[MR] Siege Weapons at Pennsic

[Lord Mungoe]

On Siege weapons-

Anything with a yellow spiral down the shaft is a Balista bolt. (Sorta looks
like a Marshals Stick.) It makes hole through things and kill you. If you
are standing behind a pavis (Shield on a lean to) and it gets hit, you are
not dead and the pavis does not fall down. Only Rocks and rams can knock
things down.

Believe it or not, they had to make a ruling that battering rams cannot be
used on people. So no hitting people with battering rams.

A Cannon is any weapon that uses combustion, pressured air or water, metal
springs, or any high yeild kinetic energy method of firing a projectile. If
you have bungee cord encased in a large PVC pipe to fire a projectile, as
far as I have been able to find out, it is not a cannon as defined in the
rules. If someone knows of a new society rule and can correct me, do it
asap. I don't want someone sinking money into one of these things.

Siege engines need crews of 2-3 people. Some of you scouts out there that
want to get involved bring your armor to War Assestment. Do not get cheap
armor, the Atlantian engineers believe in close fire support for our army.

Scouts-Get a dry eraser board or chalk board you can carry for map making
and messages. Try to get to war practice.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur Donadio" <dukecuan at hotmail.com>
To: <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>; <atlantianknights at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 2:21 PM
Subject: [MR] Cuan's notes on Pennsic 32


> Unto their Royal Majesties Logan and Isabel, Their Royal Highnesses
Ragnarr
> and Kynebur, Barons and Baronesses of Atlantia, great captains, ensigns,
and
> warriors of every rank and degree come greetings from His Grace, Cuan, Dux
> Bellorum Atlantae:
>
>
> Gracious Majesties and Good Gentles All,
>
> I address you today as Kingdom Warlord.  I have finished reviewing the
rules
> for the upcoming Pennsic conflict and would like to cover some important
> points that will be new and strange to those Atlantians attending the war
in
> August.  Please read this missive thoroughly, and when you have finished,
go
> to WWW.PENNSICWAR.ORG and carefully review the rules and conventions for
> yourself.  I suggest that anyone intending to participate in ANY combat
> related activities at Pennsic print a copy of the rules and carry it to
the
> War.  I include information here about rapier and combat archery.
>
> In this message I will address Pennsic conventions and scheduling first,
> then address training opportunities leading up to the War, and finally
speak
> to matters concerning the organization and operation of the Atlantian
army.
>
> PENNSIC CONVENTIONS AND RULES
>
> There are MANY changes to the rules, conventions, and battle schedule for
> Pennsic 32.  If you would like clarifications on any rules, I suggest you
> contact the War Marshal.  Hopefully, I will anticipate some of your
> questions here.
>
> FACE THRUSTS.  Face thrusting will be closely monitored this year.  As
some
> of you have read, the Society Earl Marshal has declared personal war on
> excessive face thrusting.  Any fighter who engages in excessive face
> thrusting, beyond a "one off" episode, will be removed from combat.  I do
> not know what a "one off" episode is.  What I do know is that the quality
of
> marshalling varies wildly at Pennsic from marshal to marshal.  If someone
> falls onto your spear, resulting in an unintentional excessive face
thrust,
> and witnesses can back that interpretation of events, you will probably be
> O.K.  But that will probably be your "one off" episode.  I suggest that
you
> maintain good communication with your opponents whenever we engage in line
> combat so that misunderstandings are minimized.
>
> Please note that face thrusts that miss and pass a foot beyond the
> opponent's head may be deemed excessive by the marshals.  Also, shots that
> hit the top and sides of the helm when missing the face should also be
> thrown so as to land with the force of a directed touch.  Now, some of us
> have seen shieldmen gaurd their faces with the baskethilt of a sword.  And
> some of us have seen or employed the tactic of trying to dirve the spear
tip
> between the basket and the top of the shield to get to the face.  Some
have
> even driven the spear into the baskethilt over and over again to get the
> fighter to remove his block from in front of the face.  I GUARANTEE THAT
> THIS SORT OF SPEAR OR GLAIVE TACTIC WILL LAND YOU IN MARSHAL'S COURT.  I
do
> not care if it is unrealistic to try to block a spear with a baskethilt,
the
> spearman will lose this argument every time.
>
> Adding to the confusion of face thrust rules is the fact that you may
> encounter thrust and throw javelins that may be thrown at you OR stuck in
> your face.  Also, at Pennsic, buttspikes will be allowed on GREATSWORDS.
I
> mention these because I do not want you to be angry if you are struck with
> the hilt of a greatsword.
>
> If we are not careful and skilfull in our use of face thrusting, we risk
> injuring our opponents and generating numerous irritating holds (usually
at
> inconvenient times from a tactical point of view).  If you are face
> thrusting someone who is not taking your blows, DO NOT CRANK IT UP ABOVE A
> TOUCH.  Pick a different target on that fighter, attack a different
fighter,
> or team up on your opponent.  Please do not cause a hold by calling in a
> marshal.  Generally, we lose more from the hold than we gain by having a
> brief investigation that may or may not result in the offender's removal.
>
> If you are removed from the field for an allegedly excessive thrust,
please
> get the name of the marshal removing you, take a minute to look around and
> notice witnesses that you can identify, and notify the Atlantian Earl
> Marshal, the King, or me, immediately after the battle and before the
> marshal's court convenes. The Kings of the East and Atlantia have an
> agreement that no Atlantian fighter may be hailed into marshal's court
> without the King of Atlantia being given the opportunity to be present.
>
> ARMOR AND WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  Armor may be inspected at the marshal's
tent
> on the main battlefield or by the Atlantian Earl Marshal.  Read this next
> bit carefully:  WEAPONS WILL ONLY BE INSPECTED AT THE MARSHAL'S TENT ON
THE
> FIELD.  WEAPONS WILL ONLY BE INSPECTED AT THE MARSHAL'S TENT ON THE FIELD.
>
> WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE TO INSPECTION?  You must take three things to
> inspection: 1) your Pennsic site medallion, 2) your Atlantian
authorization
> card, 3) a photo ID.  If you lack any of the three you will not be
> inspected.
>
> WHEN SHOULD I GET INSPECTED?  Please get inspected as early as possible.
If
> you can get armor and weapons inspected at the marshal's tent, you will
save
> yourself and EM Alan Gravesend a lot of headaches.  Please note that the
> Woods Battle is scheduled for MONDAY this year.  Marshals tent will close
> about an hour before the 11:00am battle.  If you wait until Monday morning
> to try to get your weapons inspected, you may well miss the battle.  More
on
> the Woods Battle later.
>
> WEAPONS STANDARDS.  There will be buttspikes on some greatswords that you
> will face.  Maximum spear length is 9 feet.  7.5 foot long unpadded
polearms
> may be used (and may be used by Atlantians under our current law).  Thrust
> and throw siloflex javelins will be used (those will have 12" of blue tape
> at the head end of the shaft).
>
> SIEGE WEAPONS.  I refer you to Lord Mungo McKlinchey for specific siege
> weapons questions.
>
> COMBAT ARCHERY.  ALL ATLANTIAN ARCHERS FALL UNDER THE PENNSIC CONVENTION
FOR
> "MEDIUM ARCHERS".  This means that Atlantian archers must have WHITE
PHEONS
> ON THE HELM, and be armored according to SCA minimums with a full gauntlet
> or hockey glove on the bow hand and a half gauntlet on the string hand.
> Medium archers are killed by a touch.  There will be heavy archers at
> Pennsic who look like regular fighters (no pheons), and light archers who
> wear white diamonds on helm AND tabard.  Light archers are "called" dead
by
> a fighter within 10' and will not take the field, but will shoot from the
> sidelines.  Fighters must know the differences between archers.  Please do
> not hit the wrong kind of archer.  Please note that Baldar Egg Blunts may
> not be used at Pennsic.  Full archery rules may be found at the Pennsic
> website at sections 2.4 et supra.
>
> WAR POINT BATTLES AND OTHER COMBAT EVENTS OF NOTE
>
> WOODS BATTLE, MON. AUG. 11, at 11:00am.  Atlantia will muster at 10:00am
on
> the side of the woods closest to the camping area.  If this is your first
> Pennsic, plan to get a vehicle to camp from the parking area early in
order
> to ferry you, your buddies and your gear to the muster point.  PLEASE get
> inspected on Sunday or be at the marshal's tent as early as possible on
> Monday morning so you do not miss the battle.
> Remember to take ID, auth. card, and Pennsic medallion.  Do not miss what
> most Atlantians find to be the most fun battle of the war.
>
> The woods battle is different this year.  We will be allowed to enter the
> woods and set up anywhere along the western edge of the banner zone.  Yes,
> that's right, both forces will set up in the woods.  The three banners
will
> be in the positions we established several years ago.  They may be moved
for
> 2 minutes after capture, but may not be planted within 50 yards of another
> banner.  To resurrect, you will still need to walk out to the edge of the
> woods per usual.  The battle will last 1.5 hours and the victor will be
the
> holder of two of three banners at the final cannon.
>
> I do advise, once again, that you do not wait until Monday morning to get
> your harness and weapons inspected.
>
> OLDCASTLE SILVER ANNIVERSARY TOURNAMENT, MON. AUG. 11, 3pm.  I ask all
> Atlantians to come out to the Green List to celebrate the 25th anniversary
> of a legendary Atlantian dynasty.  Hope to see you there.
>
> CASTLE BATTLE PART I, TUES. AUG. 12, 10:00am.  Muster behind/inside the
fort
> at 9:00am.  We and the East will be defending in part I of this battle.
> Look forward to lots of objects flying through the air, as combat archery
> and siege and thrown weapons will be employed in this battle.  We will
need
> plenty of archers and long weapons for this one.
>
> ATLANTIAN BATTLE, TUES. AUG. 12, 6pm.  Stay tuned for possible schedule
> change on this one.  HRM Middle wanted to fight a battle between the
Middle
> and Atlantia.  It looks like we drew the dinner slot.
> As I said stay tuned for details.
>
> CASTLE BATTLE PART II, WEDS. AUG. 13, 10:00am.  Muster before the fort at
> 9:00am.  We will be attacking.
>
> KNOWNE WORLD SQUIRES TOURNEY, WEDS. AUG 13, 3pm.  This has become a very
> popular tourney created by HRM Logan to showcase the talents of the
unbelts
> and foster contacts between the future leaders of the kingdoms.  Please
come
> out and support this tourney.  Knights need to be present to sign in their
> students, or designate a knight to foster them for the purposes of the
> tourney.
>
> BRIDGE BATTLES, THURS. AUG. 14, 10am.  Muster at 9:00am on the main
> battlefield.  This battle will be fought over three bridges.  Three
battles
> will be fought, with the victor taking two of three.  Victory in each
battle
> is achieved by either wiping out the other side, or holding the midpoint
of
> two of three bridges at the end of the battle.
>
> HEROIC CHAMPIONS, THURS. AUG. 14, 2pm.  These are individual champions
> fights.  The number of slots afforded Atlantia depends on the number of
> allies fighting for the East.  Their Majesties will have me inform those
> fighters tapped for duty in the Heroics as soon as we know how many slots
we
> have to fill.
>
> RAPIER CHAMPIONS BATTLE, THURS. AUG. 14, 4pm.  Main battlefield.
> Participants will be determined by their Majesties.  Please note that this
> combat is limited to "schlagers and other heavy rapier blades only".
>
> FIELD BATTLE, FRI. AUG. 15, 10am.  Main battlefield.  Standard battle to
the
> last man.  Muster at 9:00am.  Note that counting gates will be employed
for
> this battle; please do not be late.
>
> ALLIED CHAMPIONS, FRI. AUG. 15, 2pm.  Muster at the main battlefield at
> 1:00pm.  Rules for this battle, including numbers of participants, time
> limits, and victory conditions, will be negotiated by the allied Crowns.
> This battle is the last War Point heavy battle.  I will encourage His
> Majesty to push for wide participation so that we may include as many
> Atlantians as possible.  This battle my very well decide the war.  Since
> this is the one battle the rules of which His Majesty and I may influence,
I
> gaurantee that we  will look for maximum fun and minimum B.S.  His Majesty
> and I will try to publish a roster for this battle by early Thursday.
>
> FINAL THOUGHTS ON PENNSIC
>
> Please do not complain to me about the rules.  I did not write them.
> Rather, I would ask that you arm yourselves with a thorough knowledge of
the
> rules so that you may adapt accordingly.  The rules will hit everyone the
> same, so embrace them and enjoy your vacation.
>
> The battles this year do seem to play to Midrealm strengths (or at least
> mask the Mid's weaknesses).  Only the field battle will allow the East to
> potentially gain an immediate advantage through speed of movement.  The
> Woods has been changed to eliminate the East's sprint to the flags, the
> bridges and castles potentially restrict the East's flanking ability.  The
> theme of Pennsic this year will be the stand up fight.
>
> UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
>
> WINDMASTERS HILL BARONIAL CHAMPIONS, JUNE 27-29.  I will conduct an open
> discussion on tactics and leadership in the SCA combat environment.  I
will
> also be willing to do some work in armor as long as it does not interfere
> with the event.
>
> KINGS ASSESSMENT BATTLES, JULY 11-13.  PLEASE make every effort to attend
> this event if you are planning on going to Pennsic.  We will have a lot of
> fun doing melee training at a neat hilltop site in Buena Vista, Va.  This
> will be our last chance to test our readiness as an army.
>
> LAST CHANCE AUTHORIZATION EVENT, JULY 26.  This event, centrally located
in
> Petersburg, Va., offers the last chance to authorize for Pennsic.  You
must
> be authorized by July 31, 2003 in order to fight at Pennsic.
>
> ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
>
> Lord Gruffyd (sp?) has kindly agreed to help me set up a Warlord website.
> Give me some time on this though, because this tech stuff is way outside
of
> my comfort zone.  Look for something online in the near future, but the
site
> won't be finished for awhile.
>
> I would like to thank Count Thorbrandr and Sir Vladimir for their work
with
> the Northern Region.  At this time, HRH Ragnarr is assuming command of the
> Northern Region.  Please support him as you have supported Tbone and Vlad.
>
> I would like to see Regional Commanders encouraging those running local
> practices to include some melee work during the run up to Pennsic and
> continuing as we approach Crusades in October.
>
> Thanks for your patience with a long post.  I think it is more important
to
> lay things out at the risk of boring folks rather than have a bunch of
folks
> lost and confused at Pennsic.
>
> Take care all,
>
> Cuan
>
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