RAGNAROK XXVI - A Review
Last Updated on Friday, 01 July 2011 20:55 Friday, 01 July 2011 20:53
It's fantasy meets mythology meets history... at a week-long camping trip in Cooper's Lake, located just an hour outside of Pittsburgh, PA. This LARPing (live action role-playing) event is based around the concept of Valhalla from Norse mythology, where you fight all day and at night you party with your friends.
While there are many different LARP systems, Dagorhir is unique in the fact that it does not permit the use of magic. It was inspired by JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and the name of the sport translates roughly to “people of war” from the Elven tongue. Battles are held during the course of the week on a daily basis, ranging from defending/invading the snow fence at Cooper's Lake which is brilliantly built like a castle to battles in the woods and weapons tournaments ranging from archery contests to knife fights. More After The Jump.....
And if being the King's Champion isn't your thing but you're still curious, the social life is superb! There are merchants to buy hand-forged items from to bardic competitions, campfire cookouts, gyspy halflas, fire spinners, and mixed drinks made by the Poisoner's Guild that even the most seasoned bartenders would scratch their heads at as they try to guess the delicious secret ingredients. While a third of the campground at Cooper's Lake is used to cover the fourteen hundred attendees, groups are organized into realms bearing familiar names such as Mordor, Narnia, and Asgard, usually its inhabitants reflecting the name of the camp. If it's geeky and stems from an era prior to the use of gunpowder, odds are that you will be able to find a representation of it!
That being said, the culture is very different than either the SCA or conventions held inside stuffy halls. A great amount of freedom is granted to the players of Dagorhir to come up with their own persona, and creatures ranging from goblins to Romans to fauns all have their place in the battlefield. Even if a player was go ahead with a more historical route, 100% accuracy is not required as it is more so about having fun and bonding with your friends than being true to the books. For those who are getting fed up with being stopped every five steps in a convention center for a picture, the culture shock that comes with Ragnarok may be pleasant as it is all about trying to live in the days of old. Many attendees avoid the use of a cellphone altogether for the course of the event, and although a few pictures do occur, this event is not about showing off to the paparazzi but proving yourself on the battlefield and enjoying parties such as the Mardi Gras in Mirkwood with your friends.
Go if you always wondered what it was like to walk a mile in the shoes (I mean, hairy feet!) of Frodo Baggins, if you want to escape the mundania that is the 21st century, and if you want to bring out your inner warrior. That being said, definitely check up on the Dagorhir culture from garb standards to weapons requirements as there are rules and a good game of foam swords and rocks is a fair game. Yes, if you fight with every ounce of courage in your heart you shall return home beaten and bruised by the end of the week but the war stories and friendships forged are very well worth it.
