How to make Spell Packets (Foci) to use at LARP Events!

So you’re coming to a LARP event like one from Mystic Realms for the first time, and you’re nervous about melee combat. That’s okay! There are other ways to fight and participate in battle(s) and roleplay than going toe-to-toe with a warrior. 

Another way to fight and roleplay is by spell casting. There are many different branches of spells – healing, damage, immobilization. With the way our world is we physically cannot shoot magic firebolts or lightning strikes from our hands. The way we represent spells and sometimes ranged weapon attacks in-game is by using an item called a Foci (Fo-kye). Other names include Spell Packet, Spell Focus, Bean-Bag, or Spacket as a simple abbreviation of Spell Packet. 

Spell Packet Components

Spell packets are comprised of three components –

1. Fabric Square
2. Rubber Band
3. Bird Seed

The reason we use bird seed is so that if the packet breaks in the middle of combat, you can empty out the fabric and dump the seed into the grass to feed the wildlife. Bird seed also won’t harden and condense as much when wet like other materials.

Steps to making a Spell Packet

1. Select your fabric – ideally you want something you can recognize on the ground, avoid browns, greens, black and orange.
   • Orange is used to determine “Out of Game” such as wind, fire, bubbling mud, Dangerous flowers called blooms and many other things in game.
   • Use cheap fabric as you are chopping these up to be thrown around. Used or thrifted shirts and fabric are a great option. Or finding clearance fabric from local craft stores. 
2. Cut your fabric into 4”x4”, 5”x5” or 6”x6” squares. 
3. Use about a tablespoon of fine grain bird seed and place it into the center of the fabric
   • Here is an option members use for bird seed

4. Grab the four corners of the fabric and bring them to the middle loosely
5. Take 2 opposite sides and pinch them together in the middle (I personally make the fabric in the shape of a hot dog)
6. Take the 2 remaining sides and pinch them in the middle with the first 2 sides
7. Rubber band the packet together (thin rubber bands work best!)
   • Many members use cheap, small hair bands for this but they are more fragile. Loop these only 2-3 times around.
   • Some players use normal rubber bands for extra strength but it takes more time to wrap them
8. Shake out any loose bird seed and make sure the fabric is bound tight 

Official Foci (Spell Packet/Bean bag) Rules as per the Mystic Realms Core Rules

Small cloth bags of fine grain birdseed can be used to represent projectile weapon attacks. The bean bag must not be larger than 2 by 2 inches. The back can be sewn or gathered at the top and held together by string or a rubber band. Heavy or densely-packed bags should not be allowed. (Page 74 of the 2023 Core Rulebook)

If you have any questions about creating Foci/Spell packets or Mystic Realms events, please reach out anytime. 

– Written by Jeanel aka Wisteria Winehart