[SCA-AE] Changes to armored combat regs

[Taranach]

Sir Koredono wrote:
> On 2/6/07, Iain mac an Bhaird <iainmacabhaird at tigerfire.net> wrote:
>> >I felt that the reasons given me were quite reasonable and acceptable.
>>
>> I'm just curious: what are those reasons, for the shields anyway?
>> (because boy am I gonna hear it when I pass this news on...)
> 
> The primary reasons were:
> 
> aesthetics - no matter how much they're covered, they still end up looking
> horribly inauthentic, and most plastic shields don't even get painted or
> have the 'barrel lumps' taken off them,

I see... but having green plastic garden hose hanging off of the edges 
*is* acceptable.... and then Brightly taped sticks of rattan with duct 
tape and foam *are* acceptably "Authentic"... we can suspend our 
disbelief for "those" safety items... but not for this other "safety 
item".... I am not certain as to the total number of plastic shields 
that fit this "horribly inauthentic looking" criteria, but I am quite 
certain it does not come anywhere close to even ten percent of the total 
usage of rattan, duct tape, and foam that is to be seen on the typical 
field.

> and
> 
> combat authenticity - they just don't act like period shields, even ones of
> the same surface area and mass

Here again... does Rattan behave in the same manner as a sword? even if 
it is of the same size and weight? Have enough people used and compared 
period shields enough to make a valid comparison?  How can you claim 
"combat authenticity" in one area based on "how it acts" and not in 
another... I'd also like to know how our current "aluminum and plywood" 
actually measures up against the authentic actions of period shields...

I'm sorry... the arguments are very tenuous at best... especially when 
the attempt at increased "authenticity" in a place that might be 
considered marginally less "dangerous" is given such a halfhearted 
attempt. Is plastic armor going to be next? It's just as "horribly 
inauthentic" and it sounds different and it reacts a lot different than 
regular "period" armor... and all that foam.... it reacts a lot 
differently than real period padding...

Give me a break... neither of these "arguments" holds any more water 
than chainmail. In the interest of cost effectiveness, safety and 
perhaps not restricting "who can play" I believe that these should not 
be considered rules, but rather, strong suggestions to avoid, if 
possible, the use of plastics in the interests of said authenticity.

> 
> Sir Koredono

I suppose I am fortunate that I do not get into heavy weapons fighting 
all that much, however, I do worry about how this is going to affect 
things like siege weapons and combat archery... those two rely on some 
of the heavy weapons rules, and I may have to rethink how much I will be 
able (or want) to play. I can afford to get barrel plastic to make my 
armor and possibly a shield... I cannot afford several hundred dollars 
to get a full metal kit and shield.


Taranach