I shall maintain this PoV until someone employs it;
AT-ATs stalking the streets of London with water cannons. Daleks firing rubber bullets patrolling the areas they can't reach. I guarantee everyone would be either too awestruck or injured to riot within an hour.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:21, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Add in Cavey's Larp Army
and you have a definite win.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:26, Reply)

Oooh, good idea
Maybe ensure their foam weapons are bathed in Basilisk venom first for the surprise factor
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:30, Reply)

basilisk venom cement.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:31, Reply)

Difficult to wield effectively though
This reminds me of a discussion I had with Ms Foxtrot's little brother last night. He's gone off Star Wars because it's "unrealistic" and was enthusing about Hellboy. Unable to let it go, I opined that possibly lightsabres were no less realistic than a massive red demon with a giant stone hand, he told me in no uncertain terms that said giant stone hand would be easier to make and operate IN REAL LIFE than a lightsabre.

Kids today.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:35, Reply)

Kid's got a point.

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:36, Reply)

It would be more the surprise factor than and hope of them being effective in Combat.
How old is he?
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:36, Reply)

Eleven
I taught him about Star Wars when he was five and enjoyed it enormously. Now it's "childish", apparently. And, since he discovered LOTR, not violent enough. He's on the cusp of becoming that annoying breed of child who knows they're right at all times in the face of every conceivable form of evidence to the contrary.

Or "FreeFair", as once we knew him.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:40, Reply)

Whatever happened to that little scrote?

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:41, Reply)

He mysteriously disappeared at about the same time as The Luggage published an extensive and worryingly-detailed account of Monty sodomising him
That was almost too much for me to stomach; I'm not surprised that he fucked off. He was either so appalled as to seek refuge in the loving arms of mumsnet or so confusedly aroused by it that he hasn't stopped wanking yet
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:46, Reply)

wrong actually
He was sodomising Monty as I recall.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:05, Reply)

recall replay in fantasies
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:06, Reply)

yup, look forward to at least 10 years of it.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:41, Reply)

He's gone off Doctor Who as well
I don't really think there's much point in allowing him to live
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:46, Reply)

I'd draw the fucking line right there.

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:48, Reply)

I know, right?
If he brings my LOTR DVDs back with a similarly unimpressed shrug I might just load him into the trebuchet and aim for Derby
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:53, Reply)

*sobs*
"Leave Monty's boyfriend aloooone. You're KILLING him!"
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:48, Reply)

I've just worked out where I know this from
Have a click, and a suspicious glance and raised eyebrow based on how quickly you recalled that.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:01, Reply)

Would be well worth it though
The look of shock on their face as they get knocked the fuck out by a 'foam' weapon.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:02, Reply)

JUst sometimes
you shout a larp magic call and it works. Power of suggestion innit?
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:36, Reply)

I'm just imagining a Phalanx of you lot charging the looters
I reckon if you kept you nerve they'd break and run from sheer WFT confusion and fear.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:38, Reply)

You can't charge in a Phalanx
EDIT: also, what, pray tell, is WFT confusion? Witless Fucking Thieves?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:38, Reply)

you're thinking of a phalus

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:41, Reply)

I think I can say with some certainty that you're more likely to be thinking of a phalLus than I
Regardless of when I say it
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:42, Reply)

I think running at them waving your willies would definitely work.

( girlinthehole, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:43, Reply)

I think you could, with sufficient discipline

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:41, Reply)

I have never met a group of LARPers who cared more, en masse, for discipline than beer

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:43, Reply)

*nods*

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:46, Reply)

My secret shame!

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:47, Reply)

how many have you met?

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:48, Reply)

Fucking masses
I was a LARPer during my first year of Uni and even after losing all enthusiasm, remained friends with the rest of them for some good time afterwards.

You and our mutual acquaintance are the only ones left now, mind.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:52, Reply)

one day I'll have to try and get you to go to The Gathering
with us
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:53, Reply)

I've been tempted in the past. You know, for the chicks.
Unfortunately it clashes with InFest. Doesn't it? Still on Bank Holiday weekend?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:56, Reply)

yeah
although there is also The Great Edrejan Fayre (June bank holiday) and the moots (one was last weekend the other was sometime in May)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:58, Reply)

Bear in mind that you're the only LARPers I know now
You'd have to hang out with me ALL WEEKEND. Think about that.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:00, Reply)

I'd dump you in the healers guild tent and make them look after you
Our mutual friend would be there, too, she's in the same faction (and worships the same ancestor) as my group
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:02, Reply)

we do more of an 'offensive blob'
approach to military formation
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:42, Reply)

Yeah, but only once a month.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:44, Reply)

Very good
But you're assuming they're Menstrual Psychos. Cavy might have meant Bernard Manning.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:48, Reply)

POIDH

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:38, Reply)

actually did happen the other way round once
There was a troup of scouts and we walked past in all our kit - growled at the kids a bit to entertain them. Turns out their scout leader was a larper once. He shouts "BY MY POWER I STRIKE YOU DOWN!" and we all just collapsed.

Stupid thing is, that call should only affect the targeted person !!11!!one
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:40, Reply)

I actually would have loved to take part in something like that
The most off-putting part of LARPing for me was always taking any of it remotely seriously
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:49, Reply)

pff!
Like I've ever taken anything seriously?
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:50, Reply)

^this
I love dressing up.
( girlinthehole, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:50, Reply)

well
I may be trying to muster up a crew for firefly larp soon...
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:51, Reply)

Bagsie being one of those evil zombie type alien things.

( girlinthehole, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:52, Reply)

Reavers
Technically not zombies and definitely not aliens.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:54, Reply)

Yes but you knew what I meant.

( girlinthehole, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:54, Reply)

I did
I just thought a mild admonishing from me would likely be easier on you that the Comrade's inbound pedantry diatribe
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:55, Reply)

The Comrade is never easy on me.
I quite like it that way.
( girlinthehole, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:56, Reply)

Reavers?
There ain't none of them in mah crew, missy!
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:54, Reply)

Bagsy Jayne.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:09, Reply)

doesn't work like that, silly
it's set in the world, not with the characters
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:11, Reply)

Fine
Then I'll be a big guy called Jeyne with a guy called Vira.

You just don't want me to play, do you?
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:22, Reply)

oh you could
but there is a special level of piss taken from people who are just clones of film/tv characters (see also people who play legolas or jack sparrow)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:27, Reply)

How about if I tried to be Captain Jack
in Firefly, that'd be cool.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:27, Reply)

um...perhaps
if you used a different name....and costume :)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 17:26, Reply)

I recommend Zardoz for both

( Bill Clay a.k.a. Claudio, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 17:31, Reply)

OK, you'd get some kudos
for just wearing red pants all weekend. Also hypothermia and sunstroke. Best combination ever
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 17:35, Reply)

and I've done this more than an adult should admit to
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2tLKjeOstg
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:39, Reply)

There is no shame in this

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:40, Reply)

but wiv sword, innit?

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:43, Reply)

nope
this is usually when we're packing up or in a pub or something. Someone says "woah!" to something someone else said. If the call is taken up it usually escalates into something of the above. We're so cool
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:45, Reply)

Yes, yes you are.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:48, Reply)

I'm going to read that as not being sarcastic at all

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:50, Reply)

Yes, yes you are.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 9 Aug 2011, 16:09, Reply)

A bit like this?
www.b3ta.com/board/10503243
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:41, Reply)

FUCKING WORK FIREWALL

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:54, Reply)

Oh man, you would have loved it and all...

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Tue 9 Aug 2011, 15:58, Reply)