[MR] Fwd: 4th Peerage

[Kelly Keck]

On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 11:21 AM, Hrothgar <thorgrimm at windstream.net> wrote:

> People choose rapier because it's easier
> than fighting. The learning curves are vastly different. To view them as
> equal on any level is just wrong. I have no real issue with fencing. If a
> person is unable physically, emotionally, or financially to participate as a
> fighter but want to get a small taste of what it's like to be on the field,
> then rapier is a fine and wonderful thing. But it shouldn't be considered a
> peerage level pursuit.

Wait, what?  Rapier's easier than armored fighting?  People do rapier
because it's *easy* or because they can't do "real" fighting?  Please
tell me you're not serious.  Would you really tell one of the people
with both a white scarf and a white belt, of which Atlantia has a few,
that only one of the things they excel at--and have worked their
posteriors off to become that skilled at--is "real" fighting?

One could argue that armored fighting is "real" combat and rapier
fighting is not because armored fighting is full contact. Conversely,
one could argue that it's armored combat that's less "real" because it
uses duct-taped rattan to simulate a sword,  while rapier fighting
uses actual metal blades, and because there are shots in armored
combat that simply would not work with real edged weapons.  Both
arguments strike me as a little silly.

Armored fighting and rapier fighting are *different*--different time
period, different armor, different weapons.  But they're both
fighting.  Neither is "real" combat because real combat involves death
and dismemberment and might not sit well with our lawyers.  Both are a
way of trying to recreate a combat form without actually killing each
other.

One of the things I've thought was wonderful about this kingdom is
that we don't seem to have the "armored VERSUS rapier" split that some
others have.  I've seen more people who do both and less sniping about
whose form is better.  The attitude that I've heard from a number of
people is "It's all fighting."  So, hearing a comment like this comes
as something of a shock.

Adriana Michaels