My Views on the SCA

Thoughts and opinions about the SCA. Including rants, raves and reviews. General notes on my SCAdian life.

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(SCA Persona)-- A Jute, born in the great and fine lands of Juzki (Jutland), I was raised to be a metalsmith but learned to wage battle to protect my home lands. As life went on I saw a need to go forth and crush those that would someday try to take our lands. Now I live by my sword and get paid in plunder. It is a fitting life.. My the gods look down on me with favor. Hearing news of an army from the south advancing north, I and fellow kinsmen took to the ships. We sailed south and west along the coast and down the Elbe. We joined with the armies to push back the advancing Romans. For many years I fought as a mercenary against Rome. With plenty of gold, weapons and armor taken from my enemies I took back to the ship. Sailing from Gaul I made my way north to the island of Britian where I met the people of the crow. Clanne Preachain took me in as one of their own and by their side is where I fought for many years. One day I may find myself in my homelands but for now life is good. I have even married a woman of Anglesey, but she is from a land north of my homelands. She came by way of ship to ply her trade with the spear. Now I fight by her side and with her people.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Blackstone Raids 2009: A late review

To start, this was my third Blackstone Raids and I really had a great time at the ones before. I really had to think through my feelings about this years event. It was hot which has not been the case in my past two years there. Did this affect the way I felt about the event. I like the concept of the SCA but I hate the politics and the attitudes of the people that try be be important in the society because they have little outside of it. Was this an influence on how much disappointment I felt at the end of the event? I really had to consider these things and talk with the people I fought along side to see if I was seeing things in some kind of skewed way.

In the past two trips to Blackstone Raids it happened that I fought on the side of AEthelmearc. The fighting was great and people were taking their shots. The Middle was aggressive and and lines clashed and it was fun. AEthelmearc won most battles both years. I figured numbers were off because of home field advantage. I noticed very little rhino hide either of those first two years.

This year Atlantia split its forces due to numbers. Well since I was fighting with a mercenary group we were part of the force that went to the Middle Kingdom. Great I get to fight with the people I have fought against the past two years. Now I get to see the other side. I wonder if it is like this for them every year? Why do they continue to return to this event if it is? Like what you ask?

Let me start by saying that I may hit light for an Atlantian. I discussed this with a few of the people I regularly fight with and the say I hit hard enough and that some times I can hit harder than they would like. I understand that sometimes you are not sure in a melee if it was a shot or spear shaft that hit you. All that taken into account I have to question the honor of a large majority of the people we faced. One fighter left himself open while attacking a fighter to my right. I hit his helm and shoulder four times solid. I then hit his helm slightly to the back and he dropped to a knee. I figured he was dying until he tried to thrust at another fighter so I hit his sword arm and he looked up at me like he was wondering what I was doing. Was he clueless about melee fighting and thought he was only engaged with the person in front of him? Was the whole AEthelmearc army on that bridge that clueless? It was like that most of the time. Almost no one wanted to take a shot. The field battles were as bad. A fighter got around our line and hit my shield arm at the inside of the elbow really hard and said "You don't have to take that shot we were not engaged." Thanks, so you now want me to fight when my arm is numb and I can't use my shield? Honorable move Sir ShitHead.

So, a shield man closes on a spear man and they hold the spear vertical in front of them butt end on the ground and say nothing, have they yielded? No clue, so I put a light'ish rap to their helm. No response no defense. I put a second harder rap to their helm, no response. A third rap that moves their head and no response? I am confused people I am fighting with are confused. The rest of their group is dead. Suddenly I take a shot from a spear to my kidney from the back right side. Not engaged but I am pissed and walk off the field. The spear I was engaged with or what ever it was, joins the new line to continue fighting. I was told that they were hit several more times with no acknowledgment until another spear man chocked up on their spear and drove the person to the ground. I did not know we played immortals in the SCA.

Two of our guys were called dead for walking of the end of the world in a field battle. Next battle same marshal, a line of AEthelmearc fighters walks off the edge of the world to flank our group in front of the marshal; we yell to him and he says to them move back, they ignore him and he lets it go. Where is the honor?

That is how the fighting went. Why does the Middle bother to return year after year. Is it like that for them every year. Was this just a really odd and strange year? I had to take time away after that. Now, I plan to do three events then work on projects over the winter. I don't know if I will return to Blackstone Raids again.

Highlight - Had a nice Mexican dinner with friends at the Cozumel restaurant.

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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Celt Wars 12

This past weekend was Celt Wars 12. Not really an SCA event, just a large group of friends getting together for an extended fighter practice and a weekend of camping. It was a great event as always.


This was the first time I had armored up since the Storvick Baronial Birthday event last year. I was slow and not at all on my game. Oona on the other hand came out rocking with the spear but was taken out of the game early by a nasty shot to the arm just above her elbow. I managed to stay in the fighting to the bitter end. And since I was slow I kept sticking my sword arm out to be hit. All in all a good day of fighting.


A quick video clip of Oona and her magic with the spear.



After the fighting there was a nice cheese and "juice" tasting, then a pot luck dinner. Followed by lots of talking and laughing by the fire. There was also some fine bardic entertainment.


Always a great time.....

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Thursday, October 23, 2008

Storvick Baronial Birthday

Now is the time.
What time is that, you ask? Well, it is time to talk about last weekend.
What happened last weekend, you ask? Well, stop asking questions and I will tell you.

Last weekend Oona and I went to the Storvick Baronial Birthday event.
The event was a Viking Raid theme. The fighting was all melees, all day. The fighting was styled around a campaign scenario. The outcome of one event decided what the next event would be. It worked out fairly well. The Atlantia army was the Viking invaders. I fought with the Galatians and Anglesey on the visitor’s side during the first 2 battle scenarios. The first was a beach assault that was played out 3 times. Then a field battle played out 3 times. The Vikings lost all battles. So, Galatia and Anglesey were moved to the Atlantian side. Well, the Vikings (Atlantia) continued to loose the rest of the day, but it was not as much of a slaughter in the later battles. I think they would do better if the fighters learned to fight in small battle units and how to hold lines. They collapsed in on themselves which was hurting them. Or when flanked they would continue forward and get picked off from the sides as they passed. I am not a kingdom man and I am not saying the fighters were bad or harshing on anyone; it is just an observation from working within a small mobile unit. So, enough said about tactics. The day was perfect for fighting and there was plenty of fighting to be had. It was a really great day.

Oona and a friend set up a merchant tent to sell garb they had made. They made some sells but I am not sure Oona is the type of person who could spend a day sitting in a booth. I think she should focus on making us supper spiff garb and I will work on the accessories and camp stuff. There is a new chair design in the works based off historical references and design style. I’ll keep you posted. I will also post on the new coat Oona is making me. I am so excited about new garb.

So, after the fighting we sat through most of court. Then I went to get out of armor. After getting dressed we went to feast late. There was not an announcement about when feast would start and we just noticed no one was around. I do not do the pomp and circumstance stuff well and we felt out of place when everyone seamed to stare at us as we came in. So, basically we did a “eat and run”. I really do not think the feast is my thing. Maybe if it was a Viking style feast like in the sagas. The food was good and a huge thank you to the people who prepared it.

I never made it in to see the A&S display. I wish I had found the time. The feast reminded me why I don’t do events unless they are melee events. I just don’t fit into the “my lord” and “my lady” thing.

Even though I am striving to make my kit as period as possible and now Oona has gotten the bug. She is becoming more than a stick jock. I promise I never tried to change her. She just wanted to create more stuff. I on the other hand was never a good fighter but I enjoy doing it. I also enjoy learning to create things. So, I am creating stuff for us. I was asked recently why I don’t put my stuff in A&S competitions. Well, I am not a scholar and I have not written documentation for any of the things I have made. That got me thinking. Maybe I should try my hand at documentation and enter some stuff in A&S competitions. Maybe it will give me another reason to go to events.

Wow, that was a hard to follow train of thought. See, this is why I don’t think. It is to confusing.

So, this winter will be spent making stuff and documenting it. Watch for me on the field and at the A&S tent. And don’t laugh at my stuff. I plan to be a jack of all trades. ;-p

Well, before I start thinking again, lets do a quick wrap up.
Storvick Baronial Birthday event was great. Thank you to all the people that made it possible. Great to see all of you that I knew there, not a single person made me wish I was not there or think that murder is wrong.
The fighting was great and it kept moving. Only one hold for injury. Great weather. Wonderful time.

Now continue with your lives. I am done here.

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Monday, June 4, 2007

Upcoming event - Highland River Melee

So, next weekend is Highland River Melees and there has been a lot of buzz about the event. Why this has happened is beyond me but the word going around is that the fighting is Crusader vs Middle Eastern and you will not be allowed to fight if your kit is not of a correct style for one of these persona.

Well, I heard this and had to get the information varifief for myself. It appears the information is false. You can fight in what ever rig you have as long as it passes inspection.

Here is the information I got on tribe from one of the people working on the event.

On the message boardtribes » Cultures & Community » Atlantia » topics » Highland River

Ondraedan wrote:
Re: Highland River MeleesYesterday, 3:59 PM
"Our theme this year, Europe and the Middle East from 1066 to 1291 (the fall of Acre)" "The Baron, Baroness and populace welcome all those who are English, French, Italian, German and other Europeans as well as their Byzantine and Middle Eastern contemporaries!"

I have heard fighters will not be allowed to participate on the field of battle if they are not armored in a middle eastern or crusader persona. Is this true? There are some of us that just heard of this and do not have the time to create new garb or change armor and some just don't have the funds to make garb for multiple persona.


Glynis wrote:
Re: Highland River MeleesYesterday, 6:54 PM
This is absolutely untrue and is a vicious rumor sparked by those who don't know better. Please spread the word that fighters may fight in whatever they fight in, so long as it abides by Atlantian/Society/Etc. rules. I'm a non-fighter so I don't necessarily know what those rules are, but there is DEFINITELY no rule about not being allowed to fight because your armor doesn't fit in.

Nor will you be kicked off site if you show up in 14th century garb, or Elizabethan, or Italian Ren, or a kilt.


Tarkhan wrote:
Re: Highland River MeleesYesterday, 7:53 PM
Could also just be individuals confused about the proposed Crusaders Vs. Saracens battle at Pennsic 36?
www.legiodraconis.com/modules.php


So, that is the story. Come and fight with the kit you have.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Sapphire Joust

Well, we went to Sapphire Joust. It was going to be my first tourney fighting. We got a little later start then we planned because I had to make poles for our two new wedge tents. This should not have slowed us up to much but I did not count on the lines at Home Depot. So, we get there sometime after 1:30 and we were finished setting up by 3:00am. Sorry to whom ever was camping next to us.

When I woke up at 8:30 I had no energy to get into armor so, it became a non-fighting event for me. Oona left her armor at home because her son wanted to bring a friend and something had to stay behind. We had fun visiting and taking photos. And even the showers were entertaining thanks to the couple on the other side of the wall. Not that anything was going on in there we were just making jokes toward each other.

All in all a fun event and Oona even shopped at Crafty Celts. I know big surprise. It is always good to run into Vortigern when you don't expect it.
Enough talk... Check out the pics....http://oona-ondraedan.smugmug.com/gallery/2913925#156945959

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Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Bigots of Atlantia



So, it seems that some people think I have a general problem with the populous of Atlantia. Apparently they have gotten this idea from my post. Well, I have a lot of friends that live within the "Kingdom of Atlantia". I even like a few of the Atlantian regulars but it is the bigotry of the general Atlantian that burns the shit out of me.

I am a Jute and the Jutes were a Germanic Celtic tribe. Now some people believe that this puts me out of the time period of the SCA. And there is a general dislike of all celtic personas in the Atlantian kingdom. Yet, somehow the Romans are accepted. The Celts were still in Brition after the Romans left. The germanic celts created France, have you not heard of the Franks? So, why all the celt bashing?

The image that is posted with this blog is from a copy of the Acorn. So, come get me for copyright infrigment. It is the worst cartoon you could post in a publication from a Socitey that is suppose to promote "Honor", "Chivilry" and "Respect".

I am trying to play your game by your rules with a "Barbarian" persona and since it does not fit the limp wrist fop norm of the kingdom the populous can snark freely and it is considered proper behaviour? That is BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!

So, I am a "Bog Trooper", I am "Preachain" and it looks like now I am also "Anglesey" but I am not Atlantian!!!!!!!

Until the main stream populous becomes a civil populous that tries to uphold the standards of the SCA, I will not be counted among you!

That is my rant for today...........................

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Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Blackstone Raids XVI --- Part 2

Well, back to my tale of fighting in the far off lands of the Barony of Blackstone Mountain in the kingdom of Æthelmearc. Wow, that is a mouth full. So, where was I?
Oh, that’s right we were on the bridge. The last battle was a 15 minute unlimited resurrection battle. You can really tire yourself out in 15 minutes. I fought the whole time without a break except for the walk to res. Going back in I would look for the place that needed a shield or a weak spot to push in the enemy line. I met up with a shield man from the Barony of Black Diamond. And we went to the line together and made a charge. A really nice guy. I did not get their names but we chatted for a bit after the bridge battles. It was the former champion and current champion of the barony. So that was how the bridge battles went.

Now for a 25 minute rest. Oona has gone to get out of armor and planned to shop. I asked her to get my camera for me since she was going past the room. Now, do I fight the next battle? What is the next battle? The story was either a town battle or the usual mine battle. We are there to protect the Blackstone mines. Well, which ever it is to be the way the bales are set up it looks like a meat grinder fight. Not my favorite and I have had a good day so, off with the armor. As I am walking back toward the lodge I see Oona coming back to the field with my camera. I dropped my stuff and took some pics the off to shopping.

So, we head straight to the Dancing Pig. Amber was not there because she was home making more stuff. Bran and Cian were there though. Cian was out on the battle field for the field battles. I was glad he got a chance to fight. Bran was as cheerful as always. So, the object is to buy Oona another cup because you need more than one. I have a china cabinet full myself. Well, Dancing Pig discontinued a design but replaced it with two new designs and some new glazes. You really should check them out. I had to buy a new smaller whiskey jug because I don’t really drink anymore but it is nice to have some on hand to share. Besides the glazing on it was great. Oh and we bought a few other things. Did I mention, they have new designs and glaze colors? I was debating a couple small crow pattern bowls to use for shot glasses or little tea cups. I could not decide and when we went back for them they were gone. I guess that is my punishment for not being decisive.

Bran took the pictures of Oona and me when we returned to find the bowls gone. We also made a tour of all the venders but did not find anything that caught our eye. So, we stood around for a bit talking cameras and other things with Bran. Then Cain introduced us to a gentle from Atlantia. He introduced us as more Atlantian thugs. Now mind you I keep my mouth shut to not offend people but it opened on its own and the words just popped out, “I am not an Atlantian Thug, I am a Bog Trooper Thug.” I guess it came across as rude which was not the intent. The gentle lifted his nose and turned away. Cain, I am sorry for offending your friend. I forget I live in a kingdom with a populace that expects all to kneel to the crown. Not a very historically accurate view of life in the middle ages. This will not be my last “bad barbarian” moment of the evening.

Oh, I need to skip back. Before we went back to Dancing Pig and the photo shoot, we had gone to town for refreshments for the evening and to get some dinner. I have never attended an SCA feast and I did not want to start in a place where I knew no one. I don’t understand the removes and I might eat with the wrong knife or finger or something.

Well, as I saying, we wnet to town and bought some barley pop and stopped for dinner. We decided to eat at “Cozumel Mexican Restaurant” The food was good but they made the worst Margaritas we have ever had the misfortune to drink. They tasted like paint thinner. You have been warned. After dinner we went back and showered and well spent some private time in the room. Then we got all dressed up and went out for a stroll and stopped by the Dancing Pig. You remember that bit from two paragraphs up.

So, after the stroll through the market we went back to the room to refill our refreshments and drop off the camera. Then it is back to our strolling. Feast was breaking up as we passed the hall. We gave greetings to people as they passed and talked to each other. As we went along not really noticing who was passing we hear from a group “Hello”. It was a blond gentle wearing a ring with points on his head. Being the good person I am I returned the greeting with a nice “Hello” and Oona gave a wave. This prompted laughter from the group as they passed. After looking through pictures on the web I think this may have been the king of Æthelmearc. Not really sure but its more than likely. Bad barbarian, bad…….. I say this in jest because I am from a civilization that is known for its trading centers. I am just a little earlier than the Society likes and though we have Kings and warlords they are in a democratic position where the people can oust them if they are bad at the job. Also, in the 6 years I have been doing this I have never done court or that other stuff. I can not tell one pointy hat from another. Maybe I will try to learn.

So, we walk the whole place wondering what to do. People were gathered in groups all over the place but not knowing anyone made it hard to attempt to talk with any of them. Remember how I said all the people on the field were nice and friendly. This seamed to change in the evening. It happens at all SCA events. The groups and people become less accepting of strangers after dusk and even get rude. So, we figure we will go to the bardic circle when it gets going. So, we head back to the room for more refreshments and to hang out until things get going.

Well, we head out to the circle and it is starting to rain and there are only a few people there. We then decide to just call it a night since we were tired and no friends to really party with.

So, we get up on Sunday morning and head home. The drive was un-eventful and we lived so I can tell this tale. I hope it was an enjoyable read.

We will return next year and hopefully with a war band.

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Monday, April 30, 2007

Blackstone Raid XVI ----- Part 1


This weekend was great fun. Oona and I went to Blackstone Raids in West Virginia.

The drive was long. It was a little over 6 hours door to door. This is because there is no straight route across West Virginia. I will be glad when 33 is opened as a limited access highway across the state.

We arrived on sight at close to 3:00 AM Saturday morning. We unpacked and went straight to bed. At about 7:50 AM, I was awake so we got up and went to town for coffee not knowing how things worked on site. After getting coffee in town we came back and proceeded to armor up. After getting into armor we headed to inspection.

This was the toughest inspection I have ever been through. I have to do some repairs on the bars on my helm because two had gaps that I had to fill by wrapping the bar with duck tape. I have been fighting in this helmet for 6 years and never had any problems. But once that was fixed I got my sticker after going through the talk about how I should wear rigid armor that covers my back. The weapons were no problem except my black low profile tip. They wanted that taped red. So, we are both past inspection. Now where do we fight?

Well, Oona and I were suppose to be meeting other people there but they wussed out on us. I am not going to mention any names, Llyr so don’t worry….. Oops.

So, we live in the kingdom of Atlantia. Mind you I am not Atlantian, I am Preachain. Saying this out loud in front of some Atlantians did not go over well. Go figure. The mercenary business is not favored in the kingdom that I am supposed to be in. Well we like to play nice and it was the home team Æthelmearc that they wanted us to fight for and I was happy with that. Now we know what side to fight on, the next question is who to line up with.

We spot this friendly looking group in red and black with a yellow lightning bolt. What was there group? “The Great Dark Hoard” or some such thing. Apparently they are know or something. I was even told that we (Preachain and Anglesey) had fought with them before. Did I mention that I was from Clanne Preachain and Oona is from Anglesey? Ok, good enough for me. Now for the fighting.

Well all who know me understand that I am all about making friends and keeping my mouth shut so I don’t offend anyone. ;-p I will try to do that in my blog too…… Now where was I???? Oh, that’s right, the fighting.

Well the fighting was great after Oona and I realized we should not go in with a group we were not use to fighting with. We hung back together and ran for the gap that opened. I would get myself into trouble and Oona would buy me time with her spear. It is a lovely sight to see her spear zip around from behind my shield and take out 1 of the 3 guys gunning for me. Oops, one of them hit my sword with his helm. Doh, the other hit my shield and I accidentally hit him in the helm with my sword while I was reaching around my shield to see if he was OK. Where is Oona? Oh, that guy just ran into her spear. Doh… Now I’ve gone and put my head in the way of that guys sword. I will just lie here and relax. So that is how the field battles went. Loads of fun. I think there were 4 field battles. Then we did 3 bridge battles.

Some how I became a lone shield man on the first bridge battle then I got legged and the guys with the long weapons behind me backed up. I was then just a speed bump. The other two bridge battles went better for me and Oona was rocking with her spear fencing work. I got into some good shoving matches and even found myself alive behind the enemy when a hold was called, still standing, never even tripped on that push. The only guy who realized I was there was a spearman that was coming back from resurrection. “Lay on”! I managed to catch the guy beside me by surprise then went for the spearman and found myself going off the bridge when a couple more guys noticed me. Oh well, back to res point. And did I mention the fighting was GREAT!!!!!!!! Nothing but friendly people trying to hit me.

To be continued…………………….

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Thursday, April 26, 2007

Chivalry and "Living History"

The Society for Creative Anachronism is an origination that strives to "re-create" the arts, skills and ideas of Medieval Europe. The belief is they can better understand the history through re-creation of the garb and playing dress up. In my opinion it is a flawed idea.

Lets start first with the idea of Chivalry. This is a concept that never really existed except in the writings of romantic minded authors. Even if it had truly existed it is an outdated concept. To be knighted is to be locked into servitude. It was for most of the time of knights something to be avoided. Once you became a knight you were required to do the bidding of your King, Lord or what ever. You were tied to the will of the church. You had to use your lands and wealth to support a number of troops. You had to carry a bigger burden of taxes so you had to take from the peasants that worked your lands.

Knights did not live to the code that we think of today as the "Code of Chivalry". These men were the leaders of troops that robbed and murdered at the will of the church against the non-believers. They stole and murdered for their king to increase his power and wealth. Those that did not try to avoid knighthood, embraced it as a means to power. It was as corrupt as any political system we have today.

What is taken as the "Code of Chivalry" today is what was later a set of rules for courtly manners for the upper classes. Think of this as the manners expected by society today among the "elite". The way it is taken in the SCA is a farce. And as to how it is really followed by the members of the Society can be seen it the way politics work in the SCA.

As for the "Living History" of the SCA, this is a joke. Except for some people doing arts and science, there is nothing of living like they did in the past. Even in the arts and sciences people take modern short cuts to make their projects. Gas forge instead of a bellows powered charcoal forge, modern instead of period needles, power tools such as saws and drills. All of these things take away from the understanding of how things were really done in the past.

SCA events are fun costume parties and that is all they are. There is a great amount of research done by some to make their costume authentic but it is still a costume. Until they spend more than a weekend or week at it, it is still a party. Until they separate themselves from all modern conveniences and use only things of the period they are trying to "re-create" it is just a game.

Now lets move to the martial arts. How are they recreating the feel of combat in the middle ages if they use plastic, aluminum and other modern materials to create the armor? You always here, "if they had it back then they would have used it". Well they did not have it so, you are not re-creating the feel of their combat. SCA combat is not a way to learn how it felt to fight in the middle ages, it is a modern sport. This delusion needs to end.

I enjoy fighting in the SCA and I enjoy the events but I realize that the research I do and my attempts at making a period kit will not give me the experiences of the Medieval people. I have a better understanding of how some things were done because I chose to make period tools and do the pieces in a period fashion. I can better see the complex nature of the thing but not the time.

All I am saying is that the SCA is a dream, a game and nothing more. Enjoy the party and enjoy the arts and sciences but don't think that you know anything about what it was really like to live in the Middle Ages.

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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Celt Wars

It has taken me a couple weeks to get around to writing about this event. It is one of the best weekend events anywhere. It is not an SCA sanctioned event. There are no politics or an over abundance of rules. It is invitation only and we fight based on SCA rules without all the whining and complaining. People are responsible for themselves and their honor and they live up to it. In the whole day, fighting a dozen or more battles, there were two holds. The first one because someone's knee fell off their armor and one for something I forget about now. Granted it is a small event but just perfect.

My thanks, to the organizers of this great event. Always fun!


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Friday, March 16, 2007

Medieval Sword Fighting and how it relates to SCA Heavy Combat

So, after several years of SCA fighting in wars and clan events I decided to take it a little more seriously. I decided to treat it like a sport instead of something I do for fun once in a while. I don't fight tourney and since I started attending practices I have found that there is much to learn. I decided to supplement what I learned from people at practice with personal research and training. The reason being, I don't want to just learn what the people I am training with want to teach. I want to develop a style of my own that has a period feel but can give me an edge over the people who just fight with what they were show at SCA practices.



There appear to be two basic styles common among SCA fighters. I am not sure of the proper terms for the styles since I have heard many names for the same styles. It seems that information from Duke Paul of Bellatrix is very popular. I was given a CD with his training web page on it. I will probably use some of the information he gives. Then there is "Trompe L'oeil 2nd Edition (Trick of the Eye) Advanced techniques in SCA combat Second Edition" Written and illustrated By Duke Sir Patrick Devilin Of DarkWrath Keep. I have not read this book and have not found anyone that has read it. I can't justify $55 dollars for a book that I can't get reviews on and is not distributed by a retail publisher.

So, SCA Heavy Combat evolved as a sport and not a martial art. The players learned things that worked for what they were playing, with little or no research into period fighting fighting styles. The research into Medieval Western European martial arts has grown and there are several books available on the subject.

I am going to give my opinions on three that I have read or attempted to read. My review is how these books relate to SCA Heavy Armor combat and not as a scholarly work. These are also my opinions and we all know that "opinions are like ass holes, every has one and they usually stink."



Starting with my favorite first.

Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques


Publisher: Paladin Press; 1 edition (October 1, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1581600046
ISBN-13: 978-1581600049


This book has information on shields and weapons of the period. It covers stance, blocks and attacks. Most illustrations are shown with a round center grip which I find to be great. There is a section on training and pell work. It translates well to SCA fighting. I really think this is a great book.





Medieval Sword & Shield: The Combat System of Royal Armouries MS I.33

Publisher: Chivalry Bookshelf (February 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1891448439
ISBN-13: 978-1891448430

This work is a translation of the MS I.33 manuscripts. The information is good but not well presented and there are problems with the way they interpret the foot work. The concepts are good but all illustrations are with buckler and you have to figure out how to use the information with the type of shield with which you fight. It can be translated into usable information for SCA Heavy Combat but would probably be great for a fencer. It is an OK piece of work. There is definitely usable information.





English Martial Arts



Publisher: Anglo-Saxon Books (September 1, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1898281297
ISBN-13: 978-1898281290

Fencers have at it. The information here is how to fight more than sword and shield work. The information does not translate well to SCA fighting. Example, You can not step on your opponents weapon in SCA combat and you can not kick your opponent. A descent book but not good for the SCA fighter.


I hope some of this information was of use.

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