[Ansteorra-missile] Ansteorra's army needs you!

[Ironwyrm]

Hold that thought Michael, I've contacted several of the 
  other missile combat authorizing marshals but no one 
  seems to have a copy of September's Blackstar yet.  
   
  We'll try to confirm and see if we can get updated on 
  this. 
   
  Ironwyrm
  

Mike <meggiddo at netzero.net> wrote:
  The main point of my 1st message was to call attention to whether the 
event in question - Gothic Wars - had been changed some how from a 
War/Melee event into a practice, since no announcement was forth coming 
from the Western Region. This brings me to your earlier message 
announcing that the event in question would be a practice, which 
generated my message. Since the group who is hosting was calling this 
event an official SCA War/Melee event, while you were calling it a 
practice. Just like the two aspect of SCA combat, tournament or 
war/melee, training and authorization are separate with complete and 
different means and definitions. Thus, needing to establish a base or 
starting point, in at least agreement within the subjects of War/Melee, 
practice, training and authorization. This understanding having been 
reached, the discussion can continue in regard to who can be on a 
War/Melee field versus that of a practice field.

People who are wishing to attend events that have been so designated as 
an Official War/Melee events and take the field must be authorized prior 
to taking the field.

This was pointed out to me recently by a heavily fighter concerning a 
different issue and so reminded me of the nature of authorizations, 
although similar in nature which was under discussion at that point in 
time. Plus, our Earl Marshal of Ansteorra, Sir Jean Paul also stated the 
very same thing in his message contain within the Black Star of 
September 2006.

Those people who are not authorized, can not take the field at War/Melee 
events, until they are authorized . Which means that they must get 
authorized prior to taking part in an Event that has officially be 
declared as a War/Melee event and not a practice. While if it is a 
practice, which you were calling Gothic Wars, then the unauthorized 
individuals can take the field, which is one reason for having a 
practice, to see more people come out, share the joy and the excitement 
of being in this game that we all enjoy playing while providing the 
necessary training which leads to authorization.

A Catch 22 - all around for everyone who wishes to actually see more 
people become involved in this game that we all enjoy and play. So what 
is the solution? Simple - get more avenues/locations to enable more 
people the opportunity to be authorized other than just the three 
War/Melee events that are present on the calendar. Meaning become more 
pro-active in working with the various groups that are putting on events 
throughout the year and not wait until the last 3 months or so at the 
end of the year (September, October and first 3 weeks of November) and 
the 1st 2 months (January and February) of the next year to start this 
training/authorization process, which all leads to Gulf Wars. Start 
requesting time and the necessary space needed for "hands-on" training, 
so there is not a crunch due to being confined within such a limited 
window of opportunity.

It is not picking at nits in this matter nor is it an attempt to sow 
discord among anyone - It is simple a matter of recognizing the 
limitations that are in place for the enjoyment of all, while ensuring 
that equal parts of fun and safety are present. This is why there are 
restrictions in who can take the field and who can not, these 
limitations are better known as SCA's authorizations. This is all about 
being responsible for not only one's fun and safety but that of the 
individual standing beside you, plus that individual who is also 
standing facing you from the opposing side(s) as well, (i.e., the 
various scenarios of a 3 Kings come to mind). There is peace of mind 
present, which is assumed that everyone has been authorized and have a 
good grasp of the the rules and more importantly how to conduct 
themselves on the SCA battlefield. While the odds would say that the 
unauthorized individual would not understand and could placed the same 
individuals standing beside him/her or facing them in danger from the 
sheer lack of knowledge of an SCA battlefield. Afterall, there is vast 
gulf between just talking and the actual hands on experience of SCA combat.

It needs to be mention again and as often as possible - This game we all 
play is about "FUN" and being "SAFE" while playing.

If just anyone who wishes to to get into some type of armor and take 
part in an official SCA War/Melee event without being proper trained and 
authorized in their weapon of choice - then there would be chaos in 
large letters with injuries and some of them being severed. The 
unauthorized individual(s) could indeed be part of this and not even 
realized what the issue is until after it has happen.

This game is physical in nature, as such, anyone who wishes to take part 
in the SCA combat, be it as a heavy fighter, or rapier, or combat 
archery, siege, the marshals who give up their time to ensure that both 
fun and safety are on the field in equal parts, this also includes those 
good gentles to make the sacrifice of their time by carrying water and 
other goodies to all on the field. All of these and others as well, 
everyone must be authorized prior to taking the field at a official 
War/Melee event.

Yes, as it stands it now - Gothic Wars, 3 Kings and Autumn Melees events 
are the only War/Melee events that are on the calendar and possible be 
used as authorization/training opportunities that could be extremely 
useful if handle properly. Although I am hearing about the Northern 
Region and their war practices which I think are generating good 
training and possible authorizations. It is misleading to call these 
War/Melee events as "Practices", for that is not what they are.

If you and/or the other authorizing marshals wish to conduct a 
training/authorization practice at the end of the War/Melee scenarios 
and ask for help from among the heavy fighters to assist in this 
process, then by all means do so. In fact, you and the rest of the 
missile community might be surprise by the positive response to such an 
opportunity or you might have already do so. But if you handle the 
presentation and actually follow through poorly with little thought 
given to the fact that the majority of the gentles who wish to attend a 
War/Melee event with all the high persona activity that goes with being 
involved with the SCA, only to get to event and the field, to discover 
that the War/Melee event has somehow become more of a practice (or 
"shanghaied"), then the endeavor is doom.

One of the best examples of conducting a practice after having completed 
the War/Melee scenarios occurred at a 3 Kings back in 2004 (I believe, I 
think you were there as well), which was His Grace, Sir Patrick Michael 
had the both sides form up facing each other and run a number of 
scenarios around the fort at that time, although no new authorizations 
took place to the best of my knowledge. Yet it is still a good example.

A proper training/authorization opportunity or practice needs to 
consists of equal parts of actually "hands on" followed by a debriefing 
of not only those good gentles who wish to be authorized in whatever 
weapon form of their choice, but more importantly the opportunity of 
those who are already authorized and assisting to provided their 
observances as well. Since, these gentles are the ones who either 
enjoyed an advantage or was placed at a disadvantage during that 
scenario. Which all means that this is taking time away from actually 
scenarios - thus you could have a 5 minute or 10 minute scenario, 
followed with 5 to 10 minutes or more time in discussion on the various 
aspects of that scenario from various viewpoints. The weather also needs 
to taken into consideration for these training scenarios, just like it 
will have to be taken in account for the scenarios at Gothic Wars 
event. A practice that everyone who is present and wishes to see 
success in the necessary training will have the patience to stand down 
during the de-briefing and actually be pro-active in sharing their 
knowledge as well.

If on the other hand, there is no discussion between scenarios and just 
hurry instructions, if any, before the authorize must get back onto the 
field for the next scenario, then you have a disaster waiting either for 
that day or next one or in the future, it will happen and then everyone 
will scratched their heads, point to the authorizing marshal with all 
kinds of questions. Yet the real damage will have been done to the 
individual who was rushed with little thought given to proper feedback, 
which needs to be undertake in a calm environment without worrying about 
time spent away from actual combat and the next scenario(s), which can 
occurred only at a practice.

Proper preparations prior to taking the field and effective 
communications are the key to ensure that all who will be attending have 
a good understand of just when the official event ends and the 
training/authorization practice/process will start at an official event.

Separate issue and not related to any of the above:
Apologies? If I am reading the context (i.e., intent - which is always 
extremely difficult to do with any email correspondence) of that portion 
of your 2nd email correctly, then - The only person who can apology for 
my actions, words, deeds, emails, and/or omissions is myself. Anyone 
else attempting to do so is just "Spitting into the Wind." And we all 
know what's happens there.


Lord Michael Kettering



Ironwyrm wrote:

>OK, I stand corrected. Gothic is a War/Melee event, 
> however it's also an authorization/training oppertunity 
> (as with every inter-kingdom melee event) for those 
> new to combat archery or others wanting to get 
> authorized or re-authorized. To that is what I refer. 
> 
> Nit pick the terminology all you wish Michael but 
> nothing has been "shanghaied", the post was just 
> an attempt to encourage our combat archers and 
> those seeking to authorize as combat archers to 
> attend the "Gothic" event. Should you wish to 
> expolt the post as an oppertunity sow discord 
> between us or among the ranks for god knows what 
> reason there's little I can do about it, it's an open list. 
> 
> I do apoligee others upon this list and again ask that 
> you come and join us at "Gothic War"!
> 
> Regards, 
> 
> Ironwyrm
> 
> 
>
>Mike wrote:
> War Practice?
>
>There is a War/Melee event called Gothic Wars taking place with already 
>scenarios set-up centering around from last year's War/Melee event. But 
>no practice has been called by the individuals who are hosting nor from 
>the reading the contents of the message traffic that are aware that this 
>War/Melee event has been shanghaied into a practice.
>
>So when did Gothic Wars - the War/Melee event get change - to that of a 
>mere practice?
>
>Lord Michael Kettering
>
>
>Ironwyrm wrote:
>
> 
>
>>Tis' true, the start of our war season is almost upon us 
>>and Ansteorra's "Army of Heros" needs combat archers!
>>
>>
>>Our first inter-kingdom war practice is "Gothic War" 
>>being held this coming Labor Day weekend within the 
>>Shire of Blacklake in western region at Lake Sweetwater 
>>Municipal Park. Ready your bows & crossbows, combat 
>>arrows & bolts, your armor and come take your place 
>>among your fellow Ansteorran warriors! 
>>
>>If you're new to combat archery and need to start your 
>>authorization process this is an excellent event to begin
>>your battlefield training. Several of our kingdom's 
>>authorizing missile combat marshals will be attending 
>>this event and able to assist you in that process. Be 
>>advised, one war practice will not get you authorized, 
>>however it will get you started and the more you attend 
>>our war practices closer you'll be to gaining that missile 
>>combat authorization. 
>>
>>Remember to get to the event's missile inspection point 
>>early as it takes a while to inspect all those combat 
>>missiles. New combat archers, we'll need to spend 
>>some extra time with you so you really need to be there 
>>early.
>>
>>Looking forward to seeing everyone there and on other 
>>battlefields in the coming months! 
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Ironwyrm
>>
>>aka HL William Black Dragon 
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 
>>
>
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