Results and comments from the Aug/Sep 2003 survey.

	Yves' big SCA rapier survey #1 ~ “Let’s do more than just fence” (moderation)
	Updated: May 24, 2005

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Policy blurb

By default, authors of comments sent in response to this survey are named only by their permission. Usually, other people mentioned in a comment are named only with their permission as well. Each comment represents only what the author typed in for the survey at the time.

» This survey was conducted during August-September 2003. Things change over time. «

Some comments were edited for content. Certain harsh words have been changed for your amusement. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the surveyor.

To get YOUR name listed with YOUR comments, just give me permission. See the e-mail button and information at the bottom of the page. Let me know your SCA name and kingdom (as of Aug/Sep 2003), and I'll add the attribution to your entries.

# of Responses
by Kingdom
 
AEth.  = 34/235
Anst.  = 36/240
An Tir = 56/347
Art.   = 12/124
Aten.  = 27/460
Atl.   = 60/425
Caid   = 49/400
Drach. = 21/76
Eald.  = 12/77
East   = 46/480
Loch.  = 22/120
Mer.   = 27/140
Mid.   = 52/640
Nor.   = 25/164
Out.   = 26/214
Tri.   = 46/237
West   = 14/70
Unk.   = 2

The gist

The comments below were sent in response to both Question 2 and Question 3.

Respondents share views on this topic that are between serious competition and "anything goes". At the bottom are a few comments where it appears to me that the author wanted to please both sides.

The comments

Note: Any remarks in the comments below from Yves look like this.

Other comments on this topic are on separate pages.
See the links at the bottom of this page.

Choice picks

Φ An Tir ~ I wouldn't keep any of these out. In moderation, I think they add a lot.  ``Gabrielle

Φ Aten. ~ I like a little of everything. I think there is/should be a place for most everything we do/like to do. I don't want "ALL" of any one category; but a little bit of each "judiciously used" is the spice in the mix.  ``Wallace

Φ Tri. ~ I think that everything has it's appropriate time and place. 90% of the time I"m not in favor of silly scenarios, silly parrying devices, special rules for lystes, etc... BUT, I would be a hypocrite if I said that I don't enjoy them ON OCCAISON. It's like a huge slice of ooey gooey chocolate cake. If you ate it every day, it wouldn't be a fun treat anymore, would it? What I intensely dislike is when we go through periods where the special scenarios are the daily diet, instead of the dessert or occaisonal treat.  ``Dulcia

Æthelmearc

Φ Everything in moderation, anything in moderation.  ``Ivan

Φ Any are OK on an occasional basis. Mostly prefer straight fencing.

An Tir

Φ There are places where silly items/scenarios are appropriate, but not in most situations.  ``Alicia

Φ I'm not opposed to any of these, but do prefer moderation, too much of any one thing can become tiresome.  ``Allyne

Ansteorra

Φ I like all of those, and wouldn't absolutely elimante any. Now, that doesn't meean I want to see them overused, either.  ``David

Φ It's all good in the right place and done well. I would not want to do a melee at every tournament or fight Queen's with a RBG.  ``Doré

Artemisia

Φ It depends on the mood of the tournement. I'd rather not see silly off hands in say, Queen's Champion.  ``Sionainn

Atenveldt

Φ Silly senarois are ok as long as they are at events where it is appropriate.

Atlantia

Φ I think all the above can be great fun if the situation warrants it.  ``Briana

Φ They can all have there place and time. but don't always work for all events.  ``Geoffrey

Φ I like variety. Any kind of scenerio is interesting as long as it is well thought out and exceptions are planned for. And it's always nice to have "outs" for those who want to play but don't want to do the over the top silliness.  ``Ihsan

Caid

Φ All these have there time and place, but shouldn't dominate.

Φ While I enjoy a straight ahead tourney, I also enjoy mixing it up once in a while.  ``Colwyn

Φ I see no reason not to have any and all of those things at least some of the time, but I'd hate to have the scenario options listed above the *only* option *all* the time.  ``Grainne

Φ I like them all, in moderation. Part of the fun of rapier is its crowd appeal, and the tournements with the silly rules are the most enjoyable for the majority of audiences. Of course you have to post before hand if the tournement is going to be silly, or deadly serious; they both have a part in what we do.  ``Eogan

Drachenwald

Φ Silly scenarios and parrying items are fun, but should be kept within limits. I don't think they have a place at 'serious' affairs like playing the prize.  ``Guntram

Φ Apart from stuff that can be interpreted as making the rapier fighters look overly silly to the rest of the Society (e.g. the dreaded rubber chicken), I think the more interesting variety the merrier!  ``Cernac

Ealdormere

Φ I enjoy all the above, as long as they are kept to moderation (ie every bloody tournament in the kingdom a silly one for a month or so).  ``Wilhelm

East

Φ Actually, I enjoy all those things you want to exclude, at least occaisionally, they add variety and spice to what threatens to turn into just another fight.  ``Richild

Lochac

Φ Not all the time, Its just fun to goof about some times.

Φ Everything in moderation! :)  All this in good taste and not going overboard is all fun! :)  As long as every tourney is not a kind of silly one it is all cool with me! :)  We aree all in this to have fun after all and everything in moderation we can have a little silly in with the serious fencing! :)  Also variety is the spice of life is it not?  ``Marc

Meridies

Φ I beleive all of these items have their place in Rapier. Now all of them in one sitting might be a bit much...  ``Sigurd

Midrealm

Φ I have no problem with any of the above, depending on the venue and event. No RBGs in a non-melee situation, for instance. Silly stuff should be avaided at "serious" bouts, like Kingdom Rapier Championships, etc.  ``Alexander

Northshield

Φ I like them all (not all at once though). They add to what 'is' rapier.

Φ Actually I like all the above. Some in moderation such as the silly scenarios but I do like all of the above.  ``Faelan

Φ I guess I tend to lean towards rapier as a "period marshal art", at least persona-wise, and this comes out in my preferences. I dohn't mind the occasional "goof-ball" tournament, but I come on the field to fight first and jump through unrelated hoops second.  ``Simon

Outlands

Φ Everything has it's place and time...  ``Volker

Φ I prefer to keep Excessive Weirdness out of my own fencing experience. By this, I mean some playfulness is good, but a lot is bad, and weirdness is any of the above.  ``Guillaume

Φ I enjoy including all of these if it is aprpriate to the event. I won't enjoy them in a defender of the queens heart tourny but fun and silly events these should be used often.  ``Diana

Φ Predominantly I like to keep it to realistic bouting/dueling that might have actually occured. Occasionally I like to "lighten up" and do something "comical" but there's a time and place for everything.  ``Jalid

Φ I think all of the above are fun at times. All the time, no. Lets just fence.. In the Outlands, we DO all of these things upon occasion. They are all part of the game, though when and where depend on the opponents and the tourney type.  ``Seuilla

Trimaris

Φ I like to participate with different combinations at different times. Not all at the same time, but one or 2 oddnesses keeps us on our toes.  ``Francis

West

Φ If we don't have the silly every so often, people might constantly walk around with stick-in-orafice disease.  ``Staffan

Φ On theatrics and silliness ... that should fallunderthe categories of what's appropriate to the situation and personal preference.

Φ Silly thing are what makes the SCA what it is. As long as it dosent get out of hand that is.  ``Tallon

Pleasing both sides?

When there's an [and] in a response below, the first part was the author's response to Question 2; the second, to Question 3.

Φ AEth. ~ Let's keep them all in. I'm here to have fun. I like serious and I like funny tourneys. More fencing! [and] I can take them or leave them, really.  ``Illadore

Φ Caid ~ We should strive to eliminate or at least minimize obviously non-period things (bad garb, tennis shoes, rubber chickens, etc.). Double elims get boring fast, so I like various scenarios, theatrics, etc., though I would like to see more period forms, techniques, and presentation as well.

Φ Caid ~ Silly scenarios do not test skill, just silliness. I'm not a ham and I hate to be held up by people being all theatrical. Just fight, darn it! [and] I like the silly parrying items, even though it contradicts my previous answer. I do like to have fun. But even when I fight with silly secondaries, I fight the same as I do with the normal secondaries. I am talkative and don't have a problem with chatting with an oppenent. Random weapons/targets DO test skill. I like that.  ``Kelan

Φ Drach. ~ I don't usually mind silliness, as long as it's kept to a minimum. [and] I love the banter. I'm not very good at the theatrics side, but I love to watch it in others who are.  ``Muirghein

Φ Eald. ~ Hey, it's all in good fun, and fun is a big part of what keeps me going in rapier combat. [and] I used to be a fan of silly parry items, but I'm not as interested since I've got more interested in period techniques. I don't mind them on the list, I think they are fun, but I don't really use them anymore.  ``Albrecht

Φ Mid. ~ I don't have a problem with any of these items so long as it doesn't detract from peoples ability or enjoyment. [and] Everything has it's place. It also adds flavor and a challenge to what can turn into a boring collegiate match.  ``Uadahlrich

Your feedback is most welcome!

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Original page posted: October 18, 2004. Last tweaked: July 1, 2006.

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