[Ansteorra-missile] Rules Clairifications Questions(Very Long)

[Eadric Anstapa]

OK, for what it is worth, as promised I followed up with the Society Missile
Combat Marshal and the Kingdom Marshals from other Kingdoms.  So far I have
recieved response from the Society Marshal, Meridies, East, Middle, Atlantia,
and Calontir.

All agree that the only Missile Troops that are allowed to wear half-
gauntlets are Archers/crossbowmen and Javelin Throwers.  Nobody seems to
understand why javelin throwers are allowed to wear a single half-gauntlet
but the Society Marshal is looking into the history of that.  The other
individual Kingdoms who responded do not allow their Javelin throwers to wear
half-gauntlets even though for some reason it is allowed in the Society
rules.  It is agreed that the only missile combat troops  (not counting seige
in this) that are allowed to wear TWO half-gauntlets (or archers gauntlets)
are crossbowmen (and some kingdoms don't even like that).


Now as far are rules revisions.  We will work to make it as clear as
possible.  It wil lnot be done in a vacume.  All of my deputies will have the
chance to review and suggest input or changes, then the earl Marshal and
Corwn and the Society Marshals will have the final review.  We WILL be
clarifying Missiles users and not just calling all missile users "Combat
Archers".  I asked months ago that when the new cards be printed the
say "Missile Combat" instead of "Combat Archery".  We will talk about the
different classes of missiles cobattants in as much detail as necessary.  Wi
will likely not go into ad naseum for every single possible type of weapon
user just as we do not in any of our other rules.  Where a particular class
of missile combattant has some sory of exception (like half-gauntlets) it
will be listed.  Otherwise there will be a section for "All Missile
Combattants".   As far as conduct, we will cover that somewhat  but in
general the code of conduct for archers is no different than anyone else on
the field and it is covered elsewher in the particpants handbook.

It is also important that we understand what an acceptable half-gauntlet or
archers gauntlet is.  this is an education problem that needs to be
addressed.  There are a lot of people out there than in my opinion have
unacceptable "Archers Gauntlets".   Our Complete Participants Handbook says

"Archer’s Gauntlet: A hockey glove with the fingers removed with a leather
glove under it or it’s equivalent. A half gauntlet with leather glove may
replace the hockey glove."

This means one of those big thick padded hockey or lacross gloves,  The
Society rules make it clear that

"Street hockey gloves are NOT equivalent."

If you dont have the hockey gloves or someply equally heavy then you need to
have a work gklove inside a demi-gauntlet.  That demi gautlet must protect
the back of the hands and wrist with a "rigid" material.  This can be a
metal, plastic or plastic with minimum of 3/8−inch padding or heavy leather
(12 ounce or more, a minimum of 3/16 inchthick) with a minimum of 3/8−inch.
My obervation is that Ansteorra has let people get away without having the
padding under the rigid material or leather but it is in the rules.

The gloves I examined this weekend where nowhere near hockey glove thickness
and padding and the leather on them was nowhere near 12 oz leather.

Once again Greylond I applaud you for wanting to make sure you understand
what it required.  An again I apologize for our Anteorran rules being so
badly in need of update.  Please understand that there is a new Earl Marshal,
new Seieg Marshal, new Archery Marshal, and new Thrown Weapons Marshal.  We
all inherited sets of rules that are out of date and in dire need of
revision.  We are working on it.

Regards,

--
Lord Eadric Anstapa
Kingdom Archery Marshal, Ansteorra
eadric at scabrewer.com

Greylond Aston <greylondaston at yahoo.com> said:

> Ok, thanks for the info. I'd like to offer a few
> suggestions for the rules revisions to make it more
> clear, if I may.
>
> It does appear that the current rules were designed
> along these lines but I think that it needs to be
> carried further.
>
> Design the rules sections along these lines;
>
>
> 1) Missile User General Rules: In this section layout
> the general rules that apply to all missile troops to
> act on as a default.
>      A) Define "Missile User"
>      B) General Rules of conduct on the field
>      C) Default Armor Requirements to be used in the
>         absense of additional armor rules for each
>         type of Missile User
>      D) General Weapon Standards/Restrictions
>         that provide a base for all missile weapons.
>
> 2) Archer:
>      A) Define "Archer"
>      B) General Rules of Conduct for Archers
>      C) Archer Armor requirements that differ from
> 1.C.
>      D) Bow Standards/Restrictions
>
> Then repeat ad nauseum for each of the following
> catagories;
>
> 3) Crossbowman:
> 4) Staff Slinger:
> 5) Hand Slinger:
> 6) Javelin Thrower:
> 7) Misc Hand Thrown Missile User: Axes, Throwing
> Knives, Darts, etc.
> 8) Hand/Shoulder Firearm mockups:(this provides for a
> space to say that they are currently not to be used
> and also acts as a placeholder just in case someone
> comes up with a safe design that eventually becomes
> accepted. I've heard from people that there was a time
> that Combat Archery was once considered as not safe
> enough to have on a SCA field but someone cameup with
> a way to do it. So you never know what the future
> holds as far as Handgunnes are concerened. If you
> leave a placeholder now then the rules will have a
> space to expand at a later date.)
>
> I know that it might seem as oversimplified and dumb
> to have to define terms such as "Archer" but when
> dealing with safety rules and rules of a game with as
> many players as we have in the Kingdom, it is better
> to define even the simple terms so as to avoid
> confusion. Having guidlines and passing the actual
> Intent of the rules by word of mouth starts to break
> down once a sufficient number of players gets
> involved. I feel that it would be better to be
> oversimplified than possibly misunderstood.
>
>
> Also, if you give each of the numbered Sections above
> its own page(Front and Back) at a minimum, then it
> would be easier to update one page/section of the
> rules instead of the entire book. For example, if
> there is a change that only affects the Crossbow
> page/section then the Kingdom could issue a new
> Crossbow page to be put in place of the old one
> without having to re-write and re-arrange the entire
> rulebook. Some sections would of course be much
> shorter than one page but you could simply put a label
> on the blank back page "This page intentionally left
> blank."
>
> Anyone who has dealt with updating U.S. Military Tech
> Manuals will recognize this method. It does make for
> slightly larger books but makes Book Maintenance and
> Upgrades much easier. The inside of the Cover Sheet is
> a good place to list page revisions. In other words
> whenever a page/section is updated a new Rulebook
> Coversheet is also produced with the new revision date
> on the front and page numbers/dates of updated pages
> listed on the inside. In this way a rulebook placed in
> a three-ring binder can be changed as time goes by
> without it ever having to be completely re-written.
>
> Anyway, that's my tuppence.
>
> Thanks again M'lord for clearing some things up and
> for taking the time with me on the issue. I am really
> enjoying the SCA and anything that allows me to send
> any kind of missile downrange is a Good Thing. In
> fact, I feel better now about getting back on the
> field with my sling.
>
>
> YIS
>
> Greylond Aston
> "There are only Two kinds of people on the
> battlefield, Archers and TARGETS!"
>