[MR] NOCK requirements

[Velsthe1 at aol.com]

When it comes to eye-protection, everyone should already have adequate armor to protect from SCA-legal weapons. All weapons are required to be at least 1 1/4 inches in width. To adopt additional protection becuase one weapon does not conform to the SCA Standard is, quite honestly, ludicrous. 

To willingly walk onto the field and knowingly use an unsafe weapon, a weapon that does not comply with the minimum standards for weapons in the SCA, is irresponsible, if not malicious. Yes, a heavy fighter is responsible for his own safety, but that a heavy's weapons are safe to be used on someone else is also _their_own_ responsibility. To simply expect that the armored fighters should be solely responsible for safety on the field is equally arrogant and foolish. We are all culpable if an unsafe act is perpetrated on the field, and no one does anything to prevent it.

Now, if I understand correctly. The expectation here is that a heavy fighter must permenantly alter their helmet so a munition that has to be replaced regularly doesn't have to be replaced with a safer model? Considering the ofteness that arrows shafts have to be replaced after being used in battle, one would expect this wouldn't be a major problem. A helm may have to be replaced, if not repairable, after decade, if not more. When one also considers that after the initial investment, the heads and APD nocks are, more often than not, able to be mounted on replacement shafts with little more effort and almost no additional cost.

Not to insult any archers in Atlantia, but there is little reason for them to complain.  The rules for Combat Archery here sustain that they are not viable targets, and hence, have little to no chance of injury. Meanwhile, Archers in Atlantia may freely attack anyone else on the field, save for other archers. Heavy fighters, on the other hand, may not engage with an archer, after running completely across the field, dodging arrows the entire way. So, while archers (of Atlantia) are reaping the full benefits of fun with the least likelyhood of injury, it hardly seems they 'are always the ones expected to make concessions'. If any of this seems inflamatory, that is not my intention, merely my observation on the matter.

For the record, I am an Authorized Combat Archer, and have been in several Kingdoms, so I've fielded on both sides of a bow. Something to bear in mind though: Many times when you are taking aim at heavies on the other side of the field, they're your friends. It's one thing when you think about it as an 'Us and Them' issue, quite another when you think about it as your friends. If you don't think enough of your friends that their safety is less important than your convenience, then I wouldn't say they are friends. Sure, goggles might work for protecting the eyes, but there is still the chance for other facial injury. I make sure my sword, axe and spear aren't unsafe, out of mutual respect, I'd hope the same from any archer I face.


Vels, called Landstrykkr