[MR] Marshal Questions

[David Wendelken]

I'm pleased to say that, by and large, all the squires who responded
followed directions.

 

This is a major improvement over my days as a squire... :)

 

 

Here are the numbers, plus commentary where appropriate:

 

 

 

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1) Are you an armoured combat marshal?

 

Yes     7

Expired 1

No      3

 

 

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2) If not, are you a marshal in training?

 

Yes  2

No   1

N/A  8

 

 

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3) Do you think every squire should be an armoured combat marshal?

 

Yes 8

No  3

 

 

"I believe that any experienced fighter should be a marshall.  Any
experienced fighter should be able to marshal a fight."

 

"I think that every *fighter* should strive to be an armoured combat
marshal.  It behooves every fighter to understand the intimate workings of
the ruleset we play within."

 

"No, some people, either squires or knights, just do not have the
temperament to be a marshal and should never have that role in our society.
I think it would be better for some to not be a marshal than a really bad
one. "

 

"Not everyone has the observational ability and objectivity to be a
marshal."

 

"<expletive deleted> Yes! During my time as a marshal, my most blatant
offenders were squires, knights , and royalty."

 

"Can you imagine asking every NBA player to become certified as a referee?
Those separate talents will not be found in all players.

 

OTOH, if every knight were also a marshal, then the squires naturally would
follow."

 

"I think it is a good way for us to provide service to our community."

 

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4) Do you think that every potential squire should be an armoured combat
marshal before (or shortly after) they are squired?

 

Yes   7

Maybe 1

No    3

 

"Is it a requirement that every Knight be an armoured marshal?  If so, then
I feel it should be a part of Squirehood.  ...  Squires should aspire to
surpass the expectations of the rank and file fighter - the SCA is service
organization, after all.  However, I feel that mandating service runs the
possibility of belittling the service given."

 

"It spreads work load around. There was a point many years ago when for
about 2 years, I marshaled everything in ... because there was a shortage of
marshals.  Don't get me wrong, it's really fun to always stand on the field
getting a sunburn watching everyone else fights and then listen to them
complain that they never get to see me fight."

 

"Service is part of our goal."

 

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5) Since we share the combat field with combat archers, should squires also
be combat archery marshals?

 

Yes 6

No  4

 

"Archery is a very specialized skill.  Marshalling it should only be by
those who are very experienced archers."

 

"'Marshals'" should be 'Combat Archery Marshals'.  We don't have separate
marshaling requirements for spears versus two-sword, why do we for CA?  If
we make the CA marshaling information part of the standard marshal's
courses, then there's less perceived division."

 

"No. I do however think squires should be well rounded and authorized in as
many weapons forms as possible, including CA.  So, what about the knights?"

 

"I don't see the justice of forcing someone to marshal a discipline in which
s/he does not participate."

 

"At the very least they should become authorized combat archers, so they
know that set of rules."

 

"Depends upon the knight."  (This answer explains why the total responses
are 1 less than the other questions, as it is not counted as an opinion held
by the squire to one answer or the other.)

 

 

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Commentary:

 

This is not a scientific poll.   There were 12 responses.

 

I edited out personally identifying information and personal comments about
their personal status.    If any respondent feels I botched the job of
condensing their opinion into a standardized format, feel free to contact me
and I'll make the necessary amendments.

 

 

I did not count the individual who expressed the following opinion in any of
the answers enumerated above:

 

"I think squires should be and do whatever they are told to do by their
knight, it is his/her job to decide when marshalling is needed."

 

I did count one individual who responded who was not a squire.  The
individual in question is a respected member of the fighter community.  His
answer was "Yes" to #1,3,4,5 and N/A to #2 in case you feel the need to
factor them out.

 

One person asked, "What of the knights?"

 

I can only speak for myself.  I would be surprised if anyone couldn't guess
my answer to most of the questions, but I'll make my bias clear just to be
sure:

 

1) Yes.

2) N/A.

3) Yes.

4) Yes.

5) Yes, but I have not yet done so.  My travel schedule has not enabled me
to travel to the few events where combat archery is used for the last
several years. :(

 

 

Yours in Service,

 

Andras Salamandra