The Armour Archive

Gentles,

A few years ago, I asked this question on the archive.

Who are the Big Sticks? Who are the very best fighters that the SCA has to offer?

When I joined, the answer to that question was "Jade and Bearkiller", but that might not be the answer today.

f

I would probably put Sir Steffan von Dresden in there - he's a natural athlete who also cares about skill (a combination that ought to be outlawed )

Duke Uther - I've only watched him in the Best of the Best tourney on year at Pennsic, and he was a monster.

HRM Darius - one of the most ardent students of our game I have ever met.

Duke Radnor - someone once posted here that they should give Radnor a listlegal spork - because they thought he could still win with that.

There - something for people to start with

Duke Brannos (Recent Candlemas vids will show what I mean)
Duke Ragnavaldr (watch him fight Duke Darius in the Best of the best at this past Pennsic)
And I second Sir Steffan von Dresden

They are just so good.

Duke Hauoc Bender of the West.-I think he gets better the smaller his shield gets.

None of the Monsters at the top of the mountain have died or retired recently; they are usually called Dukes. There is also the rare genius who has no interest in being a King (Steffan von Dresden).

I can only go off those I have fought so here is my list in no particular order.
please excuse the butchery of spelling,

Duke Sean Tarragon Artemesia
Duke Jade West
Duke Sven Antir?
Duke Haouc West
Duke Uther West
Duke Brannos Middle
His current highness of Artemesia Sir Michael

I know there are more "top 1%"
but these are the ones I have fought and trained with.

Now the ones I need more time with to tell,

Duke Eduard Atenveldt
Duke Aaron Atenveldt
His Excellency Gemini West?

All these names are currently fighting on the battlefields and till late in the day on the pickup field.


Sean of the Chipendales

I submit Dukes Lucan and Logan

Same group of guys every time.

Earl Duncan
Duke Torkil of An Tir (sorry if the spelling is incorrect)

HRM Sven here in Caid is one of the most consistently underrated fighters, and I'm not just saying that because my knight is his girlfriend. There have been tourney seasons when he won 50% of all the tourneys in Caid, and finalled in most of the ones he didn't win. He did have a bad case of "bridesmaid syndrome" with Crowns for a while before he finally won a couple, but he definitely belongs on the list.

Duke Edric is pretty good.

Sir Kjartan in An Tir is another awesome fighter who seems to suffer from Crown bridesmaid syndrome.

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Same group of guys every time.

Of course.
Because elite fighters appear rarely, or take time to establish proof of their dominance. Knights are a dime a dozen compared to the few at the top.

I guess it might be more interesting to ask, "Who will be the new additions to the elite group?" Who is putting in the time, or are showing in fights against the elite that they will be stepping up shortly.

Count Titus Germanicus Scipio (West)

Sir Cellach mac Cormaic is in my opinion one of the best fighters in the Middle Kingdom who consistently shows that he can both give a good hit and take one as well. Also the fact that he is also an excellent embroiderer and dancer makes him the type of Knight I aspire to be some day.
That may just be my opinion as he is in my Barony.

I won't pretend to know many of the folk outside of my neck of the woods. These are merely the folks that I've seen or fought.

Duke Sven Gunnarson of Antir, fast, technical, and he's been hitting the gym again.
Duke Davin "Stronghand" Ravensuri. I once tried to acknowledge a blow before he threw it. I was right, it hurt.
Duke Hauoc of the West. It's like he used Jedi mind powers to get people to throw at the postage stamp he called a "shield".
Duke Uther of the West. A man who I know will help me re-attain my humilty, regardless of what our weapons combo is.
Duke Jade of the West. I knew, that he knew, that I knew, what he was going to do, and I knew that he knew, that I knew, that he knew, what I was going to do. He could then do, whatever he wanted to do, but it was the thing that I knew that he knew, that I knew. 5 times... in a row. I hate feeling that inept.
Duke Brannos of the Middle. I recently (last weekend) had the pleasure of taking a class with him. His understanding of interkingdom fighting differences, and his ability to break them down, was inspiring. The fact that he would choose high level fighters, then tell them what shot he was going to hit them with, and when, and where, then hit them, was inspiring.

Sir Vlad, of Atlantia. Fought him on Tuesday and it was amazing.

Recently I've fought quite a few people I thought were good, but barely felt their blows. Sir Vlad threw shots he said were firm 5's, and I had NO doubt at all that I had got hit. And the targeting was astounding.

And the education and training was great too. He understands I'm a poor student for this sport and is patient, event though it's like explaining something to a toddler.

-Aaron

By the way Pain,

Gunther had very flattering things to say about you. I'm jealous that you've gotten to fight with him twice on this trip and I haven't had a chance to yet.

Ewan

Big Sticks???

I will submit Sir Haroun of the Outlands as one who flies under the radar.

There are still a number of old legends floating around who may lack the stamina for a long tourney but are death walking in single bouts.

I saw Sir Haroun tonight and he was exciting to watch. He had that look in his fighting that says "bring it."

John
Jehan de Pelham, ecuyer and servant of Sir Vitus
www.mron.org

Hey, I just saw the ugly guy in a movie tonight... Hmm.

Oh yeah, Boondock Saints (what were you thinking).

The other one I got a date with at Ragnaroc. Maybe I need to practice my ground work

G

Oh yeah, the question:

Some good suggestions so far.

Add
Baldar (yeah I'm biased but he's still that good)
Hanse (No idea if I spelled that right)
Ctraven

And I think Brannos might be at the top of the list right now.

gaston

My first fights against Darius were when I was preparing for a Pas during pick-ups at Pennsic; new close-faced helmet, sabatons, finger gauntlet and a tiny shield. Every time I hit him (like, twice) the sword moved in my hand and lost power.
He was fighting 1000 bouts in honor of the Eastern Queen. Each time he hit my shield it shook my entire body. I have never expended so much energy trying to hit a guy. I have never been so tired after fighting one man in pick-ups. He was completely fresh afterwards and he had been fighting singles ALL DAY. It was a transforming experience.
I was so bummed I went out the next day with my usual helmet, a reasonable shield (I used to bring like four to wars), my usual shoes and a basket-hilt sword and cleaned up the place.

As far as Brannos goes, he is now fighting from the Void at all times. I only visit that place for small increments of time.

Gaston de Vieuxchamps wrote:
The other one I got a date with at Ragnaroc. Maybe I need to practice my ground work

G

You better be practicing everything. Im not gonna play nice this year.

Tabernacle74 wrote:
You better be practicing everything. Im not gonna play nice this year.

Just spent almost 4 months in Seattle yet somehow I didn't get nearly enough training in, too many things to do.

On the plus side I now have like 5 times as much EMP experience as before (still not that much). Much better wrestler than I was last we met but still not "good".

G

Out of curiosity, who here wants to get so good their name gets mentioned on these lists?
Who thinks it's an achievable goal before they start to get too old or out of shape?

I know that I could be extremely scary in single sword and shield combat again...but I'm not in the same genus as some of these people. Some of these guys are gifted.

Personally. I do not think I am deserving to have my name listed here. Not even as a maybe.

me!

regards
logan

herrhauptmann wrote:Out of curiosity, who here wants to get so good their name gets mentioned on these lists?
Who thinks it's an achievable goal before they start to get too old or out of shape?

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:I know that I could be extremely scary in single sword and shield combat again...but I'm not in the same genus as some of these people. Some of these guys are gifted.

Gifted is just an excuse lazy people use to stay on their ass. - Henry Rollins

Out of curiosity, who here wants to get so good their name gets mentioned on these lists?
Who thinks it's an achievable goal before they start to get too old or out of shape?

That's me. I say that someday I want to be a duke. Right now I'm just a guy who won two Crowns.

A duke in my mind is that guy who stands there, blocks anything you throw and then kills you with minimal effort. He makes it look easy and beautiful. I win most of my fights but I have to work for it.

People like Inman, Uther, Hector, etc...not only win with grace and style but they make it look beautiful. And if you never fought or watched Duke Charles Inman McMoore then you missed out on something beautiful. At 60 he was still capable of easily winning Crown and trained me for this last one.

I figure, at our current rate of training I will be as good as Jade when I'm 70, and he's 75. And I'm counting on degradation due to age!

Personally, I want to get that good as well.

But, since I started last fall, it's going to take me some time to get that good.
"If I seem like I'm far behind, it's only because I'm using it to get a good run-up."
-Sgt Jackrum

"Gifted is just an excuse lazy people use to stay on their ass. - Henry Rollins"

No matter how many books Henry writes, he will always be a third rate writer. He gets five stars for effort, but a vast majority of his finished art is just painfully pedestrian.
But your point is well made.

herrhauptmann wrote:Out of curiosity, who here wants to get so good their name gets mentioned on these lists?
Who thinks it's an achievable goal before they start to get too old or out of shape?

There is no doubt in my mind that if I push myself I can acheive the collee and spurs of a knight, and win a crown or two. Sloth and gluttony are my constant companions, and my ability to realize these goals is dependent on my ability to overcome the flaws of my own character.

Whether I can push beyond those goals to the next level, is a question I will leave open until I accomplish the first tasks.

herrhauptmann wrote:Out of curiosity, who here wants to get so good their name gets mentioned on these lists?
Who thinks it's an achievable goal before they start to get too old or out of shape?

Well, I'm the one who is starting threads to he can put together his intended dance card...

f