What is Cambridge University Treasure Trap?

Cambridge University Treasure Trap is a live action role play (LARP)system, set in a made-up medieval-fantasy world, which is a bit like the Lord of the Rings or Discworld in flavour.

Players take on characters who live in the city of Grantabrugge - similar to Cambridge in many respects - and respond to the things which go on there and the people that they meet.

Currently the society has about 40 members, 5 of whom are Refs, responsible for running the game.

What happens when Cambridge University Treasure Trap meets?

Every Friday we have tavern nights, where we turn up in costume. The ref will shout “TIME IN”, from which moment everyone is in character.

As the evening goes on, ‘monsters’ will be sent in, who might be townsfolk who want to give the player characters missions, or try to assassinate them, for example.

The players should build their characters up and keep them consistent from week to week.

How do you keep tabs on the progression of the characters?

Mostly we keep the characters quite simple, but sometimes there will be a fight, or an attempted poisoning, and that’s where the rules come in – to adjudicate the things we can’t do for real, like put a love potion in someone’s drink.
Sometimes the players get carried away, and a ref might need to point out that they’ve been hit in the arm eight times.

That’s quite an unusual pastime – how do you feel others perceive your society?

Mostly they want to take pictures of us! We do get a bit of flak for what we do, but mostly people seem really interested when they hear a proper explanation.
We’re only in character during the LARP sessions – most of the time we’re just normal people, and we usually end up in the pub after meetings.

What’s the best thing about your society?

There’s nothing else quite like it – where else can you step into a different reality and then run around the woods hitting your mates with bits of foam on sticks?!

And what’s the worst?

Falling over, defeated in battle, just to realise you’ve landed right in one of Grantchester Meadows’ plentiful supply of cowpats…

What’s your society REALLY about?

To me it’s about having a great time with a large group of friends, doing something that we’ll be telling war stories about for years to come. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live another person’s life, or feel the thrill of fighting to the death, come along!

Sum up your society in five words.

Another you in another world.

Find out more at

http://www.srcf.ucam.org/tt/