From: ewjacoby@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu (Fuzzy!! (mka Erich Jacoby))
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Authenticity, Atmosphere & SCA
Keywords: archery, authenticity, fuzzy, vampires, hamsters
Date: 12 Aug 92 18:05:31 GMT
Organization: Shire of Insula Alta

In article <BssAs0.Lpy@ais.org> dale@ais.org (Dale Gee) writes:
>
>We could adopt some very simple things from the other living history group.
>
>1. Make every event have a enchanted ground. This is something that works 
>very well for other groups. It allows those who can afford it and have the 
>time to persue things to such a detail a place to commune with others of 
>like ambition. It also gives the person a sense the effort was worth it.
>
>To that idea I have heard people cry "but I want to camp with my friends"
>If one my friends went to that much trouble and effort. I certainly would
>not want to spoil it for them by planting a orange nylon tent next to thier
>period pavalion.
>
>If we could not manage the concept of a enchanted ground or period camp. We
>could go back to giving awards for the most period camp sites.  I saw that
>done at a couple of events when I first got involved with the SCA. 
>
YES YES YES YES!!!   I intend to have an enchanted ground encampment at the 
camping event I am autocratting. (First Revolt in Ealdormere, this Labour day
weekend - email me for details).  Unfortunately, I do not yet have enough 
equipment of my own or in my household to camp there.  (By next year, I plan
to have a fully period camp).  We are also sponsoring period encampment and
cooking contests.

>2. Someone said that we don't recreate battles or three day snapshots of a
>date in a year.  Why not?  I have found it to be very interesting to 
>recreate battles.  If a group of people in the SCA wished to put forth
>the time and effort into doing the battle of Hastings, let them do it.
>It would a lot of fun and educational.                
>
The Burgh of Eofforwic recently held an event based on
the Icelandic Althing in 992, which was very successful and did a 
fantastic job of re-creating that exact time and place.  There were no
late period fops or feudal royalty, for example, and a mimimum of 
elements which a true 10th century Icelander wouldn't recognize. There is 
no reason that other groups can't do the same thing for their favorite
periods/places.  The only difference is that you have to do some 
research on general styles of garb etc. and circulate this to the people
who will be attending so that they can go with a general public image if
they don't have time to do all the research themselves.

>3. Allow historical recreation of people. If you wish talk about 
>atmosphere. Go to a civil war event when the guy who does Grant is there.
>You will honestly feel like you are back at that time. I have a close
>friend in the SCA who is a dead ringer for Count Vlad The Impaler.
>Too bad he can't bring the count back to life. 
>
What?  You want Vlad the Impaler brought back to life?  He can stay in your
camp, thanks.

I don't think there would be much trouble with doing this (recreating 
real people) at a specific event.
As long as the person re-creating Richard Couer-de-lion did a good job of it,
(well researched, properly attired, well acted),
I think it would add to the atmosphere of an event based on one of his courts.
However, it would be an entirely different thing 
to run into William the Conquerer at the same event.
This is why basing your permanent persona on an historic personage is
discouraged.  After all, we can't all be Vlad the Impaler.
I also think that this would be a bad thing to do at demo's, because
it would convey the wrong image of our society.
Opinions?  Would it be a bad thing to have an event based on a real 
court occasion, with all the garb, food, activities, and some of the 
major personae based on the truly authentic?  We could have a different 
person play the king each time, and share the roles around at various 
events.

>About combat archery: At a meeting in the mid-relm this winter it was stated
>by one of the knights that since the SCA dosn't recreate wars only tourneys.
>They could decree any weapon they wanted as un-fair and not allow it.
>Thus they did to archery.  This point was brought up by another person on
>here in reply to my post.  Then will someone please tell the chroniclers of
>the various kingdoms that they are not to accpet any event notices from 
>groups hosting wars since the SCA only does tourneys.  I would also suggest
>that everyone stay home from pensic since it is a war and not a tourney.
>(the pensic part was a joke folks)     
>Still the tourney explanation sounds like a excuse to keep the balance of 
>power on the heavies side.
>
Medieval tournaments (from personal to melee to full-fledged battle-sized)
did not include archery (against heavies) or any 'unchivalrous' weapons.
Ergo, combat archery has no place in a tournament recreation.

Medieval wars DID have arrows, javelins, catapults, surprise attacks, 
attacks from behind, overwhelming odds/force, and 
lots of other 'fun' stuff.  Combat archery and the rest fit into a battle
recreation perfectly.  You just have to decide just what you want to 
recreate at your event and allow/disallow weapons and tactics accordingly.

It is just as period and SCA (in my mind) to recreate a real war as it is
to fight a tournament.  Granted, our weapons, armor, and safety rules 
make our fighting resemble the latter more than the former, but the 
addition of combat archery et al can help greatly in 
simulating the feel of the real battles.  I am not, of course, advocating 
that we actually hate or even dislike our opponents (although some 
already take the Middle vs East thing at Pennsic too seriously), just
that we have some fun with something closer to battle conditions.


>Last but not least. To the person who corrected my spelling of cavalry. 
>I am sorry I offend thee with my poor spelling.
>
Again:  Up with badde spellynge!  Even the best scribes have their off days,
even mine! (You don't think I get MY fingers ink-stained, do you?)
Not only that, but scribes are a head strong type, and if yours has always
felt that sword is spelled sworde you will have a hard time convincing
him otherwise.  And how should I know?  Literacy is for the literati,
not a busy mercenary/merchant like me (but I can add and keep my own
accounts, thankyou).


            _____ __ __ ____  ____ __  __
Erich the  / ___// // //__  )/__  )\ \/ /    Being held against his will in:
          / __/ / // /   / /__ / /__\  /   Canton of Bryniau Tywynnog, Barony X
         (_/   (____/   (____/(____//_/    Princedom of Ealdormere, Midrealm

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to War I go...
From: Bob.Upson@f333.n142.z1.fidonet.org (Bob Upson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP