Sir Tristen:
My duties preclude me from spending the time on The Armor Archive that would be necessary to answer the posts put there. I rarely have the time with 19 Kingdoms and the cornucopia of disciplines that fall under this office. It's like wrangling cats.
I quickly scanned over some of the posts and here are a few things I'd like everyone to read, discuss if you'd like.
Unfortunately I cannot follow all the threads but you are so good about sending me summaries. (Thanks for volunteering!
)
1. When the Marshallate writes, changes, or clarifies a rule we do so with several factors in mind. We must balance safety with authenticity as well as adjust everything to fit the scope of the SCA's vast time period as well as myriad of cultures. We must also write things in a way that offers flexibility to create weapons or act in a manner that everyone will come to a consensus of understanding on. This allows us all to be playing different historical emulations but yet all know what the other guy is doing in some context.
We also must write rules for everyone. This means simple, easy language that a new guy in a small group that's just getting started in the middle of nowhere as well as the Super Duke from the Barony of Megalopolis with 3 ex-KEM's in it. People should be able to understand our rules and weapon construction solely from reading the Marshal's handbook. It's a difficult task to balance all that out but we try.
2. The job of the Earl Marshal is two-fold.
(a quote from Corpora, the governing document of the SCA)
D. The Earl Marshal The Earl Marshal is responsible for overseeing the conduct of all martial arts activities, including but not
limited to tournament lists, wars, combat archery, and fencing, as well as such related activities as scouting and target archery. The Earl Marshal bears primary responsibility for promoting both the safety and the authenticity of the martial arts in the kingdom, but works with other officers in their areas of mutual interest.
So, for those that profess a philosophy of "safety only" rules. Sorry. We are required to take these other things in to consideration as we grow as a sport.
3. Some of the language in the rules is specific and MUST be taken in the intent it was written. For example. The word "contiguous" was my choice for use when trying to explain in the rules that a mace made of 100% rattan needed to be made of a single solid piece. Not glued together pieces, not filled full of rubber, lead, broken glass, rebar, dirt, rocks, baby food, alligator teeth, etc...
the natural mechanics of rattan work for this weapon only if unaltered other than shaping and taping. It no way impacts polearms or other weapons made with differing techniques. It is rattan mace specific.
4. READ the rules. Don't trust what other folks have said. Verify. Also, read all the way through the rules. They are segmented into classes and are weapon specific. Never assume. Ask your Kingdom Earl Marshal if not sure.
5. Follow the rules. Trying to find sneaky loopholes in the rules to prove how smart you are is very annoying and should have ended in Middle School. If there is a loophole, bring it to the attention of the Marshallate through official channels and I can issue a policy interpretation that will explain or clarify it or change it after consultation with the KEM's.
Also, those of you who are experienced, peers, leaders of men. Be an example and abide by the rules. Those that follow you and do not have your wisdom or experience look to you for guidance. If you don't like something.. too bad. All of us have a few of the rules or their application that we do not like. Myself included. But too bad. Get inspected, have your weapons inspected before battles. Wear the armor that we are all required to wear. Period.
We all share a bit of trust in our opponents in that they follow the rules and in that there is inherent safety. When you cheat or do not follow the agreed upon guidelines (by taking the field you are agreeing to the rules that day) then you are putting someone else at risk. Nothing is more cowardly and unchivalrous than putting someone else at risk to give yourself an advantage. Fighting in the SCA is not a right, it's a privilege that our private club allows. I have no problem with my KEM's giving folks some "reflective time" away from fighting to let them dwell on how much they enjoy this sport.
Also, be part of the system rather than just constantly commenting on it. Marshal inspections at a war, run an event, hold an office. Create change from the inside. We can use the help.
Keep the helpful commentary coming, contact your KEM with questions as they arise if there isn't any clarification here, and email me with any really good short changes to language that gets the same effect across. I'm just a human, not infallible. I can take polite advice.
Happy hunting,
-Omarad
-SEM
