Why do so many people choose a 14th century persona?

[Effingham]

So the 14th century is sort of a sweet spot in the combination of affordability and historical accuracy.

+1

Cool stuff happened, too.

[CTrumbore]

Plus, the helmet design makes it easier to keep ones nose in the air.

[Stefan ap Llewelyn]

Also, when you're poor, the helm you can afford tends to define your kit. And bascinets tend to be cheap and plentiful. Not to mention one of the overall best combat helmets. The glancing surfaces help a lot as a new fighter and by the time you've become established and skilled at fighting, many people have already established themselves as 14th century.

Tl;dr Bascinets kick ass.

I think this nails it - it is what happened with me

[Duke Owain]

14th century everything is also available and usually in stock

With the right credit card I could spend a few hours on line and have everything I needed, harnes, tent, clothes, feast gear, everything deliverd to my house in a reasonable time frame

[wcallen]

14th century everything is also available and usually in stock

With the right credit card I could spend a few hours on line and have everything I needed, harnes, tent, clothes, feast gear, everything deliverd to my house in a reasonable time frame

Ain't life grand these days?

When I was playing, no such thing was even close to possible. If you wanted stuff, you made it or slaved to find someone to do it. Some things may actually have changed in 30 years.

Wade

[Steve S.]

With the right credit card I could spend a few hours on line and have everything I needed, harnes, tent, clothes, feast gear, everything deliverd to my house in a reasonable time frame

Say....

Steve

[Charlotte J]

I don't know if it's as common in armour as clothes, but a LOT of people do early 15th century and just call it 14th century. Really, it's just that sweet spot between about 1350 and 1420 that everybody loves.

Mmm.

[Iain (Bunny) Ruadh]

I don't know if it's as common in armour as clothes, but a LOT of people do early 15th century and just call it 14th century. Really, it's just that sweet spot between about 1350 and 1420 that everybody loves.

Mmm.

Yes!!! This! This! This! It's what makes it so difficult trying to dial in on a specific time. It's like trying to declare which is better between the early 1960's thru 1999 ... so much change and development each having it's own selling points. Hell I still blast out the Rat Pack and review their style/attitude and it's 50 years past ...

[Payn]

Wow, I feel childish and immature. At 19, I chose my 2 favorite numbers, 13 and 69. I was stationed in England at the time, so I had easier access to research material in languages that I could actually read.

When I figured out what was going on in England in that time frame, I decided it worked for me.

[Duncan]

The 14th century has the most variety and really cool clothing. It's the "Transitional" period where they tried a lot of things all and one time so it's easier to find something that works for you not only in form but also in function.

[AedanMac]

I was originally looking at the 14th century due to the apparent ease of getting the armor together and the fact that my old garb from ren faires works for late 14th early 15th for the most part. I have since decided to go much erlier because that is where my historical interest actually fall.

[Leo Medii]

God wills it.

[Caius705]

We do have all the cool shit. After looking through a bunch of the 14th century manuscripts and other art, I have to say that I'm falling more and more in love with the one true century. So many wild ideas going on.

[Kilian_the_warlike]

We do have all the cool shit. After looking through a bunch of the 14th ....

Excuse me good sir, you accidentally hit the "4" instead of the proper "5". Its a common typo! I won't hold it against you!