I need an idea (sca)

[freiman the minstrel]

folks,

I am in charge of fighting in two places.

In one, fighting is going so well that folks from other groups want to bring their newbies to learn from us. That wasn't my doing.

In the other, nothing is happening. I mean nothing.

I need to do something about that.

I am doing this so far. I have announced on the shire list serve that there will be an informal tourney at practice this sunday, with a "Small prize". Since Ducktape is difficult to find here in Germany, and fibre tape impossible, I will be giving a small gift bag with a roll of both in it. In addition, I will be bringing a small candy assortment for the non-combattants to vote to give to the "Most Gallant" of the fighters.

That's already out there. Now I need another idea. One that will surprise the fighters, and get them talking about it next week. It doesn't need to be a great, huge inspirational idea, just a surprise.

Any ideas?

f

[Mikael]

Since you asked for ideas that are not great here you go:
Depending on how many you are and what equipment is available and what you usually do.

A) Pure melee training - drills, marching, lots of practise in moving around as a unit and than enough melee fighting to get everyone exhausted.

B) Trying completely new weapom forms. No sword and board for anyone that sunday. Spearing, longsword, daggers, axes, two sticks, single sword - anything but what you normally do.

Very basic explanation on what you can do with those and than on with experimenting how they feel.

C) Training with your primary forms with emphasis on getting endurance by fighting to exhaustion and beyond. For example bearpit where loser stays, or form where everybody rights all fighters present with no rest in between. Something that feels bad enough at the time to feel as an accomplishment later

[Cunian]

Maybe a longer-term challenge to get people in the habit of coming out? Like the 60 fights in 60 days thing?

[Aonghus]

Freiman,

Maybe a special guest...a knight of renown or visiting royal. Invite someone well known who does not normally come to your practise.

[william]

Hi!


Hmmm. Good food for thought here! There are two things that come to my mind:

One thing that is very simple to do and did spark a lot of ongoing thinking and discussion is what our fighters refer to as "Barobrand's pattern excercise". While two fighters fight each other the others try to identify any kind of pattern, be it movement, first attack, combos etc. In my group this had two effects: a) All your weeknesses are pointed out (quite verbally sometimes ) and b) all the other guys suddenly know how you go for your kills. However, this would need some interest on the fighters' end - otherwise they don't care. But it can work well ...

My second thing requires a little more effort: If you do your tournament you could provide simple means to spiff it up. For example, a very simple tabbard for everyone in a basic heraldic colour that matches their shield, device, overall style of armour etc. so that everybody would have the feeling of "looking good". Depending on the number of fighters expected this could even be done on a short-term notice. The other thing could be to provide "cheat cards" with challenge phrases - kind of a "construction kit" where you could choose different elements to come up with a more verbal and impressive challenge on the spot. Again, this could be used to make everybody feel "cool". Both efforts at "improvised pageantry" might also help to interest the non-fighting attendees - something that I'd consider crucial in getting something started locally.

Good luck,
Will


P.S.: When does that active group hold their fighter practice? There's a friend in Nuremberg whom I definitely owe a visit ...

[Mord]

Food. Have a post-fighting get together after the practice. I realize this maybe not practical where you are, I suppose, but while you are feeding the masses, tell them stories about the events you've been to. Make it amusing and have fun with it.

Mord.

[freiman the minstrel]

William,

The Turmstadt practices are on Sunday at 1400 in the schlossgarten in the altstadt in Erlangen. The Vilseck (North Nebelwald) Practices are on mondays at 18:30 (on the army post) and the and the Hohenfels (south Nebelwald) practices are on Wednesday at 18:30 (on the army post).

We used to have just one, but folks were unable to make the drive. south side and north side Nebelwald are an hour (or an hour and a half) apart and NOBODY was at the offical practice, both are about an hour from Erlangen. This is kind of a bad compromise, but it is a lot better than nobody.

It's taken some effort to get the separate practices working, but the are (mostly) working. I have spun off a deputy for the South side practices, where things are going great. I am about to spin off a deputy for Turmstadt, which is the reason for the effort in Turmstadt right now.

What I would like to do it get some "Buzz" about the Turmstadt practices. There are several lost sheep that might come out if there was a practice to go to. In addition, the next shire over (Rauchenderberg) is on a "No fighting probation" and they are actually only about forty minutes to an hour from the Erlangen site, which is closer than I am. It would make a lot of sense for them to come to the Erlangen practice, if there were any reason to come. I have a brand new deputy, and she can fill out reports with the best of them.

I would like to get all three practices working before New Years. Then I can sit back, keep an eye on things so they don't fly off the track, and manage minimally. Delegate! Delegate! Delegate!

The best part is that for the most part, it's working.

Wanna be a part of our award winning, thrill-a-minute visiting fighter program? We'll send you home with rattan and fibre tape!

f

[blackbow]

folks,

I am in charge of fighting in two places.

In one, fighting is going so well that folks from other groups want to bring their newbies to learn from us. That wasn't my doing.

In the other, nothing is happening. I mean nothing.

I need to do something about that.

I am doing this so far. I have announced on the shire list serve that there will be an informal tourney at practice this sunday, with a "Small prize". Since Ducktape is difficult to find here in Germany, and fibre tape impossible, I will be giving a small gift bag with a roll of both in it. In addition, I will be bringing a small candy assortment for the non-combattants to vote to give to the "Most Gallant" of the fighters.

That's already out there. Now I need another idea. One that will surprise the fighters, and get them talking about it next week. It doesn't need to be a great, huge inspirational idea, just a surprise.

Any ideas?

f

Freiman:

have the active practice play "attack/defend" if it interests them. Also have them play the Bellatrix drill. Bellatrix is hard to explain in words, so if you don't know what it is, I'll do my best to explain it. "Attack/Defend" is nothing more than two fighters squaring off where one fighter gets to throw two or three blows in succession without having to worry about being hit, and then the attacker trades with the defender. If you want to up the stakes a bit, state that the attacker can continue attacking as long as he's throwing a genuine combo, i.e., his sword has to continue flowing in a circle of some sort and he can't start hacking. This ties in neatly with the bellatrix drill. Most people can't throw more than about four shots in succession before they reach the end of an effective combo, so unless you have a God Of War over there, it shouldn't get too unbalanced.

Regards,

Jonathan Blackbow

[Ldy Wu]

Food. Have a post-fighting get together after the practice. I realize this maybe not practical where you are, I suppose, but while you are feeding the masses, tell them stories about the events you've been to. Make it amusing and have fun with it.

Mord.

Mord, are you sure you aren't a southern transplant? Everything we do down here has to do with food. Lots of it.

"Silly Weapons Day"? Make different silly things out of pool noodle and bluefoam and see who fights with the silliest. Extend it to the littles and then people will bring their kids too!

[mattmaus]

Delegate! Delegate! Delegate!

Maybe have a schedule of 1 per month or whatever, let one of the other fighters be Marshall in charge of a practice. Supervise them, as the 'experienced' marshal. And by 'them' I mean your regular fighters, not your deputies.

Let them make sure everyone has blue cards or waivers.

Let them do armor inspections.

Let them marshal the fights.

Let them decide what kind of fight's you're going to have, is Jo-Bob going to run drills? Melee's? A practice counted bnlows at the barier tournament? Is he going to teach a class on spear work?

Would be a way to let other people try to bring fresh ideas into the practice rather than relying on YOU for all of the creativity and inspiration. Would also allow the other fighters to get a good taste of marshalling, and practice at it. Making them easier to deputize later on.