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Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 6:30 pm
by Saritor
Angusm0628 wrote:Depending on far your driving if you're on board or off board. An SCA weekend in itself can be $100 without batting an eye..
Gas $50


Depending on where you are...for the Outlands, you're talking a pretty good amount of travel between groups to get to events...$400 to get from here (El Paso) to our Coronation (Denver) whether you were driving or flying. :\

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 6:35 pm
by Duke Areus
shinyhalo wrote:
Aluminum is ok. Just ok. I have a ton of it. Repeated blows to aluminum turn it into mush. Really, it's fascinating. I have an aluminum shield that makes people cringe because it's so warped. It's not a good long term solution, but it's a good rigid material for coming up with prototypes and patterns.



That really depends on the Aluminum you are using. I have been wearing an aluminum musculata for over 10 years now and there are very few dings on it. If you are using street sign, it is hard to judge the quality of the material. If you get 6061 T-6 it is pretty bulletproof. I make my shields out of .090'' and my armour bits out of .080 -.090" depending on what I am doing with it. I have only replaced 1 shield after 7 years of use, and that was because it cracked from repeated glaive blows. It never dented or folded on me.

If you need to use street sign for a shield, I recommend running it through a fluter/ bead roller and running a flute around the edge. I made a center grip dipylon out of street sign about 3 years ago using this technique and it is still in perfect condition.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 6:50 pm
by CiaranBlackrune
Kilkenny wrote:heh. All things are relative. Without context it's meaningless to label something "expensive" or otherwise. One can do SCA without spending a great deal of money on it and not "look like crap" - unless, of course, people evaluate your appearance based on your receipts :roll:

But this sort of perception is almost entirely subjective. Just for example, exactly what motor sports are you defining as a "rich man's hobby" ? I really doubt the guy around the corner from me with the funny car and the top fuel dragsters, the trailer for same and the motorhome is rich. He wouldn't be living where he is if he were. I do believe he has a load of money invested in that gear though...enough that I suspect he makes it pay for itself somehow, so maybe it isn't his hobby.

Anyway, as far as complaints that the SCA will die off because of the price tag - it's every bit as likely that we'll grow for the same reason - our price tag is lower than many other hobbies and people cutting back could step down to us.


You're right, "expensive" is relative. If what I find expensive, you find cheap then I salut you. You are more financially successful than I.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 6:55 pm
by Aaron
Costs in fuel and time will impact us more in the future IMO. Those will be the big costs.

Ciaran Blackrune,

We have a large network of people with extra stuff here. Some are local to you, even if I am not. How can we help get you armoured up in a basic kit?

-Aaron

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:03 pm
by CiaranBlackrune
Aaron wrote:Costs in fuel and time will impact us more in the future IMO. Those will be the big costs.

Ciaran Blackrune,

We have a large network of people with extra stuff here. Some are local to you, even if I am not. How can we help get you armoured up in a basic kit?

-Aaron


8)

Sorry if I was misleading at all. I have my own armour already. I actually help outfit new people in my neck of the woods, and run an occasional fighter practice.

Thank you very much for your generosity though. This is a perfect example of why the SCA is so awesome. Expensive or not, there are always people willing to bend over backwards to help people, new and old.

I salute you Aaron!

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:11 pm
by Aaron
Without friends with armour to fight in, we will have no friends to fight in armour.

Don't worry, I wasn't looking to put down huge piles of cash, but it might be another time to put up, "How can you armour up in the SCA inexpensively" thread. But when I do that I end up with flame wars and "Why do you hate the SCA." ;)

For example the local baronness invited my family over and mentioned some armour in her garage. It was wonderfully formed SCA armour, simply beautiful, oiled down and wrapped in saran wrap, three boxes full or so. If I didn't ask, I wouldn't have known.

I need to go back and see if there are leftovers to armour up my son with.

-Aaron

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:14 pm
by Amanda M
There's a couple of threads already on how to armor up and look good on a budget. I bookmarked them a while back because we keep having the same conversation on how you can do it over and over again but some people will always talk about how impossible it is despite plenty of solutions.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:22 pm
by CiaranBlackrune
Isabella E wrote:There's a couple of threads already on how to armor up and look good on a budget. I bookmarked them a while back because we keep having the same conversation on how you can do it over and over again but some people will always talk about how impossible it is despite plenty of solutions.


FWIW, when I said that as a hobby the sca is expensive, I meant the SCA as a whole, not just fighting. And I mean overall, throughout the life of your sca career, not just what it takes to start playing in the SCA.

Also, I don't mean that it is prohibitively expensive.

I guess I am just one of the po' folk, if everyone else thinks the SCA is cheap. :sad:

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:24 pm
by FrauHirsch1
DukeAlaric (George S.) wrote:
Tibbie Croser wrote:Duke Alaric, the critical comments about Caidan fencers were from Frau Hirsch; I think she's in the San Diego area.


Thank you, I know. I know her and her husband as well.

My experience with Caidan fencers will likely be very different, as a few of them were very good friends of mine from the day I moved out there, and then I was King.

g-


I've actually been very specific about the local culture. Even within a Kingdom, there are regional cultures, and of course not everyone in any group will have the same attitudes. Even locally there are some very nice folk in the fencing community. Unfortunately even some of them seem to be "gatekeepers", and I am sure they do this without meaning to. Within any kingdom, even the armored combat fighters have regional cultural differences. I am not saying fencers are "bad people" at all. In fact some of the central and northern Caidan fencers have been very helpful in resolving some of the 'authorization issues' that seem to come up.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:36 pm
by Count Johnathan
CiaranBlackrune wrote:
Isabella E wrote:There's a couple of threads already on how to armor up and look good on a budget. I bookmarked them a while back because we keep having the same conversation on how you can do it over and over again but some people will always talk about how impossible it is despite plenty of solutions.


FWIW, when I said that as a hobby the sca is expensive, I meant the SCA as a whole, not just fighting. And I mean overall, throughout the life of your sca career, not just what it takes to start playing in the SCA.

Also, I don't mean that it is prohibitively expensive.

I guess I am just one of the po' folk, if everyone else thinks the SCA is cheap. :sad:


SCA is pretty cheap. It's keepin up with the jonses that gets expensive. Ten years ago nobody cared if you were sleeping in a dome tent and wearing sweat pants but now show up with a dome tent and wearing sweats and people treat you like a second class citizen. That is happeneing quite a lot and it bothers me quite a bit. :sad:

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:42 pm
by CiaranBlackrune
Perhaps I should have said, "The SCA *CAN* be expensive."

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 7:53 pm
by Amanda M
I think it definitely depends on how you want to participate in the SCA. It was cheap when I started and was packing everything needed for Estrella in my 4 door car. Now with the trailer and pavilion and wanting snazzy garb and armor, not as much. ;) But I think in some ways you can mitigate costs if you're willing to be creative, take risks and learn new skills, and put some elbow grease into it. I see a lot of people complain about not having the things in the SCA that they want but they don't put much effort into trying to get there or they try to do something once, fail, then never do it again.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:05 pm
by Broadway
I've worn sweat pants from day one (scratch that... for the first couple years I wore black jeans) and am buying my first pavillion right now (its being made as we speak) after 19 years of participation... Nobody has ever said an even somewhat negative word about my dome tent, or my sweat pants.

And, I hate sweat pants... but I hate tights and hosen more.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:24 pm
by JMcBrayer
Finnacan wrote:True, a lot of folks made do when they started, with very little, and the SCA was a barter system of favors and labors. Everybody had at least a tunic or a shirt, a mug and a place to lay their head.

These days though, coming in and looking around, what are new people going to want?
The bare minimums they see on other people.

linen shirt or tunic,
wool tunic or doublet,
chair,
drinking vessel
feast gear
pouch
shoes/boots
belt
legwear...
This before choosing a time period and a persona. We talk new people into natural fibers day one. They wanna be able to sit, drink, eat, carry their valuables and watch.



While you don't get everything all at once, I present to you a picture. Out of the 8 of us in the pic, two are at their very first event and four are at their second. The new people were asked what they wanted to wear, we raided our friend's cloth closet, and went to work. All of these new people are college students and had at least two outfits to wear for that weekend that were nice enough to get attention from those around us. The cloth was bought mostly on sale, or rummaged for in flea markets ($2 per yard linen!), or bought by the pound at a weird funky trailer an hour or so away from here. It's entirely possible to make new people look good for cheap with some research and at least one person who has put together more than her fair share of doublets.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:57 pm
by JvR
Angusm0628 wrote:Depending on far your driving if you're on board or off board. An SCA weekend in itself can be $100 without batting an eye..
Gas $50
Site Fee $20 per head (I have three in my family) Add 8 per if "On Board"
Beer $20 +/-
Ice and Food $50 If a camping event and not on board Subtract if "On board"
This


I just skipped a regional fighter practice this weekend due to gas. (well that and a ton of things to do around the house I felt more important)

I drove 300 miles on Saturday just to watch my son play baseball and spend some time with him and his brother. There was no way I was going to drop another $60 on gas. OK I am lying, I almost did, but then again figured the lawn wasn't going to cut itself.


But yeah, travel is a big factor. Down here almost al events are a 4-5 hour drive away. I can see maybe a 4 day weekend event but we have some extremely dedicated folks who do that for a daytrip or an overnighter.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:14 pm
by Count Johnathan
Broadway wrote:I've worn sweat pants from day one (scratch that... for the first couple years I wore black jeans) and am buying my first pavillion right now (its being made as we speak) after 19 years of participation... Nobody has ever said an even somewhat negative word about my dome tent, or my sweat pants.

And, I hate sweat pants... but I hate tights and hosen more.


Well let me remedy that for you, your dome tent and sweat pants suck and are ruining the atmosphere.

Get it together man!

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:21 pm
by Broadway
You can have my sweat pants when you rip them away from my cold dead... wait... nevermind. you can't have my sweat pants.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:46 pm
by CiaranBlackrune
Broadway wrote:You can have my sweat pants when you rip them away from my cold dead... wait... nevermind. you can't have my sweat pants.


That sounds like a fantastic quest for drunk squires. :D

"Squires! Bring me the sweatpants of Dante della Luna!"

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:20 pm
by Patrick
Baron Alcy-

I've just got to step up and defend Shinyhalo on this:

How about this, if all of your ideas are so great, start your own group and see how it works out.

OR get good enough to win Crown every six months, change kingdom law until it suits you and enough people get used to the idea that they object when someone tries to change it back.


Sometimes, things do need to change within a group. I don't agree with Shinyhalo's suggestions, but I do really like that he's thinking about things that could make a change. I really just hate it when I see some long-time goober with a handful of awards and lots of rump time grousing about people who make a real effort to dress well because they show up the old-timers. Yeah, I've been there when that's happened. If the attitude is that those who want to look better than a polyester T-tunic with lurex ribbon trim reall need to start their own group because that's not the way the SCA does things, well, can you blame the history buffs for thinking we look like idiots?

Also, the little bit about telling people if they want a better SCA the only way to do it is to win crown is sort of mean. Honestly, I've known a couple of guys who came in second for crown. I'll never be good enough to beat them. Not because I won't work hard, but because I have certain physical limitations. I've just been told those same two things too many times when I tried to improve the look of the group. "Don't like it, either go somewhere else or win Crown and change it." Um, yeah.

There are lots of things about the SCA that can be changed simply (perhaps a higher general standard for appearance than two towels pinned at the shoulders for beginners and polyester nightgowns with wierd trim for established members) or with relatively little work (require all plastic "armor" to be hidden) that would increase the respect from other folks. Just upgrading the general appearance would go a long way with history majors at my local university. Their biggest jeer always seems to be the visible duct tape and plastic on the fighters. Their first question about the garb is often "why do you think this is what people wore in your period?" And the answer is always a variation of "well, the other folks in the group say that's good enough and everyone wore the same things anyway..."

Wanna increase numbers? Make the SCA look like what it claims to be. Make it a group for anyone who really wants to do recreational re-creation and you'll get fewer people looking to either start their own spin-offs or migrate to other groups that at least manage a coherent appearance. Just a thought.

There have been plenty of threads on the Archive about the "graying" of the SCA, the low recruitment/retention, the concern that the SCA may not be able to survive as it is for another 40 years. If the SCA wants to survive as the SCA, we need to actually provide something people want. That might mean doing something a little bit differently than it has been done in the past.

Oh, and regarding awards, I'd like to see some sort of a checklist as a minimum that has to be accomplished before an award is given. I got my AA about a year before I really felt I should have. Felt like a total pat on the head rather than recognition of effort and I respect the award system a lot less because of it. I don't think it should be automatic, that you check off the list and you get your jingly. I just think that there ought to be well-recognized minimum standards before certain titles are handed out.

I don't have a solution to the SCA's future. If I don't like it, I don't show up. Currently I go to fighter practice, refuse to play politics, don't do events, and sort of sadly wonder if the SCA ever did try to recreate the middle ages. But I swing sticks with some friends and that will do me for now.

-Patrick

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:44 pm
by Kilkenny
CiaranBlackrune wrote:
Kilkenny wrote:heh. All things are relative. Without context it's meaningless to label something "expensive" or otherwise. One can do SCA without spending a great deal of money on it and not "look like crap" - unless, of course, people evaluate your appearance based on your receipts :roll:

But this sort of perception is almost entirely subjective. Just for example, exactly what motor sports are you defining as a "rich man's hobby" ? I really doubt the guy around the corner from me with the funny car and the top fuel dragsters, the trailer for same and the motorhome is rich. He wouldn't be living where he is if he were. I do believe he has a load of money invested in that gear though...enough that I suspect he makes it pay for itself somehow, so maybe it isn't his hobby.

Anyway, as far as complaints that the SCA will die off because of the price tag - it's every bit as likely that we'll grow for the same reason - our price tag is lower than many other hobbies and people cutting back could step down to us.


You're right, "expensive" is relative. If what I find expensive, you find cheap then I salut you. You are more financially successful than I.


sigh. Are you just being stubborn, or are you really missing the point I am trying to make that badly?

Pick a hobby. Name one. Something. Price it out. Compare it to doing SCA. Be fair, compare the two on the same kind of level. Don't do rollerskating once a month at the local rink against hitting the tourney circuit looking for a white belt.

And then look at how SCA fairs in that kind of comparison. Just for example, have you ever priced RC Boats ?

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:45 pm
by Count Johnathan
The "SCA" doesn't, individuals do. SCA events are where people of like mind gather to recreate various aspects of medieval cultures though a large span of history. To make it look like the recreationist group people think it should be, due to the miserable half hearted explanation by the web page, the organization would have to specify a very short time frame so that everyone who went would be in similar attire. Otherwise it will continue to look odd to people who are confused about what the SCA Inc. is selling.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:47 pm
by Count Johnathan
My post above is to Patrick... dang edit thingy...

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:52 pm
by CiaranBlackrune
Kilkenny wrote:
CiaranBlackrune wrote:
Kilkenny wrote:heh. All things are relative. Without context it's meaningless to label something "expensive" or otherwise. One can do SCA without spending a great deal of money on it and not "look like crap" - unless, of course, people evaluate your appearance based on your receipts :roll:

But this sort of perception is almost entirely subjective. Just for example, exactly what motor sports are you defining as a "rich man's hobby" ? I really doubt the guy around the corner from me with the funny car and the top fuel dragsters, the trailer for same and the motorhome is rich. He wouldn't be living where he is if he were. I do believe he has a load of money invested in that gear though...enough that I suspect he makes it pay for itself somehow, so maybe it isn't his hobby.

Anyway, as far as complaints that the SCA will die off because of the price tag - it's every bit as likely that we'll grow for the same reason - our price tag is lower than many other hobbies and people cutting back could step down to us.


You're right, "expensive" is relative. If what I find expensive, you find cheap then I salut you. You are more financially successful than I.


sigh. Are you just being stubborn, or are you really missing the point I am trying to make that badly?

Pick a hobby. Name one. Something. Price it out. Compare it to doing SCA. Be fair, compare the two on the same kind of level. Don't do rollerskating once a month at the local rink against hitting the tourney circuit looking for a white belt.

And then look at how SCA fairs in that kind of comparison. Just for example, have you ever priced RC Boats ?


I am not sure what you want from me, but you seem to be taking the fact that I disagree with you a bit too personally.

I find participating in the SCA to be an expensive hobby. You do not agree. That's fine, good for you.

You stated that "expensive" is relative. I agreed. I NEVER stated that it was PROHIBITIVELY expensive.

I am not going to sit here and argue with you, some dude I have never even met, about whether or not I agree with your definition of expensive. Good day to you.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 7:54 am
by Vitus von Atzinger
It all depends on how much dough you have.

Our group is currently being FLOODED by a ton of guys from the foam-fighting groups.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:00 am
by Aaron
Vitus von Atzinger wrote:It all depends on how much dough you have.

Our group is currently being FLOODED by a ton of guys from the foam-fighting groups.



HUZZZAAHHHH!!!! Well done!!!

-Aaron

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:07 am
by Baron Eirik
Vitus von Atzinger wrote:It all depends on how much dough you have.

Our group is currently being FLOODED by a ton of guys from the foam-fighting groups.
What? did the river wash them up on campus for you? 8)

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:35 am
by GenericUnique
Count Johnathan wrote:The "SCA" doesn't, individuals do. SCA events are where people of like mind gather to recreate various aspects of medieval cultures though a large span of history. To make it look like the recreationist group people think it should be, due to the miserable half hearted explanation by the web page, the organization would have to specify a very short time frame so that everyone who went would be in similar attire. Otherwise it will continue to look odd to people who are confused about what the SCA Inc. is selling.


There's a huge difference between what Patrick's suggesting - improving the standard of historically inspired/historical recreation clothing and kit, so that the worst anachronisms like obviously modern clothes and duct tape are banished - and what you're saying - becoming a specific period and place reenactment group.

I can see a lot of appeal in "Our group is basically reenacting whatever pre-1600 period and place you like, and we've got a couple of different types of combat simulating games. Different levels of force required, different types of weapon simulator. Let's you triangulate on what we think actual period violence might have been like, and watching a lansknecht fight a viking is entertaining."

Far more appealing than "We play really hard hitting stick tag in bits of picklebarrel, with rules we've kept because they favour people who make the decisions. Then we assign make believe titles based on it. We do fancy dress in the evenings. History? What's that?"

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:42 am
by MJBlazek
lol "We do fancy dress in the evenings"
Made me picture a bunch of guys in tux's and women in evening gowns!

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:19 am
by jenzinas
CiaranBlackrune wrote:I find participating in the SCA to be an expensive hobby. You do not agree. That's fine, good for you.
You stated that "expensive" is relative. I agreed. I NEVER stated that it was PROHIBITIVELY expensive.
I am not going to sit here and argue with you, some dude I have never even met, about whether or not I agree with your definition of expensive. Good day to you.


Why do you consider it expensive? Are you talking about the amount that it takes from your budget as a percentage or as a whole dollar amount? Are you comparing it to another hobby and if so, what?

--j

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:24 am
by Mord
On the whole, I'd rather study the European history of the Middle Ages, a pursuit that has been encouraged by most folks in the SCA.

In my opinion many here are so busy trying to deny what is "modern"--that context in which we live--that they can't find the time to understand what is "medieval." No doubt, there are those folks who reading this post that claim to understand the word, and demostrate through various rather short mean--usually an etomology. However there are many aspects of the "medieval" that merit examination, and before you start kvetching about someone else's understanding of the period, do them and yourself a favor and examine you own.

Mord.

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:30 am
by St. George
shinyhalo wrote:Lamellar. I made one of these tunics. It looks great. I have tried three different lacing methods. Horizontals tight, verticals loose. All tight. All loose. The problem is it just won't hold up in a war against someone as strong as me (and the sad truth is that there are a lot of people stronger than me). The lamellae bend inward too much under a man's strength. Period. I don't care how awesome someone thinks their lamellar is. Even a half strength thrust with a 2" head spear can crack those ribs through it. I'd use it for screwing around or one vs one vs a 1-H sword, but I wouldn't fight a 2Hander sword with it. Clavicles go bye bye.


I don't know what lamellar you are wearing but my experience has been very different. I wore metal lamellar from 1992-2008, and I rarely if ever had an issue with a lamellae bending, and certainly never had an issue with my ribs or clavicles- if you know me, I am not a big guy at all. I've also fought plenty of great weapon and spear, and been hit by big guys like Bytor and Balfar, and hard hitters like Michael of Bedford and never had an issue.

I think you constructed your lamellar incorrectly, maybe. Also, there are many different ways to strap it on so to speak. I used wide leather shoulder straps that I re-inforced with plastic. They worked very well, and I never have had a clavicle issue.

I find it odd that my experience with lamellar is so completely different from yours, and the Kingdoms and fighters I was playing in/with are generally recognized as significantly harder hitting ones than the average guy in your area.

shinyhalo wrote:Hockey stuff fits great and functions great. I have some of it too. The torso stuff I can hide easily. But...I can't even imagine how to hide full hockey arms without overheating from so many layers or restricting my movement from garb-over-armor syndrome and frankly garb-over-armor looks awful. I don't need to look fucking awesome, but I'd to look good.


Wear the hockey arms, and a linen shirt with loose fitting sleeves. I've won 2 crowns doing this, and never had an issue with overheating (lived in the Carolinas and Southern California), and certainly not with any movement restrictions.

In these two great action shots by Ursus the Awesome, you can see that I have little or no movement restriction or garb over armor problems from the hockey arms I am wearing. I don't look f'ing awesome, but my gear looks pretty ok:

http://www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs ... 4fm4F-A-LB

http://www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs ... 2599-M.jpg

shinyhalo wrote:Aluminum is ok. Just ok. I have a ton of it. Repeated blows to aluminum turn it into mush. Really, it's fascinating. I have an aluminum shield that makes people cringe because it's so warped. It's not a good long term solution, but it's a good rigid material for coming up with prototypes and patterns.


Then you are using some odd alloy or a low temper aluminum. T0-T3 aluminum will bend in your hands easily. T6 6061 or 7075 will hold up to SCA combat virtually forever, and will likely crack along a stress line before denting. If I am correct it has a tensile strength similar to 1050 hardened spring steel. The aluminum you are using is not the right stuff for combat. (If you or anyone else is really "with it" buy T0 6061 work it into the shape you want and then temper it to T6...). Same goes for your shield, it's made from the wrong alloy/wrong temper and probably too thin. My kite shield is 14 years old and has no dents in it. In the Eastern Crown video I just saw, it looked like Gregor is using the same shield he had when I met him in 1993. He fights at a big practice all the time, and it hasn't dented, bent or warped.

Look out for bad aluminum. Make sure you get T6 6061 or 7075. It'll last forever.

shinyhalo wrote:Wearing pants over armor...heh. This is a problem for Florida. Here is how it breaks down. Clothing over armor blocks airflow, weighs, and provides zero padding. Then comes the hard shell under it adding weight, more airflow restriction, and still zero padding. So then you add padding, adding more airflow restriction and a nice layer of insulation. So you look like a pillsbury dough boy and dehydrate. There are some garb-over-armor combos that are passable. Like stripped down old-school lacross shoulders, but even they give people that football player look.


Here's how it breaks down: What a Wussy BS argument. I started fighting in Columbia SC, where the average temperature, is 2 degrees HIGHER than Destin FL, and the humidity is about the same. I currently live in Charlotte, NC, where the average temp is only 3-4 degrees lower than Destin with similar amounts of humidity. I am so tired of you Floridians and other whining about the temperature. It's a load of CRAP. Other places are as hot and humid, and we wear armor and clothing and don't bitch.

Here's a shot of me in my lamellar (Again from the Mighty Ursus!):
http://www.bogpages.com/SCA-photographs ... Jn-M-1.jpg

My legs don't look dough boyish, do they?? Also, my arm seems to be moving quite well despite the fact that I am wearing a shirt over hockey arms.

BTW let me tell you and anyone else who uses this "temperature argument" something: stop being a wuss. Man up and wear some armor and clothing. Make it out of the right materials so you don't bake. And then WORK OUT SOME and GET IN SHAPE. Plenty of people from all over the country wear the right stuff in places where it's hot. Wearing pants over armor is not a problem for Florida- plenty of people do it there and don't die, and fight well.


shinyhalo wrote: Gorgets are pretty easy. I've got this good. The neck doesn't get whipped around as fast as the arms AND it has stops at either end of it.

The slash guards are interesting, but difficult to hide. I have arms figured out though. I have come to the conclusion that a steel elbow cop attached to both a wide-splint vambrace and a sticky rerbrace is the best. By sticky I mean that the material is soft and adheres and wedges itself into the flesh so the whole thing doesn't come flying off when you swing.


Sounds like an unwieldy solution, but hey, whatever works for you.

shinyhalo wrote:Like I said before, I am close to a good kit for Florida, but thanks for the ideas.


"Florida" is not an excuse for not wearing good armor. People from "hot zones" all over the country wear the right stuff and fight at top levels while looking good.

g-

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:35 am
by Jonny Deuteronomy
jenzinas wrote:
CiaranBlackrune wrote:I find participating in the SCA to be an expensive hobby. You do not agree. That's fine, good for you.
You stated that "expensive" is relative. I agreed. I NEVER stated that it was PROHIBITIVELY expensive.
I am not going to sit here and argue with you, some dude I have never even met, about whether or not I agree with your definition of expensive. Good day to you.


Why do you consider it expensive? Are you talking about the amount that it takes from your budget as a percentage or as a whole dollar amount? Are you comparing it to another hobby and if so, what?

--j

To quote the inimitable Fez from 'That 70's Show', "He said Good Day!"

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:17 am
by Aaron
I agree with Duke Alaric that the temperture arguement doesn't hold up. The vast majority of fighters in Japan wear full steel armour and mail. Once I showed up to pratice in Tokyo and it was 100% humidity and 100 F. Noe said, "If it were any more humid, we'd be fighting in a sauna!" Yet, we fought in armour. Low amounts of armour is almost frowned upon, but in a polite, Japanese fashion that us Westerners couldn't pick up until years later. It's very, very subtle.

Now Duke Alaric could have phased it more politely, but he's a man of action and would like to save his words sometimes.

-Aaron

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:19 am
by Aaron
Now, I LIKE sweating a lot. If I've got sweat running out my boots, I feel I've had a good day. I pray I'll have a good day on Sunday when I fight next at fighter practice.

With respect,

-Aaron

Re: Future of SCA fighting

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:21 am
by GenericUnique
Aaron wrote:Now, I LIKE sweating a lot. If I've got sweat running out my boots, I feel I've had a good day. I pray I'll have a good day on Sunday when I fight next at fighter practice.

With respect,

-Aaron


I hate sweating. But in most sports and martial arts, you're sweating or you're not doing enough.