Refuge Rulebook - v1.0.6.1 - Player Rules Guide

Aug 22, 2026

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Comprehensive rulebook for official REFUGE Live Action Roleplaying (LARP) games, outlining how to participate, create characters, and run play across in-game and out-of-game boundaries. It presents core mechanics including the four most important rules, discrimination and consent expectations, physical representations, starting items, and the structure of species, classes, combat, calls and deliveries, and a full skill and effects framework. Includes guidance for life and death, magic, alchemy and traps, artificing and high magic, plus logistics and roles for cast members while restricting use to sanctioned events.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages191

Reading Time8 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

LARPing Basics

Chapter I: Where to Start?

In-Game / Out-of-Game

Player / Character

Chapter II: Species

Chapter III: Classes

Chapter IV: Combat

Chapter V: Calls and Deliveries

Chapter VI: The Skill System

Chapter VII: Skills

Chapter VIII: Mental Abilities

Chapter IX: Weapons and Armor

Chapter X: Life and Death

Chapter XI: Magic

Chapter XII: Alchemy and Traps

Chapter XIII: Effects

Chapter XIV: Artificing and High Magic

Chapter XV: Out of Game Considerations

Chapter XVI: How to Be a Cast Member

v1.0.6 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 4 Chapter I: Where to Start? 5 LARPing Basics 5 The 4 Most Important Rules 6 Discrimination and Consent 6 Physical Representations (Physreps) 7 Character Creation 8 Starting Items 8 Chapter II: Species 9 Chapter III: Classes 23 Chapter IV: Combat 25 Chapter V: Calls and Deliveries 30 Effects Chart 36 Chapter VI: The Skill System 39 Production Skills 48 Chapter VII: Skills 51 Special Abilities 70 Chapter VIII: Mental Abilities 78 Chapter IX: Weapons and Armor 85 Armor 85 Weapons 88 Chapter X: Life and Death 92 Chapter XI: Magic 96 Chapter XII: Alchemy and Traps 105 Alchemy 105 Traps and Locks 107 Chapter XIII: Effects 112 Chapter XIV: Artificing and High Magic 139 Artificing 139 High Magic 152 Chapter XV: Out of Game Considerations 175 Logistics 179 Chapter XVI: How to Be a Cast Member 183 Index 188 This book is for use in official REFUGE LARP games only. This book is not designed as a stand-alone game system, but only as a supplement for the player in a REFUGE LARP sponsored game. Use of these rules in any unsanctioned game where admission is charged is prohibited. REFUGE LARP—[www.refugelarp.org](www.refugelarp.org) View International REFUGE links Introduction Live Action Roleplaying is a unique hobby. It combines the theater of the mind with the activity of a physical sport, improvisation with emotional roleplaying, and exciting escapades with heroic last stands. Compared to tabletop games, video games, or even virtual reality, nothing comes close to the excitement of actually engaging in physical combat against an opponent or being chased through a forest at night by a monster hunting your character. My ﬁrst LARPing event was back in 1996, and even as a teenager I was immediately transported to an incredible world where I could try things I’d never imagined before. This is the only hobby I’ve enjoyed continuously across more than two decades. Although the games I’ve played have changed over the years, that moment of excitement when I ﬁrst inhabit another character’s worldview has never faded. LARPing has allowed me to stretch my communication and emotional aptitude far beyond what I could ever try in “real life”, and I credit this hobby with giving me the skills I use daily in my professional job. I can’t recommend it enough to those who are ready to stretch themselves ina safe and supportive environment. When someone tries LARPing, they push themselves in interesting ways that they might never have the opportunity to do otherwise. Perhaps they’ve always wanted to take on a leadership role and never worked up the courage or been given the opportunity to do so in their regular life. Maybe they’ve always imagined sneaking around in a dark ﬁeld and proving their mettle in daring escapes, or they love the idea of conjuring powerful magics and saving the day. When LARPing, they can try all of these things and more – they can practice their bartering skills, seek to outwit those around them, or build a group that helps everyone work together to stave oﬀ the destruction of an entire society. They can enjoy these and thousands of other experiences which are more immediate and impactful than any other activity they’ve ever tried. While REFUGE inherits from and pays homage to several other LARPs and gaming systems across the US and internationally, it brings a ﬂavor and community uniquely its own. The REFUGE player base is welcoming and open to new players, whether they’ve LARPed for decades or are ready to tryout their ﬁrst event. If you’ve never tried this hobby before, I encourage you to give it a shot with REFUGE – there’s nothing that quite compares to what LARPing can give you. This Rulebook serves to introduce you to REFUGE and provides options to play a variety of customizable characters. It provides both the basic nuts and bolts of how to play as well as examples of how the

FAQs

What rules govern behavior in and out of the game at a REFUGE event?

Out-of-Game actions are anything not part of the story world, such as restroom use or logistics tasks, and briefly marked by hand/weapon to the head or by a white headband if lasting longer. In-Game actions are story-related, such as fighting with melee gear or roleplaying conversations as characters.

How does the rulebook distinguish a player from an in-game character?

Players are separate from their in-game characters and should not assume the character they play represents an encounter every time. In-game outcomes, like being knocked out or robbed, should not be treated as personal issues by the player; keep IG problems IG.

What topics does the REFUGE rulebook cover beyond basic entry rules?

It covers character creation and starting items, species and class frameworks, combat and delivery calls, skill systems and mental abilities, weapons and armor, life and death, and multiple magic disciplines including alchemy, traps, artificing, and high magic, plus logistics and cast-member guidance.

Aug 22, 2026

Upload by Dozel