Combat is optional. Not all LARPers choose to engage in combat.
A boffer is a padded foam weapon.
These lightweight contact weapons are designed to prevent injury during mock combat. The classic boffer is made using closed cell foam for the blade with a PVC pipe or fiberglass rod core and open-cell foam cushion for the tips, plus washers, contact cement and duct tape (although a fitted cloth covering is much preferable to duct tape).
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- Only boffers may be used in combat.
- All edges for weapons used in battle must be made of thick dense closed-cell foam.
- There must be a minimum of 1 inch of foam surrounding a weapon’s core, including its tips or ends. More is better!
- Common materials used for boffers include blue camping mats, pool noodles, and foam floor matting.
- The tip or thrusting end must have 3 to 4 inches of softer open-cell foam.
- Your tip or thrusting end must not be able to pass through a 2-inch round hole (that is, an eye socket).
- The core must end at least 1-inch before the tip or thrusting end begins.
- Common materials used include all-purpose sponges.
- Pommel strikes are not allowed, but pommels must be padded for accidental hits.
- Use at least 1½ inches of closed cell foam for padding.
- The end of your pommel must not be able to pass through a 2-inch round hole (that is, an eye socket).
- Thrown weapons must have all exposed edges and surfaces covered in foam.
- Non-foam weapons may be used as costuming but not for mock combat.
- All edges for weapons used in battle must be made of thick dense closed-cell foam.
- All weapons should observe Rule #1, Safety first!
- Make sure there are no spots on your weapon that could cause actual injury.
- All warriors must check their weapons for rough spots before engaging in mock combat, paying particular attention to the edges of the duct tape which can accumulate dirt and become sandpaper like.
- Do not use a weapon if it is unsafe.
- Unsafe weapons include (but are not limited to) those that have core showing, weak or broken padding, ripped tape, or sandpaper-like dirt accumulation in the adhesive along the edges of the duct tape (this is one reason why a fitted cloth covering is preferable to duct tape).
- Prior to engaging in mock combat, remove any potentially dangerous objects from your person such as jewelry, watches, etc.
- This is a simple safety issue for both you and the friends you are fighting.
- Glasses are optional, but they have a nasty habit of being knocked off and stepped on during combat.
- You may also want to empty your pockets of keys, mobile phones, or anything else bulky.
- All parties must give consent to a duel prior to any combat.
- Strike only hard enough for your opponent to know they have been hit.
- To test the strength of your blow and the hardness of your weapon, strike yourself in the leg with your boffer.
- If your weapon goes behind your body to swing, you’re swinging too hard.
- When you receive a hit in a valid area, you must acknowledge that you were hit, even if the person who hit you doesn’t notice.
- If two players hit each other at the same time, they are both dead.
- Do not stab or thrust at your opponent’s abdomen.
- Do not strike your opponent in the head, neck, breasts, groin, hands or feet.
- These are not valid targets because they are very sensitive areas and because you may cause serious injuries if you hit someone in these areas.
- You may want to wear a bicycle helmet and athletic supporter just in case.
- However, if you purposely use an invalid target area as a shield (for example, use your hand to stop an attack), you are dead.
- No “Drum Rolling” or “Machine Gunning” — do not strike rapidly in succession and do not strike the same spot repeatedly.
- Never grab, catch, or hold an opponent’s weapon.
- Only boffers may be used in combat.
Boffering is a contact sport whose injury risk is equivalent to that of a friendly pillow fight when following safety rules and using properly padded boffers, but bruises and welts are possible if play gets too rough — so don’t let it get too rough.
Every boffering group has their own unique rules. It’s your responsibility to ensure that you know what they are and that you follow them.