Ask the SCA Noob

Sounds like how I describe Facebook/Myspace.

Maybe my barony is different, but in general, we are just one big happy family. There are 3-4 of the folks who are involved in some of the political stuff and went to a few meetings for various committies/councils but other than 20-30 minutes bitching about it a bit at camp, that was it.

I guess it depends on what you want to do. I have always loved the idea of this and have always been a fan of the world of medieval combat.

I am a metalsmith. I cut my teeth (so to speak) by crafting armor and blades and chalices. I have a Master’s degree in Art with an emphasis in jewelry and metalsmithing.

I loved the idea as well and somewhere there are pictures of me as a 6-six-year-old (and I am 46 now!), dressed up “in garb.”

I’m just sorry the Society became less societal.

I’m sorry to hear you didn’t have a good time in the SCA, Fried Dough Ho. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid the polytickin’ and I like it alot.

Oakminster, you can borrow armor and fight at practices, but for everyone’s safety you have to get authorized before being set loose on the battlefield. It will take some clicking to find the group in your local area, but start here, Kingdoms - SCA.org. If you PM me with your state and county, I can try to narrow the field for you.

How long did you last in the first engagement, and what took you out? (spear would be my guess)

That’s the interesting thing about taking hits- I could give you a bat and say “Hit me in the arm as hard as you want” and have a hard time standing there and taking it. But in a fight I would just cuss a little about it and keep going, and admire the bruise later.

Who did you fight with? Silver Oak? If you want to bust some people up, Guy is a good one to follow.

Did you feel like you made a productive contribution to the outcome of any of the battles, or did you feel like cannon fodder?

Not sure on the first one actually, once I got up to the front, it took about 15 seconds.

I felt the impacts, I have a couple nasty looking bruises, but honestly, paintball was worse.

Being a Noob, I have heard these names, but am not all up on their significance. I am Caid/Nordwache

Most of it was cannon fodder, I did have 1 time where I was part of a 2-3 man group that punched a nice hole in a line that allowed a portion of our force to move into the castle area and establish a better foothold inside.

The second one was most glorious, I was watching the group of spears in front of me, at one point all three of them took a “shot” at someone at the same time and I was right up front. I charged them, got past their spear points, and smashed full force into them, all three of them fell down, and I killed another just behind them. OF course that lasted about 3 seconds until the 8 or so other folks now on either side of the hole I made turned and clobbered me. I recall at least 4 distinct hits to my helmet, no pain, just very disorienting and knocked me down as well.

Do you use blunts or foam?

I am a sword and board guy, my sword has a foam thrusting tip, but the rest of it is just duct tape wrapped rattan.

As are the people who produce the illuminated manuscripts. I learned alot about embroidery as well.

True, sadly. And I’ve done both Renn-Faires and SCA. You can have fun but after a while you start to see things that, well, that piss you off.

But the fighting is cool.

Not really, you also need to qualify to get out into the eric [fighting field] by attending fighter practices and learning to fight safely, and then get your ‘qual card’ demonstrating that you have learned how to fight safely and that you know the rules of the lists.

And don’t forget the wire weenies [fencers] and archers as well. And there are small clusters of people that target throw axes and knives occasionally. I should dig up and scan the picture of me throwing an ax =)

LOL I was one of those culinary historians for years [I was one of the original members of the Ansteorra Cooks List] and am semi retired because of the politics.

Hm, Duke Sir Gunthar of Ansteorra isn’t a butthead, nor is Stefan li Rous. Both of them are very accessible, especially Stefan, though he is a bit aspergers. [I love him dearly, he is in my Pennsic household, but he tends to be very focused and sometimes a bit clueless.] Duke Sir Cariadoc of the Bow can be a bit egotistical, but he and his lady are also accessible, and he has serious research chops.

All of these fine folk live in the western half of the known world, so you have a bit better chance of running into them at an event =)

And if you are looking for me in the florithingy, I am not under Aruvqan, but under Margali. And I started back in the old school SCA, in 1978 =) I saw it change from a bunch of people hanging out and having fun, with clothing made of bedsheets and curtains, armor made of carpet and propane can helmets to the current research it out the ass until you can be dropped back 500 years and blend in perfectly. Sometimes I miss the old days when the politics were a lot more rare…:frowning:

true you don’t just walk in, suit up, and go to war. I was just addressing the armoring aspect. That and if one is just looking to party and pick up women it helps to have a few bruises so you don’t look like you have been hiding behind a hay bale all day. Unless you want to try and claim you are an archer. Then again who wants to lie about being a fighter in a fake war.

Good God, we probably knew each other…

Anyone know of the Roman Ninth Legion from Caid? I fought with them for 2 years.

I am pretty sure I heard some mention of them last weekend. But have not met them personally.

Aahh, fame, how fleeting. I remember the very first Great Western War. Long ago. That was when I decided to learn how to fight. By the 2nd I was qualified and in the sheild wall.

I enjoyed fighting. I would do it again, if it weren’t such a time consuming hobby, and if I didn’t detest the mindset of so many of the “hard core”. Including my ex, who is right at home knee deep in the politics.

There is an issue with someone being given power that can actually be abused who earns that right through “honorable combat”. I have seen a man gain the crown after clearly and openly cheating.

Of course, in the West you’re king for like 90 days, so most folks just tough it out. But it rapidly disillusioned me.

LOL, OK, who were you? The Pennsic household is SPCA [was Caer Frig from Ohio but we went national when we started collecting peopl e from all over the known world =)] We camp down by the lake in w10

Several years ago I tried to get involved in the SCA and found it to be very clique-ish. I tried several groups within the local SCA and never really felt welcomed or encouraged to continue attending. How was getting involved for you? Do you have any suggestions for someone who wants to get involved on the best way to jump in?

Ooh, people I know. Stefan is an invaluable, knowledgeable pain in the rear. I’m very pleased there’s someone like him keeping archives of ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to throw apples at his head once in a while. Then again, I want to do that to my friends… Gunthar’s a knowledgeable chap. Isn’t he Duke Sir Master Gunthar, or am I thinking of someone else?

I’m lucky: my barony has a boatload of people with all kinds of knowledge. I get along just fine with most of them, but the politicing can be a real pain in the ass. I’ve been a bit inactive lately – busy with work, school, and theater – but I love my barony and I look forward to seeing them in a few weekends.

Personally, I love the arts and sciences stuff. I’ve gained a few new hobbies: the main reason I joined the SCA was to get someone to teach me all the stuff I wanted to know for free! It’s been invaluable for that. :wink: Gulf War was a hell of a lot more fun than I expected, too. Being something of a palace princess – I like my AC and my carpet and my non-leaking roof, thanks – I nevertheless survived quite handily. Got the war plague Tuesday – probably just the change in water – and was done with it by Thursday morning. Listened to singers in the Green Dragon and attended a marvelous (private-ish, definitely not advertised) Saturday morning service from the original-original Book of Common Prayer.

I love the research and the arts. They’ve made me a better scholar. I love the friends I’ve made. I just wish they all loved each other, too. :frowning:

And I got disallusioned with the mindset of all the guys/girls who were just there to ge laid.