ANST - Gulf War propoganda

[Keith Hood]

Well, it's happened again.  The way things look right now, unless there are
some drastic changes, Ansteorra will probably wind up being very short on
fighters at the next Gulf War.

I doubt there's anything that can be done about it.  The change came because
the people who run the King's Arrow Ranch must themselves conform to their
local spring break schedule, otherwise they won't be on hand to open the site.
 Volunteering to help is laudable, but we can't replace the people who
actually own the place.

So what do we do?  Assuming we don't just give up and drop the War
altogether--which I don't want to happen--there is only one course of action
that could possibly make the slightest difference at the next War.  That is to
work harder at getting ready.  

For once, let's do something new and different that could make a real
difference.  Let's make this a real Ansteorran kingdom effort, rather than an
effort by a lot of people who live in Ansteorra.  

Fighters--I know Ansteorrans are almost infamous for cherishing their
independence in action.  But for once, let's get serious about melee training.
 Practicing team fighting just once or twice a month could make a world of
difference at the War.  Bryn Gwlad has already instituted a regular practice
of having melee training every month; it would do this kingdom a lot of good
for everybody to start doing that.

Let's work on integrating archers and fighters.  This year, is there some way
we could find sites for regional and kingdom war practices where we can
include the archers?  We need practice in combined arms--for that we need a
place where we can shoot.

We need more support behind the scenes to get ready for the War.  If people
know of sources for fiberglass for spears or arrows, post it on the list and
put it in the Black Star so everybody can get it.  Send it to me and I'll post
it on the web so everybody can get it around the clock.

Let's get a home front in action.  People who don't or can't go to the
war--for whatever reason--please try to help out in a way that will help the
kingdom.  If you can't go to fight, try to help those who will repair their
armor.  Everybody work at making more arrows and siege weapon ammunition.  Try
to help each other repair garb and things like that.

Everything I've said so far applies to both light and heavy weapons.  Light
weapons people could use support, too.

I honestly don't know if the people who get involved in the A&S competition
could use help.  What can someone else do except maybe try to help find
supplies?  If any A&S people can think of things whereby others could aid
their efforts, I hope they'll bring it up.

I'll do what I can.  I'll make arrows and ballista bolts and siege engine
rocks in my spare time the rest of this year.  I will have at least 300 arrows
by the end of the year.  I already keep targets in my van and lug them around
so people can practice war archery; I'll keep doing that.  The web site I put
up a year ago to disseminate information about the War is still up, and I'll
add to it when I get the information needed, so there is a regular place to
find fiberglass suppliers and so forth.  I'll even (I know I'm going to regret
this) repair my armor and start coming out to regular fighter practices and
get back into spear work.

We can either give up or get serious.  Death before discouragement.<G>


     Tomonaga

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