Cameron de Grey – Page 28

Missile Combat Tournaments – Why You Should Care

Missile Combat Tourneys have been a pet project for a long time. Then I went away for a year, but now I’m back to champion the cause once more. It started as Combat Archery Tourney, but once I saw the movement with the Valiance Proposal, something struck with me… but more about that later.

“Why should I care?”

It’s a fair question, we all have so many things going on. Our interests barely get the time they deserve and now I’m asking you heap on more. You should care because others do, and supporting a good cause takes little effort.

Too long have our friends and fellow marshaled communities been thrust unceremoniously to the side for various reasons, not least of which is safety. I cannot tell you how many events where archery, thrown weapons, CA, siege, and more have been an inconvenient afterthought. And once when I suggested we have an event with only CA and siege, there were actual complaints. One event where rattan wouldn’t be involved, and there was an issue (it was an all archery event). When there is an event with plenty of space and a request is put out, we get excuses for why certain things CAN’T happen, instead of solutions as to how we can be even more inclusive, and get it done. Sometimes it’s a personnel issue, that’s fine, what can we do?

“What are the Tourneys?”

This is an attempt to get all the Kingdoms competing in the same way we do with the IKCAC or IKAC. This will hopefully turn into a recurring attraction. Much like a Crown Tourney, or any event where the main attraction is a rattan competition, so too can the main attraction be a Missile Weapon Tourney!

“Now is the time to strike!”

With the Valiance Proposal still hot on the presses, now is the time for inclusiveness. We need our communities to show solidarity in many ways. This is but one way to achieve this goal. This is an opportunity to showcase talent in the limelight with various weapon forms.

Participation, numbers, all irrelevant.

It is our heart, knowledge, skill, wisdom and tenacity that we have and are willing to share that is important. When someone is put up for Laurel for dancing, nobody asked how many people danced that year. When a Pelican is considered, they never ask how many lunches were prepared that year. But this is another subject for later, back to the task at hand.

support the proposal

“You sound bitter man…”

A little, but I have learned a lot in the last twenty years about how people get treated, how things get done, and what my place is assumed to be in the social order based on what I love.

The lesson I first learned was this wasn’t a place I wanted to be, because these aren’t the people I respect. The whole ‘Jocks’ versus ‘Nerds’ kept popping in my mind.

The next lesson was that I shouldn’t care and just have fun. Being in Atlantia, Ive said it before, saved my SCA career. The people here know how to have an awesome time and not give a crap, while remaining involved!

Now it’s an odd mix of both.

But I can’t sit by while communities are crapped on only because of what they enjoy. All of our communities bear skill, knowledge, and application. We should each be appreciated for what we bring to the table and what we can impart, not compared and belittled.

“What can I do?”

If you have interest, participate! Become a CA or Siege marshal. Bring eye protection to events for other marshals. Help with field set up and tear down. Engage in the fighting. If a martial activity isn’t happening, ask the autocrat or MiC why. At the very least, go to any marshaled event, including our rattan and rapier friends, cheer them on and enjoy the fun and pageantry!

Please please please support this effort, OUR effort. This can be so much fun for us all. But as I said before this is one facet. We are all important in our own way, and want to share what we love. Help me share what I love. This is for us all, I claim no ownership, or author. It belongs to us.

New to Archery? Read this before you jump in too far!

New to archery? If you live in Atlantia, you happen to be in a premiere kingdom for the sport. From Atlantia to An Tir though, you cant swing a herald without hitting a good archer. Having helped a few beginners, I thought Id write a brief primer for reference. Not meant to be exhaustive, or official, just some things I think may be helpful.

Show up at archery events:
Come to events or simple gatherings, and let people know you are coming!
Often times if people know you’re coming, they’ll bring loaner equipment. First person experience is always the best way to go.

Whats coming up:
You can consult your Kingdom or Barony site (ie: The Acorn http://acorn.atlantia.sca.org/) Most all
Kingdom or Barony sites or related resouces (Facebook pages) will have a list of events and or practices.

Coming to an event shoot:
Seek out the marshal running the line, introduce yourself, and let them know you are new. Most archery events I’ve been to have some loaner equipment, if no equipment is available, perhaps someone shooting does. The marshal may know who to talk to on your behalf, or at least know where to point you.

Rules and regs:
Always pay heed to the marshal, or anyone calling “Hold!” If there is a hold, stop shooting, unload your bow safely. The marshal will let you know when you may approach the line and shoot. Whether physical or not, there is a line. When safe to do so, straddle the line, and shoot as directed. When you are finished (usually 6 bolts, darts, or arrows), then step back about 10 feet. This is not only an issue of safety, but of courtesy: if people are waiting to shoot, this is a clear indication they can fill in and have fun too! Back to the hold thing, if you see a person doing something dangerous, you (yes you) can call ‘hold’! Safety is everyones responsibility!

Looking for a bow:
This is where it gets personal. I encourage you to use as many bows as you can, but nothing really beats getting a bow, and using it regularly. Start off light, around the 20#-25# area for recurves, handbows, less than 600 inch lbs for a crossbow. One very good reason for the lighter poundage for crossbows is you can use it for combat archery should you go that route. For bows, the same applies, but there are more factors involved shooting a bow. Anchoring, draw, release, and so many other tiny little things. This will all be MUCH easier to work on if you are drawing a 20# bow than a 80# Kodiak. The best part is, form translates from bow to bow (pretty much).

Arrows:
This is pretty personal as well. Since I believe you should start light, go ahead and buy some arrows spined for 30# (pounds)** at 28-30″ long (after using some loaner equipment to see if you’re having any fun at all!).
I know Ill get some disagreement here, but this way you are using your own ammo for shooting, so if anything gets lost or broken, you wont feel guilty (go ahead and lose my loaner stuff, Ill get more!).
My recommendation for beginner arrows: Get wood shafts, 100 grain field points, simple indexed plastic nocks, and feather fletching. Dont go fancy until you have a bow and start to know what it really is you’re going for. I recommend No Frontiers Archery (Eric Franqes)*, for both price and quality.
Be prepared to lose ammo, and have shafts break, etc. Youll hear it 100 times, “Dont fall in love with your ammo!”

OMG help me!
There are plenty of people that will work with you if you are polite, and you ask. Many archers on the line are extremely knowledgable, and proficient. Don’t let anyone tell you 100 things at once. Not only will you get bogged down with the details. You may quickly find you’re not having fun, but stressing over little things! It will come with time and practice, Robin Hood will have nothing on you in a year! I think most important is, be consistent! If you are consistent, you may miss, but you’ll miss in the same spot!

Have fun!
Archers are generally a little brain damaged and fun to hang out with. Dont let yourself take the sport too seriously. Skill comes with time and practice, just go out, be safe, and shoot, and shoot, and shoot, and shoot!

Will I shut up?!
Not likely. I could go on and on. I love to hear myself talk, but Ill leave you to it now. Go out and enjoy your self.

Have some advice to share?
Great, add to the comments and if you have a vendor to add to the list contact me via the contact the mayor form in the left rail!

Reference:
Society Marshals Handbook, An Tir Book of Target, Atlantia Archery Handbook

Vendors:
No Frontiers Archery
Janyn Fletcher

*not endorsed or affiliated with any vendor
** this will depend on the bow and assumes a 20-30# bow

Combat Archers, DO NOT fail your inspections!

So this issue has come up a few times both on and off the battlefield: “Will my ammo pass inspection?”

We have all been there, the moment of fear as the marshal rummages through your ammo and starts making two piles, and you think, “oh great, I failed”. Don’t despair! Knowing the rules and following them to the best of your ability will get you through inspections just fine. In the marshal’s mind, if there is reasonable doubt, remember that the goal is everyone’s safety.

What should you expect during inspections?

Last year at Pennsic, I was in a rush to get to the field, and didn’t have time to self inspect. I was going through inspections, when I turned around I had a pile of ‘dead’ ammo. Some of them rightly so. But during the inspections process I noticed the method was disturbing. Something that I have noticed elsewhere, and have even done myself previously: grabbing the bolt by both end and torquing. This seems reasonable, and can even make sense when reviewing the documentation* (see below)

To speak to the differences, Im going to tell you how I inspect my bolts. I grab the bolt by the shaft with one hand 2-4″ apart from the other on the APD/Blunt. Give it a twist, is there any movement? Just a tiny bit, or too much (1/8″ or more)? Grab the shaft on both end and check for lateral movement, is there any? With both hands on the end give a ‘slight’ twist. Please note we are not checking for twist of the APD or Blunt here, but damage to the shaft itself (I’ll come back to this). Check the shaft by running your hands down it, Any issues? Is there strapping tape the full length of exposed shaft? Check the APD, is it cracked or broken? Does the head have cracks etc? Is the tape intact over the head?

Now back to the ‘grabbing by both ends’ thing earlier… So issues have arisen where someone grabs ammo by the head and APD, and literally torques it! I tell you this, every piece of ammo will fail and or break if put in the hands of someone applying over the top force to this motion. I can make any bolt twist using this method, I don’t care who made it. Further, you can be structurally damaging the fiberglass. The shafts are not meant to twist too much this way. If you are ever in doubt, please contact your local friends DEM or someone who will give you a definitive answer in this regard. But the next time I see someone doin’ the ol’ “Torque Twist Shuffle” on my bolts, you better believe Ill call a “Hold!”

As as additional note, we generally are pushing to use strapping tape over the head as well as the APD. This gives additional strength as well as lateral hold. It also wears far longer in battles, which means less frequent repairs! This is not a requirement as of yet, but if you are making new bolts… well as they say, “An ounce of prevention…”

Thanks friends, look forward to seeing you on the field!

~ Cameron

Combat Archery Supplies

Marshal’s Handbook (source)
XV. D. 3.
a. Based upon the type of ammunition, measure all dimensions for conformance
b. Grab both head and tail and pull with moderate force while slightly twisting.
If either end moves laterally it fails.
c. If the ammunition is with made with foam, check that the tip is constructed in
such a manner that it cannot be forced more than .5 inch (12.7 mm) into a
legal faceguard.
d. Check the shaft for signs of cracking or other failure. Check that it is
properly labeled and taped.
e. Remember that ammunition cannot be more than 10% yellow as yellow is
reserved for siege ammunition.

Atlantia Combat Archery Training Docs (source)
5. Weapons, Ammunition, i-iv
i. Label requirements.
ii. Inspect fiber glass shafted arrows/bolts with UHMW.
– Shaft covered longitudinally with strapping tape.
– APD firmly attached with no movement lengthwise along
shaft.
– UHMW at least 1.5 inches in diameter with at least .5
inches and at most 1.25 inches of resilient padding on
striking surface.
iii. Inspect fiber glass shafted arrows/bolts with Balder style blunts.
– Shaft covered longitudinally with Strapping tape.
– Balder blunt of approved type. (Single piece balder is not
legal for fiber glass shafted ammunition.)
– Blunt taped on with at least one piece of strapping or
electrical tape.
– No movement lengthwise of blunt along shaft.
– APD firmly attached with no movement lengthwise along
shaft.
iv. Inspect Siloflex style ammunition.
– Siloflex equivalent tubing with 100 psi rating.
– Head constructed properly.
– No cuts in the tail except for a possible nock less than ½
inch in depth.

Pennsic Requirements (source)
4, f-k
f) Fiberglass-shaft arrows/bolts must be covered from behind the blunt, to the front of the Anti-Penetration
Device (APD), in a sturdy tear-resistant tape, such as strapping, electrical, or duct tape.
g) Grab both head & tail and pull “away” with moderate force. If either head or APD moves longitudinally, the
ammunition fails.
h) Hold the shaft and APD close together and attempt rotation of the APD using minor torque as not to overly
stress any existing glue seal. If any rotation of the APD occurs, the ammunition fails and needs re-securing.
i) Hold the shaft and head close together and attempt rotation of the collar using minor torque so as not to
overly stress any existing glue seal. If greater than slight rotation of the collar upon the shaft occurs, the
ammunition fails.
j) “Slight rotation” has been roughly defined by previous KEM’s to mean no greater than 1/8” lateral
movement around the shaft.
k) If ammunition is a type using foam on the tip, check that the foam tip cannot be forced more than ½ inch
into a legal faceguard. If penetration COULD occur more than ½ inch inside a grill, the ammunition fails.

Simple Advice For Beginner Combat Archers or Engineers

So you want to be a combat archer, or engineer huh…

Northstar archery is a great resource for bolts etc…
http://www.northstararchery.com/store/do/productlist/10
You can source your own materials, and use this as a reference as to what to buy. I bought my Baldar blunts from them though. Their customer service is great, and it’s always good to support people who support the SCA.

If you do use Baldar blunts, one thing you can do is ‘honeycomb’ your quiver with flourescent lamp tube covers (plain simple plastic tubes) cut to a length (eg: 10″). This can help the bolts or arrows stay more separated, thus easier to draw while in the heat of combat.

Using these bags (http://www.harborfreight.com/round-canvas-bag-94320.html) are a great, quick start for a hip quiver. And can be adapted for either arrows (you need to be a little more creative) or bolts.

SCA Combat Archery is a good FB Group to join. There are many helpful, if not verbose, friends there.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/95468199155/

Please take the time to read the Marshals Handbook

(Combat Archery):
http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/docs/marshal_handbook.pdf (Sections III.D., VII.F-G., XV.D.)
http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/combat/c_archery/

(Siege Related)
http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/docs/marshal_handbook.pdf (Section VIII)
http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/docs/siege/siege_engines_handbook.pdf
Study it, know it, love it, this is your bible. Everything you need to know about armor minimums, safe distances, legal shots etc is here.

For getting ready for war I would suggest getting just as armored as you would for rattan combat with the exception of the gauntlets (unless you can get well articulated full gauntlets). But armor is a really big subject. Do you go for cheap to get you on the field, or do you invest the time and money to get armor that fits your persona? Pinterest is a great starting point. (eg: https://www.pinterest.com/theakki/sca-~-armor-craft/). You can make a full set of armor out plastic garbage barrels (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpkBKJLjEvI) the lighting and sound isnt the best, but you’ll get the idea.

I would suggest crossbow for combat for several reasons, but use what you are comfortable with. For crossbow I would also suggest a fiberglass prod. But either steel, aluminum, or fiberglass are perfectly suitable and safe.

There are only two people I would get crossbows from in Atlantia, That is their Excellencies Mors of Stierbach, and Siegfried (http://crossbows.biz/). But talk to people in your Barony or Community, Im sure there are makers that people know and trust.

Thats the shorts of it! If you have suggestions or edits, please let us know!