Emotional safety and aftercare

This page has safety advice that hasn't yet been checked by our safety reviewer. Treat it as general guidance, and follow your game's, venue's or product's own safety rules first.

An introduction to emotional safety tools and aftercare practices for new LARP players attending games with intense or dramatic themes.

LARP can put you in emotionally charged situations — playing grief, conflict, loss, or fear can be powerful and meaningful, but those same qualities mean the experience sometimes lingers after the game ends. This entry is general guidance for new players, not a policy document from any particular game. Every game that uses intense themes should have its own safety briefing and aftercare plan, and that briefing is always the authority for how things work at that event. During play, safety calls and check-in signals give you and other players a way to pause or step back without breaking the story for everyone. A lookdown signal, often a hand held over the eyes or a clearly lowered gaze, tells others that you have stepped out of the scene and they should play on as if you weren't there. An OK check-in, often a simple hand signal, lets someone nearby ask whether you are genuinely doing well; you can reply honestly out of character, and no one is expected to push through something that is actually upsetting them. Learn whichever signals your game uses before play starts, not in the middle of a scene. Aftercare is what happens once the game or a difficult scene is over. It might be as simple as sitting with a friend, having a warm drink, talking through what you played, or taking a quiet walk. Some players find it helpful to name the line between their character's feelings and their own — saying out loud "that was my character grieving, and I am okay" can help the two stay separate. Others prefer a bit of time alone before rejoining the group. Neither approach is wrong, and you do not owe anyone an explanation of how you decompress. If a scene or the overall event leaves you feeling unsettled for more than a short while, that is worth taking seriously. Talking to a trusted friend, a game organiser, or a counsellor are all reasonable steps. Good events will have at least one designated person you can approach if you need support, and their name should be shared in the pre-game briefing. Looking out for other players is just as important as looking out for yourself — a quiet check-in with someone who seemed affected costs very little and can mean a great deal.