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Chuck Kaun wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:BLU132-W35378B08E67CE545CA0457B91A0@phx.gbl"
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</style>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.<br>
</blockquote>
Sorta.<br>
<br>
I think perhaps people get confused by the way our cards are printed. <br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
Other kingdoms there is a single authorization. Once you are
authorized you can use anything allowed on that field. No separate
weapons forms authorizations.<br>
<br>
Ansteorra is somewhere in between. We authorize separately for CA,
Siege, and Fiberglass spear weapons forms.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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".<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
** 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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:BLU132-W35378B08E67CE545CA0457B91A0@phx.gbl"
type="cite"> <br>
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. <br>
</blockquote>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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)<br>
<blockquote cite="mid:BLU132-W35378B08E67CE545CA0457B91A0@phx.gbl"
type="cite">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.<br>
</blockquote>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
-EA<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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