As a little note; I couldn't git in EVERYTHING I wanted to talk about in this video. I ended up cutting a good 20 minutes where I talked about the various Institutions (senate, church, mage guild, merchant guild) as well as the six magical realms (spring, summer, autumn, winter, day and night), lineages, battles, etc. Just was TOO much for one video and editing it all was breaking my brain. XD If this video does well I'll do a part 2, giving out more "advanced" info on Empire. :)

@TheNoobchat

3 жыл бұрын

Part 2 please!

@Flummiification

3 жыл бұрын

It is certainly interesting so please do

@benwilson154

3 жыл бұрын

Really interested in this would love more info!

@brynf4377

3 жыл бұрын

Umm here's a question what are the specifics of halls? Do you need your own large separate tent? Do you have to have more than one person.

@milagrimm9930

3 жыл бұрын

sounds like you need to make more videos then ;)

One thing to add about clothing you should bring with you: socks. Plenty of good socks. No matter how waterproof your boots are, you _will_ need extra pairs of socks.

@Abensberg

2 жыл бұрын

why? dirty stinky sweaty feets are part of the adventure! :D how often do you think does aragorn change his socks, if he even would have some pair?

I've wanted to go to Empire ever since your first video on tabletop weekly on the matter. Finally, I made it for E4 last year. I joined Navarr dragging along a bunch of friends from home and uni and I must say its one of the best thing any of us have ever done! Now I'm the leader of a Striding of 8 friends, all of whom will now have a reason to see each other 4 times a year as we all scatter across the country starting new jobs. I've been sending letters to people I met at the event, negotiating new alliances or discussing my imminent dedication to Wisdom - something I would never had expected to be doing - and none of us have stopped talking about it, even after a year of no events. To anyone considering attending the next event, absolutely do! It has something for everyone. I can't thank Mark for introducing me to this amazing world!

@bsdpowa

2 жыл бұрын

that's so cool

I could listen to you talk about EMPIRE forever. It seems so interesting and lore rich and so well done. Moar plz!

I kind of expect that youll head round the OC camps at 5am or some stupid time, just to "I told you so" everybody who didn't follow your advice EDIT: Hopefully ill be hitting the field next event, as a Knight Errant testing into House Sepulchre, so Greetings from Dawn!!!

Always thought LARPing seemed cool, but admittedly I'm not one to try going alone, and I'm not sure anyone I know would be into it. Maybe I'll show a couple people this video and get their responses. (Though Empire itself is out due to an ocean making it a bit expensive to get to, lol.)

@Shonnna00

3 жыл бұрын

I really wish I could go to empire too. It was the first larp I ever learned about (through the tabletop weekly videos). I highly recommend joining a group on social media (facebook if you use it). I am part of a group where people discuss LARP in the areas around PA, New York, and New Jersey. Assuming you're in the states at least, it may be a good start to finding a larp to attend and possibly connecting with someone from the game before hand!

@drose5718

3 жыл бұрын

Bruh going alone seems so scary, but I have no friends so I’ve not got any other choice >.

@forge23

3 жыл бұрын

@@drose5718 yeah, it always seems scary, but I've now been to many different systems and events in the Uk over the years on my own, and the one thing they all seem to have in common is that the second anyone finds out you're new they will bend over backwards to help you out and help you fit in. Most of the best friends I now have are people I have met through larp, either people who have helped me make characters, people who asked me to join factions, people who just just had a laugh and a drink round a fire with me, and then... the people I helped make their new characters and I asked to join our faction, and lent some dry socks to. That first step is not a small one, but believe me, people will help you out every step of the way

@juliebullock5628

2 жыл бұрын

My sweet daughter is at her first ever LARP....... on her own but met new friends straight away.

@theprongs4175

Жыл бұрын

Guys I'm here real late and I'm in the same boat, never been, no friends who want to, even my girlfriend gave a hard no.... someone needs to make something just for us lonely newbies haha 😅

"..things you can't do in the real world like.. religious abilities" Hulmes casting shade on those faith healers...

He isn't joking about the tent. Get a good one, or stay offsite. Also many pairs of socks. MANY. What a really good video for someone who wants to know about Empire and LARP! Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together; you're helping me remember why I love the field so much (especially as I won't be able to fight any more once we can get back there).

After this year I'd almost say I miss the mud. Almost makes you miss attacking a Wintermark wall with only knives :D

@TheBolem_

3 жыл бұрын

And this was a fantastic guide to Empire, 10/5

Your old videos with the Hat's got me into Empire, and now two years later I am a happy Navarr Thorn who has met some amazing people and had some of the best times I could have asked for. So thank you Mark! Cannot wait to get back into that field next year.

@SherlockHulmesDM

3 жыл бұрын

Me too pal, miss it a lot! Glad I introduced you to it (and thanks for not going Wintermark. XD)

My brother and I are stuck over in the US and very new to LARP (literally have yet to attend our first event). After learning about LARP through the old Tabletop Weekly videos, we've both decided to make a trip to attend one Empire LARP event at least once in our lifetime.

This was fun to watch. Especially given we've been banging our heads against "what is live roleplaying?" and "what is Empire?" pages as part of the current "try to make the game more accessible to newcomers" kick we're on.

@EdFortune

3 жыл бұрын

*cough* Table top game please. *cough*

Of course, THAT is the picture of me used. An excellent overall summary of Empire there. Really good, practical advice too. I made the mistake of only bringing thin cotton to my first winter event. I wouldn't wish that mistake on anyone. Definitely going to link to this for my own Empire proselytizing. :)

I can’t thank you enough for introducing me and my friends to Empire, Mark! It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done (and will continue to do hopefully); and for anyone nervous about getting involved, I was an anxious mess my first event. But everyone you meet is so lovely and inclusive, and it is so infectiously immersive that once I found my feet it was hard to not want to get involved in everything!

I’ve been going to a smaller larp club based in the midlands for a decade now, I’ve always wanted to give empire a go but have been intimidated. This year has blown goats and I’m ready to give it a go, I’ll ask my friends in the brass coast if I can join them I think

Glory to Dawn! Lot's of love from House Du Froste (The guys with the mobile pub) ❤

@milovogel1568

3 жыл бұрын

Glory

Yay! This was a good fun watch, and as ever I got a kick out of seeing my photos used to help illustrate your points. The Setting Of Empire section was my favourite (which makes sense), you did such a good overview! Like, you've reignited my keen for a game I already love!

@SherlockHulmesDM

3 жыл бұрын

Your photos are such a keen booster and excellent visual aid for new players! I wish I could have kept a bit more in the setting section (talking about Realms, etc) but gotta keep it simple for newbies I think. Thank you mate!

While I'd love to go to empire, being from the US makes it difficult. Those of you in these comments that would like to go to empire, please try out a larp in the US! Obviously, it won't be the same experience, but I can say it will still be amazing. I decided to go after watching the old videos that mark did on empire, and it was so worth it. Even if the first game you go to isn't what you're after, I guarentee it will lead you to a game you'll love!

Honestly LARP is something I love to hear you talk about, the stories and the systems are fascinating, but probably not something I'd want to try myself. Loved the video!

I’m so happy you have made this video. Already shown this to people I know want to come but I can never do Empire justice. Thank you!

This is the video I've most looked forward to since you started Empire vids on your old channel, thanks Mark!

Its nice to see someone showing our hobby possitively and truthfully, :) one of the things i often get asked is.. "how do you do it???" as in, how do you play? which is really the easiest thing to talk about and the hardest to get accross without ending up with the "Rabbit in the headlights".. although.. you don't warn people to beware the children traders.. :D oh, and if you come to Urizen at night you will find our dirty jokes the best in the Empire :D :D

Hi there! I'm Mark "It's only partly my fault that my nation is now the largest in Empire" Hulmes

Great video Mark! I'll admit, I was a bit apprehensive and intimidated by the sheer size and scope of empire the first time I went, but I've really been enjoying myself and can only recommend it to others who want to try! :)

Great video Mark. I've missed my Highguard siblings like crazy this year and cannot wait to get back to Empire once the world is not... this crazy. See you in a field!

I’ve just binged all of your LARP videos. Honestly great content mark, I’d greatly enjoy another video update with Trott and Smithy. Keep up the high quality content!

Man, I always love the LARP videos. It's always really interesting to hear about all your stories about the game and it sounds like a lot of fun. Hopefully once the world opens up again then I'll be able to go to the next event

Went to Empire went it first started for a few years and loved it. This video does a fantastic job of showing it off. Great job 👍

Great video man, thanks. My friends suggested I go with them this year because I love rp, dnd, RPG etc. ...and I had absolutely no idea that LARP was this in depth, I can't wait

Feat me and 'The Mighty Dun' @ 21:03. Love the Vid and can't wait to get back into Anvil! Thanks again Mark for introducing me to this fantastic game :)

Loved this video. I've always been curious about LARP. Please make a part 2 video!

I just found this after a couple of friends were convincing me to try empire. I'm from Australia which doesn't have a HUGE larp community, so the scale of empire blew me away. Thank you so much for this video! It answered all my "dumb" questions.

Good choice in featuring the Woodwych Harts in your section for Highguard ;)

Great job on this man, was awesome to see everything kind of, broken down. I'll be able to play eventually it sounds brilliant

I gave it a whirl at E3 2019 and fell completely in love with it. You never forget the first scream of "shield wall!!" Or "bloody step to contact!". It's not like any roleplay game or contact sport I ever tried; it's hard to even explain the experience to someone who hasn't been. Now with a full kit (armour, IC tent etc) and hall awaiting me I'll be back just as soon as restrictions are lifted. Until then "Three people, one nation!"

@SherlockHulmesDM

3 жыл бұрын

And the thing is, battle is just a part of it. You can still have amazing moments and feels around the site without battling.

@seankavanagh3742

3 жыл бұрын

@@SherlockHulmesDM I'll have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed off field as I wasn't to sure what was going on 🤣 But I did get involved in a ritual to improve my farm and had a good laugh at some folks who had consumed an in character substance - goose whisper? - which was very funny. Next time I hope to be more involved in trading but we will see. Thanks for keeping Empire alive for me, oddly I have only ever been once but miss it quite a lot

Thank you for this Video Mark. It made me miss empire so, so much! I can't wait until we met in the field again :) Oh and, my compliments on the choice of pictures, and not only because the Orc one featured me, at all haha ^_^

Love how the first photo was Tarik's battle face, made me giggle

We really need a part 2, this was so fun to listen to. I listened to all your podcasts about Empire before and I would love if more stories get told on this channel eventually ^^ And maybe, just maybe, some day I'll travel to the UK and participate.

Really enjoying these videos, cant wait to see what this channel will become!

Eyyy! Who's that beaut redheaded Kallavessi swamp fiend! Haha

I've loved battle reenactments and living history since I was really little and fantasy just as long. I can not wait to be able to join Empire at some point soon. All the amazing imagery and storytelling chances are so enchanting! Thanks for another great Empire vid, your chats with the hats lads made me aware of it and how well run it is.

This has actually made me consider going to a LARP, I've been invited and recommended to go for years but not knowing what to expect I always said no and now I'm obsessed with the lore and saving for a ticket (and have watched this video at least 6 times and written notes). I hope you do more videos in the future!!!

Marcher pride represent! I miss Empire so much and can't wait to return once the plague dies down. I was also pleasantly surprised to see pictures from the Wassail festival, brought back some good memories (I'm the one in the autumn leaf crown and green shirt)

This video has really helped get my keen back after the longest dark, but seeing myself in one of the included photos was just the cherry on top XD

Great video Mark. I think you could make a really good Empire series that goes into detail about each aspect, and have it be _the_ go to series on KZread for people seeking info on it.

I miss Empire so much now, brilliant video My brother and I were giddy seeing our pictures, can't wait to return with everyone

@SherlockHulmesDM

3 жыл бұрын

Me too friend!

We need this kind of thing in the US...

@eflarsen

3 жыл бұрын

Find your local chapter of the SCA: society for creative anachronism.

@calar8

3 жыл бұрын

@@eflarsen I know what the SCA is, but I wouldn't exactly call it proper LARPing

@Shonnna00

3 жыл бұрын

I agree. I have had a hard time finding such a large scale, serious RP larp...

@markjw7642

3 жыл бұрын

Bicolline in Canada might be your jam, have a read of this article on it - larping.org/bicolline-great-battle/

Well, empire was already on my list of larp events i really wanted to attent one day, but now you really convinced me, ill see you after covid

This sounds great to come and experience it after covid. Thanks for the great video!

Woo woo I have tried looking for a video like this before but I'm afraid this is the first I have come across.

Thanks for all the content hope you have a good day

More of these videos please Mark!!

Thank you! Heres hoping for a part 2!

That sounds like a really really fun event!

Well done a clear and concise guide!

Fantastic content!

Another great and entertaing vid!

Excellent stuff!

I would love to attend Empire someday. It breaks my heart we don't have something like it in the states. TnT

@sharabeans

3 жыл бұрын

Look up "the voyage north"

Yep. When one of my best friends (who played Gen. Flowers, and now is playing as Rosie) got involved in Empire, I was curious. Now I'm looking at booking that international flight and going when things are safe. This looks amazing, and I wish we had something this immersive here in the States.

I live in the usa and I play amtgard and Dag. If I went on the field with one of your weapons, I'd be kicked off the field in seconds. Would love to go to empire one day, but that would be only in a dream. 70 pound is almost $92 usd. Let alone flight, food , and othere stuff. If you ever come to America try looking for a Dag (hit harder) or amtgard ( not as hard hits, more magic, and more roll playing) event. it's $25 to $35 usd for 3 day events. Dag gives u one big meal on the 2ed day with your ticket. Amtgard feeds u lunch 1st day, 2ed day breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 3ed day is leftovers, or just breakfast.

I started at Empire a couple of years ago. I started my own Dawnish house that is now finding it's feet and starting to grow. We opened a Gin and Teahouse at E4 last year. I absolutely love it. I recommend to anyone even the slightest bit curious to give it a go. Its tonnes of fun and I've made loads of new friends. I'm even playing D&D with some of them over Roll20 every other Monday to tide us through these human malware riden times until we can all take to the field of Anvil once again.

Goddamn are those camera angle transitions smoooooooth!

I was having a cold and miserable time at one of my early events, got some thermals from a vendor and it completely changed the whole thing. Never underestimate being warm and fed. And as for tents, absolutely. Had a crappy tent, and while it kindof worked it was cold. Make sure the tent has a tub ground sheet, we woke up one day and half the tent was a waterbed. Thankfully it wasn't coming through, but it was pretty close. Get pocket warmers too, I kept an activated one in my glove for a while. And as always, more socks. XD

Please do much more about this. I would greatly appreciate it. So many videoes seem adressed at people who are already playing Empire.

Brass Coast represent! Empire was my first ever LARP event 4 years ago, and although it's no longer the main system that I go to, I still enjoy popping by once a year to drink, make music and perform plays that are mostly dick jokes with my group (if you've heard of the Cocktopus play, that's us). For any new larpers, I would recommend trying different systems if you try one and it's not for you, as it may be the system and not LARP itself that you didn't get along with. For example, although I enjoy Empire, I've really found my home in smaller LARP systems like Guild of Darkness and Future's End. I would also recommend crewing/monstering a smaller event if you get the opportunity to; it tends to be free to crew, and you get to stab up your player friends whilst not worrying about your character dying (or in my case, playing an NPC that they fell in love with and then made them cry when said NPC was brutally murdered in front of them).

Your videos with Hatfilms got me to buy my first ticket for August. My ticket is still waiting for me for when it's back open. Can't wait! :)

@eristaylor9936

3 жыл бұрын

I bought mine for april, it was going to be on my birthday and everything then of course the event didnt happen. Cant wait till its back on.

Oh my god I went to one of profound decisions games before empire. I just logged back into my account to check and I bought the ticket in 2010. I was a student at the time and had some social anxiety which stopped me getting more into it but damn it's tempting to try again sometime now you've reminded me of it!

Another amazing video didn't now larp went that deep, only used to play a dragon ball Z

Empire Sounds amazing, If I even go to UK I definitely want to do it during Empire; And from your video and from the wiki, if i do play, I mostly likely play as Urizen Stargazer Merrow. Thank you Mark getting interested.

@orcmcc

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Come to Urizen! We have cupcakes. ... ... No seriously, we have cupcakes and a tea house to eat them in. ;)

@Aspiedog

3 жыл бұрын

@@orcmcc Oh My

I don´t play anything, but I do love fantasy and I´ve been wanting to go and at least see a real LARP, seems like a wonderful way to get to be someone else for a weekend and shut the real world out. I will check this out and read more about it, maybe this will become our annual time out in the future :D

I REALLY envy the amount of larps available to you bastards in the UK. It'd be so awesome to check those things out, and seriously if I was a kid and my family took me to that academy I would have turned to a rabid, life-long fan/participant. I would have absolutely *_loved_* that shit, lol, so huuge props to any parents who offer their kids the chance and to the people who organize that side of the events. Seriously, props!

i did my first larp at empire a few days ago, it is 100000 percent recomended, the batlles are awesome

HOLY SHIT OUR HOUSE IS IN THIS VIDEO, AT 17:53 HOUSE DU FROSTE! OUR WORDS HAVE WEIGHT! This has made my day!

I saw some videos from Empire a few years ago. It looks awesome, on par with the best of the big SCA events in the States. I would love to come over and play when covid allows.

That horse man outfit was awesome

This makes me miss larking so much did solar in south Mississippi for years. Was a great time highly recommend

Many thanks for giving so many insights on UK LARP and Empire in specific. I am a German LARPer since almost 15 years now and it is always fun to watch how LARP works in other countries. Some things are really similar others differ a lot. Have you everbeen to a LARP outside of the UK?

cant get over trotts emo makeup

I'm going to empire with my university society. We may get be going for either dawn or highguard. Looking forward to going it would be my first larp ever. This video really helped mark thanks a lot. 👍🏻

Empire sounds sweet as hell. Definitely something I'd like to try (something like it, at least) at some point

Once when corona is away and we can larp again, i will get a ticket to england for a empire larp 😁. My uncle and aunt go to Empire and i just started Larp so it would be cool to go.

Role models was ironically the thing that introduced & got me interested into larp.

Finally something like this in the UK, hopefully one day I can get to it

Honestly the film Role Models is what got me into larp.

He's back baby

Ever since I was a kid picking up branches and sword fighting with my mates I've loved getting lost in those fantasies and LARP absolutely sounds amazing. I wanted to have my stag do over a weekend larping this year but alas, covid happened

Empire is amazing and so immersive and the groups are so inviting especally the imperial orcs ;) ;)

Awesome vid Mark. First thing I watched when I woke up. Which is before now. Love the break down. Can people volunteer to help out the volunteers? Because they might not be as cool as you and Chris Trott and other friends.

Your advice about tents is works when not larping too!

Love the Lotr Reference 😂😂

As someone who goes to download festival I can vouch for the "make sure its a good tent" rule

Ever since I saw your vids with Trott and Smithy, I always wanted to join and had this amazing character idea of a semi-mad man who when spoken to always rambles and has to be reminded to get to the point. However I cannot join seeing as I am several miles away in another country in another continent lol.

Woooo,... I'm in your Vid 🤣 - general katia Strascovich, Golden axe. Varushka

I've been looking to go to Empire next year (if Rona isn't still a thing). This video has helped me make my decision in going more concrete, just need to look more into detail about being a Navarr and an Archer.

I can personally attest to your point about tents. I had a pretty high quality oztrail and even that failed and got my gear soaked.

I miss larp. When I was in Minnesota I was apart of a awesome larp group.

Not me already knowing everything about Empire but watching this anyway to consume any last bit of media on it that I can.

For Dawn! For Glory!

It takes a bit of fantasy to cope with our reality. It is refreshing to be able to set it aside occasionally and just have a good time for play itself. Great stress relief.