The LARPers escaping algorithims and finding real life in the past

Piercing through the early morning bird calls comes a loud blaring horn.

It is a warning. Be aware — the battle has begun.

In the Armidale pine forest a group of soldiers, merchants and knights have gathered to spend a weekend in the Middle Ages.

Life circa 1450–1470 was far from easy, so this is no luxury getaway.

The soldiers are fuelled by simple food such as bread and cheese and their days are spent engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Through the long nights they keep watch for the enemy.

Event organiser Luke Binks says visiting an old reality can help people find real-life connections away from the digital world.

"I think people are really craving some realism, they're craving escape from what feels like a lie to us sometimes," he says.

Mr Binks has been taking part in events such as these for more than two decades and makes his living building period-accurate armour.

"People really want authenticity," he says.

"Not just authenticity in a historically accurate kind of way, but authenticity in a true understanding and connection to what they're doing and who they are.

"It's difficult to be 100 per cent immersed but … we're in a cool forest, we're camping for four days, you get to deploy out with a medieval military and you almost get to be part of what you see in the movies."

'More real' than real life

Amanda McCaughey, who has six years' worth of live-action role-playing (LARP) experience under her belt, says "the weird thing" is that "it's not about escaping real life".

"This is almost more real life, because if you get stuck in a doomscroll forever, how is that real?" she says.

"You can actually be present in the moment and that's what these events do really well."

Ms McCaughey said preparation was vital, but not cheap.

"You're using natural materials only, wool, linens, which are very expensive," she said.

"The number [of dollars you spend] is infinite, because it's depending on how much gear you buy, how much equipment you buy to participate, whether or not you have someone you can stay in tents with."

SKEMA Business School persuasive language professor Tom van Laer said LARP had its origins in the world of board games such as Dungeons and Dragons but evolved to the point where the board was removed, leaving only the people.

"It brings back the social — not the social as in 'social media' … humans in the same space doing something together," he said.

"That is becoming rarer because of technology."

Great escapes, emotional journeys

Mr Binks said the events also helped participants build confidence and allowed people a space to challenge themselves.

"People have a great time doing it," he said.

"They get to explore themselves a bit, get to test their courage. That may seem like a trivial something, but it's actually not.

"'What's my endurance like? Can I actually last? I'm going to trudge around a forest for four days in soft-soled leather shoes, can I actually do it?'

"This is a great escape. Sometimes it can feel like too much effort to get here, but as soon as you're here and doing stuff you're, 'Like this is actually really relaxing — I don't know if I want to go home.'"

But Professor van Laer said some people could also experience what is known as "bleed".

That happens when the fictional life encroaches on the ordinary, leaving some feeling dissatisfied.

"You learn about leadership, teamwork, all kinds of skills that you could use in your real life. You know how to deal with stress, but there's also clashes," Professor van Laer said.

"Say that you slayed a dragon on the weekend, and then on Monday morning you're sitting in your cubicle with your emails. You start to question, 'Are these the life choices I was meant to make?'

"People actually use these LARPs to reflect on their own life and whether they need to make changes. But that can be a very emotional journey."