[Ansteorra-archery] authorization

Tue Sep 30 14:15:57 PDT 2008

About the difficulty of getting authorized as a combat archer.....

I think we are making it too long and cumbersome a process.  In January we
had a few folks very interested in getting authorized.  But there weren't
any authorizing marshals in our area (Bjornsborg).  Someone even said to one
of these hopeful gentles..."good luck getting authorized...it's almost
impossible."  That really got me wondering why this should be.  

So at Red Tape, I spoke with Sir Jean-Paul (kingdom Earl Marshal), and
Fearghus (kingdom missile marshal at the time) about how I could become an
authorizing CA marshal.  I was already an authorizing heavy-weapons marshal
and an authorized combat archer.  Fearghus told me what he wanted me to do
and know, and a couple of months later, I received my authorization as a CA
authorizing Marshal.  At least now there is someone in our area.

Part of the discussion we had at Red Tape included finding out exactly what
the actual requirements were for CA authorization.  This is what we found.
The current written requirements for authorization (as found in the SCA
"Marshal Handbook" and "The Missile Combat Rules") are:

"Combat Archers shall be authorized to participate by the marshallate,
following established marshallate procedures. During this authorization all
Combat Archers must show:
a. That they are familiar with the Rules of the Lists, the SCA Missile
Combat Rules, and all the rules and conventions of combat pertaining to
missile combat in their Kingdom.
b. That they can recognize and accept a killing blow.
c. That they are safe to themselves and their opponents.
d. That they can keep their bow out of the way during combat.
e. That they have an awareness of spectator safety."

If someone can demonstrate understanding of and compliance to the above,
they should be authorized.  It shouldn't have to take 2 or more melee events
unless the person really needs the extra help.  But that should be the
exception rather than the rule.  Also, while it is certainly necessary to
observe a candidate in melee scenarios to ensure the SCA requirements are
met, it needn't be at one of the wars, such as Gothic, 3-Kings, BAM, etc.
In fact, authorizations may take place at official fighter practices (which
are, in fact, SCA sanctioned "events") as long as there is enough melee
activity to confirm the qualifications of the candidates.

I understand the need for caution to ensure we stay safe.  And with the
latest concerns about CA causing injuries on the field, it is especially
germane lately.  But SCA combat has always been a balance between safety and
participation.  As long as everyone is following the rules, and our marshals
are making sure they only authorize people who clearly understand and adhere
to them, I see no reason to add more barriers to entry into the CA
community.

Our CA numbers are slim, and I believe that we need to do all we can to
increase those numbers, and encourage people to take up the bow by making it
as painless as possible.

As a member of the chivalry, I can tell you without question that Ansteorran
fighters across the board support and respect CA more than just about any
other kingdom out there!  As Centurion Caladin (the Ansteorran General)
recently posted here, we very much want to do anything we can to help build
the combat missile community in Ansteorra.  That includes physically helping
with arrow retro-fit, raising money to help defray the cost of retrofits,
including CA as an essential and fundamental part of our battle plans, etc.

Now is a great time to get folks excited about CA.  The more of us there
are, the more integral we will in melee tactics.  But it's hard to make us a
big part of the plan if there are only 15 of us in a fielded army of 300 or
more. 

I recommend we readdress the authorization issues as soon as possible.

YIS,

Sir Kenneth

-----Original Message-----
From: William Black Dragon [mailto:hlironwyrm at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:05 AM
To: Archery within the Kingdom of Ansteorra
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra-archery] authorization

None of my combat arrows are currently legal, they need to be refitted, but
you are welcome to borrow some for practice.  I've chopped all my baldar
arrows down into combat bolts to make sure I had legal combat missiles for
Three Kings and am currently working on refitting 450+ combat bolts.  I
won't start refitting combat arrows until after we have finished refitting
all the combat bolts.

However just so you know the odds of getting authorized for combat archery
within six weeks are extremely slim, but possible if you can met several
qualifications.  

To list a few of those basic qualifying factors:

- Do you already have a current fighter authorization?

- Do you have prior melee combat (battle) experience?

- Do you have your own combat legal armor?

- Do you have your own legal combat archery equipment?

- Are you familiar enough with the Ansteorran Complete Participant's  
  Handbook(especially section 6) to respond correctly when quizzed?

- Do you have a currently active knight marshal or combat archery 
  marshal whom would be willing to vouch for your combat skill 
  abilities?

If you are able to answer yes to five of the above questions there 
is a good chance we might be able to buddy you up with another 
combat archer at BAM for observation and possibly get 
authorized for combat archery afterward, however it usually 
requires at least two or more melee events before any combat 
archery authorizing marshal will sign off on any combat archery
authorization.  Starting this late a more realistic goal might 
getting authorized in combat archery by Gulf War. 

Don't get me wrong here, nothing delights us authorizing combat 
archery marshals more than getting another combat archer on the 
field.  But given the possibility for catastrophic injury that can 
happen with combat archery they are going to make sure any novice 
combat archer is well trained before they are ever allowed to roam 
the field alone.

It normally requires four times as long to get authorized for 
combat archery than whats required to become a melee fighter.  
Furthermore it's about four times as expensive to purchase the 
required equipment to be a combat archer than a melee fighter.  
Not to mention the cost of equipment maintenance and upgrades.

Now if you have read all of the above and are still interested 
in becoming a combat archer come see me Sunday at Steppes 
archery practice or contact me personally by email at the above 
address and we shall be delighted to get you started!  

Regards,

Ironwyrm

--- On Fri, 9/26/08, Marlin and Amanda Stout <ldcharles at sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

> From: Marlin and Amanda Stout <ldcharles at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra-archery] authorization
> To: "Archery within the Kingdom of Ansteorra"
<ansteorra-archery at lists.ansteorra.org>
> Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 4:10 PM
> Crystal Lewis wrote:
> > I'm looking to get authorized for CA before BAM
> and I wanted to find 
> > out if anyone in the Steppes/Elfsea area had some
> combat arrows I 
> > could borrow to practice and possibly authorize with?
> Or even someone 
> > in the area who makes and sells said arrows?
> >
> > My bow is a youth-sized 30# bow. (I'm a weakling.)
> 
> Lady Gwen,
>   I'm not in Steppes/Elfsea, so I can't help you
> with arrows, But I can 
> give you a bit of advice about those youth-sized bows.
> 
> Get your local CA marshal to check it's draw with a
> regulation combat 
> arrow. The listed draw weight on some of those youth bows
> are the draw 
> weigh with a youth arrow, not a full-sized one. I've
> seen a few archers 
> at Gulf who were surprised when their bows came in
> over-limit when 
> measured with the standard arrows. One lady I know had made
> shorter 
> arrows for her bow, so that with them it'd be below the
> limit. But with 
> the standard ones it was way over (like 40+ lbs) and a
> marshal can't 
> assume it'll never be used with the standard ammo.
> 
> There are ways to reduce the draw weight a bit, and your AM
> can help you 
> with that, but it's best to know that and deal with it
> before you get to 
> the event.
> 
> 
> Ld Charles MacKinnon
> Marshal at Large
> Bryn Gwlad
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