ANST - Remaining True to Your Persona (was:New Topic)

[Carl Hess]

> Remaining true to your period regarding armor and weapons, *and* being 
> competitive or even excelling on the list and war field -- can it be
done?
>      
>      
> C. Scipio
>      
>      I have not really stayed true to a welshmans in the 11th century but

>      for my Persona story what I am fighting with is very much period. 
My 
>      Grandfather Hl Beorlic is the family member who taught me how to
fight 
>      and since he fights with a kite shield I decided to learn how to
fight 
>      with a kite.  However as I live within the wonderous lands of the 
>      shire of Mooneschadowe and a member of the Liondragon guard when I 
>      entered it's glorious ranks I was given the Ansteorran barn door
that 
>      I fight with when I go to War as per my spearmans orders. :)
>      
>      
>                                 Ld Owen ap Aeddan ap Trahaern 

Using the Ansteorran barn door shield is one of the things to which I was
referring when I asked if remaining true to your persona meant giving up an
advantage on the list field.

In An Tir the two shields of choice are the slung heater and the
center-mount round.  It was widely thought that unless you use one of those
shields, that you will not be competitive.

I noticed that here in Ansteorra, most folks use a slung scutum.  I don't
believe there is any archeological evidence to support this shield
configuration in any period.  I also realize that we are not the Society
for Compulsive Authenticity, but I think that a certain amount of attention
to the historical record can only help us make a better society.

The thrust of my point (if you will :) ) is that I believe that one may use
weapons and shield configurations from his or her period, and be
competitive in the list or on the war field.  If someone were to give me an
Ansteorran barn door, I would most likely politely decline.  Or go and fit
it with an umbo (center mount) and use it that way.

This leads me to a another topic:  justifying your persona within your
canton/shire/barony.  If you are a 15th century Englishman surrounded by
8-11 century Vikings, do you adopt their ways?  Or do you remain true to
what you are, and use the tools/weapons that were available to your persona
to the best of your advantage?

Scipio

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