We don’t have any Frequently Asked Questions, so here are some Self Asked Questions until we get some.

Organization

Q: This group looks a lot like some others.
A: Yep, acknowledged. A lot of other groups have some really good ideas, and they’ve shaken out the finer points of safety, legalese, etc.

Q: So what’s the point of this one then?
A: The combination of: 1) combat form, and 2) focus on putting in a lot of effort to recreate specific times and places. This group sponsors themed events that are centered around a very narrow slot in time and space. Combat is based around light steel, which we find allows the study of historic combat while still being relatively accessible (meaning not to expensive to get started). Unless otherwise specified, expect approximately during the 100 Years War in western France. Other events may be more specific, or move time and place. It’s not as strict as groups that do, say, a specific battle, with all clothing hand-sewn and all armor 100% perfect, but it’s more focused than groups with minimal historic requirements and thousands of years in scope.

Q: That sounds fun!
A: We think so. We hope you’ll join us.

Q: That doesn’t sound fun at all!
A: Fortunately, no organization has a monopoly on historic interests, and you might find more satisfaction elsewhere.

Participation

Q. So, if I want to get involved…..
A. Show up at one of our events with the right attitude and the minimum authenticity.

Q. Authenticity?
A. Most events will ask for the ten foot rule. That is, from a distance of ten feet, you should look accurate to the place and time period in question. No obvious or visible modern materials, no blatantly modern construction techniques, no cell phones, etc.

Q. Can you elaborate?
A. How much time do you have?

Q. The short version, please.
A. Look at period sources for the time and place in question. There are numerous possible artifacts, like paintings, effigies, translated texts, and often clothing and armor that still exist somewhere. You’ll see variations: tomb effigies of elderly knights wearing old-fashioned armor, paintings of cutting edge youths with the newest fashions, and so on. Look at enough contemporary sources to eliminate the outliers and you get a composite picture of how fashion, warfare, and technology got all combined. The idea is that you want to look like you belonged in that era, and that if you were suddenly transported to that time and place, you’d fit in.

Of course we’re not insane. We’re located in Texas. You’re (probably) not going to wear a smock, tunic, and layered wool surcoat in July. Safety compels us to get as close as we can without it getting hazardous, which is why we allow less layers, substituting lighter period fabrics for the heavier ones that would have actually been worn, perforated plate visors instead of open faced helmets, tips on weapons, that sort of thing.

Q. I want to go, but I don’t have the means, or I don’t (yet) have the knowledge.
A. We’ll help you. We’d seriously love to help you. The attitude is the important part. Get in touch in advance and we’ll talk about what role you want to play, how you want to dress, that sort of thing.

Q. Wait, what do you mean “role I want to play?”
A. This game is wide open. What kind of role floats your boat? Peasant farmer, city butcher, burgher, knight? Servant to a great lord? The great lord? Nothing you choose to do grants you any particular privilege, so the challenge is in playing the role to the hilt. An impoverished knight? Wear your armor. Barber-surgeon? Dress for the trade and set up a stall with bloodstained rags wrapped around a pole. The point is really a forum for individuals to delve into recreation together and to chart their own paths, not to follow a script.

Q. You know, I always wanted to be a king….
A. Go for it.

Q. Wait, really?
A. Sure. That and $18.99 will get you a small coffee at Starbucks. Just be prepared to dress richly, throw largesse around, make deals to have a bunch of friends attending you in exchange for being fed, housed, and ransomed, or nobody is going to take your presentation seriously.

Q. Hey, did I mention this sounds like other groups?
A. They have some really good ideas, right?

Q. Do I have to have the same name or role or presentation every time?
A. Oh heck no. There aren’t a whole lot of rules or structure. The point is to provide a forum for detailed historic recreation, not to impose our own arbitrary platform on top of it.

Q. So, how much does it cost?
A. The events are planned to be free, but you’re very welcome to donate to help cover costs for insurance and rentals. You’ll probably find greater expense in putting together an accurate presentation to your satisfaction.

Q. What do you do at events?
A. Depends on the theme. We could have a tavern evening, or an exercise in reproducing a monastery. We could set up a tournament and invite all comers, and you’d do whatever would be appropriate to your chosen role for the event.

Combat

Q. So what is combat like?
A. It’s based around light steel swords and daggers. To try to keep it accessible, calibration is moderate and the armor requirements are rather low, such that most of the body could be covered with padded garments. You could, of course, wear a full kit of plate if you want. The idea is to recreate the medieval idealized combat, such as challenges and practice, not war itself. We aim for period ideals, not Victorian or modern ideals, and certainly not the grim reality of war.

Q. Other groups fight with rattan, or full contact heavy steel weapons, or foam boffers, or….
A. Yes, yes they do.

Q. Will you ever expand to use more weapons, or have fighting that requires heavier armor, or anything like that?
A. Very possibly. We’re just starting out now. HEMA’s split model of longword and harnischfechten has a certain appeal.

Q. So are there tournaments, or mass melees, or….
A. There is typically an open forum where you can stand your challenges, or meet the challenges of others. An event sponsor or an individual in the event could put together a theme or a particular pursuit, but it typically won’t be highly organized. There won’t ever be prizes of any serious value or impact.

Q. Well, how do I win?
A. By participating. Seriously, this is a forum for recreation, not for creating a sport. Bring gifts and stand a challenge under your banner, and after someone meets your challenge, sit down with them and pour them a drink, present a token of esteem and praise their valor.

Q. What are the typical rules?
A. The first to strike a given number of blows against their opponent is the winner of the bout. Valid blows are thrusts or percussive blows with the edge of the weapon. Different events or individual challenges can add variations to this, such as considering mail proof against edged blows, and plate proof against thrusts and blows.

Equestrian

Q. Do you….
A. No.

Q. Really?
A. Really.

Q. C’mon.
A. Can’t afford the insurance. Seriously, we’d love to, but it’s very very very expensive.