This article was originally published in the September 23, 2005 issue of the Pioneer Log, the Lewis & Clark College weekly newspaper, the archive of which is available here. Highlights: referencing Winston Churchill and the Battle of Helm's Deep.

Once a week, several devoted members of the Gaming Society congregate on the grassy knoll and boff. Or, to put it in layman’s terms, hit each other with weapons made mainly of duct tape.

“Boffing is probably the most popular event in the Gaming Society,” said Brian Cancio (‘07), Gaming Society President. “It is also the most effective stress relief and best physical expression of creativity I know,” he added.

Of course, boffing is not strictly for gamers. Though it is technically a subset of live action role playing (larping for short), everyone is invited, nay, encouraged to participate. “It’s the most socially accepted role playing,” Cancio said. “Anybody and everybody can pick up a sword and fight.”

And fight they do. On any given Tuesday or Friday as many as thirty boffers participate, wielding anything from broadswords to maces, ready to do battle. Last Friday, a sizable army amassed on the grass, twenty-five people ready to beat the stuffing out of each other with homemade weapons.

“Boffing is a wonderful and very fun and creative way to expend energy,” said Allie Kerr (‘08). She was sitting on the sidelines cradling her two-headed battle-axe and taking a quick break from the battle. “There’s a good mix of both fun and aggression,” she said. “It is quite a rush to win your first battle,” she added.

“We have no injuries,” Kerr remarked as screams drifted over the grassy knoll. “Compare that to soccer or football,” she continued.

“As long as you don’t take it too seriously, it is all good fun,” said Tim Marcroft (‘09).

“And if you do take it seriously, that’s just silly,” added Kerr.

“You just think of Boondock Saints when you play this game,” said Maddie Kozloff (‘09), catching her breath briefly before running back into the melee.

Boffing, however, isn’t merely entertainment for the boffers themselves. The battles draw a large crowd of spectators and fans. There is even an official Facebook group, cultivating the boffers’ fan base.

Off to one side sat a half dozen members of the self-proclaimed “peanut gallery.” They watched the action intently, alternately commenting and cheering their favorites.

“We had popcorn earlier,” one of the watchers said.

“I love watching the tour groups go by,” another commented. “They look so dazed by it.”

Although the carnage might seem surprisingly reminiscinet of the Battle for Helm’s Deep or the siege of Rome, Cancio explained, boffing does not seek to reacreate any past battles, real or fantasy. “Despite our historical tendencies, we don’t do this to recreate anything. We do this to have fun,” said Cancio. “That’s why we have Highlander great swords, Roman shields, spears, Japanese katanas, and just classic long swords all in one battle.”

“They may not have had Capture the Flag in Medieval Europe, but we have fun with it,” Cancio added. It is worth noting that Capture the Flag is proven to be more fun than the bubonic plague.

One boffer, shirtless, iPod in hand, carefully slashed at a rival with a short sword. The music he was listening to? Opera, of course.

And will the epic battles go on all semester? Of course, said Cancio, channeling Winston Churchill. “We will fight through the sunny days, the cold days, the hot days, and the wet days. My favorites are the rainy days. Those days, I just want to bring out a camcorder and shoot the action. Rain just makes the battles so much more cinematic.”

“I like to think that boffing harkens back to the Coliseum days in Rome, only less cruel, crazy or bloodthirsty,” said Cancio. “But just as entertaining,” he added.