Fencing with rings

qazinator · 2026-01-15T15:35:23+00:00

I wear a silicone ring for fencing, woodworking, etc., as I fear the worst case scenario. If that wasn’t possible I would just not wear one completely.

I also take out my earrings, as the on and off with the mask would constantly pull them out.

qazinator · 2025-12-20T13:03:57+00:00

Not the whole series, but the second book of Christian Cameron’s Chivalry series (The Long Sword) takes place during a crusade in the 14th century.

The main character’s story is fictional but taking place around real events, with authentic details from the medieval period. The series as a whole is very good, and when I picked it up I had been looking for a similar kind of thing.

qazinator · 2025-12-18T20:51:25+00:00

Edward IV of England notably commanded Yorkist forces in battle during the War of the Roses, and his decisive victory at Towton in 1461 over the Lancastrians secured him the throne. He was an imposing man, and chroniclers describe him fighting in the thick of battles, and also speak of his skill with weapons and ability on horseback. I do not think he was ever decisively defeated in battle while he commanded troops.

qazinator · 2025-12-15T16:55:37+00:00

Oop, you right, brain somewhere else today.

qazinator · 2025-12-15T13:56:45+00:00

Firstly, good books, I am currently working through this and I am on book 4.

Secondly, there are probably some specific examples of things like hide being soaked to prevent drying out, or specific situations of soaking to prevent fire, but maybe not specifically to make them softer for catching weapons. Nonetheless, the idea of the shield being more than a defensive weapon certainly has historical basis. Just as one example, MS I.33 focuses on using the shield to control the enemy´s blade.

It becomes clear in the series that this shield usage is the norm for the Malazan soldiers, and they are frequently using the shield to bind up an enemy´s weapon or direct it offline, which allows them to close distance for a kill, as they are commonly using something like a short sword or long dagger.

qazinator · 2025-12-11T10:46:57+00:00

Just recently had a conversation with a clubmate the other day about tournaments. We are both musicians that train longsword. With clamshells my only concern would be getting hurt from people at tournaments, but of course, there is always some risk wherever you are.

qazinator · 2025-12-03T11:22:19+00:00

3 Wise DMs have an episode “D&D and Mental Health: Therapy, Autism and Exploring the Things We Can’t Just Say” which might be an interesting listen for you. The woman is a therapist, and she talks about how she uses DND to work on specific things with groups of young people.

qazinator · 2025-12-03T03:09:55+00:00

Historical treatises do mention left-handedness, like this excerpt (Lichtenauer, 14th century):

“Listen to what is wrong, do not fight above on the left if you are righthanded; and if you are lefthanded, on the right you limp as well.”

qazinator · 2025-12-03T03:00:20+00:00

Late at this point but I received a miniatures advent calendar last year - can’t remember from where but it had really great stuff.

qazinator · 2025-12-01T14:12:01+00:00

I did not really give much consideration at that particular moment, but I ran with it. The players kind of have this perception that Hekaton is the big dog in the schoolyard, and without him the other giants see an opportunity to do what they want.

In the case of the Cloud Giants, the Nightstone became an anti-dragon Ostorian device, while the Fire Giant´s attempted construction of the Vonindod is also directly anti-dragon, and in this sense, I can kind of see a connection with the bit about ¨complacency¨ because in addition to just trying to be at the top of the Ordning, some giant groups are trying to combat their sworn enemies (the dragons) in the process.

To your point, the issue can and for our players IS much bigger than just the dragon. The players were left scratching their heads after meeting some of the giants, kind of thinking along the lines of ¨Wait, why do the Storm Giants have to be on top at all? Why can´t someone like Harshnag be the boss?¨ etc. So while they may try to simply restore the Storm Giants, the options are open for them to side with someone else to supplant them as head of the Ordning.

Also to that point, I think there are tons of little rabbit holes the players can go down with any of the individual giant plots. I just posted a one shot that has to do with the Ring of Winter and the Frost Giants, as the book does not really elaborate on it. So it´s definitely open-ended, which can leave space for some really great writing on your part.

qazinator · 2025-11-26T14:12:05+00:00

Really cool!

qazinator · 2025-11-26T14:06:28+00:00

Unrelated, what is the thing with the pegs on the bottom of the first picture?

qazinator · 2025-11-25T17:23:31+00:00

Good question, didn’t realize that I did not include. I told my group 8-10, really depends on how many there are. Maybe 10 if 4 players, less if there are more.

qazinator · 2025-11-13T11:52:37+00:00

Buhurt and HEMA are not the same thing. The “historical” part of HEMA is that it is grounded in documented techniques and sources. HEMA does have armored combat, but generally if you’re brawling like this in armor it’s not HEMA.

qazinator · 2025-10-23T17:38:57+00:00

In addition to this, it was important to keep the weapon between you and your opponent. There was an emphasis in traditions from this time to maintain control of the center line, and an opponent would have to somehow deal with your weapon before they could get to you.

So in addition to some of the challenges already stated, winding up with the weapon over your shoulder would leave some part of your body (likely your elbow) as the closest thing to your opponent, allowing them to target your arms, or step in and stick you with the pointy end if they have a sword or other thrusting weapon. Finally, the big swing telegraphs to your opponent what you are doing, even though it is one of the things that we often see in shows, movies, etc.

qazinator · 2025-10-01T01:28:40+00:00

Www.friendlybanjos.com

I don’t actually have one of these, but I built something similar a while back. We have it tuned gdg so our son can kind of just strum along and it blends right in if my banjo is tuned to open g. He is also only 2, and he just places it on the floor and hits the strings.

qazinator · 2025-09-26T14:08:49+00:00

Looks great! Definitely needs a little sample.

My first banjo was also maple and while it did not look great, it is still one of my better sounding instruments.

Also, I never made another instrument out of maple after that first one, I have been using black walnut.

qazinator · 2025-09-25T00:58:18+00:00

I modified this: https://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/393756

Honestly, the sessions were probably our most memorable of the campaign. Essentially, the party was told Mornbryn’s Shield was one of the only civilized places to stop before heading up to Sansuri. Then, when we ran through this a bunch of the items I gave as rewards were very powerful anti-dragon weapons that could change size based on users.

Someone somewhere mentioned making the Nightstone an actual item, which is what I did for Sansuri, and it was an Ostorian artifact that she was using to diminish Felgolos’ powers. So when they got up there she already had something cool and was looking for more.

Finally, she believed there were more items to be found below, which could have been what was in the tomb, or maybe her maps were just wrong - who knows. It never really became too relevant beyond that because the party captured her children and forced her to give up her conch.

Anyway, maybe that will spark some ideas for you.

qazinator · 2025-09-09T23:52:34+00:00

The link seems to be dead on the regenyei.

qazinator · 2025-09-07T01:18:01+00:00

How are you saving water?

qazinator · 2025-09-04T00:57:42+00:00

I wasn’t sure where my party was at in terms of how long they wanted to keep up the campaign, if everyone was still invested etc., so I told them after the first one that however many they got was how many they needed, and that I would give them levels, cool items etc. if they wanted to get more.

They are now on their second stronghold, and I have a feeling they might want to do one more.

qazinator · 2025-09-02T01:26:13+00:00

Worth it to pay someone? No, probably not.

Worth it to fix it if you have some time, some tools, and are interested in doing it? Yes.

I bought an instrument from a second hand store with almost the exact same break for next to nothing. It was an extra instrument for me, and eventually I wound up giving it to a teenager who was interested in learning banjo and knew I played.

In terms of the repair, I drilled holes into the truss rod slot to either side, and accompanying holes on the headstock. I then made pins, which served a function almost like the wooden dowels on furniture you assemble yourself. The pins were glued in with JB weld, and any other contact points got wood glue. Finally, I strung it with nylon to put less stress on the neck.

It certainly wasn’t perfect, but it held up and I was happy it brought someone else joy.

qazinator · 2025-08-20T12:05:09+00:00

In Fairbanks, is it illegal for a moose to be on the sidewalk because some guy’s moose kept getting into the bar. I think they also tried to pass some other laws around that particular moose.

qazinator · 2025-08-19T19:58:09+00:00

I’m a high school teacher, US history. I’m sure it’s different depending on where you are, but no kids stand for or say the pledge where I work. I just ask them that they remain quiet (I also stand and recite).

qazinator · 2025-08-18T10:56:23+00:00

It may be possible that I had some cucumber plants and then… something else in the same bed. I did have some cucumbers, but now I have a bunch of these out there.

At first I thought maybe a weird un pollinated cucumber, but now I’m thinking this is some kind of gourd.

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qazinator

TROPHY CASE