The Armour Archive

Diglach Mac Cein

Of course SCA combat isn't for everyone. But I don't beleive that there is much that excludes (or should exclude) someone from trying SCA combat - as long as it isn't a safety concern, like blindess, or brittle bone syndrome. Whining / bitching / general immaturity? I've known a LOT of immature peop...

Diglach Mac Cein

As someone who hasn't FOUGHT in the CoT but enjoys and appreciates it a LOT -

I know people who don't think of it in terms of recreating or re-enacting the CoT, but as the "SCA's Combat of Thirty" -

As much as what it represents as what it recreates.

Diglach Mac Cein

Also, the bullets and firearms used then were not nearly as effectvie as there were even 100 years later. VERY soft rounds and inconsistent charges. and dont forget, some of these later breastplates were literally bullet proof. As in proven to be proof against a bullet. I find it hard to beleive tha...

Diglach Mac Cein

Silicone cupcake pan - not real expensive (found mine at the local $1 store) - works like a dream.

Diglach Mac Cein

A hold would be called. USUALLY the fighter would be allowed to retrieve his weapon (I've seen tourenys with special rules that would disallow this, forcing them to put on a full gauntlet instead.)

In a MELEE - it is considered an armor failure and the fighter in question is called dead.

Diglach Mac Cein

I've been part of "The Band" - A stand-up bass drums saxaphone guitar (The Squirecaster) trombone with WORKING slide bagpipes (made noise!) All out of foam. We also did a luau one year - all of us had Hawaiian print surcoats and grass skirts. The firedancers had great weapons - double ende...

Diglach Mac Cein

My idea.... Sunday - Opening Ceremonies Themed battles (Combat of 30, Japanese battle, Lost Boys, etc.) Monday: Res Battle #1 Field Battle Tuesday: Woods Battle Wednesday: Res Battle #2 Field Battle Thursday: MOAB (yep, still bringing this up!) Friday: 3 Bridges Field Battle Afternoons - sponsored t...

Diglach Mac Cein

Then why have points at all?

Diglach Mac Cein

Animal -

I missed getting a donation to you due to a small camp issue - I called my wife who sent out a $50 donation this morning to the Susan G Komen Foundation, in the name of the the Tuchux Charity Tourney - Pennsic 37.

Dilan

Diglach Mac Cein

Damn!

Sending good vibes!

Diglach Mac Cein

Problem is that the SCA is not well related to what HWMA folks are trying to do. They are frankly different things with a common bond of an interest in history. The SCA is not trying to recreate sword fighting while that is the whole purpose of the HWMA community. Are they recreating, or PRESERVING...

Diglach Mac Cein

See, from what I've read on your webiste, and seen on videos, you are (IMO) reenacting techniques (moves) but not intent. You can't tell me that you are striking with force, so you can't say what you are doing is "in earnest" any more or less than the SCA. You spar, and a victor is determi...

Diglach Mac Cein

ARMA, other WMA, SCA - Some similarities, some differences, all offer something valid for us - if one is willing to open themselves up to to possibilities and the experience. Or to paraphrase an old saying - "you have to be willing to empty your cup." Like I said - it's different, not bett...

Diglach Mac Cein

Like I said - it's different, not better. And to close yourself off from ANY avenue of learning is a foolish endeavor.

(And I think you are assuming I've never read any of the classical manuals or studied a martial activity other than SCA...)

Diglach Mac Cein

But you never actually put it in practice, right?

You don't KNOW if what you do would actually work, and you never plan to actually put it to that test - right?

Heck, by that definition, SCA is just as earnest.

We just choose to "learn by experimentation".

Diglach Mac Cein

Greg - You can't say that ARMA is using the training from the manuals you are using for the same end result as the original authors. Like you said - they were writting for life and death, earnest combat. You guys aren't doing that - In that regard ARMA is just as restricted within your "sport&q...

Diglach Mac Cein

idiotic moves are what get you killed by a skilled fighter. Everyone can do basic idiotic moves. The "art" of martial arts is the elevation beyond the basic idiotic moves so you can keep from getting killed by those who don't know anything more than the basic idiotic moves. Yes, everyone ...

Diglach Mac Cein

While I don't think it's impossible to understand another culture (over time/space/language), it's very difficult to know when you do, and to prove that you do. The occasional "sensation of understanding" may pass as you immerse yourself in another culture, but there's no way of knowing w...

Diglach Mac Cein

What about the swordsmen who came BEFORE the books were written? Do we discount them as masters, because they didn't write down what they taught? And to echo Kerian (Leo) - what if someone discovers proof that the manuals you use ARE FICTIONAL? You cannot prove with 100% certainty that they aren't. ...

Diglach Mac Cein

Two men with swords meet and fight. One man has studied all the techniques in a school from the period manuals, and the foot of some master who learned from the same manuals. The other learned by picking up a sword and learning to win with it on the field. Maybe some other guy who learned the same w...

Diglach Mac Cein

DING!

+1 to His Grace...

Diglach Mac Cein

I have to agree. No offense, but ARMA apparently doesn't do competitive tournaments against othe WMA groups, doesn't do any "prize fighting" for money / ranking / recognition (heck ARMA members have stated that they don't care what anyone else thinks of them), so outside of wanting to prot...

Diglach Mac Cein

I think you are mixing up Middle AGED with Middle AGES....

Diglach Mac Cein

From a strictly martial aspect, I see WMA groups as martial PRESERVATIONISTS - learning and teaching sword techniques that otherwise might be lost in history. Kind of like the group who reseach, learn and teach dieing languages like Manx and Breton. The SCA on the other hand, I see (and treat) as ma...

Diglach Mac Cein

Really, all of life is "role playing", to some degree. It is how we interact with different people around us and in society (small 's'). Father, son, employee, frat brother, husband, student, teacher.... our behavior and how we interact is different based on the relationships and the situa...

Diglach Mac Cein

If I might ask, since I'm not real familiar with ARMA - 1) Do you have competitions (akin to a tournament)? 2) If so, how are they scored / how is a winner of a bout determined? 3) Are your competitions or demonstrations only open to ARMA, or do you compete against other WMA schools? 4) In a bout, c...

Diglach Mac Cein

There is no superior style or form, only superior practitioners.

Diglach Mac Cein

You know, all of this is a pretty easy fix. No need for new SCA rules, BoD intervention or anything else. Do something about it. If each one of us recruits and helps ONE new person this year, helping them avoid all the pitfalls and problem areas that get (repeatedly) posted out on this board, then t...

Diglach Mac Cein

Outside of Pennsic (which has at this point morph'd into something waaaaay past being an SCA event) how many of those people show up at the average SCA event? Maybe I'm just not that sensitive to them, or I'm just lucky in the events I go to, but I just don't see enough of them even notice. Not ever...

Diglach Mac Cein

This thread started on a bit of a slippery slope and has (even outside of the Batman derail) headed downhill faster than a German olympic bobseld team. Sad really. Still looking forward to seeing everyone at Pennsic, whatever the odds or attitudes of a few people might be. If you always expect the w...

Diglach Mac Cein

Maybe we need to ditch the sworn alegience thing and do this like grade school. Two team captains (kings) flip a coin and then take turns chosing up sides. "I'll take Darkmoon" "Well then I'll take Bloodguard"...

Aw, maaan! I ALWAYS get picked last....

Dilan

Diglach Mac Cein

I'll have to assume you are privvy to info the rest of us are not, Your Grace - as far as the allies are concerned. I WILL say that I have never, in the 15 years I have known both HRM and HRH of the Midrealm, never known them to put visctory ahead of a challenging, hard fought, FUN contest - in sing...

Diglach Mac Cein

It does explain some of the Pennsic, but what about situations like Pennsic 32 and 34?

Neither of those were a case of numerical flucuations.

Diglach Mac Cein

Maeryk, why did the War Points come back the next year? Did one year with no War Points suddenly "fix" the problem?

Or was it important to start proving who "won" War again?

Diglach Mac Cein

This comes up every other year it seems. Generally by the side which is on the short end of the stick. Let me ask those on this thread who have been either Royalty or commanders of their army - why hasn't the Mid and East vs the World been done in the past? I KNOW it has been suggested. Remeber the ...