I shall now wade in, and in part agree, and disagree, with both parties, and probably earn no points with either in the process...
Duke Logan, Do you know Duke Prothal of Drachenwald?
He was the authorising marshal.
As it happens, I was one of the assistants.
In favour of the three authorising:
They all had a mix of Re-enactment steel, Eastern martial art and larp experience.
They were all mature men, and physically competent,
They demonstrated a sound grasp of the rules of the society.
They were all very keen.
Now, There were considerations that had to be taken into account;
They had crossed a national boundary to get to their first event, (Denmark to Sweden) And had picked a good one to attend. Our week long camping event,doublewars. They had two days of help armouring, fighting instruction, and general learning curve, lots of fighting to watch etc.
There is an SCA incipient shire in Denmark, They are it.
While it's our biggest war, Its small beer on the Continental scale, >100 bodies on the field.
They were in an environment where almost every other participant was aware of who they were, (The three new guys in the matching red tabards) and there were fighters watching them and haul them up short if went astray. (sorry to break it to you like Titus).
That didn't happen.
They were men with a dream on a mission, and they got some slack cut for that reason.
In any other circumstance, would they have got cards?
Unlikely.
Were they safe throughout the wars?
Without a shadow of a doubt.
Didi they get their arses kicked?
Damn right. And they smiled all the time!
Did they have their moments?
Did they ever!
One, Ragnar, (who moves pianos for a living) came up to me in the short break between sets on a limitied front bridge battle to clarify weather he could push people off the bridge with his shield.
"Yes you can! place then push, says I"
"Wheeee!" said the next three guys on the opposing side as they sailed gracefully over the marked line of the bridge.
Said Ragnar.
Exceptional circumstances.
With the greatest of respect to all,
Robert
dukelogan wrote:ummm, i do judge them based on my impressions of their skill level and their knowledge of the sport. like i said, it takes guys on average about 8 months with me.
and no, based on the scenario as you describe i seriously doubt there is any way you could be versed in our form of combat and know enough about the rules to safely be authorized the first day you found the sca. the fact that you say three of you did it leaves the impression that the marshals were negligent in their actions. could i be wrong? sure. but im willing to bet im not.
i came from a combat sport background (boxing), played football all through my scholastic career, worked as a bouncer for years. so, i was physically and mentally ready for this sport. i improved very quickly. the first day i found the sca i was put in armor and did very well against those practicing with me. was i ready to be an authorized fighter and sent out on the field? no way. even with a basic understanding of the rules it is folly to put someone in that position. at least, in my opinion.
regards
logan
Titus Flavius wrote:duke logan wrote:training is the key absolutly. i think guys coming out of camp average about 8 months in armor before i suggest they go authorize. i have had a few that came weekly to practice and they were good to go after 4 or 5 months.
yikes.. hehe.. then i should probably go and get reauthorized...
at my first ever meeting with the sca at all, i armored up and authorized... so did my 2 danish friends...
so it is possible for people to be ready faster...
do i feel safe enough to be on the battlefield after no fighter practices, no training or anything? yes i do. And so did the marshals.
But i would say my background had a huge hand in making me be at that level before i joined the sca.
I would not judge on how long they have practiced, just if they are safe as the rules state. And if you are a good judge of character and used to that stuff, you can usually be right.
