Dietrich von Stroheim wrote:Bran, you live in Augusta, so you are within a stone's throw of some amazing local craftsmen and other great guys who can help you get into gear.
I bet if you talk to Duke Valharic or Sir Grimr, Sir Brian, Master Vortigern, etc and humbly ask their help and volunteer your time towards them helping you put a kit together, they won't just tell you to pound sand.
All are good people and local to you.
Dietrich and Altan are correct... it was good to start out with loaner gear and just pick up stick with crappy armor... it gave me a better idea if I wanted to keep fighting and what I *really* wanted in armor. If I decided, "Meh...I don't want to keep fighting" then I wouldn't be out money and others wouldn't feel disappointed that they spent money or time into making/getting me gear.
Bryan & Debbie first helped me when I was new to the area and fighting. They got me going in the right direction as far meeting people and getting me out to the Columbia practice at Duke Logan's. It was still a rough journey to get into loaner stuff and that was by now means an easy task! Being that I am smaller than the average bear. So those local (and in Columbia such as Altan and Duke Logan) will help you if you give them the time and attention required to figure out how to best equip you.... I should know- I wouldn't be getting closer to my Byzantine kit if that were not true not to mention just plain fighting.
Hang in there young grasshopper... get out there Monday with what Altan said to bring and get your chance to finally swing some rattan. And soon you can be learning from the best of the best.
Laterz,