[MR] tents

[Angela Faye Yau]

I appreciate the tent advice as a lurker here... I am also tent shopping and have tried a friend's A frame from fcsuttlery that will fit 2 of us but I'd like something that could sleep 3 for mundane camping and 2 for SCA camping including Pennsic.  The wall tents from fcsuttlery use only ropes for the side walls and those from blockade runner use poles and ropes.  From what I have been told it is better to have poles because your overall footprint including ropes is smaller than with ropes alone.  Can anyone confirm the actual per person tent footprint allotment?  I understand that part of the Pennsic allotment is for your own tent and part is for your overall group camp area.  I'd really like to confirm this before buying a tent so I know that 2 of us or maybe one day just 1 can use the tent for Pennsic in the future. :)  
Thanks in advance,
Lady Faye de Trees