[Ansteorra] RE: Ansteorra digest, Ballista Safety

[Aceia]

My lord,

I do apologize if my comments implied that such action as you suggest should
be taken.  The comments were originally posted to a different list and we
snipped and taken out of context into a post in this list.
Personally, I really enjoy observing the the opening salvos of the fort
battle and like watching things get flung thru the air.  I am still waiting
to see a nice plump foam cow, or perhaps some replica stuffed dead bodies
with Trimarian tunics on.

-Robin Anderson of Ross (who watched from a distance - over by Bede Hall)

just to clear up any further confusion, the following is what my post
originally stated:

        From: Aceia <aceia at mac.com>
        Reply-To: bryn-gwlad at ansteorra.org
        Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 10:53:44 -0600
        To: <bryn-gwlad at ansteorra.org>
        Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] War, Practice Et all,

        Just a comment for you guys on the ballista crews...

        I overheard some war observers complaining that our ballista shot
        too far - over the enemy and into the non-armored observers.
        Apparently people in pavillions were dodging bolts.

        I am not sure whether that means the observers should sit farther
        back or what, but I thought I would pass it on.

        -Robin


on 3/21/02 11:54 AM, ansteorra-request at ansteorra.org at
ansteorra-request at ansteorra.org wrote:

> Message: 12
> From: "Tump Laird" <tlaird at satx.rr.com>
> To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>
> Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 11:53:42 -0600
> Subject: [Ansteorra] RE: Ansteorra digest, Ballista Safety
> Reply-To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org
>
> I was present for the authorization firing of all the siege weapons, as well
> a running a ballista   crew in both fort battles.  NONE of the guns exceeded
> the maximum range allowed.  Most hit at about 60 yards with one or two
> hitting at about 70.  I did witness an occasional bolt that came close to
> the spectators.  This did not happen because of the gun or their crews, but
> by spectators violating the marked field.  As battles drag on, and their are
> more dead fighters hanging out inside the impact area, the borders get
> blurred, and spectators start to mingle with the fighters.
>
> Siege weapons by design have to fire over the walls.  We are attempting to
> recreate medieval combat with a high level of safety, but there is a risk
> that is assumed by both combatants and non-combatants.  A properly armored
> fighter will not be injured by a Bolt or arrow.  Spectators have the
> responsibility to remain behind the boundaries set by the marshals.
>
> I would hate to see a knee jerk reaction against siege weapons or archery
> just because some spectators can't stay off the field.  If there was an
> instance of a bolt traveling into a crowd that was behind the safety lines,
> simply call hold and move the boundary back.  Add a few more marshals on the
> perimeter with strict enforcement, and the problem is solved.
>
> Finally, few people in this group have any knowledge of the facts involving
> the denial of re-authorization.  I hope that an incident that occurred
> several years ago will not have a negative impact on combat archery or siege
> weapons today.
>
> Lord Botolf The Dane
> Knight Marshal
> Bjornsborg
>

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