Winter LARPing has multiple advantages and disadvantages. In many climates, LARPing in the winter means dealing with cold temperatures and inclement weather. While a snowy mountain vista might look idyllic in the Lord of the Rings trilogy from the comfort of your home, a slight oversight such as improper footwear can make a fantasy weekend LARP adventure unpleasant and even unsafe in the winter.

Pros of outdoor winter LARP:

• If you're looking to gain experience and treasure, your chances might be better in the winter due to low attendance and others' desire to stay inside in-game.
• You need winter gear. That means you get a new costume!
• Some games offer seasonally-themed activities. You don't want to miss those ice elementals or a rare component like mistletoe.
• Many games offer special bonuses to encourage attendance at winter events.
• This is a great time for you and your character to become noticed or make a key move due to lower attendance.
• Winter battle feels epic.

Cons of outdoor winter LARP:

• That winter costume you need costs money.
• All games need to take some real-life precautions to run smoothly and safely during the winter (such as banning outdoor camping during harsh conditions). Some players feel that this detracts from the fantasy environment.
• Your gear will weigh more due to extra layers and thick clothing.
• Some games skip winter events or only offer one-day events, ruining your chance to get ahead.
• Costumes can get sub-par; due to financial and weather constraints, sometimes players have to wear some thermals and sweats covered by a cloak.
• Latex and boffer weapons can hold moisture and freeze. This can hurt. While everyone should be warned to pull hits, a stray spell packet or weapon containing ice hurts.

Do you LARP in the winter?