ANST - Combat archery, How?

[DAFPIG at aol.com]

Greetings everyone,

Over the past few weeks I have been recieving e-mails for good gentles wanting
to know more about combat archery.  I recently recieved a missive from a
gentle new to the SCA and who was very interested in my views on this subject.
This lord sent me a list of questions and asked if I could answer them on the
Ansteorra page, so that his friends would have access to it as well.  For
those folks uninterested, I ask your indulgence for the use of this space.

In my opinion, there are Combat Archers and then there are people in armor
shooting bows on the field.  Both types have there place and can be effective,
but a true combat archer does more than just pick up a bow and shoot, they
must learn the finer points of meele warfare, Just as a fighter, to become a
great spearman, must learn more than just jabbing his spear at the shield wall
before him......

<<<<  How do you get started?>>>>>

Well, first read in the Ansteorra fighters handbook all the rules and
regulations over both heavy fighting and combat archery.  Since you will be
required to armor to heavy standards, its best you know what they are.  The
handbook will also tell you the correct weights and draws for your
bow/crossbows, and what kind of arrows/bolts are permitted in this kingdom.
If you have any further questions, please contact your local archery marshel
or the kingdom archery marshel, they will be able to answer you properly.
These folks will also be able to assist you in getting your armor and
equipment together...

<<<<What do you consider a combat archers duties?  Who do you suggest I shoot
first?>>>>>>

This answer will vary depending on who you ask.  My objective differ than alot
of archers I know.  The order of my targets are: Kings-generals(those who seem
to be in charge), HOT spearmen/glaves men. knights, archers and then anyone in
a pretty,bright surcoat or gleaming armor..  I like to get those guys just for
the fun of it.  A Good spearmen will do more damage to your front line than
all those knights standing behind the shield wall, so go for them. Time your
shoots with thier attacks, They have to come out from behind the shield wall
to throw an effective shot.
    Some comanders will tell you to take out the enemy archers first, Well
this is a great ideal, except I'm not good at "archers duals".  I usually
leave this duty to people who can shoot better than I.

<<<How do you feel about volley fire?  Is it effective?>>>>>>

Oh goodness, my favorite subject to discuss, volley fire.  I don't feel that
volley fire is very effective in SCA combat.  Usually there are not enough
archers to conduct a successful volley.===exception: Gulf wars usually sees a
great number of archers and we do volley fire in the being of each field
battle. There, volley fire seems to have worked in the past, Over all though,
volley fire with 2 or so archers is a waste of killing power.  His Highness
seems to feel that archer groups of 3 or so, doing selective volley fire,
makes an effective "weapon".  Perhaps so... Goes to show that  everyone has
thier own opinion on volley fire.

<<< How many fighters do you think should be assigned to each archer to
protect them?>>>>>>>>

This is a sticky question.  I personally feel that NO fighter should be
assigned to protect archers.  It has been my experince that the fighers
assigned to us archers are usually "newbeis" who lack combat experince
themselves. Unfortaunaly, they are not effective in stopping the small, fast
units that are sent out to kill archers and reck havoc in the backfield.
These units are usually made up of very experinced meele fighters, who blow
though inexperinced fighters without much effort.  So I feel each archer
should be responsible for thier own survival.  This is were you seperate your
combat archers from folks just shooting bows.  As good combat archer will read
the way a meele is going, they are constently on the outlook for breaks in the
shield wall, fast calvary units trying to flank, enemy archers and those rare
baserkers that tear thier way into the backfield.  A  number of the time, an
alert archer can excape.

I hope this will help some of you new "budding" archers out some.  There are
many other combat archers on this list that I'm sure will put in thier 2 cents
worth if asked..(or even if not <LOL>)
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