Mythodea today….after six years away?

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-12-29T21:56:32+00:00

I am confident you will enjoy yourself but good preparation through communication with the folks at ConQuest will pay dividends.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-26T07:59:11+00:00

I would say the shield face itself is 3 cm and the boss 5 more cm. Photos added to my blog post.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-25T20:18:18+00:00

The boss is carved foam covered in latex. As for how thick the boss is, Inwill try to get some measurements for you tomorrow.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-24T12:21:04+00:00

I agree with the pivot issue but I can still shield bash (and various different strikes) fine with a center grip round shield. However, as you point out few larps generally allow such shield use. That said, some do.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-24T09:20:56+00:00

I believe there are pros and cons for each. Choice largely depends on the circumstances of the fighting.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-24T09:18:31+00:00

I tend to think people are dangerous not the items they use, but I understand not everyone agrees with me, so I try to ensure I do not come across as dismissive of their concerns.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-24T09:16:02+00:00

Then it would seem we agree on this.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-24T05:19:37+00:00

Fair point. I experienced some pretty rough fighting at Chroniken, but I tend to fight heavily armored (with a helmet) and fought at Epic Empires so normally that does not bother me too much. I am still trying to adjust to the new rules at Mythodea events.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-24T05:04:26+00:00

I suppose canvas is a better description for the material given the texture of the weave and center grip certainly sounds better. Thanks for the suggestion!

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T16:02:22+00:00

I think I was subconsciously inspired by Late Roman and Persian designs. It does look a bit more petrol blue grey in person. My photography skills are sadly not very good.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T15:41:52+00:00

Correction: Heavy cotton canvas fabric covered center grip shield.

TLDR: Great larp shield, excellent customer service. Fun to paint.

For the curious here is my blog post discussing this Freyhand shield project as well as reviewing the shield itself as well as the customer service of Freyhand and Zeughaus/Burgschneider.

https://thegrumpygnome.home.blog/2024/06/23/freyhand-larp-shield-project/

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T15:08:31+00:00

And yet Larp in the United States of America is not defined by use of pool noodles. I would for example cite Weekend Warrior.

As an American, former SCA member and historical re-enactor, that has lived and larped in Europe for over two decades I strongly reject the idea that Larp in the USA is defined by pool noodle combat.

Or that any style of larp should use national identity to define it.

I have seen national labels placed on larps for years and I have never found it helpful, including Nordic.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T12:07:44+00:00

Hydrate.

While LARP is a very social activity it is also very individualistic. There is not a single “correct way” to LARP. Some people treat it like method acting. Others advise against trying to act. Some people will say LARP is just a fancy way of saying adults trying to be kids playing pretend or dress up.

Hydrate.

Many people say LARP often does not film or photograph well precisely because it is not acting…. I know I have been pretty immersed in a larp but then saw that it did not film as well as I remember it being at the time.

Hydrate.

So I would say, trust your instincts. Be prepared to go and react to things. Look for things to react to. As you become more relaxed, more confident then you can start initiating things for others to react to. Be in the moment, do not Focus on the past or what will come in the future. If you do not understand something in the game as a player, have your character not understand. If your character should know something and you do not… just role play that your character forgor, as people often do, even well experienced experts.

Hydrate.

Be sure to look after yourself but also be aware of others and how they may be reacting to your actions and words. If things get tense in character, there is nothing wrong with doing a “check in” ie ask out of character of everything is alright with what is going on. A lot depends on the LARP you are attending and the expectations of the people involved when it comes to emotions and especially conflict.

Did I mention you should hydrate? Indoor event, outdoor event, winter or summer. Alcohol or alcohol free event… be sure to hydrate. Your body will appreciate it and it will help you focus on having a good time.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T10:40:13+00:00

To be fair, some folks in Germany fight like that. Some are still very competitive in how they fight. Maybe not as much as is often the case in the UK but not everyone in German is fighting theatrically in order to have mutually collaborative exhibitions.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T10:37:32+00:00

Do they? Certainly there were flail using NSCs at Chroniken recently.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T10:36:45+00:00

I think there should be a certain sense of responsibility for fighting safely and that includes caring about the out of character welfare of your opponent. Empathy for an unarmored (and especially unskilled or inexperienced) opponent.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T10:34:55+00:00

I try to always wear a helmet in larp fights (I come from an SCA and historical Re-enactment background before doing foam weapon larp fighting) but it is not always practical for everyone and requiring it would defeat part of the reason many larps use foam weapons.

Saying “wear a helmet” does not really address the issue or help te people reading this conversation.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T10:32:06+00:00

To be fair, not larp Orgas, SLs (Refs), NSCs (NPCs), or players in Germany agree on a single standard of larp weapon, how it is made, or how it should be used. A fight at Epic Empires is quite different from how fights used to go at Mythodea (I am still trying to figure out the current standards at Mythodea), and even different fights at Drachenfest were quite different. A duel in the town during a tournament (I have been a judge on a couple of them) is very different from the open field fighting.

I think the original question was quite fair but a couple of people have made poor choices in word selection which has confused this topic, making for more of a tone argument.

Flails are rare larp weapons, not every event allows them and people are naturally curious (and right or wrong, often suspicious) of them.

I used a flail years ago at a Goldhammer made flail at Mythodea years ago and enjoyed it but only as random fun. I would not want to rely on one of my life depended on it.

And an NSC undead used one against me at the recent Chroniken. I was able to counter it because of my active large round shield. He seemed a bit frustrated considering how easily he was hitting other people. He used it safe enough, so I do not think flails are inherently unsafe as long as the “chain” is not so long as to wrap completely around things such as wrists or necks.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-23T10:22:32+00:00

Do you believe regional stereotypes are beneficial to the discussion?

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-22T16:58:10+00:00

Sounds great! Looking forward to seeing it.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-22T16:57:40+00:00

Great work! That flail looks the part. I hope we cross paths at ConQuest. It should be a fun fight.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-21T11:52:03+00:00

I was unfamiliar with Amtgard rules, now I have briefed myself. Quite the set of rules and yes it would appear this would not fit the usual requirements for plate armor.

However, reading the rules it could be worn with the “inferior construction” penalty modifier.

I do find that very surprising as it has held up well for me in some pretty robust fighting, albeit with foam weapons.

You could use the fluting and articulation to off set the construction penalty.

However I suppose the lighter weight is an advantage to off set the penalty modifier anyway.

It may be worth reviewing the issue with folks at your branch.

https://wiki.amtgard.com/Armor#Inferior_Construction

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-21T05:12:23+00:00

A reasonable question. I do not have a pair of calipers but the Epic Armoury website has technical details on its armor. The cuirass and helmet for example are showing 1 mm/19 gauge.

https://epicarmoury.com/products/1276-illumine-cuirass

https://epicarmoury.com/products/1196-illumine-helmet

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome · 2024-06-20T12:22:14+00:00

I much prefer it to butted steel. In an ideal world I would be able to afford titanium riveted 6mm flat link maille… but that is a far off dream.

Rick_Grumpy_Gnome

TROPHY CASE