Lookdown

A quick guide to the Lookdown call for new larpers: how covering your eyes or a hand gesture signals you need a moment outside the scene.

Lookdown is a quiet safety call that lets you leave a scene without stopping it for everyone else. A common version is to hold a hand up to shield your eyes, look down, and walk out of the scene; other players carry on as though their characters cannot see you, without drawing attention to you. Shield your eyes rather than covering them fully, so you can still see where you are walking. The call exists because sometimes a scene moves somewhere uncomfortable, you need to catch your breath, check on a real-world matter, or simply collect yourself before continuing. It is quiet and low-disruption by design, which means you can use it without feeling like you are pulling focus or breaking immersion for others. When you are ready, you can rejoin play at a natural moment, and some games also let you stay where you are and simply lower your hand to return. Because Lookdown is a safety tool, it should never be used as a plot device or as part of a character's actions, and no one should question you about it in the moment. If you feel you need more than a brief pause, most games also have a word or gesture for fully stepping out of play entirely, and organiser or marshal support is usually available at events for anyone who needs a quiet space or a longer break. Every game defines its own safety calls, signals, and aftercare practices in its player briefing or safety document, and that document is always the authority over any general description you read elsewhere. Before your first event, read through your game's safety brief carefully, and do not hesitate to ask an organiser or experienced player to walk you through the signals if anything is unclear. Knowing these calls before play begins means you can use them confidently if you ever need to.