[Archers] Lochmere Arrow – Rules Draft

[Siegfried]

As a general statement, the Lochmere Arrow has been a 'living shoot', that has changed over time to match the 'state of archery' at that time.  Moving from a B&B shoot, to a 'chosen Baronial team' shoot, to a 'any group but only 1 team' shoot, to the more inclusive shoot it is today.    It also started as just a Royal Round, and now is completely focused on 'fun'/'roving range' shoots.

To that end, I (personally) wouldn't like to see the rules for it codified, for I feel that doing so would actually lose some of the sparkle that is what the shoot is and has become, and what it might become in the future.

However, there are some 'traditions' that have been upheld over the last, let's say, 15 years or so of the competition at least ...

So, to answer Seamus' statements, in line with 'the tradition', I would say:

> The Lochmere Arrow is a competition between the Baronies/Shires/ Cantons of Atlantia.

Correct, though one might better just say 'The Local Groups' of Atlantia.  For one could see a College, or an incipient group, or a stronghold, or, any other group type compete that might exist now, or in the future, in ATalntia

> Teams of 2 members compete together (and all the stations are designed 
> around a concept of a team shooting together). (ARE there any limitations on target designs?)

I wouldn't say that there are any limitations.   Traditionally there have been a small-set number of targets, to keep the shooting possible even if dozens of teams show up.

And given that the targets are designed for a 'team of 2' to shoot, they are usually (or best perhaps) designed to be 'fun to watch' as well.

To that same end, since the shoot is the one dedicated 'team shoot' that we do.  The best years are those where all (or as many as possible) of the shoots actually take team shooting and team strategy into account.   Targets that require both shooting at the same time, or making decisions as to who shoots each target.  Playing follow the leader, etc.

> To actually WIN the coveted Arrow for your Group, both members of the 
> team must be from the same local group, and only Atlantian groups may win.

Actually for a number of years we had some teams from Sylvan Glen shooting, and at the time we were *shrug* "Sure why not?"   We figured that as long as they were willing to host the shoot, should they win it.   What was the harm.   Afterall, what Atlantian would DARE let another group from out of Kingdom win.  The shame!

So dunno if we ever put a strong BUT NO YOU CAN'T WIN on non-atlantian groups, but it's also not really been a problem.  IE,   No 'ringer teams' from other kingdoms have travelled for days to come and 'take it'.

> CAN: Winners can or cannot shoot this competition in consecutive years? Or the Designers of the competition cannot compete for the Lochmere arrow.

Actually, on that one there's been a very strong tradition of the winners are the designers, and they compete for it to retain the arrow as well.

Honor would dictate that while they are designing the range & setting it up, and therefore COULD have an advantage, that they do anything possible to minimize that.  Such as not preshooting/practicing the course.  Nor designing shoots with tricky yardage and then pacing/measuring it exactly so that they know it.

Society of Honor afterall.   But this is how it's always been done.  (versus the Royal Archer, who instead doesn't ever compete on his/her own shoot)

> Each group MAY provide more than one team if they wish, as many as you wish.

Yup, for many MANY years now  (As we changed that when we started getting enough archers in Atlantia to field 10 teams from a single group)

> Mixed teams, and teams from outside of Atlantia are allowed to compete, 
> have fun, and a prize will be provided for the best non-able-to-win team score.

Dunno about that.  I mean, it's NICE if there's a best non-able-to-win team prize.  But dunno if we've ever 'required that there be one'.   But yes, we'd allowed people to form mixed teams just to make sure that everyone got to shoot the range.

> Should it be a (1) Bow competition?

Per Atlantian tradition, (See Marshal's Handbook), no it shouldn't, unless the designer/runner of that particular shoot choose to make it a 1 bow competition, in which case that's their choice for that time, but it should be announced well in advance.

My 2 cents,
Siegfried

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