I was having a conversation the other day with another person who dislikes Combat Archery (CA). Neither of us like it but we both agree it isn’t going anywhere, it has just been here too long. So what is the fix, what needs to happen.
The biggest complaints I hear about CA are: (followed by my fix idea’s)
1) Not Noble – Ok I’ll give, even agree with that in a medieval/high medieval Western Europe way of thinking – but in our wide brushed centuries of coverage – there are persona’s where the bow was a warrior/non peasant weapon. – That just has to be a ‘get over it’ point.
2) they can shoot me but I’m not allowed to hit them – Yes this should be fixed I think that is one of the biggest problems we are not “equal” in this situation. If you physically CANNOT or Refuse to be hit, you don’t belong on the heavy field – perhaps taking up rapier would be better. – I’m sorry I firmly believe not every sport/activity is for everyone. call me a monster if you wish.
Make everyone on the heavy field authorize heavy they may then choose to authorize CA. – This show’s they are capable of taking a hit that way if by chance they don’t get “I yield” out before I (or anyone else) smack them, they can’t complain.
3) It is unsafe – mainly this refers to shafted arrows. I also agree, I believe that shafted arrows are unsafe as well – but that isn’t the REAL problem as I see it, the base of the problem isn’t “are they unsafe or aren’t they” it is that the majority of fighters BELIEVE they are unsafe. So they don’t like it or want to participate with it and complain about it. Educating them/us won’t work, because it is a feeling.
get rid of shafted arrows – go to Siloflex/Golftube arrows only. if it makes those who are only against CA because of safety more comfortable then great, less people that “hate” CA. – this has the bonus of getting rid of the APD (anti penetration devices) that cause so many shots to go cart wheeling across the field.
4)Most armor would be proof against archery/Magic Arrows – meh maybe the archery vs. armor arms race went on throughout history it still goes on now(, only we call arrows bullets.) – I’m fine with the concept of arrows only effectiveness being tied to the armor standard – in essence only wounding to the leg and lower arm, kills only being allowed to the face. It isn’t perfect, but it works for both sides. It requires more skill from the Archers. and takes away the “magic arrow”.
5) Endless arrows/gleaning – no carrying 5 gallon buckets of arrows, or setting a 50 gallon drum of arrows onto the field. Each archer gets 1 quiver of arrows (yea a refill point WAY BACK BEHIND THE LINES is fine but hauling out a 50 gallon drum of arrows is stupid) when they run out, go refill or draw that backup weapon and join the fun. (I’m ok with Gleaning and if we went to no shafted arrows, then ALL arrows would be glean-able)
Do those things, stop whining because “only half or less” of the battles are CA. Pick up a spear and go fight in the other half, your authorized heavy now, after all we fight in the ones where you shoot at us.
on our (the non-CA) side if we don’t like being shot with arrows we should
Block better.
If you’re a shield-man run them down and “smack” them, If you’re a spearman – get a shield-man to cover you. If you are a Knight -do something medieval, get your squire to carry his shield and protect you from the peasants attempts to do harm to their betters.
Some battles will be with and some without CA. both of us can stop complaining about it and move on.
I know people who don’t like Bridge battles, Spearmen, Sword and shield, we all have our preferences. Make the playing field even – make us all heavy and hit-able, and let us get on with fighting.
Will it fix everything – well no. But it will make it more palatable.
Again, as with all of my ramblings – these are just my opinions take them for what they’re worth.
Regards,
Ulrich
Hey Shep, I’d like to respond to a few of your points.
1) Not Noble – okay, perhaps not…but in the SCA where “we” are always touting our Peers to lead by example, can one look at this as an example of doing just that? Serve us up a slice of humble pie, pick up a peasant weapon, and rally the troops! (Ok, ok, that sounds corny… it boils down to it’s just damn fun.)
2) In Gleann Abhann (and I thought Meridies was the same) all combat archers MUST authorize with heavy weapons before they can authorize as CA. In fact, I thought the SCA had gotten rid of “non-contact” combat archery (correct me if I am wrong.) so that now everyone on the field is full contact… I can tell you now, that I HAVE gotten hit on more than one occasion (mostly in the head.) As long as whomever is doing the hitting isn’t an ass and trying to hit my weapon, I’ll take the hit. And to be honest, most of the hits I have taken, have been where the fighter runs up to me, taps me on the head and says “you’re dead”…but – a few of them have whacked the crap out of me (that really only happened in Ansteorra, fyi) I can not think of a single CA archer in Gleann Abhann that *won’t* take a hit.
3) I have no arguments here. My fiberglass bolts have Lu-Shaun heads and APDS on them, and I’ve never had an instance where the arrow went catapaulting across the field, or didn’t go almost exactly where I wanted it to. As a result, it is difficult for me to see the issue. (I’m not saying I don’t acknowledge it, just seeing from my perspective I’ve not experienced/witnessed it.)
4) Each Kingdom has different standards as to what is a “kill” by an arrow. From my experience, shots to the main body just aren’t called that often. That is why you will ALWAYS see me aim straight for the grill – there is NO miscommunication at that point if it was a solid hit or not. You had it, yes it takes a little more skill, but anything worth doing right requires a certain level of skill.
5) endless arrows: I agree with you here. I have NEVER understood the need for endless arrows. I myself usually go in with 2 or 3 dozen arrows. Basically what my quiver will hold. In my opinion, 2 or 3 dozen well aimed bolts far outweighs the hundreds of randomly shot off arrows I see some folks going through. Even at GW and Autumn Melees in Ansteorra, 2 dozen has been sufficient for any scenario. (It just requires a little bit of patience for the right shot.)
To Sum Up….you just need to come play with us over here.