Journal of Men’s Studies 2015, Vol. 23(3) 293–314 © 2015 SAGE Publications Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1060826515601355 men.sagepub.com Article Epic Glory and Manhood Acts in Fantasy Role-Playing: Dagorhir as a Case Study James S. Martin 1 , Christian A. Vaccaro 1 , D. Alex Heckert 1 , and Robert Heasley 1 Abstract Based on a yearlong observational study of participants in a “Live Action Role Playing” group called “Dagorhir,” using the manhood acts perspective, we focus on how masculinity is constructed among low-status, subordinate men who self- define as “nerds.” We demonstrate that through fantasy role-playing, men are given opportunities to increase their group status, while women are typically relegated to subordinate positions. Increasing status in Dagorhir involved a type of self- enhancement strategy that we termed “epic glory,” which positioned men as social dominants. Epic glory was earned through training activities, at Dagorhir events, and through simulating dramatic death scenes. Such actions served as a performance of masculinity that was not possible for these men outside the role-playing experience. Importantly, women were excluded from many of the opportunities to enact epic glory, which helped reproduce inequalities both among males and between males and females participating in the events. Keywords gender, masculinity, manhood acts, nerds, self-enhancement, glorified-self, live action role-play, LARP, analog games, ludology Introduction Every Sunday, in a quad of a northeastern college, nearly 20 men, in their early to late 20s, battle as knights and warriors. The men equip themselves with various swords, 1 Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA Corresponding Author: Christian A. Vaccaro, Department of Sociology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 441 North Walk, Rm. 102 McElhaney Hall, Indiana, PA 15705, USA. Email: cvaccaro@iup.edu 601355MEN XX X 10.1177/1060826515601355Journal of Men’s StudiesMartin et al. research-article 2015