Who are those people hitting each other with swords in East Lansing’s Patriarche Park?
EAST LANSING – When you first hear about Amtgard, a medieval and fantasy combat sports organization, it sounds so silly. But then you try it, Lansing resident Spencer Kippen said.
“And it’s basically like a half step short of a full contact sport,” he said.
Kippen’s cousins introduced him to the activity around 13 years ago. They use padded weapons, fantasy and authentic costumes, armor and imagination to immerse players in a world of heroic combat, crafts and quests.
Now he’s the grand duke of Michigan, northern Indiana, and the east side of Chicago, an elected position he'll hold for the summer. His duchy includes the Barony of Ashen Hills park group, which meets weekly at Patriarche Park in East Lansing to engage in light role-play, foam-weapon fighting and “general weekend merriment,” according to the group’s website.
Other groups can be found in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and even outside the United States. Amtgard is everywhere. You can never escape the nerds, Kippen said.
“It doesn't matter where you are, if this is a hobby you're interested in, there's someone who will play this game with you,” he said.
When and where to play locally
Amtgard was founded in El Paso, Texas, in 1983 and has over 10,000 active members, according to its rulebook.
The local group meets from about 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays at Patriarche Park in East Lansing. If the park is busy, players will be in the far back on the northeast side of the park.
The group’s home park is Wonch Park in Okemos, but due to construction the group has moved to East Lansing this summer, said Lauren "Lady Alpaca" Warshaw, a Lansing resident who is the point-person for advertising and outreach as the group’s elected regent.
There’s also fighter practice to focus on technique from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at Hillbrook Park in Haslett, weather permitting, Warshaw said.
People looking to get involved can go to a new player expo from 1 to 4 p.m. June 12 at Patriarche Park. The first 10 new players will receive special prizes and there will be loaner equipment, quests and merchandise.
The group is open to the public. It’s free to join and participate. Kippen said they try to choose spots to play that are public because for every 100 people who see them about 10 will check out the group, which is how they get most people to join.
In his experience, people are self-conscious about live-action role-playing, whether it’s in private or public. To enjoy it, Kippen said they’ve got to lean into the silly factor.
“A lot of it is actually the social aspect of, we know this looks strange, we know this feels strange, but you just have to get your feet wet and then you’re hooked,” he said.
The combat rules and gameplay
Combat is at the core of Amtgard and represents a significant portion of the time spent each week, the rulebook states.
Players have five locations where they may be “wounded” when hit by a weapon: both arms, both legs and the torso. Strikes to the neck or head are banned. Any two wounds or a wound to the torso results in a “death” where the player is out.
Kippen said the equipment is padded with enough foam so combatants don't have to wear protection if they don't want to, though some players do wear homemade or crafted armor.
“The barrier for entry is pretty much as low as it's ever going to get in a game where you're hitting another person," he said.
The Ashen Hills group has a huge stock of loaner equipment and there are experienced people who will help newcomers learn how to make their own, he said.
When it comes to role-playing, Warshaw said their park is more combat-focused but some people will take on personas. Kippen is Rieux Latham in the game, a lost Frenchmen who never learned how to actually speak French.
Combat varies widely, from a battle like ultimate frisbee but with swords and magic to a Dungeons and Dragons-esque fight against creatures leading up to a high-stakes encounter.
“I would say that there is an expectation of goofiness and it's okay,” Warshaw said. “We're all goofy, we're all in this together, and we're inclusive of every age and ability and we accommodate for that.”
For people who want to join the fun
Kippen said he's pretty ingrained in this big, silly community, so he’s straightforward when encouraging others to join.
“I pretty much tell them, ‘you're a giant nerd, do you want to come hit other giant nerds?’” He laughed.
Warshaw thinks the game has something for everyone, from people who are already inclined to be "nerdy" and involved in role-playing games to "jocks" who are more interested in the athleticism aspect.
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“Ultimately, I think the most welcoming thing all demographics find is that we are a really tight-knit community,” she said. “You know, we accept everybody and we're all there to be silly and look silly and have a silly time."
Kippen said the community has to be some of the most fun people he’s hung out with anywhere and someone has to have a fun and open personality to get the most out of this.
“Once we have a sword in your hand, and we've got you in a battle game, it's too late for you,” he said. “You're already in, you're already having fun. That's the end. It's over."
People can find out more about Ashen Hills through its Facebook group and website.
Contact Bryce Airgood at 517-267-0448 or bairgood@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Where to find live-action role-playing games in East Lansing
