God... The clothing is soooo... Yuck. I mean, I know they're there for 2 whole weeks and it's hotter than hell, but even the royalty look like they litterally threw on a bed sheet and stuck a belt around it!

Of course, my personal goal is always to be damn near the best dressed on the site, regardless of weather. Not saying it's should be *everybody's* goal, of course, but aren't the royalty supposed to set an example for their kingdom at Pennsic? Ah well... The SCA was never one for conventions...

This chickie I used to know was always so fond of dressing to be seen - and all about being stopped for having her photo taken by strangers. THAT was just a little too self-sentered for me. HEY - I ain't saying you are self centered! Your post brought back that conversation to mind.

TrimarASS!

That is too funny - and so obvious!

Nah... I'm just all about lookin' goooooood. ;) I seriously hate having my photograph taken, though. I can look cute as a proverbial button but once a camera is pointed in my general viscinity, I transform into Dork Girl. Must be my inner true nature coming forth...

Not your inner true nature - you just need to learn how to make love to the camera!

Ooooh baby!

Yeah, I am learning how to "act natural" for the camera. I swear, it was something that didn't even occur to me until I was about 23 or so. My mom finally pointed out to me that I make "fake" smiles for the camera and told me to just stretch the corners of my mouth a little without breaking into a full grin. Of course, I had a big relapse on my wedding day... All the photos of me have this huge, dumb, shit-eating grin. The photographer is a friend of the family and when we went camping last weekend he chewed me out for not being a good picture subject. LOL!

I think the first - disenchantment, I guess you'd call it - about the SCA was the wide range of costuming. Some authentic, some generic, some way out there (like the guy wearing a wicker paper plate holder on his chest. WTF?) My main reason for getting hooked up with this club is costumes. It was surprising that not everyone loved clothes as much as I did!

Well, remember, not everybody's in the club for the same reason. The people who are just there for the fighting and/or drinking only dress up because a "reasonable attempt" is required.

I know; I'm just saying that, in my short-sighted love of clothes, it didn't occur to me that everyone wouldn't feel the same way. :P

Well, I feel ya on that one. Clothes matter the most to me in this game (I'm ready to look "soooo good!"), so it's always a major shock to the system to see what people will settle for.

Well, gotta tell you guys, from the other side, it's hard to believe we fighters can put on armor, go out and fight in ridiculous heat, and so many people can't be bothered to watch. However, at this point I can't complain. For a long time I've been struggling with the fighting community to make tournaments more watchable, as we've moved from elaborate fields with banners and heralds to 'speed tourneys' with 50 guys all swinging at each other at the same time, so we can hurry up and get to the melees.
You non-fighters out there, help me by giving me suggestions as to what would make fighting more watchable. I am always surprised to hear what people like to see.

How about Jumbotrons? The Atlasphere? Mud-wrestling consorts between each round?

Hm. Since I'm from a different Kingdom, we may not have the same kinds of tourneys you guys do in Trimaris, but I'll offer my suggestions based upon the style of tourney here in the West (which, incidentally, SUCKS in terms of holding an audience). From a non-fighter's point of view, it's a couple of guys in armor beating each other up with wooden sticks in a large circular enclosure, around which are parked the pavillions of major offices (Royal pavillion, Chiurgeon, Herald's Point, Waterbearer's station, etc) and the pavillions of the general populace who can afford to have a "period encampment". I'll take a minute to explain that the Eric (which may or may not be called that in Trimaris for all I know) is where our "period encampments" are located. They form a boundry around the Eric itself, and provide a little perioid atmosphere. Since the West does primarily camping events, this means that people are essentially living around the perimiter of the Eric, and therefore those who have the means to camp on the Eric are the ones with the best views.

This gets to the heart of the matter: The view of the Eric is always being blocked by people who are either monopolizing the camping area around the Eric, or are standing in front of said Eric campers. This works for no one. There needs to be a way to set up the Eric so that people from the general "non Eric camping" populace will have a place to sit and watch in comfort without blocking anyone's view. Ideally, this would be something in the order of a bandstand. However, it's completely not feasable due to cost, insurance and someone would have to lug the thing out to events, set it up, tear it down and lug it back. So, the problem goes unfixed and the result is that watching the List is somewhat of a hassle for nearly everyone involved.

However, I think the Westerners are a hearty and forgiving bunch because there's always a huge crowd gathered around for the "important" tourneys, such as Crown or Coronet. Also, I hear the remedy to the audience viewing problem will be rememdied if and when the West Kingdom ever finds a suitable plot of land to purchase for the staging of major Kingdom events. As I understand it, a List arena would be built, complete with stands for the crowds and a viewing gallery for the ladies/consorts/royalty/etc. The Kingdom has the money to buy the land, it's just never actually found a place that everyone likes within 50 miles of Sacramento.

Sigh.

L-BO, I keep telling you man. No armor. Blood, gore, and perhaps sometime that on ice. I would be there every time.

And not to cause too much of a stir, but there is something to be said for grappling, punching, kicking and biting.

Dead rabbits!

Sid

mineral oil. rubber chickens. clothing optional.

Then I'd watch the fighting :)