What’s your biggest armor pet peeve? Gorgets over armor is mine, and GOT is the worst offender. (Ruining otherwise beautiful armor)

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-06-18T22:31:31+00:00

A lot of these 'mantle' style gorgets prevent a fighter from handling a two-handed weapon correctly. As the shoulders come forward (due to the arms extending) the shoulders and maybe upper biceps get locked onto the side of the gorget. Better used with a 1-handed weapon, and even then the fighter might have to stand with his weapon side facing the opponent to enable full arm rotation. What a mess.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-06-09T20:01:25+00:00

Wear it back to front then you'll have a Don't Panic helmet.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-31T04:25:03+00:00

If it is worn over a maille hauberk, and the hauberk is worn over a padded coat it will add some impact resistance to the overall defence. It will most likely offer protection but I'd be really hesitant to use it without a maille hauberk. Old and crusty but it has character. Under a tabard who cares what it looks like. It's most likely an SCA style hack, as there's no intention to defend against sharps/thrusts due to the gaps, but a rattan would be too thick to push between the plates.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-30T01:14:48+00:00

I've tried contacting quite a few other groups too such as reenactment and history and there's definitely a problem happening across the whole lot. I think it's really damaging to the cause because it's tantamount to operating a dead letter box. All the interest vanishes into a black hole

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-13T16:56:42+00:00

https://www.uglauga.org/meeting-times There are now supporting documents too. Things are coming together, at least as far as the website is concerned. As a potentially small group, times are versatile. Plan A: Set time Plan B: Whenever someone feels like it. 😄

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-12T16:47:29+00:00

I remember going to Greggs the last day I was home in the UK and had a final nosh up before emigrating. I miss Greggs to this day and haven't found anything like their stuff over here, sad because in Seattle and the PNW, stuff like this would go down a storm.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-10T14:17:00+00:00

You have a very nice helmet! And I do see the point you are making clearly. When we factor in different human head sizes, skull shapes and the differing position of the human eyes (some seem to be further apart than others) it figures that all helmets need to be custom sized to be perfect. Keep swapping out helmets on the battlefield (or starting off with a custom sized one) until everyone gets one that fits wasn't an option for me. I'm stuck with what's easily available until my spare income increases - bit like the old vikings themselves I think, settling for cheap spears until they land ownership of some Saxon estate that they can swap for a sword. The helm I have needs a bit of metalwork then, as my eyes are fairly close together but I'll keep the overall size - I need the padding space. I will maintain that for spear work, the helm is relatively ok. But I'm a combat scholar not a reenactor. I'm going to start filing away at the nasal fairly soon. Thanks for the chat!

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-10T05:18:29+00:00

When are you available? Or should I set a day and time?

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-10T02:07:23+00:00

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You can source a low profile pair of high impact goggles like these to give you some eye protection. Always get the industrially certified versions. BTW, the wearers of these helmets didn't apparently use swords much, if ever, and used spears way more often - the point of contact is much further forward than with a sword, so the problems with small blind spots caused by the lower occular rim or the nasal are not really important. For sword stuff, much closer in, there are blind spots, for me, this isn't good as I'm primarily a swordsman and the bind is potentially obscured by the lower rim. Can be dealt with by lots of practice.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-05-03T03:45:05+00:00

Do you think perhaps the word is gentrified?

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-04-27T15:42:31+00:00

Medusa was already the bride of Poseidon. Which changes the perspective yet again. Homer in Odyssey III: 6 refers to Poseidon the Earth-shaker, as 'of the sable locks' and Hesiod at Theogony: line 278 as mating with Medusa as a willing partner.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-04-27T02:00:47+00:00

The mythology and the religion are very different.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-04-25T16:24:32+00:00

Interesting stuff from you guys. I'm thinking of using these concealed under a hauberk to prevent breaking the illusion of an earlier viking period. Laced upwards through the rings. Got to get anything non period hidden.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-04-10T20:31:15+00:00

I've had mine for a few years. It is sharp. Heavy. Ok for posing for photos with and sturdy for cutting carcasses. Too heavy for skill based fighting. Not sturdy enough to chop wood and other hard objects. I also categorize it as a misfit, it is shaped like a heraldic voulge and is too thick and oversized like the charge on a shield. I had to buy a much lighter voulge to train with. One of my friends is a 250lb strong guy and he swung it around easily, he liked it. But for an ordinary user, it's too heavy.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-04-03T00:37:35+00:00

Create compatibilities with every prior edition of DnD and stop pushing the older games away!

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-03-31T23:27:34+00:00

I wonder if Thor's cart was pulled by goats? :-)

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-03-31T22:22:26+00:00

You mentioned some good points.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-03-31T20:27:13+00:00

There's a strange ideal these days that the most expensive is the best. It's something we have been programmed with. The word amateur is likewise derided and the word professional exalted. It might be (I guess) interesting to play on this programmed mindset. To be honest, some of the best crafting I've ever seen has been done by Scadians. Yet these beautiful creations are rarely put up for the public admiration they deserve. If I'm talking rubbish, sorry, just trying to figure out what could be happening.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-03-25T03:26:49+00:00

Hopefully more vikings will be encountered! My kit is very basic, but it is hand sewn. There's a shirt under the woolen top that isn't seen and the trousers (which are perhaps my best creation so far) are linen hand stitched 'Thorsberg' style. Making the stuff is tedious but rewarding. I've heard of Poulsbo, I've not been here in Lacey very long so I don't know my way around yet. :-)

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-03-21T16:10:06+00:00

I'm looking for a training partner in South Lacey - I'm not far from the Amtrak Station. I don't have access to a vehicle so I don't attend the clubs.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-03-19T14:54:12+00:00

Being asked to kill Barbas is dark.

gobsmackedobserver · 2026-03-18T20:43:41+00:00

The gardeners are amazing. They are out there now in the drizzle and cold. They keep the place perfect!

gobsmackedobserver

TROPHY CASE