[MR] [Marshalls] Fighters by Kingdom

[Sandi Rust]

Allo to the Tavern,
 
The dearth of marshals (especially heavy armored) is a common topic with my husband. Many HAC (heavy armored combattants) are more inclined to fight than to play "safety officer". I was informed by a fighter who was working towards a marshallate that he has to go OUT OF REGION to complete his Marshallate training. In my opinion, that is ludicrist; especially in these days of soaring gas prices. As I understand it, all the safety rules are pretty much standard throughout the kingdom, if not all the kingdoms. Why do they have to go out of region? Shouldn't we be making it easier to get a marshallate warrant instead of harder? I can understand the necessity to MIT at "X" number of events and to see "tested" by more than one marshal in more than one canton or barony and let the applicant choose how far they can travel. 
 
If there were more marshals, my husband could play in his armor more (except for fighter practice) and his pretty "sticks" could actually get some damage to them. He hasn't had to completely replace one for over a year. The ones he did, I know one was from before we moved back to Atlantia 7 years ago.
 
Please, please, please let's think of incintives to bring folk into the marshallate. 
 
It's pretty sad when I can count the number of local (two baronies) active (or partly active) HAC marshals on a hand and a half.
 
Marie Hélène of the New Forest (San)

--- On Mon, 6/27/11, sigrune at aol.com <sigrune at aol.com> wrote:


From: sigrune at aol.com <sigrune at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [MR] [Marshalls] Fighters by Kingdom
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Date: Monday, June 27, 2011, 4:30 AM


Greetings unto all,

I recently moved just outside of Atlantia, and upon reading the rules here, I chose to seek to become a marshal.

I have participated for over 20 years, and I had intended to give back long before this.

While I was in Atlantia, I chose not to try to become warranted for one reason, the process and expectations of getting and maintaining one's warrant. I have spoken in private about this to some in the past, but will speak publicly now, since a question of numbers has been raised and it seems that there is a disadvantage that needs addressing to the benefit of all. (This applies to more than the marshallate in my opinion, but I will speak of this one only since it is the one raised)

The warranting process in Atlantia has more requirements than I see in other Kingdoms (I have not done a in depth comparison kingdom by kingdom, but only those I have lived in over the years or when a point has been raised in a multi-kingdom discussion). Atlantian policy is more codified and rigid, classes must be undertook, requirements of travel must be met.  It is not enough by the written policy to demonstrate the knowledge of the rules, performance of duty, and competency to several marshals with the power to warrant have seen and tested enough to determine warranting or continued review (or a flat out denial). I myself found it a sufficient detractor for a number of reasons, most notably the expectation of travel in order to learn to perform a volunteered service on my part.

I am not speaking to judge why this is the policy, there may have been abuses or warranted concern for potential abuse, or other factors I do not see.  I simply am stating the policy to become and maintain a warrant in Atlantia while I lived there was beyond what I was willing to do to volunteer.  Having traveled to numerous kingdoms, seen and talked with their marshals, fought under their watch, gone through their inspections, I have not detected a noticeable increase in the ability of an Atlantian marshal to perform diligently compared to those outside it. I would further state, I have on more occasions had pause listening or witnessing a marshal misread, misquote, or misjudge a rule more often in Atlantia than with marshals of other kingdoms, though this could be accountable at the difference in time I spent in kingdom and outside it.

>From my own experience in the matter, I humbly proffer the suggestion the Crown and Officers of Atlantia look at their policy as written, and consider the benefits it offers now as well as its potential detriments to a greater level of participation in the warranted volunteer positions.

Sincerely, and with respect intended,

-Lord Takeda Sanjuichiro Akimasa.




-----Original Message-----
From: deallac <deallac at juno.com>
To: marshalls <marshalls at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org>
Cc: atlantia <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Sun, Jun 26, 2011 2:57 pm
Subject: Re: [MR] [Marshalls] Fighters by Kingdom

Unto my fellow Atlantians, greetings from Kevin of Thornbury.As a member of the Order of the Pelican in Atlantia, I must say that Ido not like these numbers at all. I did a quick analysis of the ratioof armored fighters to marshalls and our beloved kindgom is rankedsolidly at the bottom of the list where it comes to this service.In Atlantia, for every 10 armored fighters there is one person whoserves to marshal them. Across the SCA, there is a marshal for anaverage of only three (or so) armored fighters.This is not a call for more non-combatants to stand out in a field andwatch the rest of us play. This is a call for more of my brothers andsisters in arms to study and train as a marshal in order to bettershow courtesy and respect for all who work to ensure our safety.My resulting list is shown here for your consideration:Aethelmearc 4.55Ansteorra 1.88An Tir 2.42Artemisia 2.51Atenvelt 5.00Atlantia 10.35Caid 4.35Calontir 3.18Drachenwald 3.85Eldormere
 1.91East 5.07Glenn Abhann 5.84Lochac 1.98Meridies 0.99Middle 6.30Northshield 2.55Outlands 7.00Trimaris 3.09West 2.19SCA-wide 3.26- Kevin of Thornbury, OPOn Mon,
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