ANST - New topic

[eric mauer]

>>>>>1: Do you give an opponent choice of weapons?  Let's say you are
paired with Joe Newcomer in the first round.  What about Sir  
Supercool? Do you insist on your favorite? Does it matter if you're  
Duke Hotottrot and he has no chance? Does it matter if he's the  
Duke?<<<<

As far as I'm concerned, part of our duty as heavy fighters is to  
provide an entertaining fight for people watching (esp. those who  
we're fighting for). That being the case, I think it's best to chose  
a weapon form (or forms) that both parties are comfortable with. I  
don't expect Sir Supercool to fight me with glaive (my weapon of  
choice), unless he's competant with it. At the same time, I'm not  
going to fight him sword and shield (which I DON"T fight normally),  
though I might be willing to fight Joe Newcomer in that style (since  
his level of competance will probably be closer to mine). I  
generally ask "what do you prefer to fight", and go from there. On  
the other hand, I've found that fighting a superior fighter in HIS  
chosen form is a good way to get a lesson in the form, and I'm  
grateful to the members of the Chivalry (notably Sir Kief in single  
sword and Duke Michael in glaive) who've taken the opportunity to  
extend that lesson off the field.

>>>>2: Do you give a point of honor to your opponent?  Arm or leg  
him, and would you give up your own? What if he's a superior  
fighter?  An inferior one? Would you want the same treatment? What  
if giving up an advantage *is* an advantage to you? What about  
giving an advantage to a less talented person to start the bout?  
(ie: fight offhanded against Joe Newcomerin his first tourney) Is  
that insulting to the other person?  What about accepting an  
advantage from a more talented person?<<<

I'll give a point of honor if I think it's appropriate-if the  
opponent took a marginal blow, if I've enjoyed their fighting, or  
just if I think it will "push" my skills. Again, my criteria if it  
makes the "show" better. I see no dishonor in taking a point of  
honor from any fighter-it's their choice, and honor to them, just as  
it is their choice to not offer. I also am not insulted when  
offered the point-the opponent who has done so is generally a better  
fighter, and honors me by allowing me to have a better chance of  
continuing...

>>>3.Do you *try* to win every bout?  Give 110%? Maybe only 75%? Does
it dishonor your opponent (or yourself) to *not* try to the  
greatest of your ability? Is it ok to "throw" a bout? What if the  
person is  very deserving of victory? What if they are new? Or your  
friend?<<<<

I try to win every bout, but the risks I take (trying something  
"neat", or new, or flashy) vary depending on the opponent. I'll take  
risks against our proverbial Joe Newcomer (giving him the chance to  
capitalize and win), that I wouldn't take against Sir Sopercool  
(who I KNOW will capitalize on them...) There are sometimes bouts,  
though, where I don't CARE who wins, the fighting itself is so  
enjoyable, and those are the reason I fight. I like to be able to  
rejoice in the killing blow, no matter who gave it.  The only time I  
"throw" a bout is when I'm training someone-at that point, I'm  
pushing THEIR limits, not mine, and I want them to succeed and land  
that killing shot if they're doing what I'm trying to train them to  
do.

>>>>>4. Now to the odd one... Is it honorable to *want * to win?  
("huh?")I mean, everyone wants to win,(and have fun) but where do  
you draw the line? No one thinks it is a "good thing"(tm) to take  
*unfair* advantage of your most noble opponent, but  how you answer  
the first three points determines what you feel is a fair or an  
unfair advantage, and leads to your personal choice of "how bad do I  
want to win?".  From insisting on a specific weapons style to  
refusing to call blows is a VERY wide spectrum of "want".  Do you  
want to win enough to change your view on points 1,2, or 3? If it's  
the tourney of the Canton of Wayoutthere?  If it's your local  
group's event? If it's Crown?<<<<

I want to win if I can honorably and skillfully do so. That means,  
given that I have done all I can to make it a good, fair fight that  
is fun to watch, I will do my best to be the one standing at the  
end. Where and what the tourney is doesn't matter-I fight for the  
joy of it, not the cookies.

Alaric Styrr
called TuhTahl of the Moritu
(who's still a little iffy on this whole Tourney thing....but  
learning)
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