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

[ironwyrm at juno.com]

Quite the contrary good Lord Gilli, if anything it has given the combat
archers from my own household a goal for next year.  Many of which have
already contacted me wanting to know what was done wrong, what to do to
improve, and when they could get back into armor to fight again (which
will be at Elfsea's Springfaire).

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger!"  We drummed them in the
archers' only battles last year.  They did us this year, we have a year
to plan our revenge.  That's the great thing about Gulf, it's never
really over, and we'll return next year wiser and stronger.

Ironwyrm


On Wed, 20 Mar 2002 13:30:32 -0600 "Dewart, Charles R. --G3 Contractor
(Anteon Corp)" <Charles.Dewart at hood.army.mil> writes:
> 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
>
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