Dagorhir Battlegames is a
J.R.R. Tolkien based
LARP and full contact combat
sport that contains elements of
Middle-Earth, the
dark ages, and
fantasy. Dagorhir events occur year round and include single day battles, weekend long compouts, and a annual regional war called
Ragnarok.
It is described on http://www.dagorhir.com by Dominus (Sean Richey) as follows:
As with many well known role-playing games that started as a fad in the 1970?s, Dagorhir was originally based on Lord of the Rings. The name "Dagorhir" is derived from Tolkien's Sindarin Elven language, and translates as "Battle Lords.". While there are some similarities between Dagorhir and role-playing games, Dagorhir boasts many advantages.
Dagorhir is a sport, not a tabletop game. Dagorhir is athletically challenging. Its participants learn sportsmanship in an environment that fosters healthy competition and team spirit. You do not have to be an athlete to enjoy Dagorhir. Dagorhir caters to everyone. Dagorhir is an exciting form of exercise that improves coordination and balance.
Dagorhir is social, and allows for interaction among a diverse group of people. Role-playing games restrict social interaction to one?s immediate friends. Computer games are even more limiting in this respect. Dagorhir?s participants include a vast range of people, including college professors and high school students, construction workers and accountants, computer geeks and goths.
Dagorhir challenges creativity and imagination. Dagorhir members make costumes, armor, and (safe) weapons for use in Dagorhir events. Dagorhir inspires historical research. Our members learn knowledge of arts and crafts as they build and create accessories to help them more fully enjoy the game. Members interact improvisationally with characters they develop and portray in a historic\fantasy setting.
Dagorhir is also a healthy outlet for aggression and frustration. Though Dagorhir is hard-hitting and physical, there is an emphasis is on safety. Dagorhir "weapons" are well padded to prevent injuries. Dagorhir?s combat rules outline safe conduct for all of our members, and these rules are strictly enforced by the "Heralds" (referees). Within the rules, combatants may slam, wrestle, and even "kill" their opponents. In our civilized age this "weekend warfare" is a gratifying relief from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life.