# What is your opinion of the S.C.A. as it stands today **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945 "2013-07-19T15:59:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/41 "2015-09-24T21:56:04Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Depends on what you do. Just come to play, its no more inconvenient than any other camping trip and way more fun. > > Getting involved in running the groups, especially at the kingdom level is where most of the drama is. Lots of folks have fun just showing up, participating, and going home without alot of extra concern. I help run some events, and make cast pewter site tokens (when you pay your admission we give you a little handmade pin or necklace that proves you paid.). I got snarled in some local drama which has since been resolved by the removal of the “drama llama” officers that were screwing things up. > [@Jane\_Elliot](#): > > I have to agree with **drachillix** , politics can be avoided by not getting involved in offices. And I say that as a current Kingdom Seneschal. If you can handle politics and let it flow over you like water off a duck, then you’ll be ok. Even taking the politics out of it, none of it sounds remotely enjoyable to me. The me in my 20s would have loved it. It’s not a reflection on the event it’s that I have changed. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/42 "2015-09-24T23:02:30Z")
Man, I miss the SCA. I did a reasonable amount with them in college (I really, really miss Chorusters - this was South Downs, in Meridies) but I never heard anything good about the groups in my hometown, where I relocated after college, and I’ve never gone and investigated. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/43 "2015-09-24T23:03:08Z")
Can I be a horny drunkard monk? That sounds like an easy costume and I’m pretty sure I can pull off the horny drunkard part and stay in character. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/44 "2015-09-24T23:22:27Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Can I be a horny drunkard monk? That sounds like an easy costume and I’m pretty sure I can pull off the horny drunkard part and stay in character. \ \ You have us confused with Ren Faire. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/45 "2015-09-24T23:55:00Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > \ \ > > You have us confused with Ren Faire. They’re different things? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/46 "2015-09-25T01:42:34Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > They’re different things? Touche! Wow, I was primed to join in '72, but for reasons I cannot explain I lasted two weeks. Seems unchanged. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/47 "2015-09-25T01:51:31Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > They’re different things? Way different. As different as LARP and a Video game. Renfaire is for outrageous costumes (both good & bad, sometimes very skimpy) fun but overpriced shopping and food, and to be entertained- but you’re just a spectator. SCA is for being part of things, and to participate in the entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/48 "2015-09-25T02:25:53Z")
I idly wonder if the posthumous MZB scandal has scared any new folks off from joining. Off the cuff I wouldn’t think so, since her involvement is getting close to ancient history these days. But in these internet-soaked days one wonders… ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/49 "2015-09-25T02:47:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Way different. As different as LARP and a Video game. > > Renfaire is for outrageous costumes (both good & bad, sometimes very skimpy) fun but overpriced shopping and food, and to be entertained- but you’re just a spectator. > > SCA is for being part of things, and to participate in the entertainment. This is a decent summary but the differences in attitude and experience are legion. Ren faires are businesses. They are all about dragging in the public for gate ticket sales and vendor fees for people selling things at the event. Ren fair players fancy themselves as actors, the goal being to get a good enough setup/presentation to be paid to attend ren faires and perform. They attempt to imitate proper accents and try to make their costumes as correct as possible. Non time period items are at best highly discouraged if not grounds to be asked to leave. modern camp chairs are required to be covered with something to camouflage their modern origin. No nylon tents or shade covers. drinking cups must be period materials. SCA participants are all doing it for fun. we do pay a fee, but we do not generally invite the public. Events are not advertised outside of SCA circles. We are more of a community that engages in a mutual activity across a variety of venues. Group membership is by geographic area. We do full speed full contact armored mass combat (weapons are rattan, arrowheads are wide blunts) examples [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02NcGTVqj6Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02NcGTVqj6Y) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIlVs-8g99U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIlVs-8g99U) (please forgive the music) SCA events also incude tons of opportunities to learn new art forms most for free or for a small materials fee. The arts and sciences class lineup for an event I am attending in a week [http://www.caid-gww.org/class\_list.php](http://www.caid-gww.org/class_list.php) ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/50 "2015-09-25T02:54:37Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I idly wonder if the posthumous MZB scandal has scared any new folks off from joining. Off the cuff I wouldn’t think so, since her involvement is getting close to ancient history these days. But in these internet-soaked days one wonders… There has been more than a handful of disasters The ben schragger incident [http://www.sca.org/BOD/announcements/settlementannouncement1.pdf](http://www.sca.org/BOD/announcements/settlementannouncement1.pdf) Duke Direk in Caid supposedly caused a boatload of unhappy folks. getting stripped of all titles, awards, etc and being banned from SCA participation anywhere for life takes work. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/51 "2015-09-25T16:15:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Way different. As different as LARP and a Video game. > > Renfaire is for outrageous costumes (both good & bad, sometimes very skimpy) fun but overpriced shopping and food, and to be entertained- but you’re just a spectator. > > SCA is for being part of things, and to participate in the entertainment. Or there’s the middle ground - being a participant (actor) at the RenFaire. Which I’ve been doing since '89, gods help me. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/52 "2015-09-25T16:34:18Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Ren fair players fancy themselves as actors, the goal being to get a good enough setup/presentation to be paid to attend ren faires and perform. They attempt to imitate proper accents and try to make their costumes as correct as possible. Non time period items are at best highly discouraged if not grounds to be asked to leave. modern camp chairs are required to be covered with something to camouflage their modern origin. No nylon tents or shade covers. drinking cups must be period materials. This depends on the Faire - some are more sticklers for accuracy among the actors than others. And many/most of the street actors - the ones playing everyday villagers, providing Local Color and random interactions with the patrons, not the ones on stage - are doing it on a volunteer basis with no plan to move into a “theme character” position. They do it because they love educating and entertaining the patrons who come in - as well as for the friendships and community that form among the actors. There is a small but non-zero overlap between Faire participants (actors) and SCA members, but it’s nowhere near as big as most people would think. People who are more drawn to performing and educating work Faire; people who just want the more immersive experience for themselves do SCA. Or another way of putting it - Faire workers are whores, SCA are wankers. ---
**Author:** ![NVME702-redux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@NVME702-redux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NVME702-redux)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/53 "2015-09-25T16:34:54Z")
I was introduced to the SCA via SDMB. I would have never known about it if I hadn’t read a thread about a sheep to shawl project. I played and was a baronial Seneschal for 3 years. Being in the SCA was one of the happiest times of my life so far and I miss it. I’ve since moved out of CAID and now live in Ansteorra and would like to return, but my current husband isn’t comfortable with the SCA (he thinks its a rampant sex club, which it is for some, but not my cup of tea)and we avoid talking about it. From what I hear, standing from the outside looking in, its still the same ol’ same ol’, bureaucracy, whiny people and the usual suspects being elevated or winning crown. However, the pageantry, the service to the people in keeping the dream alive, its all still there. Camaraderie, fellowship and friendship, scholarship in learning ancient arts and then teaching them to others, all of that still lives. And that’s what I loved most about the SCA. Almost makes me want to drag out my Panther Pavilion and set it up in the front acreage for the weekend! In service to the dream, Lady Mina de Valencia ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/54 "2015-09-25T16:44:15Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > There is a small but non-zero overlap between Faire participants (actors) and SCA members, but it’s nowhere near as big as most people would think. People who are more drawn to performing **and educating** IME ren faire folks are more interested in selling you the handcrafts they make rather than teaching others how to make it. Large SCA events have dozens of scheduled classes. [http://www.caid-gww.org/class\_list.php](http://www.caid-gww.org/class_list.php) ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/55 "2015-09-25T16:52:13Z")
Again, it depends on the Faire. Also, understand that there are boothies (people who work at or own a booth selling merchandise, who would like it very much if you bought their stuff!) and there are actors, some of whom spend all day every weekend demonstrating and explaining handspinning, smithing, leatherwork, embroidery, cooking, swordplay, etc to anyone who is interested. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/56 "2015-09-25T20:26:34Z")
At “my” Faire, (a direct descendant of the original Patterson Faires) vendors are vendors and entertainers are entertainers. The two have little overlap. The vendors travel the circuit, going from one Faire to another, selling their wares. There are a handful of contracted entertainers and acts that get paid, but one thousand or so of us are semi-crazy people doing it for fun. Some people in my guild spend the day demonstrating carding wool, spinning and weaving, and elsewhere, there’s a blacksmith doing demos but not selling anything. Some guilds are set up as 501©3 non-profits, so they have a focus on education. Aside from that, for participants, there’s a whole roster of required classes to be done before receiving a gate pass. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/57 "2015-09-25T20:29:38Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > At “my” Faire, (a direct descendant of the original Patterson Faires) vendors are vendors and entertainers are entertainers. The two have little overlap. The vendors travel the circuit, going from one Faire to another, selling their wares. There are a handful of contracted entertainers and acts that get paid, but one thousand or so of us are semi-crazy people doing it for fun. > > Some people in my guild spend the day demonstrating carding wool, spinning and weaving, and elsewhere, there’s a blacksmith doing demos but not selling anything. Some guilds are set up as 501(c)3 non-profits, so they have a focus on education. Aside from that, for participants, there’s a whole roster of required classes to be done before receiving a gate pass. 😃 I’ll be up working at your Faire this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/58 "2015-09-26T05:17:17Z")
Question about kids. If parents have kids in SCA, when do the kids get their own specific titles and names? Do the parents call the kids their SCA or real names? Would the kids call their parents by their real or SCA names? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/59 "2015-09-26T05:41:35Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Question about kids. > > If parents have kids in SCA, when do the kids get their own specific titles and names? Do the parents call the kids their SCA or real names? Would the kids call their parents by their real or SCA names? They get SCA names as soon as they can answer to them. They get a title as soon as they earn it. True, everyone is called “My Lord” “My Lady”, but no one gets a title until they earn it. I’d say a year or two for a “Award of Arms” and a decade for the higher awards. Here are the Titles, more or less in order: Court Baron/ess: Given for personal service to the Royalty. 1-20 years. Held forever. Land Baron/ess: often elected head of a Barony. Called “Your Excellency”. Master of the Pelican/Master of the Laurel/Knight/etc ( **Peers** ) You hold this forever. 10 years of service or so/being a master of a art of craft/being a really good fighter and being chivalrous. Maybe five years if you really have a talent for fighting and fight a lot, and are good at the Chivalrous stuff. Viscount: Winning the Tournament for Prince of a Principality. (You will be Prince for 3-6 months, than when you step down, you’re a Viscount) Count: Winning Crown once. _Generally_ you will be a Knight first. Forever. Duke: Winning Crown _twice_. Forever. The Consort of the person who wins gets equal honors. It’s a lot of work. Prince/ess : having won Crown but not yet being Crowned or winning a Tourney in a Principality. You hold this only months. King/Queen: After winning Crown, after being crowned. 4-6 months. Some folks do use lesser title such as a holder of a Grant of Arms (usually by holding a Great Office for 2 years, requires years of working up) is sometimes called “The Honorable” Or “_The_ Lord…” No titles are passed on to your kids. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945/60 "2015-09-26T13:08:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They get SCA names as soon as they can answer to them. They get a title as soon as they earn it. True, everyone is called “My Lord” “My Lady”, but no one gets a title until they earn it. I’d say a year or two for a “Award of Arms” and a decade for the higher awards. > > Here are the Titles, more or less in order: > Court Baron/ess: Given for personal service to the Royalty. 1-20 years. Held forever. > Land Baron/ess: often elected head of a Barony. > Called “Your Excellency”. > > Master of the Pelican/Master of the Laurel/Knight/etc ( **Peers** ) You hold this forever. > 10 years of service or so/being a master of a art of craft/being a really good fighter and being chivalrous. Maybe five years if you really have a talent for fighting and fight a lot, and are good at the Chivalrous stuff. > > Viscount: Winning the Tournament for Prince of a Principality. (You will be Prince for 3-6 months, than when you step down, you’re a Viscount) > Count: Winning Crown once. _Generally_ you will be a Knight first. Forever. > Duke: Winning Crown _twice_. Forever. > > The Consort of the person who wins gets equal honors. It’s a lot of work. > > Prince/ess : having won Crown but not yet being Crowned or winning a Tourney in a Principality. You hold this only months. > King/Queen: After winning Crown, after being crowned. 4-6 months. > > Some folks do use lesser title such as a holder of a Grant of Arms (usually by holding a Great Office for 2 years, requires years of working up) is sometimes called “The Honorable” Or “_The_ Lord…” > > No titles are passed on to your kids. Wow, that was a great response. However I just wanted to know on a personal level or family level, when/if/how/where do parents call their kids by their SCA names and when do kids call their parents by their SCA names? Another family question, are their times when its “family” and are those times when outfits or activities are censored? Or is SCA mainly just for adults? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-of-the-s-c-a-as-it-stands-today/663945.md?page=4)