You want to play Vampire: the Masquerade as a LARP. You've watched actual play videos, read the books, maybe even made a character in your head. Now you just need to find a game. That turns out to be the hardest part, because LARP groups don't exactly advertise on billboards.
Here's where to look.
Start With Social Media
Most active LARP groups have some kind of social media presence, even if it's just a Facebook group or a Discord server. A few searches worth trying:
Search Facebook for "vampire larp" plus your city, state, or region. Many chronicles run private groups, but they'll usually show up in search results even if you need to request access. Also check broader groups like "LARP" or "World of Darkness" groups for your area. People regularly post looking for players or advertising new chronicles.
Reddit is another good bet. The r/larp and r/WhiteWolfRPG subreddits both see "looking for a game" posts regularly, and searching those communities for your city or state may turn up existing groups. Don't be afraid to make your own post asking if anyone runs a game near you.
Discord has become the hub for a lot of LARP communities. Search for public servers related to Vampire: the Masquerade, World of Darkness, or LARP in general. Many chronicles run their between-session play and community building through Discord, so finding a server often means finding a game. By Night Studios, the publisher of Laws of the Night, also has community spaces where chronicles can list themselves.
Check Your Local Gaming Store
This is old-school advice, but it still works. Local gaming stores often have bulletin boards, community calendars, or staff who know what's running in the area. LARP groups sometimes use gaming stores as meeting points or recruit through in-store events. Even if the store doesn't host a LARP directly, the people behind the counter usually know who does.
If you don't have a local gaming store, check for gaming cafes, comic shops, or community centers that host tabletop events. The LARP community overlaps heavily with the tabletop RPG crowd.
Go to a Convention
Gaming conventions are one of the best ways to find a LARP group, because you can actually meet the people running them. Many Vampire LARP chronicles run one-shot sessions or demo games at conventions to recruit new players. Even if a con doesn't have LARP on the schedule, the people attending are exactly the crowd who knows where the games are.
Look for regional gaming conventions, horror conventions, or World of Darkness-specific events. Strike up conversations. The LARP community is smaller than you'd think, and word of mouth is still the most reliable way to find a game.
Consider Online and Hybrid Play
If there's nothing near you geographically, online LARP has grown significantly in recent years. Some chronicles run entirely through Discord with text-based scenes, voice channels for live sessions, and bot-driven mechanics. It's a different experience from in-person play, but it's real LARP with real character development and real politics.
Hybrid chronicles that mix in-person sessions with online downtime play are also increasingly common. This can be a good option if the nearest game is a bit of a drive but the community is active online between sessions.
Cities of Darkness
Cities of Darkness is a growing network of Laws of the Night V5 chronicles, and our Chronicle Map on citiesofdarkness.com is built to help you find a game near you. The map shows active chronicles across the network, so you can see what's running in your area and connect with the group directly.
If there isn't a chronicle near you yet, that might change. The network is designed to grow as new Storytellers stand up their own cities. And if you're the type of person who'd rather build something than wait for it, we provide the tools to help you run your own chronicle: character creation and approval, XP tracking, coterie management, and a Discord bot that handles mechanical actions between sessions. You don't have to build all of that from scratch.
Whether you're joining an existing game or thinking about starting one, citiesofdarkness.com is a good place to start.
What to Do When You Find a Game
Once you've found a chronicle, reach out to the Storytellers before your first session. Introduce yourself, let them know you're new, and ask about any house rules or setting details you should know. Most groups are thrilled to hear from new players and will go out of their way to help you get started.
If you haven't made a character yet, check out our guide on how to make a Vampire: the Masquerade LARP character. And if you're nervous about what game night actually looks like, we wrote about what to expect at your first Vampire LARP, too.
The hardest part is finding the game. After that, you just show up.
Cities of Darkness is a fan-run chronicle network using Laws of the Night V5 by By Night Studios.
Cities of Darkness material is not official World of Darkness material. Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of Paradox Interactive AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit worldofdarkness.com.