Commercial Boffers
Possibly the most specialized piece of your gear is the Boffer, which represents a melee weapon. This is the bread and butter of LARP weapons. Should you want to purchase your boffer weapon, there are plenty of places to find boffer weapons online. Additionally, you may be able to find boffer weapons sold at conventions and renaissance fairs.
There are several companies which make LARP-safe weaponry; however, not all will meet Xadune’s standards. The following companies make boffers which typically hold up to inspection:
Forged Foam – Forged Foam has a history of making full-contact boffers, and have recently expanded into some truly beautiful lightest-touch weapons as well. These are some of the most durable LARP weapons available and none have ever failed Xadune’s safety standards.
Epic Armoury – Epic Armoury has a wide selection of typically good weapons, although they often are not stab-safe.
Calimacil – Xadune has been a partner with Calimacil for over a decade. Calimacil weapons typically will pass inspection, although some of their newer lines may be on a case-by-case basis.
Foam Blasters
Xadune uses Foam Blasters, NERF and other brands, to represent firearms.
Foam blasters are categorized in-play by their out-of-play size and performance. As such, there are limitations on what a character can bring in to their first event.
- Only stock blasters; no modifications outside of cosmetic are allowed.
- No flywheel operated models
- No models from the NERF Rival series
- No battery operated or otherwise automatic models.
- No clip fed models.
Examples of good foam blasters for a new character are:
NERF Maverick (Out of production, but easy to find second-hand)
NERF Spectre (Out of production, but easy to find second-hand)
Boffer Making 101
Material you will need:
- 1/2” PVC pipe for weapons up to 41” ·
- 3/4” PVC pipe for weapons 42” to 72” ·
- 5/8” thick pipe foam (Note: ALL WEAPONS THAT ARE BOFFERS STRIKING BLADES NEED TO BE MADE OF 5/8” FOAM. NO EXCEPTION! A caliper might be used to measure weapons and make sure they are of proper size. It has come to our attention that some LARP weapons have been made of smaller wall pipe foam. Please check your weapons. They should measure in at 1.905” to 2.015” for 1/2″ pipe weapons.)
- 2” thick open cell foam
- Gaff tape, kite tape, or duct tape
- Electrical tape
- Saw, PVC cutter, or other tool which will be used to cut PVC
- Knife, razor, box cutter, scissors, etc.
- Grey or brown spray paint (if needed)
Weapon Color Requirements:
- Grey for Normal Steel/Metal Weapon
- Brown for Normal Wooden Weapon
All other colors are reserved for different material types so please do not come to site with a normal weapon made in a different color. However, if you are unable to get your weapon painted/colored beforehand we will have paint on site to appropriately color your weapon if needed. It should be denoted that weapons of different materials are sort of a clue in that something different is happening with your weapon and might make it a target for in-play acquisition.
If making a weapon for donation, it is most helpful if the color is black, grey, or white. These colors are easiest to paint. Staff and Game weapons will be denoted on the safety tags on the weapon’s hilt.
Making the Weapon
First thing we will look at is the many different types of weapons you can make here at Xadune and their measurements and requirements. Refer to the chart on page 16 for weapon lengths.
Here are a few specifics not listed in the chart that you will need to know:
- Clubs have no hand guards
- Maces require stubs
- War-Hammers require a hammer head with its smallest length being 5″ and the largest being 10″
- Battle and Great Axes bladed edge must be at least 8”
- Quarterstaffs must be fully padded except for a 15″- 20″ center grip
- Bows & Crossbows cannot have more than a maximum of a 15 pound pull. Bows should have their limbs covered in foam for safety reasons.
- Thrown Weapons need to be made completely from foam.
- All thrusting weapons need to be have a 2” open cell foam thrusting tip resulting in tip that is 2.5” with no core.
- Waylay Widgets/Saps need to be at least 17” in length and coreless.
- Fist Phys-Reps need to be 17” in length with a thrusting tip
Construction
These guidelines should always be followed when constructing your weapons from PVC and pipe foam:
First thing you do is measure out the length of the PVC that you wish to use in the construction of your weapon.
Mark your PVC where you wish to cut it, cut it about 3 inches shorter than your intended finished length (this accounts for the pommel and thrusting tip). Then take your PVC cutting tool and cut the pipe.
File down the edges and make an *asterisk*-like pattern over both ends of the PVC. This helps in depleting the wear on the foam plus gives a bit more snugness at the ends.
Next you will take your piece of 5/8” foam and measure out the length you want your “blade.” Have the length long enough so it hangs about half an inch off the end of your PVC. Using your Razor, knife, box cutter, etc. cut it, making sure you leave plenty of room for your handle. (Note: Handles should be no more than 2 ½ Hand Lengths.)
Then taking your cutting tool, you will angle it at the end and cut the edge of the foam off, leaving an angled edge which will be the base of your “blade.” Now you will slide the Pipe Foam onto the pipe, leaving, at least, an inch of room at the top.
Now take your Gaff or Duct tape and pull it the length of your blade, extending the piece about 2-3 inches past the angled edge of the foam. DO NOT SPIRAL WRAP THE WEAPON WITH TAPE.
Once you have covered the entire “blade,” which should take about 4-5 pieces of tape, pull the extended parts of the tape down around the pipe, connecting the foam to the pipe. Then take your electrical tape and wrap it around the base of the foam, locking the tape down.
Next, you are going to take your open cell foam and cut a square piece out, using the top of your weapon as a base measurement. Make sure the square piece of foam fits the diameter of the top part of your weapon. Cut a half inch piece of pipe foam and then shave it so it can be rolled up and placed in the half inch overhang you left on your pipe foam. Place it on the top and measure out two pieces of tape and place them over your “tip.” Then take a 3rd piece and wrap it around the base of the tip and the top of your pipe foam, locking the taped tip in place
Next you will construct your hilt, if there is one.
Take out the left over piece of pipe foam from your blade, if any, and cut off about 3-5 inches. Take the butt of your sword, which should still have pipe showing, and push it through the center of the foam you just cut. Take it back off.
Now you will cover it with tape, making sure to cut holes back out of the hilt which you just made. Slide it up to the base of the foam.
Now we make the pommel.
Cut a 1.5 to 2 inch piece of pipe foam and cut another angled cut into both sides of the foam leaving about half an inch of straight foam in the center. Slide your pommel onto the end of the blade leaving about half of an inch hanging off. As with the tip cut some pipe foam and roll it up putting it in this void.
Next secure the pommel with and asterisk–like pattern with electrical tape and then wrap the base of the pommel with electrical tape, securing the tape of the pommel to the pipe. Finish wrapping the handle in electrical tape, making sure ALL pipe is covered.
Congratulations, you have made a weapon! If you have any questions, concerns, or confusion on making a weapon, please contact Staff and they will be happy to answer your questions. Furthermore, online tutorials can be found in numerous places.
Useful Tips
Duct tape is fine for a first time weapon. Gaff tape is much stronger and last years longer, however most gaff tapes have low adhesive so using some spray adhesive or little drops of super glue on the ends of the tape can help hold it in place. Kite tape is light and durable, but it’s also the least forgiving when mistakes are made and the most expensive tape.
The proper thickness pipe foam might be hard to source in the South, but some calling around to local hardware stores should turn up good results. Alternatively, some people like to use the camp pad foam; however, particular attention must be given to thicknesses on sticking surfaces. Moreover, the foam may not the required 5/8 inch thick, so must be stacked to achieve proper thickness. These weapons tend to be much trickier for novices to construct and can end up weighing a lot, as well as breaking down much faster than a properly made pipe foam weapon.
Fiberglass, kite spar, and graphite cores are allowed, but please check with Staff before constructing or buying these weapons. We like to triple check source material and construction for safety before people invest in them. These weapons, often referred to as ultra-lights, can be a much lighter alternative to a PVC weapon, however they can also be too light resulting in a dangerous weapon. Remember: it’s not just you using your weapon we have to consider, it’s if someone much larger then you picks it up and starts swinging it. With a “tap” hit system like we use some people might whip the weapon far more easily than you, resulting in accidentally hurting people.
Packets, or spell packets, are semi-disposable items used to represent a spell or an alchemy. A packet is a piece of cloth, filled with birdseed, and bound with a rubber band.
You will need:
- Fabric. The color should follow the guidelines delineated in Chapter 2: Core Rules. 100% cotton fabrics are preferable, as the natural fibers are biodegradable, should you lose a packet or two in the woods.
- Birdseed. General birdseed is fine, but remove the large, pointy sunflower seeds prior to filling your packets.
- Elastic bands.
Cut your fabric into ~7″ squares.
Place a fabric square in a cup, or the palm of your hand, or some other divot support.
Place 2 tablespoons of birdseed in the center of the fabric square.
Collect the corners of the fabric and pull upwards, settling birdseed in center of square. Wrap the elastic band at the base of the ball of birdseed, sealing it into the fabric.
You’re done! Repeat until you’ve got as many packets as you like!
A Note on Wet Packets
Packets can be reused from event to event, although inevitably some go missing. However, if your packets get wet, it’s time to throw them out. Wet packets can grow mold and the birdseed can sprout. Xadune is played in all weather, so if the event is particularly rainy, it’s a good idea to remake your packets.