[Ansteorra-archery] [Ansteorra-missile] New Archer Prepping for war

[Eadric Anstapa]

Chuck Kaun wrote:
> When did that change?  From what I understand, everyone on the field 
> requires Armored Combat authorization since there are no longer 
> non-contact missile people on the field of battle.
Sorta.

I think perhaps people get confused by the way our cards are printed. 

In some other kingdoms they have bifold wallet cards and ya gotta 
authorize for about every weapon separately.  Sword Board - check, pole 
arm - check, mass weapon - check, two handed weapons - check, combat 
archery - check.  Welcome to the Midrealm, is all your paperwork in order?

Other kingdoms there is a single authorization.  Once you are authorized 
you can use anything allowed on that field.  No separate weapons forms 
authorizations.

Ansteorra is somewhere in between.  We authorize separately for CA, 
Siege, and Fiberglass spear weapons forms.

When the SCA did away with non-contact combatants Ansteorran did not go 
as far as to say that all Combat Archers must FIRST get a basic Armored 
Combat authorization although in general we have always suggested it.
Pretend the checkbox on the card that says "Armored Combat"  to actually 
read "Armored Hand-to-Hand Combat"  and the box that reads "Armored 
Missile Combat"  to read well... "Armored Missile Combat".

They are both Armored Combat authorizations.  When you are authorized 
for either you are supposed to demonstrate all of the same familiarity 
right up to the familiarity of weapons and that is where they diverge 
slightly.

** When you get any form of armored combat authorization you must 
demonstrate that you understand the rules of the lists, the SCA armor 
standards, the SCA conventions of combat, and the ability to function on 
the field in a manner safe to yourself and others.   The conventions of 
combat and functioning on the field include such things as behavior on 
the field, how to die, yield, what to do when holds are called, what the 
legal target areas are, and the ability to receive and judge blows from 
weapons you will encounter.  The SCA rules tell us we have to cover 
those things for everyone on the field.

When a fighter is authorized they also have to show familiarity with the 
weapons standards for the weapons they are being authorized to use.  For 
Armored Combat Archers that means bows and their ammo and thrown weapons.

If you have "Armored Combat" checked off on your card then in Ansteorra 
you are allowed to use a Sword and Shield ,an axe, a mace ,a spear, a 
glaive, a madu, a great weapon, etc.  You shouldn't have that checked 
off on your card if you haven't shown appropriate familiarity with those 
weapons.

To participate in CA all you are required to have is the "Armored Combat 
Archery" box checked off but as a part of that authorization process we 
are also supposed to assure that you know the stuff in the paragraph 
marked ** above.   If someone comes to me and they show me a card and 
they already have an "Armored Combat" authorization and they want to get 
"Armored Combat Archery"  then my just is a lot easier.  Somebody else 
already signed off that they new all of the ** stuff and all I gotta 
cover is the CA specifics.

>  
> However, getting your authorization for Armored Combat as a combat 
> archer is a little simpler than the average heavy fighter, they 
> basically make you aware of what the basic rules are and what is or is 
> not a counted blow. They generally dont make you go fight with a sword 
> and board, its more to make sure you are safe on the field. 
You should demonstrate that you can receive blows and judge them 
accordingly.  That is part of functioning on the field.  On more than 
one occasion at wars I have seen a Combat Archer freak out because some 
fighter jumps across and whacks them with a sword.... and despite the 
fact that somebody had authorized them to be on that armored combat 
field that was the first time they had ever been hit with a sword.  They 
weren't prepared for it, it scared them, it hurt more than they were 
accustomed to, and the freaked out.  Then other people start freaking 
out because they are worried that struck person was hurt (and thus why 
they were freaking out), or that it was an excessive blow, or....  ya 
get the idea.

Ya shouldn't be on the field unless ya know what it is like to be hit.  
I personally wont authorize folks if they don't.  That doesn't mean they 
have to get tent pegged.  It just means that that they should have 
experienced a good average shot from the weapons they can be expected to 
encounter.

Again in summary of the above.  If our current Earl Marshal as decided 
that for someone to participate as a Combat Archer that in addition to 
getting a CA authorization they also must have the separate "Armored 
Combat" authorization, then I do not believe that decision has been 
communicated to the CA Authorizing Marshals. (or I missed it)
> Also, the difference between the thrown and hand to hand rules are 
> basically the use of gauntlets versus demi gauntlets.  Thus, If you 
> have demi's, you gotta throw it, you cant stand and hack with it.
Yep, hitting, stabbing, blocking with a weapon requires full hand 
protection.  But that is not the only differences in the rules.  If you 
are gunna pick us a sword  you are supposed to know what a legal sword 
is, if you are gunna pick up spear you are supposed to know what a legal 
spear is, etc.  You are also supposed to know how to remain in control 
of those weapons and to not hit too hard and injure folks with them and 
there may be some subtle differences there.  For instance with a spear 
you are supposed to thrust to the face substantially lighter than you 
would to the torso and you are supposed to know that and are responsible 
for doing that.

So, if I have a light rattan spear weighing under 2 pounds and all I 
have on is demi gauntlets then all I can do is throw it.  But if I have 
full gauntlets I can block with it, and thrust with it and at that point 
I would be using a "spear" in hand to hand combat  and there is a little 
bit more to know about how the weapon is supposed to be used.

Regards,

-EA



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