[Ansteorra-archery] Comments about Archers at Gulf War XI

Wed Mar 20 11:30:32 PST 2002

I think our main problem with the combat archers in this Kingdom, and I'm
not quite sure how to put it without ticing someone off (which I seem to be
good at), is a lack of commitment and desire on the whole.  Now by that I
mean instead of a blazing fire in their gut, most have a candle.  Granted,
we do have some who have a blaze in them.  But most are recreational
archers.  The same is true on the target side of the house.

Is not having a burning desire for archery a bad thing?  NO!  But it can be
most frustrating for those who do.

What can we do about it?  Other than just what we've been doing, I don't
know.  We just keep plugging away at it.  However, getting everyone to agree
on how we should be pluggin' away is most difficult also.

I'm confident that the Arcus Majoris will help in this.  It will show a
possible goal for their efforts.  Ofcourse, it will take a few years for
that to happen.

Some of us are better at one part of archery than others; and that's OK.
Some of us are just starting out, cool.  Some of us will never be really
serious about any of it, but enjoy what they do; that's great too.

We all do what we do given the factors of our lives.

They may have beat us in the Archers only battle.  But we smoke'em in the
IKCA and IKCAC plus we took the archery war point.  :)

Gilli

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Catron [mailto:meggiddo at netzero.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 7:12 AM
To: ansteorra-archery
Subject: [Ansteorra-archery] Comments about Archers at Gulf War XI

Greetings.

The below is a sub-section of an earlier e-mail that I sent out titled
Combat Archer Report on Gulf Wars XI.

I have come to realize over time that the best way to deal with various
comments is listen first to how, when, and where the individual makes
those comments. I will usual speak up and engage that individual or
individuals in open discussion.

The majority of the time - these individual welcome open and honest
discussion. In fact, they will often ask questions and bring out some
false information that they have been told about combat archers.

Yes, to stand in the middle of a group of heavy fighters all by yourself
and ID oneself as a combat archer does take abit of courage. Yet, I have
found if one does so, then there is respect coming back from those
fighters. And they would more than likely will listen.

The key is recognize how the comment is being made and where.

I strongly suggest that each archer who are combat archers or wishes to
become combat archers to a very simple thing.

Take one weekend off a month from shooting "static" archery and instead
go to your local fighter's practice. If possible, actual practice with
the fighters. If not, at least introduce yourself as a combat archer.
Yes, there will be some who make comments. I went through the same thing
two years ago. But you know what, over time with showing up and asking
questions of the fighters and more importantly listening to them on how
they fight, would gave you a better insight in how combat within the SCA
is really conduct. I have found that this help in my surviving longer on
at Gulf Wars XI.

Comments that I heard at Gulf Wars XI:

Comments about archers in the shower trailer -
I was in the back of the trailer when someone came in and
asked if there was any archers present. I respond back that I was one,
but he was in the common room and like I said I was in the back, thus
could not hear me. Completed my business and walked into the common
room.

There were roughly 6 fighters present there and I walked in
there and I ID myself as an archer. The discussion started between a
knight (found this out afterwards and myself). Within 2 minutes all
others present became quiet. The same issue - Touch Kill or White
Diamonds - archers who can reach with a "30 foot spear" hit a fighter,
BUT that fighter or another can not hit back. In other words, special
rules for the archers to play!

Fighters take 5 or 10 or 15 years to get to the level of where
they a force on the field. An archer can reduce all that effort to
nothing by just picking a bow and a combat arrow and practicing for a
couple of weeks prior to going on the battlefield. This is even less for
a crossbow, which was proven last year at Gulf War X.

I could have very easy became a White Diamond, but DID NOT!
Instead I became a heavy contact archer - I have been hit by fighters.
And I feel that is only fair. I can hit them and they can hit me. It is
a level playing field between the fighters that I shoot at and me.

The Touch Kill rule was put in place to cut down on confusion
as to whether the archer that fighter(s) are about to remove from the
field is a heavy contact or a White Diamond.

I have stated that Touch Kill sucks! I have gone so far as to
place this in writing to various Marshals here in Ansteorra by e-mail.

I do NOT want special rules for me as a combat archer to join
with the heavy fighters and play this game that belongs to all of us.
This does not bring the two groups together, but actually drive the
camps further apart.

Before the Touch Kill rule came into effect, if an archer gets to
close to the shield wall and it broke. A fighter coming through it, has
been struck several times and he or she has managed to get pass
the shields, they are swing at anything that moves with a helm on. The
archer is too close to that wall - fighter sees another helm and by
training and instinct - swings and hit the archer. Only afterwards, they
realized that the individual was an archer.

And that archer then cries out that the fighter hit them with
more force than necessary.

If on the other hand the archer is in open field and the fighter
runs up and strikes with more force than necessary... Then I agree the
archer has a reason to cry foul!

It also does not help when a White Diamond or two states that
they were dead (10 foot rule when a fighter comes within that distance),
starts to walk off the field. Only to see that White Diamond turn around
and shoot that same fighter or another of his group.

So which or what is the correct solution - I can not say, since
there are blame on both sides of this.

The outcome of between the knight and myself - we exchange
names and shook hands. He is Sir Sherdian (I do hope I spelled this
correct) from Caltinor. I did enjoy the discussion between the two of us
and I hope he did too.

Elsewhere during the battles - there were a number of comments made
about archers. Such as:

"I hate archers." This from a fighter as he came off the field after
being "kill" by an archer, with no chance to fight whatsoever.

"We do not allow archers to play with us at home."

"Damm archers - they hit me, but all I can do is touch them. If
they want to play then they should play by the same rules as we do
(fighters)."

"I love archers." When the archer is on their side and just shot
another archer or pole or knight or etc...

I do work with a heavy shield wall unit at their practice. And no, I do
not shoot "static" archery. I just wish to do combat archery and that is
what I train to do year around.

Michael of the Fray