NationStates Jolt Archive

Yeah. I've recently starting hanging out with some SCA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Creative_Anachronism) guys at my university, and I've had a lot of fun with it. I'm currently working on creating a persona and on getting a basic set of armor so I can stop using loaner gear.

I've been going to fighter practices and to other meetings, even attending my first event (Red Tower-- had a blast. watched some combats, met some people, and went to my first court!), and I'm hoping to maybe go to Danelaw and especially Gulf Wars: I hope to have my armor together and be authorized by then so I can fight there. (Quite conveniently, it, apparently, coincides with my schools spring break :cool:)

Anyway, any SCA Members around here? Any tips on getting garb/armor together on a cheap budget? Any good stories from your time in it?

EDIT: I added a poll. Because I felt like it.

Awesome. I'm not, but I would love to join! I love swordfighting. Well, I usually like using spears, but swords are fun too!

no, but I have seen some of those reenactments in real castles, which is pretty cool (especially when I was a small kid and actually wanted to become a knight :p)

I'm Chronicler for my local group, the Canton of Dun Traigh (http://www.midrealm.org/duntraigh - if anyone here lives in or near Muskegon MI and is interested in the middle ages feel free to contact our Chatelaine). For your first garb, unless you have a specific period in mind I would recommend a basic T-tunic, if you have any ability at all with sewing (or have a family member or friend who does and can be persuaded/bribed) they're easy to make. When you mention fighting are you talking about heavy weapons or fencing?

no, but I have seen some of those reenactments in real castles, which is pretty cool (especially when I was a small kid and actually wanted to become a knight :p)

You actually STOPPED wanting to become a knight?

You actually STOPPED wanting to become a knight?

I did. I want to be a Viking now.

You actually STOPPED wanting to become a knight?

:D well yeah, I'm going for firefighter now, it's one or the other.

:D well yeah, I'm going for firefighter now, it's one or the other.

Pffft. I still want to be a Knight-pirate-ninja-viking-astronaut-firefighter-dinosaur tamer. That would be badass. (Though I know I'm forgetting a few.)

Yeah. I've recently starting hanging out with some SCA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Creative_Anachronism) guys at my university, and I've had a lot of fun with it. I'm currently working on creating a persona and on getting a basic set of armor so I can stop using loaner gear.

Wait a minute...your joining the SCA, and you call Christianity a cult (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13158159&postcount=52)? Bit of a double standard, isn't it? :)

Wait a minute...your joining the SCA, and you call Christianity a cult (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=13158159&postcount=52)? Bit of a double standard, isn't it? :)

I don't know how the SCA could in any way be considered a cult . . .

I don't know how the SCA could in any way be considered a cult . . .

Fool! Everybody knows we have daily blood sacrifice to the great God, Sca. You didn't REALLY think that it was an acronym, did you? ;)

Yeah. I've recently starting hanging out with some SCA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Creative_Anachronism) guys at my university, and I've had a lot of fun with it. I'm currently working on creating a persona and on getting a basic set of armor so I can stop using loaner gear.

I've been going to fighter practices and to other meetings, even attending my first event (Red Tower-- had a blast. watched some combats, met some people, and went to my first court!), and I'm hoping to maybe go to Danelaw and especially Gulf Wars: I hope to have my armor together and be authorized by then so I can fight there. (Quite conveniently, it, apparently, coincides with my schools spring break :cool:)

Anyway, any SCA Members around here? Any tips on getting garb/armor together on a cheap budget? Any good stories from your time in it?

EDIT: I added a poll. Because I felt like it.

*squeal* Red Tower! I got to attend about 2 years ago, and I loved it!

I don't know how the SCA could in any way be considered a cult . . .


true.....as far as I know they don't tell you to sell all your possessions and give up control of your mind :) the level of involvement is solely based on the individual, right? and I'm pretty sure the SCA doesn't have a supreme divine leader who dictates your every move? so not a cult but definitely sounds like a whole lot of fun http://www.rescath.net/images/smilies/knight.gif

Awesome. I'm not, but I would love to join! I love swordfighting. Well, I usually like using spears, but swords are fun too!

www.sca.org. Clickable maps and everything! I love our local group, wasn't too fond of the one in Denver, but I'm told Schola Metalorum (School of Mines) rocks.

I'm not in the SCA as I'm too young to do heavy combat, and it also looks rather expensive, and I know my bank account can't handle another expensive hobbie. (warhammer, airsoft, new computer, ya I'm broke in all uses of the word.)

I used to be a member of the Haus of Kameradin in the Crown Province of Ostgardr (http://www.ostgardr.org/).

A basic T-tunic would be awesome for first garb, as mentioned before -- you can do a lot with basic browns, blues, or greens and a belt.

http://www.geocities.com/hansensmtn/toby/basic_tunic.htm
http://garbindex.com/content/t-tunic.php
http://www.virtue.to/articles/tunic_worksheet.html

Seriously, I draw the diagram on my board and my students make their own costumes for Shakespeare reenactments -- it's that easy.

I'm not in the SCA as I'm too young to do heavy combat, and it also looks rather expensive, and I know my bank account can't handle another expensive hobbie. (warhammer, airsoft, new computer, ya I'm broke in all uses of the word.)

There are more things to do than combat. Dancing, crafts (even if you're not old enough to fight you aren't to old to make a set of armor for when you ARE old enough), medieval games and sports (google stoolball for one example), target archery, and more. As for expensive, you can put together a simple set of garb for about $20 - $40 and you don't even need that until you go to an event. Most events are about $5 - $10 to get in (most on the low end) with another charge if you want to go to feast. There's a lot you can do while spending very little money.

While I am a member, I, unfortunately, am unable to go very often as I need my father to be there in order for me to fight, and that is the primary reason I am interested in SCA.

That and the fact that I am as of yet unable to persuade any of my friends to go. It's kind of awkward to go there and not know anyone.

I'm not in the SCA as I'm too young to do heavy combat, and it also looks rather expensive, and I know my bank account can't handle another expensive hobbie. (warhammer, airsoft, new computer, ya I'm broke in all uses of the word.)

If you really want to get a feel for it, I suggest you barter to get the materials you need. It fits with the time, more.
I'm willing to give someone a joust for nine hens and two roosters. I don't mind haggling, if that seems two high.

It's kind of awkward to go there and not know anyone.

Yes, but in honesty, at least to the events I attended, people were more than willing to be friendly -- I ended up eating with one of the Duchesses because she saw I was by myself and she made sure to include me in the conversation at the feast.

SCAdians can be some of the easiest people to get to know.

Yes, but in honesty, at least to the events I attended, people were more than willing to be friendly -- I ended up eating with one of the Duchesses because she saw I was by myself and she made sure to include me in the conversation at the feast.

SCAdians can be some of the easiest people to get to know.

Oh yes, I've had some nice conversations with a few people, including the baron of my nearest, well, barony, so I know they're nice people.

I'll definitely be going to Estrella this year, hopefully I can find some good armor, which is my other problem.

Yes, but in honesty, at least to the events I attended, people were more than willing to be friendly -- I ended up eating with one of the Duchesses because she saw I was by myself and she made sure to include me in the conversation at the feast.

SCAdians can be some of the easiest people to get to know.

Oh, I certainly agree with this one. When I went to Red Tower, the woman in charge of the newbie tent that they had set up went out of her way and specifically looked for people to introduce me to that seemed like I'd get along with, even though I'd come with the group from my university, we thought I might as well meet some new people, too.

And the local guys are pretty cool. I've had various people loan me armor, work with me to work on my technique... even a Duke took some time out of his fighting to teach me a few lessons, and, well, damn, he was good. Made it look so easy.

I am not now, but I was in the past and am making plans to be in the future.

I'm waiting to get good enough with my horse to join the Equestrian Guild, though I probably wouldn't do much gaming with him. Most likely be a herald and do classical dressage demonstrations and parades.