New to this stuff

ChrisHobbs · Post by **ChrisHobbs** » Thu Mar 15, 2001 10:45 pm

i want to know how to get involved in re-enacting i think it would be fun. any input would be helpful

-Chris

Gaston · Post by **Gaston** » Thu Mar 15, 2001 11:23 pm

Be glad to, but you'll have to be a bit more specific

Any particular periods, activities, cultures you like?

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Siegneur Gaston de Poitou
Capitaine du Compagnie,
The Company of Saint Olaf

Norman · Post by **Norman** » Fri Mar 16, 2001 11:12 am

Chris --
Go to <font color=red><big>The Red Kaganate</big></font> (see link at my sig below) and start things right.

Where are you located?
Are there any Rennaisance Faires your way?
A college campus?
Those are the most likely places to find a reenactment group of some sort.
Also, if you're not too picky, the SCA is around almost everywhere -- go to their site http://www.sca.org
Their downside is that they are very broad, very low "authenticity" (well, those can sometimes be plusses)
...and they hate using real steel swords.

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Norman J. Finkelshteyn
Armour of the Silk Road - http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/3505
The Silk Road Designs Armoury - http://www.enteract.com/~silkroad
Jewish Warriors - http://www.geocities.com/jewishwarriors
The Red Kaganate - http://www.geocities.com/kaganate
silkroad@spam.operamail.com (remove "spam" from e-mail to make it work)

[This message has been edited by Norman (edited 03-16-2001).]

Llywelyn · Post by **Llywelyn** » Fri Mar 16, 2001 3:10 pm

Greetings,

Here is a couple of web sites that would be good to look at.
www.sca.org This is the homepage for the SCA. This should give you a good idea of what to expect from the SCA and some good tips on how to get started.
www.geocities.com/welshforge This is my homepage. I have included lots of stuff that helped me get started. This will help you from having to search through lots of stuff you don't need right away.

In your service,

Llywelyn Fawr Ap Iowerth,
House of Red Dragon,
Shire of Lyndhaven,
Kingdom of the East

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Stay open minded, but not so open minded that your brains fall out.

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I am neater with a 5lbs. cross pein than with a ball point pen!

ChrisHobbs · Post by **ChrisHobbs** » Fri Mar 16, 2001 5:02 pm

Heh soryy im in Brooklyen center MN and yes there is a Rennaisance fair near me about 20 min. drive to the grounds. and what kind of weapons can you use?

[This message has been edited by ChrisHobbs (edited 03-16-2001).]

Milkman Dan · Post by **Milkman Dan** » Fri Mar 16, 2001 6:53 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ChrisHobbs:
[B]Heh soryy im in Brooklyen center MN and yes there is a Rennaisance fair near me about 20 min. drive to the grounds. and what kind of weapons can you use?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Go and see!!

Really, "medievalism" is a very broad field, and "reinactment" carries different meanings to different folks. In short, there is no one right answer.

As small as this group is, we have a wide variety of opinions about, well, nearly everything from modern politics to whether cuts were made with the back edge of the blade in period.

Stick around, look and read, and try to get a feel for the place. Very specific questions almost always get multiple detailed answers. The general questions such as yours are nearly unanswerable so it's very hard to be helpful.

And by the way, welcome to the Archive!

ChrisHobbs · Post by **ChrisHobbs** » Fri Mar 16, 2001 7:24 pm

Thanks! is there any suggested reading?and is a battle axe or any axe(1 hand or 2) is somthing that can be used?

[This message has been edited by ChrisHobbs (edited 03-16-2001).]

Gethin · Post by **Gethin** » Fri Mar 16, 2001 8:51 pm

Chris,
Is there a particular time period that you are interested in? Axes have been used in combat for a hell of a long time. At least from the Roman Empire to now (trenching tool).
If you have an idea of which time frame you like, we can suggest organizations to talk to. Renaissance Fairs tend to be highly focused on a specific decade in the reign of Elizabeth I (or the fairs that I have worked at were).
By the way, how old are you. This should not affect being in a group, but it might affect what you can do in the group. In otherwords; if you are under 18, you might not be able to put on armor. This depends on the group that you are dealing with.

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All the best,
Rhys
"Art calls for complete mastery of techniques, developed by reflection within the soul"
Sifu Jun Fan Lee

[This message has been edited by Gethin (edited 03-16-2001).]

ChrisHobbs · Post by **ChrisHobbs** » Fri Mar 16, 2001 10:39 pm

I am thinking 14th century. and im 15 turning 16 (3 months) and im just trying to find all the rules and guidlines and age requirements. right now im mostly focusing on armour and was thinking about joining the SCA and i was seeing what it has to offer and this looks fun (painful, but fun) and i like axes.

Gethin · Post by **Gethin** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 2:28 pm

Hi Chris,
Sorry for the delay, I thought that the board was going to be down for the entire weekend.
O.K., 14th century. To my knowledge, most cultures were use the axe in combat at this point. I am not sure when the double headed axe was used or where (I am recalling in the middle east, but I think that it was in use at this point.
As to the S.C.A., check into it. I am a memeber in NorCal. As a matter of fact, you are at the same age as me when I first started.
Since you are at the age, there are a couple of extra steps you will have to take.
The first thing you should do is get in contact with the group closest to you (you are in the Middle Kingdom). You can find them Via

http://www.midrealm.org

(I was unable to get the server just a moment ago, but it should be back up soon).
Go and meet them, and find out what you can.
When I started, there was a minor release form that my parents signed so that I could get in armour and learn. I think that this holds true today, but check to make sure.
S.C.A. fighting is fun, and can hurt at times. Find you group and talk to them. Figure out if you want to play with them. If you do (and we still allow minor combat waivers), Bring your parents down and introduce them. Show them what it is about, and ask them to sign the waiver. This is the best thing to do.
Renn Faires can be alot fun. Check them out also. There is a good amount of cross over between the S.C.A. and Renn Faires. Renn Faires tend to recreate the epoch of Elizabeth I reign. The combat is staged (like a play). But (in my opinion), That can be a hella lot of fun. Weapon forms can be Rapier, Staff, Cudgel, Dagger. In the Jousting Arena, Sword and Shield, Lance, and others (I never participated in the Arena, so I am fairly clueless).
What kinda of combat depends on the the sophistcation and resources of the Faire board. The bigger the faire, the greater the staging.
To generalize the difference between The S.C.A and the Faire circuit. a Faire is a well documented, touring production. Clothing and characters are researched. While the Faire is open you are in character, and there is a large, paying audience.
The S.C.A. can be like a community theater production. Since we do not have a seperate audience (i.e. patrons), Standards vary to the individuals preferance. This is good, becouse it allows a low budget participation.
As you budget increases you can go to a higher standard, if you want.
Sorry for the ramble. I hope that you got something out of it.

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All the best,
Rhys
"Art calls for complete mastery of techniques, developed by reflection within the soul"
Sifu Jun Fan Lee

ChrisHobbs · Post by **ChrisHobbs** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 4:37 pm

Yes, thanks alot it helps me quite a bit. i think ill check them out A.S.A.P i just e-mailed matthew smallwood. but i was thiunking of using a one handed axe w/shiled i would like to know who used it the most so i could fix the time period. Oh and what knid of fees are involved to join the SCA and go to practices?

-Chris

Gethin · Post by **Gethin** » Sun Mar 18, 2001 9:11 pm

Chris,
Membership is 35.00. That makes you a full member, and you will recieve two publications. The Pale (I think it's called) which is the kingdom newsletter, and Tournements Illiuminated, an International Publication.
To start practicing, I don't know if you need to be a member or not. Check with the local group.
As to Ax and shield form. The Vikings used it, as did many other cultures. I think (but I am not sure) that it was used in the 1300's. Axes were used, but I have not seen any illuminations that show ax and shield.
You can go with a period (such as Viking) to justify the Ax and shield, or you could go with the 14th and research. Just becouse I have not seen it, does not mean that you can not find it.

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All the best,
Rhys
"Art calls for complete mastery of techniques, developed by reflection within the soul"
Sifu Jun Fan Lee

Buran · Post by **Buran** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 1:39 pm

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Regia Anglorum. A British group, they have begun devloping a US chapter. As you're in Minnesota, there's a lot of support for Viking Heritage stuff - something that Regia excels in. Here's the US page:
http://www.mathomhouse.com/regia/index.html

Also, check this out:
JUNE 15-16-17 VIKING GAMES in CROSBY, MN. Go To http://www.vikinginn.com for details.

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<><><> <><><> <><><>
http://www.geocities.com/baldurstrand/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/California_Viking_Age

Aidan Cambel · Post by **Aidan Cambel** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 2:38 pm

Chris,

Just a word of warning before you go if with "guns-a-blazin' "...

Youth combat is still in its infancy in a lot of places. To fight in the aduylt division, you must be 18. Many kingdoms are initiating youth combat, and 16-17 yr olds are in a division where rattan is used, but younger groups use boffers (pvc wrapped in foam or pipe insulation).

I am not sure of the midrealms' youth combat structure, or even if they have youth comabt. But in Meridies, its a new thing so even though its there, theres not really alot of youths out there to fight each other. A good friend of mine authorized for youth combat at gulf wars, later in the weekend there was a youth tournament - and there was only one other fighter.

Fortunately -- researching and armour-making is not limited by age - so even if your kingdom doesn't have a set youth combat program, you could still research what you like, learn to make it, make friends, go to events, yadda yadda..

not trying to discourage you at all - just trying to explain that you may not be able to fight yet...

In Service,
Aidan

ChrisHobbs · Post by **ChrisHobbs** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 6:18 pm

Thanks alot for the info and im pretty sure that they are starting a youth league in MN. but if i cant fight thats ok becuse im makeing a coif and shirt right now. Its going pretty good so eather way it is fun.

Post by JT » Mon Mar 19, 2001 6:30 pm

Chris:

Although I like the MN RenFest a lot (I've had season passes for years now) it should be noted that the RenFest is *not* a re-enactment nor recreation event. It's a rake-in-the-bucks event to entertain the masses, whose theme happens to be "look Ren-ish."

If you want to fight at the RenFest, it'd have to be as part of the paid-performers. Either that, or it'd be quickly followed by your expulsion from the grounds.

-- jt --

ChrisHobbs · Post by **ChrisHobbs** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 7:48 pm

Yeah those gaurds are mean they will run anyone over and not have a second thought.
but omega wepons there is cool and puke and snot are funny.

Gaston · Post by **Gaston** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 8:05 pm

As to popularity of axes in the 14th century, this from Jean Froissart's Chronicles, concerning the battle of Poitiers in 1356:

"He (the King of France) had shown his determination never to retreat . . . and stood in the forefront of them with a battle-axe in his hands."

Bainard Grey · Post by **Bainard Grey** » Mon Mar 19, 2001 8:13 pm

CH- Takl about good timing! The Middle Kingdom (The SCA kingdom you live in) has just started to do Youth Combat again. It is boffer weapons up until age 16 at which point you start to fight rattan like the adults. Info should be available on armour requirements and such on the Midrealm web page.

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Lord Bainard Grey
Shire of Havenholde, Barony of the Flaming Gryphon,
Middle Kingdom

Norman · Post by **Norman** » Tue Mar 20, 2001 1:56 pm

Chris,
There are several Golden Horde grave finds that indicate that the Axe was very important in the Golden Horde Kipchak Kaganate (about the period you want -- mid 13th cent to mid-late 14th cent - roughly Eastern Europe and Caucas).
The particular two finds are both of very wealthy warriors (likely chiefs) and they include an elaborate axe but no Sword -- I think they are causing a reeexamination of the importance of the axe in Steppes society.

When I mentioned Renn Faires -- at least around here, aside from the actor part of the faire there is often a Reenactment group of some type doing a fighting demo (the one day Faire at the Cloisters museum has about four or five groups taking turns - including SCA).

In the SCA, I recomend you look into Fencing in addition to Rattan (personally I find fencing more fun -- and its easier to carry the gear on the train).

If you can find, I also recomend playing with someone who fights with "Rebated" swords (blunt and rounded real swords). Unfortunately, there is some sort of phobia against this in the SCA.
...SCA fencing with Shlaggers begins to come close.

If you decide you are interested in the Golden Horde, or Russia, or all points East,
visit the Red Kaganate site (address in my signature)
(we're an international association -- a long distance household - that you can be part of whatever your local group affiliation -- go read the site)

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Norman J. Finkelshteyn
Armour of the Silk Road - http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/3505
The Silk Road Designs Armoury - http://www.enteract.com/~silkroad
Jewish Warriors - http://www.geocities.com/jewishwarriors
The Red Kaganate - http://www.geocities.com/kaganate
silkroad@spam.operamail.com (remove "spam" from e-mail to make it work)