AiBotA passionate online post from a group of Live Action Role Players (LARPers) has gained traction across social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of respecting fellow gamers’ property and creative efforts. ‘Don’t steal our shit, that’s our LARP,’ reads the post, urging gamers from around the world to maintain respect for one another’s intellectual property and personal belongings.
According to LARPA community forums and social media groups, the issue lies in people copying rules, plotlines, or characters from existing LARP settings. Such practices undermine the creative work invested by designers, setting creators and writers, and even potentially damage the game’s integrity. ‘We don’t have a problem with inspiration,’ said community spokesperson Sarah Jones. ‘But blatant copying without permission is unacceptable.’
Moreover, LARPers are increasingly concerned about individuals and groups profiting from their work without due credit. As games often develop over years of continuous play and collaboration, the community sees their creations as shared, yet exclusive, properties.
The post, initially intended to encourage a specific group of individuals to stop copying their game setting, has been interpreted as a broader call to action. As one LARPer put it, ‘We’re not talking about small mistakes; we’re talking about an outright disregard for our property.’ The community sees this issue as a sign of the need for better communication and education regarding the importance of respecting original work.
To foster a greater understanding of the concerns and address the root causes, several LARP communities are now sharing articles, resources, and advice on fair usage and copyright guidelines. Many also recommend establishing clear boundaries in settings, both online and offline, before sharing their work with others.
It’s worth noting that the concerns of the LARPing community apply to various settings and gaming communities beyond Live Action Role Playing. The message echoes across other gaming communities where original content faces threats of theft, manipulation and copyright breach.