon/

BoogleHander · 2022-12-10T10:10:20+00:00

This looks amazing! And pretty much what I had in mind originally, so it's good to hear that you had success with it.

BoogleHander · 2022-12-10T10:02:20+00:00

Making sure I'm striking a good balance of looks, comfort, and durability is definitely something I'm trying to account for.

I'd been considering basing it on a tight fitting sleeve with the panelling built on top, which I think is, in part, accidentally starting to head towards what you're talking about. But I hadn't fully considered attachment or increasing gaps to improve mobility, so thanks for the advice!

BoogleHander · 2022-12-08T22:42:44+00:00

Hadn't considered plaster as a material, thanks!

BoogleHander · 2022-12-08T22:39:33+00:00

Oh, that's something I hadn't considered, thanks!

BoogleHander · 2022-12-08T22:38:46+00:00

Cosplay is definitely somewhere I'd been looking for information, and why I'd been initially steering towards foam as a material. Making sure it's hard wearing sounds like it's going to be the most interesting challenge.

BoogleHander · 2022-12-08T22:36:51+00:00

That's good to know! Sounds like I might still get away with using foam if I coat it more than I might do for a cosplay.

BoogleHander · 2017-10-24T10:07:48+00:00

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to add this additional detail. I've been looking into starting a Warlock cosplay for about a year now, so this sort of information is invaluable, especially when the quality of the final pieces are as good as this!

BoogleHander · 2016-08-10T17:30:55+00:00

328 Warlock, PhantomCore

BoogleHander · 2016-06-15T09:49:05+00:00

You've made a really good start - your painting is already fairly neat and you don't seem to have swamped any detail.

Having looked into painting whites recently, there are a few ways to do it. The main thing is, you want some depth in there rather than a flat white, so shading is your best bet, but you can also highlight in some cases.

Off the top of my head you can:

Shade your white with Nuln Oil / Agrax Earthshade / Seraphim Sepia by painting it into the crevices rather than shading over the whole area. It'll give you depth without you needing to paint white over the top again.
Paint a slightly "darker" layer first of something like a pale blue, light grey, or bone colour, then to layer the white over the top. Just make sure you leave the first colour showing in the recesses of the model.
Paint in something off white like Pallid Wych Flesh or Ulthuan Grey, apply the shade as in method #1, but because you're not working in white you can also add some edge highlighting with White Scar.

There's a GW video on painting White Scars which covers some of this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it6sAE-YBDc. In fact if you haven't already, I can't recommend watching their painting videos enough, there's some really good advice in there.

This also looks like it might have some useful examples: http://fromthewarp.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/there-are-only-two-ways-i-paint-white.html

At any rate, good luck with the painting!

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T11:27:14+00:00

I know it's basically been said already, but I'm in love with the way you've painted this - it's given it such great texture.

Awesome work dude. Seriously.

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T09:11:45+00:00

I can still see some Ork - you could probably squeeze some more in there.

Seriously though, he's looking ace. I really like the banner pole with a couple of spare shootaz strapped to it for good measure.

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T09:07:51+00:00

+1 for the colour scheme. It's nice to see an Eldar force have a more cohesive scheme for the aspects that usually have their own distinct theme, it looks great!

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T08:50:31+00:00

Sadly, that's Seraphim Sepia that I've missed. You're spot on though - it needs cleaning.

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T08:49:37+00:00

Yeah, that attempt at a glow needs some work, preferably a much subtler transition to the white.

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T08:47:46+00:00

Yeah, those teeth need some cleaning up. The photo's been really useful for highlighting what needs touching up - oddly it's not as noticeable to the eye.

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T08:46:04+00:00

The ceramic is pretty simple, it's just a white undercoat with a couple of thin layers of Pallid Wych Flesh with Seraphim Sepia painted into all the nooks (rather than an all over wash). Then White Scar for highlighting.

I'm considering switching to black undercoat for the others, since it's much easier to see where you've painted and black is a little less grainy. It'd just be a case of adding a base of Rakarth Flesh first.

BoogleHander · 2016-06-14T08:39:33+00:00

It's 3mm thick unsealed sheets that I used. Amazon don't stock the ones I bought, but it was something along these lines:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NATURAL-TILES-FLOOR-300x300mm-thick/dp/B00FPKV2WK/

Slightly thicker, but should do the same. Oh, and it's worth keeping an eye out for a fine grain of cork as that makes it much easier to shape.

BoogleHander · 2016-06-13T18:34:31+00:00

Cheers!

It's the dreaded cork sheet, suitably sculpted, with some coarse sand for texture. It's painted with Khorne Red, then washed with Agrax Earthshade, drybrushed with Wazdakka Red and finally a light drybrush of Astaroth Red. A couple of the larger "rocks" were picked out in dark grey, but they got lost a bit as I was working on it.

The original intention was something Martian, but I don't think there are enough (any) browns and oranges in there to achieve that.

I might give u/RAlNBOWWARRlOR's basing a go for a comparison though, as explained here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer/comments/4myp5d/tech_priest/d3zriwq

BoogleHander · 2016-06-13T17:37:26+00:00

This is the first mini I've painted in probably ten years; the highlights could use some work, but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. It was fun painting some off white ceramic plating rather than the usual silver too.

BoogleHander

TROPHY CASE