Treasure Trap

Treasure Trap was a live action role-playing game established at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire in April 1982.

[1] Various splinter groups broke from the original system, some retaining the Treasure Trap name, and helped to shape the later British LARP scene.

When working as a local news reporter, Ben Elton once also presented a programme from the castle and took part in an adventure.

[4][5] Health was measured in Life Points, both total and per each body location (head, chest, abdomen, legs and arms).

Mice roamed freely, many of the dormitories had no beds in the early days, there was almost no water supply for washing and the toilets were famously dire.

Monsters were instructed in how to attack adventurers "in character", including falling down "dead" if they were inflicted with a fatal injury.

Durham University Treasure Trap was founded in February 1983 with the aim of helping members travel to Peckforton Castle.

[7] The rules system has undergone many profound changes since the society was formed, although it is still recognisable as a descendant of the original Treasure Trap.

The society runs weekly 'Interactives' set in a medieval themed bar, in which plot is generally dispensed and characters interact in a largely combat free environment, these are followed by weekly 'Adventures' which are used to progress or conclude plot, but are generally more combat heavy than the Interactives.

Lacking the luxury of a castle, Birmingham Treasure Trap would typically run single-day events consisting of two adventures, often twice a weekend.

Other spin-off organisations which existed to run live-action role-playing games included Spirit of Adventure, Labyrinthe and others.

Ian Livingstone reviewed Treasure Trap for White Dwarf #31, and stated that "I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed myself on my three hour adventure which I managed to survive.