Making Boffer Arrows

For the purpose of archery, KR allows players to use real bows with boffer-padded arrows (boffer archery). Boffer bows with spell packets to represent arrows (packet archery) is NOT allowed. While we prefer and encourage real bows for realism and the all important coolness factor, we must stress that safety always comes first.

Bows need to be simple recurve bows with no more than 20 pounds at full draw, and with a Draw length of no more than 26”. Arrows should be fitted for this (26”), keeping in mind that the end will be covered in foam, so you may want them a bit longer.

A number of websites and vendors sell ready-made LARP arrows that are long enough for long draws, sturdy, and have very safe, padded tips - please check the Web Links section of the website for these vendors, or ask on the Marketplace forums. We highly encourage the use of these, as they are engineered to be as safe as possible, unlike modified field arrows.

Making a Proper Boffer Arrow

No arrow, boffer weapon, or spell packet should ever be able to fit into someone’s eye socket. This is the cardinal rule for making any weapon, but especially a projectile or thrown one. If there is a point or tip that may fit in someone’s eye, it needs to be removed or rounded out. In the case of an arrow, the shaft needs to be secured to prevent it from going through the foam and coming out and into someone.

Start with at least a 26” Draw arrow. Remove the metal tip, and sand or round the new tip so it is blunt and free of burrs and splinters.
Attach a safety device of some sort to the new tip. This can be a super ball, an eraser, or some other large, rubber object that will both bounce and prevent the shaft from hurting anyone and / or penetrating the padded tip of the arrow. Some people also attach a washer flat on the tip, to secure the pipe foam (see next step) in place, and because a flat washer is not sharp.
Attach 5/8” pipe foam (the kind used for normal boffer weapons) around the tip of the shaft. 2” is recommended, 1” along the shaft and 1” beyond the tip of the shaft. Fill all gaps with spare foam bits. Make sure the foam does not move, wiggle, twist, or rotate on the shaft. Make extra sure you fill in the hole for the pipe above the end of the shaft.
Add a 3” length of open cell foam to the end of the pipe foam, compressed down to 2”, as you would for a normal boffer weapon.
Cover the whole padded head in duct tape. We recommend silver or black for normal arrows, and red for flame arrows. Add pin holes to the head so that the foam will uncompress rapidly (again, as you would for a normal boffer weapon).
Take the bow, arrow, and a friend out somewhere safe. Have them shoot you with the arrow. Repeat the process with you shooting them. Note the order in which this is done – have the friend shoot you first. If you don’t trust your own arrow to hit you, you should not be hitting someone else with it. If either of you feels even remotely concerned about the arrow before or after you shoot it, it is not safe.

Remember that safety always comes first. If at any time you or your equipment is deemed unsafe, you will be asked not to use it, and may be restricted from using boffer arrows until you can demonstrate that you know how to make and use them properly. If you fail repeatedly to produce safe arrows, or to use them responsibly, your boffer archery privileges can be revoked permanently.

If you have any questions, please make a post in our forums, on the "Realizing the Character / Rules Questions" board.