Laurin Tournament - Does the setting affect your Fighting?

Dino de Malta · Post by **Dino de Malta** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 3:28 am

http://laurin-tournament.com/index.php?lang=english

Just too show off this absolutely awesome group (I am not part of the group but wow!)

I can only imagine what it would be like to fight in an arena like that with excellently garbed opponents and an awesome gallery filled with more awesome garb.

I myself think it would be truly inspirational.

Only being back for a bit over two years now, i'm still in the WoW! about alot of SCA situations (also in an isolated group, Royal visits are rare). I find my fighting/enjoyment is affected by the setting, winning seems more awesome, losing hurts less etc.

zachos · Post by **zachos** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:48 am

I'm not an SCAer, but I agree completely. There are all sorts of things that can make an event in ones mind. Some of my friends have jousted in the royal armouries Leeds. It's not a historical place, but what made it special was that they were competing for a prize actually from the actual Queen.

I've competed in a replica of Renee of Anjous tournament arena. The Viewing boxes had Gilded lettering on them, and the whole arena was surrounded by about a hundred medieval pavillions. I was the first one knocked out of the competition, but that was cool.

I've ridden through the gates of Hampton Court Palace as part of Henry VIII's hunting party. I didn't fight at all that weekend, or compete in anything at all. I won't forget it for a long time though.

In my opinion, the Setting doesn't so much affect my fighting as make the whole weekend worthwhile, whether I win, lose or don't pick up a sword at all.

Duke Areus · Post by **Duke Areus** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:01 pm

[img]http://www.laurin-tournament.com/laurin2010/images/larurin000071.jpg[/img]

That looks less than comfortable....

Balin50 · Post by **Balin50** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:12 pm

That on is mild go through the best shot gallery that guy is mean :twisted:

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:33 pm

Duke Phelan wrote:[img]http://www.laurin-tournament.com/laurin2010/images/larurin000071.jpg[/img]

That looks less than comfortable....

The joy of using a pollaxe!

I've actually had people call my pollaxe light, to the armpit.

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:41 pm

Yes it does

I don't like fighting in convention centers or gyms.

Outside with the breeze going, banners on the field.

I love that

i want to do stuff like these guys have

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:09 pm

[img]http://www.laurin-tournament.com/laurin2010/images/larurin000071.jpg[/img]

Nice dent in that leg armour! :shock:

They aren't doing slap and tickle.

I think the decreased diameter of the axe made it easier to get shots in there. I doubt I could get that shot on a sword-and-shield person in the SCA (not that I would or should!). It's a difficult shot IMO.

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:27 pm

To answer the original question: No, I can't say that the setting affects my fighting-I am far too engrossed when I fight to be affected during the fight.

Now, does it affect my overall experience? Undoubtedly YES!!!

There is the experience of approaching the field, looking at the spectators, and coming off of the field. Those are all part of the experience, and in a HS gym; it blows.

One of my favorite experiences on the field (to distinguish it from just the joy of combat) was watching Kensor in a great helm with torse/mantle bobbing up and down through my tiny occularia. That was a truly "Medieval moment". MUCH better immersion than I get fighting in my bar grill against a genericelt. So, what I'm wearing and what my opponent is wearing is going to have a great impact on the actual *fight*.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:34 pm

Location does matter, a lot.

In Atlantia the best tournament I fought in was the Baronial Birthday Bash. It was HOSING rain out and the field was a muck of mud. All the cars disappeared into the haze of heavy rain and it felt so Agincourt. It was a beautiful tournament BECAUSE of the heavy rain. It was grand.

I enjoyed West Crown, all the other events in Atlania and Pennsic but they were a trifle modern. In Japan I was just in awe of "being in Japan" but the events tended to avoid the modern. Black Hole was an exception but the vibe was very good with the crowd cheering, free (good) food, and rocking good soundtracks to major sword-and-sorcery movies in the background.

Living and fighting in Germany would be great, but I give my chances of getting there at 1% or less. I've been told I'm overqualified to go.

But if I get West Point there are HUGE castles there too and a "Demo War" would be grand IMO if I could organize it.

My vision is also bad so when I look through my eyeslot it feels real. I'm not wearing my glasses so you all look really good IMO.

But that fight in the heavy rain was the VERY best CONUS event I've been to. Loved it.

Dino de Malta · Post by **Dino de Malta** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:12 pm

Upon reading a few of the responses.. I think I agree, a wonderful setting really does enhance the experience to a greater degree than the fighting.

Some of my best fighting is when after the fighting has finished I notice everything around me.

But I think and enjoyableand spiffy setting does help me get to that focused state of mind in the right way, through love of the game rather than just wanting to fight well.

Leo Medii · Post by **Leo Medii** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:15 pm

I've been oogling this site for a few months.

I use it as a "what do I need to make/do/get to get as great as these guys look.

You can tell this isn't in the states. No one would insure them, and they have been lawsuited into unexistence by now.

Lucian Ro · Post by **Lucian Ro** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:11 am

Found the Laurin Tournament group about six months ago and was floored at how authentic the group looks and how much fun they're obviously having. I can barely imagine what it would be like to participate in a lyst surrounded by such dedication to the overall environment (although the lyst at Pennsic last year was pretty damn close).
With that said, environment adds greatly to the overall experience for me. Wars tend to allow me much more of an "immersion factor", especially in melees, although specific events, especially pas d'armes also allow for this extra experience.

Slight derail - Most of the Laurin group wear boots as opposed to our commonly-worn turnshoes. Is there as much a precedence for boots and turnshoes? And, if so, where can we get these marvelous boots?

B. Amos · Post by **B. Amos** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:39 pm

Yes absolutely. When I can really get into the moment my fighting improves as well as my overall experience. Every thing that is out of place detracts from my experence until I just don't care anymore, and that definately comes through in my fighting.

Galvyn Lockhart · Post by **Galvyn Lockhart** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:43 pm

Balin50 wrote:That on is mild go through the best shot gallery that guy is mean

I love how on their website it says that "low blows to the genitals are to be avoided." :twisted:

But yes, the environment of an event is crucial to how immersed I am.