[Archers] Pennsic Archer Champions (Masters) Team.

[John Atkins]

Fen,
First and foremost, THANK YOU for understanding.  While it may seem that
the Atlantian DEM has enough say so to appoint folks to the Masters
Team, that if often not the case.  At best, we can "suggest" archers we
feel are worthy.  As I said, if they get selected or not is often out of
our hands regardless of how we feel about it.  
 
This may come as a great surprise to many, but when others do not get a
chance to participate in such things as the Masters Shoot, who are
worthy but due to politics do not, it bothers me a great deal.  There is
an archer who attends Gulf Wars and Pennsic who shoots real horse bows
and is a very good archer, getting off some 14 arrows in 30 seconds,
Jerrod is his name I believe.  He made a comment to me several Pennsic's
ago that caused me serious reconsideration.  As Jerrod is a very good
and very fast archer he told me that he used to go to a lot of mundane
shoots.  As he approached the sign up table other archers would say "Oh,
he's here, withdraw my name, we can't beat him."  It is for that very
reason that I have insisted at every single SAAD we have ever done that
there be categories of shooters based on scores at one shooting station
known only to the MIC.  That way even a novice shooter has a chance to
win something.  Just imagine a shooter who has been doing archery for
three weeks going up against Jonathas, Gregge, Seamus, Colum or
Siegfried.  Perhaps that is the source of the age old argument of
crossbow versus handbow fairness?!?!  While, to some, I may seem callous
and uncaring, that simply is not the case, nor is it with any who have
preceded me or followed me in the position of Atlantian TA DEM.  To use
a Clintonism "I feel your pain."
 
The issue of winning has been a "problem" of some of the principal
kingdom archery DEMs in the past, one in particular.  To win the war
point one side need only win by a single point.  There really is no need
to crush your opponent.  As you said below, were it not for the war
point, the other side at Pennsic may just concede the shoot to the side
that "wins every time".
 
So, in moving forward, all hail Nuala and those who have instigated the
Atlantian Pennsic Novelty Shoot.  Perhaps, and no real surprise here,
Atlantia can prove to the known world that 1 - archery can be fun, 2 -
archery should be fun, 3 - there are shoots that can be done that are
fun, 4 - and EVERYONE can participate!  
 
cog
Hard work spotlights the character of people.
Some turn up their sleeves,
some turn up their noses,
and some don't turn up at all.
Sam Ewing

-----Original Message-----
From: fenrisulven at comcast.net [mailto:fenrisulven at comcast.net] 
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 3:32 PM
To: John Atkins
Cc: archers at atlantia.sca.org; loreleielkins at aol.com
Subject: Re: [Archers] Pennsic Archer Champions (Masters) Team.



At full risk of reigniting the "flames" of the selection process for the
masters team at Pennsic a little clarification from one who has had to
"play these politics" before.
 
No worries. Siegfried gently corrected my ignorance when this last came
up.  I fully understand now that, because it is tied to war points,
politics is in play. For example, the East might negotiate to trade 2
archery slots to an ally with subpar shooters in exchange for their two
dozen elite spearmen. Its the larger strategic picture.
 
Now, having said all of this, please know that if you show up at the
practice/try outs and shoot well you stand a very good chance of making
the team, given enough places and how well you do.  Some years there are
20 places some years there are only 10
 
That was not my experience. 4 of 30 slots available one year, then 6 of
30 available the next.  Before I even tried out.
 
But know that in the past it was CRITICAL for the East to not just win
this competition but to do it's best to crush the opponent.
 
I think thats the heart of the problem.  I don't feel the need to crush
them by 50 points.  If you're running your team like Marine Corps boot
camp, if there's yelling and screaming, if your guests are being brought
to tears, if veteran archers need to be talked down from quiting the SCA
altogether, if people like me are skipping Pennsic because the drama
ruins their Pennsic "experience", if the other team is so demorialized
from the annual beatings that they can't muster enough to field a
team... then you are doing something wrong.  I think most of us prefer
the competition over the win. In other venues, I've been on elite teams
that so dominated the game that we ended up holding barren terrain - no
one wanted to play with us.  Not fun.
 
But, due to turn over, it's like Kevin Costner in Postman, "Things are
getting better.  Things are getting better all the time"
 
Agreed.  I'm just thrilled that the principals involved are listening to
feedback and making an attempt to improve things.  Even though its their
game and we are invited guests. 
 
I know I was vitriolic last time this came up - please understand I had
strong feelings about it, and because my RL involves launching political
attacks and bloodying people, I sometimes have difficulty dialing it
down.  I'm working on that ;)  
 
 
Cheers
Fen  
 
 

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