Here is a paper i wrote about boffing.
Boffing, or LARPing, is an exercise in which the "Boffers" (players) engage in battle using foam weaponry. A few examples of the weaponry we use are as follows:
Swords
Daggers
Maces
Spears
Halberds
And on rare occasions, Bow and arrows
This is a game in which not only is good exercise, fun. If you don't like it, don't bash us. This is what we use and we have no problems with it. If you plan on hitting hard with these swords, be sure to leave a few extra inches of extra foam at the tip and to use extra layers of foam on the swords. Our style of boffer is one of lightest touch. Excessive contact in our system is penalized.
RULES:
# Rule 1 - The head, neck, or groin are not valid targets for a reason. These are very sensitive areas and you may cause injuries if you hit people in these areas. You may want to wear a bicycle helmet, and athletic supporter just in case.
# Rule 2 - When you receive a hit in a valid area, you must acknowledge that you were hit. Even if the person who hit you doesn't notice.
# Rule 3 - Make sure your swings are light. If your weapon goes behind your body to swing, you're swinging too hard.
# Rule 4 - You will not use a weapon if it is unsafe. Unsafe weapons include those that have pipe showing, weak or broken padding, or ripped tape.
# Rule 5 - You are not to hit a person with anything except the padded area of a boffer. Therefore punching, kicking, or pushing is not allowed.
# Rule 6 - You are not allowed to throw the weapons as it can cause injury.
# Rule 7 - If two players hit each other at the same time, they are both dead.
# Rule 8 - If you purposely use an invalid target as a shield, (use your hand to stop an attack) you are dead.
# Rule 9 - You are not allowed to grab, catch, or hold an opponent's weapon.
# Rule 10 - If a limb (arm or leg) is hit, it cannot be used, and any weapon in a lost arm must be dropped. A shot to the torso is a kill. Hits to the head and crotch are both instant disqualifications.
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If you don't like the sound of this, do it differently. The idea is to have fun, so boffer how you see fit with what weapons you see fit.
Usually, thre are One on One matches. But sometimes, there are Team Fights, and All on All matches.
And now we will show you how to make a standard Boffer sword.
First take a PVC pipe and cut it to REASONABLE length. Then take a water noodle, and cut that to length (NOTE: make sure the foam sicks out 1 or 2 inces londer that the blade for a good stabbing end). Then put the noodle on the pipe. Next take Duct tape and wrap that LOOSELY around the blade. If you wrap it too tight the sword will become hard, thus making it unsuitable for boffing. Then take electrical tape and wrap around handle for a nice grip. Next we need to make a pommel. Take a small piece of the water noodle, and cut that to length. Cut it about an inch to two inches long. Put that at the bottom of your handle. Use electrical tape on that. For the pommel go tight with the tape. The pommel is used for keeping the sword from slipping out of your hand, You you can go tight here. THERE! You are done with your boffer sword. For instructions on how to make different weapons, contact a more experienced boffer. Thank you for your time and have fun Boffing.
D-Day