In LARP, creatures are one of the most setting dependent character types you can decide to play. Many creature species exist in fantasy, and most LARP only pick a handful of types to be playable. Among the classics like orcs, goblins, ogres and trolls can also be found rat people like the skavens, or savage bestial creatures akin to werewolves and lizardmen, plus various unnatural crossbreed mutants. Many events have their own original monsters loosely inspired by fantasy and folklore, but with their own twist. What you will be authorized to play will always be entirely dependent on the lore of your chosen LARP.

Any creature you play will obviously be more than their mere specie, but truth to be told, these characters are often seen as a monster first, any other trait like class of skill set being secondary when you play such a bold concept. Facing this reality, you as the player have a few options. The most obvious one is to embrace the stereotype and lean into the trope, doing your best to play the best monster you can be. That means pushing your limits and putting the whole body into the act to be as monstrous and inhuman as you can be; crouching, snarling, twitching, sniffing ravenously, and openly wondering about the taste of someone’s flesh are all valid options. This is particularly fun to experience as a group, with everyone trying to surpass the others in sheer awfulness.

Another approach would be to play a creature with redeemable qualities, but still suffering from a major culture gap. That means your goblin shouldn’t act like a green-faced human, but they may have a few traits that will surprise other players or create conflict through apparent contradictions. For instance, having a fiercely loyal and loving orc that unfortunately protects their friend in an overly violent way makes for good drama. Same goes with the surprisingly good-natured ogre that cannot resist snacking on fallen foes. Make it difficult for other players to put you in a box and watch them scramble with the moral dilemmas and debates you create with your actions.