Scott Hrouda wrote: |
This is a rather touchy subject in the SCA as can be seen in lengthy posts on other forums. The SCA Organizational Handbook section II.B states "Anyone may attend Society events provided he or she wears an attempt at pre-17th century clothing." The SCA Marshal's Handbook section VI.A states "Special attention should be paid to appearance and the atmosphere of a medieval event should be maintained." That's it as far as a combat appearance directive. :confused:
I currently have a kit that can easily pass the "looks good at 10' rule" which I'm trying to get to a "looks good at 10 cm" level. Almost a decade and a half ago I started in one of those pickle barrel armours with sneakers and a poorly fitting great helm. The balance, I believe, is to welcome and encourage newcomers without demanding a huge outlay in cash for armour right away. Some methods of increasing appearance over a specified time frame have been tossed about. I really have no opinion on the matter since I only worry about what I can control (my kit, my tent, my camp, etc.) I would like to add grappling to the equation as well, but this is a whole other can of worms that is also hotly debated. |
Yea its unfortunate how resistant the SCA is to improving appearance, a 1/2 decent kit isnt that hard to put together with all the resources available online. Personally I'd be willing to see a more lax (but still stronger than current) standard for people in their 1st year, with a higher standard for established members. My kits not perfect, for example I need to change out the spaulders for a more period design, and I need greaves, and sabutons still, but it presents a image MUCH closer to what the Society is supposed to be than the plastic paladins and "barbarians." I'm not trying to set the bar at living history group levels, having pages of documentation on my kit, but im sick of pirates, elves, plastic paladins etc.
I dont know how well grappling would do in the SCA, they want to let anybody on the field who wants to fight and alot of those guys have neither the physical ability or mental aptitude to safely grapple. I'm sure grappling would devolve into guys running around trying to tackle people, and with the size of many SCA fighters (a SCA medium being the equivalent of like XL) that brings some serious safety issues.