hehehehe
BTW, before saying how 'gheigh' using foam weapons is......have YOU ever gotten thwacked with a blunted, non-edged steel sword? Uh, having it happen once will make you go for padded weapons every time.* I suspect wooden weapons would hurt about as much.
The Society for Creative Anachronism, the international and long-established medieval reenactment group, allows only padded weapons (but full armor, and full-force blows). They were effectively LARPing long before it became 'popular.'
The Pennsic War, which is their annual gathering in the States, is something that has to be seen to be believed.
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* Yes, this hurts! I work for
Starfire Swords each spring at the GA Rennaissance Faire, and we make combat-ready carbon-steel weapons for stage and screen. We don't fool around as much at the booth these days...ahem. Heck, dropping a battle-axe head on your foot is painful enough, even wearing boots!