Missile combat - What did you think? Where to from here?

[NigelT]

OK, first let me take part of the blame here.

I was ultimately in charge of the combat archery and I agree that there wasn't enough communication about what was required.

However, the two things we did stress repeatedly was that it was volley fire only and it was announced. Where we observed people lowering their shots we reminded them to keep their shots elevated. Stuart - I personally spoke to you at least twice about it and I know other marshals spoke to you about it as well. If you don't have the discipline to follow those one-on-one instructions, how are you going to successfully take in and follow the entire rules... which you swore blue in the face that you'd read in other topics?

For my part I appologise for not clarifying things enough. However, most people had gotten the jist of what was going on by the time they got to the fort battle and were doing the right thing. Thank you to those people.

Nigel

[NigelT]

[Stuart]

I don`t start this.

[Angel]

[NigelT]

Unfortunately there's only one current site admin who wasn't a combat marshal at NAAMA... Phil where are you?

Let's all just take a deep breath shall we.

I think we all agree to a greater or less extent that there were a few things that could have been better communicated. The complete rules were available online and in printed-form at weapons check for anyone who wanted to avail themselves of them, although most people choose (as I thought they probably would) to turn up and be given the condensed version verbally, which means that some of it probably wasn't heard or wasn't understood.

I think we also agree that volley fire although fun isn't super effective in it's current form. What we don't agree on is whether that is a reason to change it when everyone seemed to be enjoying it and wanting more, and if we did change it which parts need to be changed.

There is some disagreement over what constitutes 'safe enough'.

I might just put a wee poll in another thread and see what people think.

Nigel

[Stuart]

Hi Nigel, You raise some interesting points. I shall give you a reasoned responce this evening when I have some time.

[Gerard Kraay]

Hi Angel, Nigel and all.

I thought the archery was a great addition to the fort battle, though I am in favour of heavy archery and the required face protection. The face protection needed for heavy archery works out nicely with the need for more face protection required for limited head blow combat too, so in this, one suitable helm with appropriate mesh or perforated plate will suffice well.

I am of the opinion after seeing and marshalling group fighting and the fort battles that not having a requirement for face protection is foolish, I saw several accidental hits up into the head, and had other complaints brought to me.

I feel that LHB with a helm of 2ml and a suspension lining and face protection of strong mesh or perforated steel will be safer then the current non-head blow fighting.

By next NAAMA I am planning/hoping on AS&SS to be mostly into helms with face protection that will be suitable for archery and controlled limited head blow combat.

Everyone I spoke to wants to go this direction, I’m not saying I spoke to everyone at NAAMA obviously but it seems to be the general feel, so don’t be put off by Stuart he does not speak for all of us.

Gerard
AS&SS

[Stuart]

In this debate I am speaking as an archer, not an infantryman.

[Grayson]

Nigel,

I believe direct fire is the direction we should head, one set of rules and armour requirements for archers and combatants set out.

I only took part in the direct fire stuff on sunday, as an archer, it was a change from the infantry side of things, the only problem came when the person who was in charge of archers (we all know who that was) was about to give orders to fire when combatants weren't kitted up.

[Grayson]

Stuart wrote

[Kath]

I vote for progressing with direct fire. I enjoyed volley fire on the Sat afternoon (thanks to ASS&S for playing the game and advancing slowly under fire).

But during the fort battle I was just itching to direct fire. Especially when those outside started to pick up MY arrows and fire them back into the fort at us. Grrr.

[Callum]

I would like to add my comment as somebody who did not participate in the combat archery at NAAMA. As an observer it looked really good and added an additional element to the fort battle and to the other battles.

You are always going to have teething problems with any new activity but from what I saw of it, everybody was being careful and you have all laid a good base to develop this activity further.

It was certainly way ahead in terms of safety and control from the 1996 Windy Valley Camp where Dave Smith and I were lobbing field pointed arrows into people with minimal armour

[Bogue]

Hey Y'all

I was only briefly involved in the lights on the Sunday AM and the fort.
The lights is boring (sorry bluntness works best).
I spent more time worrying about stepping on peoples arrows than I did avoiding them as they waffled their way through the air.

With the fort the only thing wrong with that is having arrows coming in at both sides of the fort in the second round (which just means that the attacking force in round one wasn't smart enough to split their troops to both sides). Scared the crap outta me having one of Kaths arrows come winging passed my ear from behind, with of course no warning from the troops on the wall behind me.

All I need now is a visor/faceplate/new helm, gorget, and some arrers.

I'm all for speed blunts, keeps you on your toes cause they will be felt alot more than flu's will. They have to be used in a highly uncontrolled manor or from an overpowered bow to do damage if you are armoured correctly, (hell I'd question the ability of one to do damage at all in proper heavies armour)

And even with the extra speed they still don't travel that fast. Nearly manged to catch a passing one at "Thousand Lakes" (Dave was shooting at me and pommy Nic in the rain).
Even the hits weren't that bad through a wet linen tunic. These shots were direct but not full draw at about 30 paces.

That's about the nuts of it for me.
The judges descision is final and no corresponence will be entered into. :lol:

Now taking orders for archery visors at a resonable price plus courier
Cheers
Bogue

[Chevalier]

[Carl]