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An Australian battlegame and medieval fantasy LARP organisation, running weekly battle games on Friday nights, and annual week-long roleplaying camp events. | |||
==Mission statement== | ==Mission statement== | ||
"Our vision is to develop a massive LARPing and battle-gaming | "Our vision is to develop a massive LARPing and battle-gaming community in Victoria and Australia, through a game that is fun to play, regular, welcomes players from different backgrounds and has the potential to grow in scale up to an enormous number of players." | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
From the website: "Since Swordcraft's inception in 2011, we have seen our community grow into Australia's largest Live Action Roleplay and Battle Gaming event, consisting of thousands of players all over Australia. What was once a simple Friday-night biff between friends has slowly grown into a community of diverse, talented and skilled individuals who love to geek out over all things LARP." | From the website: "Since Swordcraft's inception in 2011, we have seen our community grow into Australia's largest Live Action Roleplay and Battle Gaming event, consisting of thousands of players all over Australia. What was once a simple Friday-night biff between friends has slowly grown into a community of diverse, talented and skilled individuals who love to geek out over all things LARP." | ||
The Melbourne chapter is the oldest and largest group. Originally located at Princes Park, Melbourne; now moved to the Western Oval in Parkville, a short walk from its original location<ref>City of Melbourne (2026) [https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/sports-activities/swordcraft-limited Swordcraft Limited], City of Melbourne website, retrieved 8th June 2026.</ref>. | |||
In 2018, a small splinter group left the Melbourne Swordcraft chapter and formed another organisation named [[Exodus]]. | In 2018, a small splinter group left the Melbourne Swordcraft chapter and formed another organisation named [[Exodus]]. | ||
===Swordcraft and Weapon Laws=== | |||
During Swordcraft's establishing years, police presence at events was a common sight. Local police were often called to Princes Park with reports of people in the park with weapons. Although local community and police familiarity with larp as an activity has reduced general alarm over time, with strict Australian and Victorian legal regulations and culture against possession of weapons<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_of_Australia Gun Laws of Australia on Wikipedia]</ref>, these reports are taken seriously and investigated regularly; making legal literacy around weapon law crucial for safe operation of local [[boffer]] larps. | |||
Under Victorian law, particularly the Control of Weapons Act 1990 - Section 5AB, it is a criminal offence to possess, use or carry an imitation firearm without an exemption under section 8B or an approval under section 8C; the penalty for which is 240 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years<ref>[https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/cowa1990216/s5ab.html Control of Weapons Act 1990 Section 5AB]</ref>. While most foam weapons and body armour are able to fall under exceptions, and larp-safe bows are a common sight on the field, bandguns in particular have become strictly regulated in order to comply with these laws<ref>Victoria Police (2022) [https://www.police.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-04/Quick%20Guide%20-%20Imitations%20toys%20and%20other%20themed%20paraphernalia_1.pdf Quick Guide: Imitation Toys and Other Themed Paraphenalia] Retrieved 8th June 2026.</ref><ref>Swordcraft (2023) [https://www.swordcraft.com.au/legal Legal], Swordcraft website, retrieved 8th June 2026</ref>. | |||
One weapon in particular has been vanishingly rare to nonexistent on the field due to its difficulty in meeting these requirements. Crossbows are considered a prohibited weapon in Victoria. Both due to their appearance and likelihood of being mistaken as a real weapon by police, and their potential to be modified to meet the legal definition of a firearm, they cannot meet the requirements to fall under "imitation" weapon exceptions. As a result crossbows are restricted completely without the bearer being in possession of their own firearms licence, and with appropriate modifications made. | |||
Due to the comprehensive nature of Swordcraft rules, ensuring their players' gear consistently meets local weapon law requirements as well as safety requirements for insurance across all chapters in the country, in the past some other Australian larps have based their own standards for boffer equipment on whether or not it is ''"Swordcraft legal"''. 'Swordcraft legal' rules have thus had an influence not just on other larps but also on the popularity and importation of different larp equipment brands within Australia. | |||
==Chapters== | ==Chapters== | ||
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* Newcastle | * Newcastle | ||
* Townsville | * Townsville | ||
==References== | |||
<references /> | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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[https://www.instagram.com/swordcraft%20larp SC Instagram] | [https://www.instagram.com/swordcraft%20larp SC Instagram] | ||
[[Category:Australia]][[Category:Battle Games]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:20, 7 June 2026
Swordcraft
Swordcraft is Australia's largest medieval battle game and live action roleplaying game.
- Location
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Genre
- Medieval fantasy
- Established
- 2011
- Chapters
- 11
- Credits
- Jeffrey Kenneth, Nelson, Phill
- Website
- Swordcraft website
An Australian battlegame and medieval fantasy LARP organisation, running weekly battle games on Friday nights, and annual week-long roleplaying camp events.
Mission statement
"Our vision is to develop a massive LARPing and battle-gaming community in Victoria and Australia, through a game that is fun to play, regular, welcomes players from different backgrounds and has the potential to grow in scale up to an enormous number of players."
History
From the website: "Since Swordcraft's inception in 2011, we have seen our community grow into Australia's largest Live Action Roleplay and Battle Gaming event, consisting of thousands of players all over Australia. What was once a simple Friday-night biff between friends has slowly grown into a community of diverse, talented and skilled individuals who love to geek out over all things LARP."
The Melbourne chapter is the oldest and largest group. Originally located at Princes Park, Melbourne; now moved to the Western Oval in Parkville, a short walk from its original location[1].
In 2018, a small splinter group left the Melbourne Swordcraft chapter and formed another organisation named Exodus.
Swordcraft and Weapon Laws
During Swordcraft's establishing years, police presence at events was a common sight. Local police were often called to Princes Park with reports of people in the park with weapons. Although local community and police familiarity with larp as an activity has reduced general alarm over time, with strict Australian and Victorian legal regulations and culture against possession of weapons[2], these reports are taken seriously and investigated regularly; making legal literacy around weapon law crucial for safe operation of local boffer larps.
Under Victorian law, particularly the Control of Weapons Act 1990 - Section 5AB, it is a criminal offence to possess, use or carry an imitation firearm without an exemption under section 8B or an approval under section 8C; the penalty for which is 240 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years[3]. While most foam weapons and body armour are able to fall under exceptions, and larp-safe bows are a common sight on the field, bandguns in particular have become strictly regulated in order to comply with these laws[4][5].
One weapon in particular has been vanishingly rare to nonexistent on the field due to its difficulty in meeting these requirements. Crossbows are considered a prohibited weapon in Victoria. Both due to their appearance and likelihood of being mistaken as a real weapon by police, and their potential to be modified to meet the legal definition of a firearm, they cannot meet the requirements to fall under "imitation" weapon exceptions. As a result crossbows are restricted completely without the bearer being in possession of their own firearms licence, and with appropriate modifications made.
Due to the comprehensive nature of Swordcraft rules, ensuring their players' gear consistently meets local weapon law requirements as well as safety requirements for insurance across all chapters in the country, in the past some other Australian larps have based their own standards for boffer equipment on whether or not it is "Swordcraft legal". 'Swordcraft legal' rules have thus had an influence not just on other larps but also on the popularity and importation of different larp equipment brands within Australia.
Chapters
- Adelaide & Iron Triangle
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- Cairns
- Geelong
- Gippsland
- Mildura
- Newcastle
- Townsville
References
- ↑ City of Melbourne (2026) Swordcraft Limited, City of Melbourne website, retrieved 8th June 2026.
- ↑ Gun Laws of Australia on Wikipedia
- ↑ Control of Weapons Act 1990 Section 5AB
- ↑ Victoria Police (2022) Quick Guide: Imitation Toys and Other Themed Paraphenalia Retrieved 8th June 2026.
- ↑ Swordcraft (2023) Legal, Swordcraft website, retrieved 8th June 2026