[MR] KASF-A word from HRM Ragnarr

[c kane]

Unto the populace of Atlantia does King Ragnarr send greetings.
   
  Before this discussion gets too out of hand, I feel the need to set a few things straight.
   
  First let me say that the event staff did not have fighting activities forced upon them.  I was first contact back on June 27Th of 2006 about the possibility of having fighting at KASF by the person putting in a bid to autocrat the event.
   
  Thanks,
I am putting a bid together for Kingdom A&S and the idea was brought up 
that maybe a war collage would be a good . Since you will be on the 
Throne during  that time i wanted to get your input on the idea before i 
submit. The site will support marshal activities. I have sent a note to 
the warlord but have not heard back. any inputs would be welcome
     matt of marinus

   
  I talked with Matthew of Marinus about the idea at Pennsic and told him that I was in favor of it.  I also told him that Baron Mongo had talked about trying to hold a "Winter War Assessment" and perhaps they should talk to make sure that they wouldn't be duplicating each others efforts.  I spoke with Mongo at Twelfth Night about training before Gulf War XVI.  I informed him that while I was in favor of a "Winter War Assessment" that the months of January and February were booked due to the need to do four Baronial investitures during that time period.  I talked with Baron Mongo about the Sergeants of St. Aiden hosting the war practice at KASF.  On the way home from Twelfth Night I was reading my January Acorn and noticed in the flier for KASF that a "war college for heavy and rapier" was already on the schedule.  The same information is in the flier for the February Acorn as well as in the flier on line.  
   
  As the event got closer I was in contact with Baron Turgeis about the format of the war college and tasked him to contact HRH Valharic about how it should be run.  As HRH Valharic has been the Kingdom Warlord for at least the last 3 years I felt this to be appropriate.  HRH Valharic and I talked about how the martial activities should be run and we decided that we would come up with some scenarios to run and turn the practice over to Sir Sinclair to run.  This was done for a couple of reasons.  One was to allow Sir Sinclair to get a little more hands on practice leading the troops since he is slated to replace HRH Valharic as the next warlord of Atlantia.  The second was to free up HRH Valharic to be able to perform whatever duties he might have as Prince and as a member of the Order of the Laurel.
   
  I bring all of this up so that people will know that this was not dumped on the event staff at the last minute.  As far as having to scramble for an MOL and a Marshal, I believe that was a disconnect in the planning.  It was never brought to me by the event staff that they were planning a non contact, classroom only type of "war college".  In over 15 years of martial combat, I have never attended a "war college", nor any sort of actual instructional class on armored combat or rapier that did not involve the putting on of gear and wielding of weapons at some point.  This includes many different sessions of Atlantian University where I had to sign in with the MOL so that I could participate in a class.  I believe there was simply a misunderstanding with the event staff over what was needed to run a "war college".  I believe that the issue has been address and many wonderful Atlantians have stepped up and volunteered to either marshal or mol.
   
  The last thing I will bring up is my opinion about the validity of fighting at KASF.  For those who would rail against having fighting at KASF I would remind them that there are arts and sciences activities at almost every event, even those whose main focus is fighting.  This includes every major War, Crown Tourneys, and even Tournament of Chivalry.  I have never heard a fighter complain, "how dare they have an A&S competition at Crown Tourney, or Tournament of Chivalry, etc".  I only have to look as far back as Dun Carraig's A Day in the Middle East to find an event where A&S was allowed and fighting was not.  In the flier for that event under martial activities it states that there would be none as it was a day to relax with your friends.  This relaxing atmosphere did not keep there from being many A&S activities held.  
   
  I bring that event up as an example.  The autocrat felt that for the mood of the event that fighting was a bit too hectic but that it was alright to hold A&S activities.  That is the autocrats prerogative and as far as I know, no fighter died by attending the event and not being able to fight.  I say this because there were many authorized fighters who still showed up to support the event even though they couldn't take the field. In fact the event was very well attended and the day was very enjoyable.  I thank again the Barony of Dun Carraig for their hospitality.
   
  For those who may not realize it, this is not the first time there has been fighting at KASF.  When fighting was held at KASF before, it did not take away from the focus of the day.  There was not a tournament held that needed to be announced, and the monarch showed up and chose not to fight to have enough time to focus on the artistic activities. The fighting took place away from the artistic displays and no one had their artwork moved or altered to accommodate the fighting. All that fighting at KASF did before was give the army a chance to train before a major war and increase the size of the event for the hosting group.  When a war practice is an option you will get some people to attend who otherwise would not or in some cases could not otherwise.  The would not is the fighter who might enjoy looking at the A&S for a bit but doesn't have a strong enough interest to hold his attention for a whole day.  The could not is the non fighter who might not have the way to get
 to the event or the motivation to go by themselves.  So the event has a better attendance and makes more money, which is better for the hosting group and the kingdom.  The A&S person who otherwise wouldn't have been there gets to show up, and perhaps the fighter who wouldn't have come gets inspired by what they take the time to look at.  I guess I just don't see what the big harm is in having a "war college" at KASF.
   
  I will close with one last thought.  No one is being forced to participate in the "war college".  No one is being held at weapon's point and ordered to practice.  No one has been threatened with never being knighted if they don't show up and practice.  If you don't want to practice, are not going to Gulf War XVI, or have an A&S activity that is your focus for the day, no one is going to force you to practice.
   
  If anyone wants to discuss this matter with me, they are welcome to contact me off list either by phone or email or find me at the event.  I thank everyone for their time and patience in reading this.
   
  In service to Atlantia and Her people,
   
  Ragnarr
  Rex 
   
   
   
   
   
   

 
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