From: robear@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Jay Michael)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Arms
Date: 22 Dec 92 07:00:58 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

Greetings gentles from the Rialto,
	From across the mysterious width of band, through this oddly boxed
crystal ball, hails Aelfgar, from the towne of Echternach, to post queries
and observations of hopefully enjoyable nature.

That _was_ fun =).  Anyway . . .

With regards to Arms:  I think the concept is (pardon the non-period term)
cool.  I have no objections to making the arms in a generally accepted
'good form', I would like to have my arms look impressive.  I also like the
idea of having my arms unique to me within reasonable differences.  I 
really don't see the point if they aren't.  My complaint is of a completely
different nature.
	The most frustration about arms I have ever seen is that the process
takes well nigh forever.  Well, years sometimes.  I first submitted my arms
in 1988, living at the address I sent them, or receving forwarding mail from
there for the next two or three years, and never heard anything from them.
I never wrote them to ask what was happening, mainly because _no one_ I told
this to was surprised (writing them to determine status of entry would 
probably actually slow them down from their already slow speed).  Now that
it's been a solid four years I'm going to find out if they lost it or
resubmit, as necessary.
	My point being, the complaints about arms registering is that it is
such a slow and painful process.  I realize that it's staffed by a volunteer
organization, so it's not going to be the fastest service.  I wonder sometimes
about how many constraints there are on arms, and how overburdened it makes 
the heralds trying to pass arms.  I do not envy their job.

Side note:  My 8th century persona probably wouldn't have much use for the
arms I'm submitting, they're much beyond his time.  This doesn't bother me:
I'd rather have decent looking arms from the arms period then a fylfoit(?)
riveted to my shield.  I attribute it to the overall SCA experience:  we
want to experience all the best of the Medeaval era.  I'd rather not exclude
the other fun stuff that we do just because of persona.
	I think this is rather obvious, but it brings up an argument for pre
600 era persona's.  Since there are greek and roman armored sword fighting
going on in that time period, there creates an interest for heavy fighters:
segmented lorica, bell curiases, etc., look neat and can be made to withstand
SCA heavy fighting, and those personas are perfectly suited to engaging
in heavy fighting.  They may not fit in with a lot of the other SCA events,
but as long as they are willing to participate and enjoy non-persona events
(or perhaps they only like to play heavy fighting), what's the harm?  I see
it as a broadening of experience.
	And this finally leads me to a possible insight:  multiple personas.
I realize a big problem with this is ensuing confusion (who are you now?)
but it would allow you to choose an armor style you like, and match it with
an appropriate persona, while feasting and dancing as a later more appropriate
persona.  This would also help broaden your horizons, let you experience
more of the vast time period and geography that the SCA encompasses.
	I bring this up because I was thinking of one day making some greek
armor, (I like the Corinthian helmet and greaves look, although making it
out of bronze would be a problem), which, of course, has nothing to do with
my persona, which I am perfectly comfortable with.

Wow, this got long.  My two cents hammered and flattened into a thin
copper foil.  

Aelfgar von Echternach



Newsgroups: rec.org.sca