The Armour Archive

I am again the researcher at large for the baroney of WintersGate. We are very small but the baroness has requested that we get together some ideas for a good Pas de Arms. I have never personaly been to one nore has any other member of the barony so I was wondering what suggestions you might be able to offer. I know about barrier battles and matched weapons fights but otherwise have no idea what to suggest.

Daithi'

Sunflash wrote:I am again the researcher at large for the baroney of WintersGate. We are very small but the baroness has requested that we get together some ideas for a good Pas de Arms. I have never personaly been to one nore has any other member of the barony so I was wondering what suggestions you might be able to offer. I know about barrier battles and matched weapons fights but otherwise have no idea what to suggest.

Daithi'

-One field and one queue used by lights and heavies at the same time.
-Fighters challenge who they will and get assigned to a spot in the queue. When it's their turn to fight they get five minutes on the field. Have at it.
-No falling down and pretending to be dead. Any other type of judging system is fine: counted blows delivered, received, driven from the list, driven to the ground, etc..
-Two marshal crews: one for light, one for heavy. One light marshal of honor, one heavy. They interchange depending on what type of combat is going on on the field.
-At the end of the day the marshals of honor poll the combatants and then approach the ranking noble (who did not participate in the fighting) with their counsel. The ranking noble selects a most worthy participant. DO NOT RUN AN ELIMINATION TREE.
-Everyone eats food and discusses the events of the day. Games may be brought out, dancing might happen if there are musicians.

Notes:
-Heralds are required. Have a couple on hand to be hired by the fighters who haven't brought their own. Tipping is required.
-Have a barrier available in case someone likes to fight that way.
-Let them feed themselves and avoid the headache of setting aside several hours for a feast.
-It's all about the glory, baby.

Sunflash wrote:I am again the researcher at large for the baroney of WintersGate. We are very small but the baroness has requested that we get together some ideas for a good Pas de Arms. I have never personaly been to one nore has any other member of the barony so I was wondering what suggestions you might be able to offer. I know about barrier battles and matched weapons fights but otherwise have no idea what to suggest.

Daithi'

I suggewst reading "Deeds of Arms" by Steven Muhlberger.

http://www.silvermane.com/books_cb-1891448447.html

It'll give you some idea of the context and culture of Deeds of Arms in the 14th c. It doesn't describe how to do a Pas per se, but it WILL give you an idea of what the culture of arms were all about and inspire you.

Master Galeron has a lot of good information on his site. You may want to click here:

http://willscommonplacebook.blogspot.com/

and then check the Deeds of Arms, Medieval Combat, Recreating Medieval Combat and maybe Armor vs. Weapons for ideas. He also occasionally reads this forum so he might pop in with some ideas.

Personally I like combat at the barrier because it controls where the fighting is and the spectators can get closer. A barrier is also a cheep device that is easy to transport but can be made pretty and fancy and bear heraldry.

Secondarily I like fighting matched forms, preferably with matched weapons. Nothing says success like relying on skill rather then equipment for the win.

Whenever possible I like 'counted blow' scenario. A 14th or 15th century, smacking plate armor scenario is more fitting for a pas then the default assumed armor standards of the SCA.

There were some nice rules concerning "Combat of the Thirty" at Pennsic that are worth reading. The biggest variation I like in rules is a closed face helm is proof against thrusts (sometimes one handed thrusts only) but a thrust to a bar-grill is an instant win regardless of the standing of the counted blows until that point.

I'll second everything else Jester said, especially the heralds.

Good luck,
Sean

Encourage every participant to wear/display/festoon their heraldry and colors on their kit, their person, and their supporters. Brave spectacle is totally period.

I recently conducted a tourney in the following manner.

The participants were divided between "holders" and "comers" (tenans and venans, if you wish) based on their branch affiliation. As it turned out, the numbers came out fairly even without adjusting.

Small shields bearing the blazons shown were hung on the list fence. The sides alternated giving and accepting challenges. One issued a challenge by touching one of the shields. The other side then decided which of them would answer the challenge. The participants were encouraged to spread the fights out amongst their members, though because the numbers on both sides were small, it was not too much a factor.

A barrier was available and optional. About half the fights used it.

A panel of ladies had been chosen by the Baroness to accord prizes according to their will and pleasure. They accorded one to the best-arrayed fighter, one to the best-spoken, and one for the best spirit.

A prize was also given to the one posting the most victories, although many of the fighters neglected to report those results to the MoL. I think they were enough into the spirit of the thing that they didn't really care about results. The joy was in the game.

I also append a copy of the event announcement.

One change I will make for the next time will be to add a sixth shield (not sure what it will look like) for "other" styles, such as one pair of fighters chose, axes with their other hand on the barrier.

BTW the tinctures of those shields are based on the tinctures of the arms of the Barony of Marinus. They are not registered blazons. If you want to use the idea, feel free; but adapt the color scheme to your own colors or your barony's or whatever is appropriate.

Spear hastiludes are a lot of fun. Look around on googlebooks for some old books on deeds of arms.