The Armour Archive

Adriano

I'm amazed that leaping up in the air to avoid an ankle sweep actually works. It looked as if they have a rule against striking somebody whilst he's spinning around, though. I learned the embarrassing way that we don't have such a rule in the SCA.

Adriano

Violen -- thanks for starting the thread. Nice looking weapons, and some excellent kits! Can't wait for Fools War. I've vowed to make the greatsword my weapon until I achieve victory in the Silver Hammer Tourney; so I usually bring my six-footer (for melees) and my 49-incher for tourney fighting. (S...

Adriano

Hilarious movie. Shows LARP as, well, pretty goofy, which is it, but also shows why people get into it. (I bought the Unrated DVD; maybe a few more curse words.)

Adriano

Errol Flynn, in his 50's, did a movie called "The Warriors". He played (I'm not kidding) the Black Prince, depicted as a Good Guy; Bertrand du Guesclin, therefore, was the Bad Guy. Silly movie, but the amour was outstanding -- transitional mail and plate.

Adriano

I've had good results with cotton batting. I'll never go back to foam.

Adriano

<img width="800" src="http://www.asbrand.com/pics/sca/owls_nest/newbie_collegium_vii/newbie_collegium_2007_035.jpg"> Me in all my glorious ugliness. 8) Still wearing that brig & helm, 25+ years now. Got the stuff to make lamellar now though. Just need the time to do it. Um...are you the guy fro...

Adriano

I didn't know how to answer. I use a greatsword, which isn't really right for a c. 1300 Venetian. But, I vowed to use that until I win a particular tourney. Definitely not for competitive reasons.

If I only wanted to be competitive, I'd still be using two swords.

Adriano

A big duffle bag/backpack. I generally get mostly armed at my tent, cabin or truck, then put the helmet, gauntlets, tool bag, water bottle, maybe a snack, etc. in the duffle. Now, when I used to take half-a-dozen different weapons, that got interesting. Nowadays it's just the bastard sword (sticking...

Adriano

David -- I'm wondering what I could do in your game with a six-foot boffer greatsword. (Is that possible?) I'd have to remind myself not to strike at the head; on the other hand, I'd be taking a lot of dude's legs out from beneath them. It would really feel strange not to be wearing armour, though.

Adriano

One of my favorite movies. Works because it was an independent, low-budget labor of love; so you can believe the theme of artistic integrity vs. selling out for commercial success.

Adriano

That said, I would really like to hear people's thoughts on the actual techniques used, rather than the fighting style. Can you tell why these guys are successful on the battlefield? Can you see what approaches they are taking to fighting? What do you think they could be doing better? And such. Wel...

Adriano

No offense, David, but not allowing head strikes makes for a really odd-looking style, with the person's face sticking out above the shield. Does anybody use a long shield, down to the ankles, to effectively make their off side invulnerable?

Adriano

I haven't worn a plackart in a long time, but I think it has to be above the hips (unless you're planning to stand perfectly upright all the time). I'd make sure the middle of the plackart comes up enough to protect your xyphoid process (at the bottom of the breastbone).

Adriano

The talking might be planned. Some out-of-shape fighters I've fought decide to talk a lot and I listen to their breathing as much as their words. They are out of breath and spent when we start talking and doing better by the end of the talk...thus taking away my advantage of having good endurance. ...

Adriano

I don't usually go down in a tourney unless we're specifically asked to (which sometimes happens). I give a loud acknowledgement ("Good!") and go to shake my opponent's hand or pat him on the back. In melees it depends on the situation. If it's not convenient to make my exit, I drop and cu...

Adriano

I wear sports goggles if I think an eye injury might be possible. I know it's anachronistic, but that looks badass. I've always been afraid of somebody getting an eye poked out in a woods battle. Between holes to step into and branches at eye level, just running around is way more dangerous than ex...

Adriano

James, that is badass. I favor bastard sword myself; hope we meet up sometime.

Adriano

Looks a whole lot better than my COP!

Adriano

I love threads like this. Reminds me of one of the best things about Pennsic or Gulf Wars -- people-watching; seeing and meeting such a diverse bunch of people with such a marvelous variety of personas and kits.

Adriano

Tiberius Nautius wrote:I miss Conquest. It was a good show.

I dunno; some shows were really good, but in others, Peter Woodward was responsible for spreading disinformation. Bet it was a lot of fun to work on the show, though.

I've got a 5-foot piece of rattan that would make a dandy godendag.

Adriano

Nice kit, Brother Logan! (And Robyn makes a lovely accessory, doesn't she?)

Adriano

Lady Thora -- I don't have a scanner, but can I just mail you a photo?

Adriano

What period are you doing -- does it have to be hidden armour? An early coat of plates is pretty easy to make, lightweight and good protection.

I wear ice hockey elbows under a tunic; don't seem too bulky.

Adriano

Note that on the figure at the right, the mail skirt shows the rows going vertically, 90 degrees from what you'd normally see (as on the other figure). Wonder what that's all about.

Adriano

I've been pretty much shieldless for about 20 years, but I used to favor a 24" strapped round, which you seldom see anymore. I loved that shield, and had a good defense. It does require an active defense, and good footwork. I'd be using one still if my left shoulder hadn't crapped out on me.

Adriano

Great pics! Looks like big fun.

Adriano

Looking at the videos again, I can see that, objectively, the level of fighting is less than I've seen at some SCA events. But, Man, they look good.

Adriano

Gol-dang. Clearly unchoreographed, full-speed fighting with steel. I love seeing proof that armour works! I've always wanted to do that -- but at the same time, I think I'd have to overcome a lot of inhibition before I could hit somebody with a steel sword. (And I'd have to be wearing significantly ...

Adriano

Dayum, son, that sounds like fun! (Okay, maybe more fun than my 48-year-old carcass can last through.) Why don't we do something like that in Meridies? In November and December, we have a lot of very pleasant days in the 50s, which would be perfect.

Adriano

Not much to add, especially with so many skilled armourers and fighters here -- but after many years of using foam, I made an all-cotton liner, shaped so that the helmet doesn't move around once my head's in the liner in the helmet, and it's way more comfortable.

Adriano

Do you have in mind an early St. Maurice-style coat of plates (basically an armoured girdle attached to a tabard; fairly large plates, simple design) or more like a late-period fitted brigandine (lots of small plates, tailored to fit the body)? If the former, I did fine just using galvanized nail pl...

Adriano

I broke Pieter van Dorn's hand, but overall I'd say there are very few injuries directly from being hit with a stick in our game, unless there's inadequate armour. I fought for a quarter century without getting hurt, then slipped getting out of a car and severed my quad muscle. Accidents can happen ...

Adriano

Congrats! Beautiful Princess, as well.

Adriano

the whole concept of this "honor the one whose favor you bear: is so silly to me. i have never fought in the sca for anyone but me. Interesting. Logan, how did you reconcile this attitude with entering Crown List? I've learned a lot from this thread, in case I ever try running a fighting event...

Adriano

Az -- maybe you should give Silver Hammer another try. I missed the past two years, but I'll be back there the 25th of this month, trying to fulfill my pledge to win the tourney with a greatsword. You could come laugh at me. (I should add -- for all I know, the problem at the Tuchux Tourney was enti...