[Northkeep] Why I am not going to Gulf War this year

[Alton lePeto]

Greetings,

If I was attending GW this year, it would be the 10th consecutive year I had 
done so.  There are not many of us in Northkeep that hold that "distinction" 
so I think it gives me a right and some credibility in my reasons and 
decisions.  I promise to make these succinctly as possible.
Let me make a quick declaration that this is my experience and _opinion_ and 
neither is particularly held by all or even any fellow Company members.  So 
if you find my views somehow heretical or treasonous to your political 
philosophies vis a vis Gross Ansteorra, then please mark me as the target of 
your bile and do the honorable thing and leave my friends out of it.

1) Land
In the first few years of GW, there was very little exclusive reserved land. 
95% was all "first come, first served".  In '94 we actually camped less than 
100yards from the Castle and had a strenuos 40 foot stroll to the field for 
battles.  The next 2 years we camped at the intersection of Kings/Queens 
road and still had a very short walk to all activities.  After this time 
though, we have been basically moved further and further away, in more and 
more crappy camping spots, to make room for reserved royalty and thier 
croney group camps.  This was done even though, as a camping group, Alton's 
Company consistently had upwards of 1 and 2 dozen people in our camping spot 
with paid pre-reservations.  Merides' liasons for land (various knights and 
other "peers") always made promises to reserve spots for us and every year 
they would put us fruther away.  Our own Ansteorran land liasons never 
attempted to help us sort this out. Even with our consistant participation 
as a fighting unit and the fact that we were from a part of the kingdom with 
the furthest drive and a return trip that often included travel in snow.  
Never mind that we were at site the night before the event opened waiting  
in line as one of the first 10 cars there.  Of course come time for set up 
and take down of kingdom and event tents, boarding ramps, mucking out the 
old bathrooms, we always managed to provide assistance.

2. Castle Battle
One repeated theme for many troops from northern region for the castle 
battles of the last decade - arrow/ballista fodder.  Always placed in front, 
nice and ranked and packed together for the concentrated Trimarin archery 
and siege  engine fire.  Usually Crown and buddy units  will be found far in 
the back at a safe distance.  Iv fought in more than several of these castle 
battles where over 80% of everyone from Northern Region was out of the fight 
in the first 10 mins.  I guess the battle plan is too good to fail 10 years 
in a row.  This is the reason Iv also skipped going to this castle battle on 
several occasions.

These are my main two "gripes", I am certain there are many on this list 
that will tell me why I'm wrong, so let me point out that different people 
have different experiences.  Just because I'm excercising my only true vote 
I get in SCA, voting with my wallet and my feet, the opposite of what I want 
to accomplish is people not going to GW.  I have had some absolutely 
excellent times there and encourage all to go.  Hopefully I will go back for 
those reasons in years to come when the hope of fun will outwiegh the truth 
of the same problems.

Alton

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