07-28-2008, 11:18 PM
A couple main points...
Yuri...a main event every 3-4 years would be fantastic...but N. America is just soooo huge. It's costly now to travel beyond an 8 hour trip. To the point where it is cost prohibitive. And gas prices wont' be going down anytime soon.
The main thing (adressing this to all) that I dislike about this very topic is that 90% of ALL reenactment groups in N. America comprise of say 10-15 people on paper, and 5 or so guys who come out all the time. On paper I have over a full contubernium, but to get everyone out at an event due to other commitments is very hard. Add to that an event which is a thousand miles/km away and that number will continue to shrink.
So...based on the MASSIVE logistical problem of getting all these groups together...literally makes it extremely probable that a national legion will not be anything more than a website with a few satelite groups.
Second...as Yuri mentioned standardization usually just "happens" at an event. I've yet to see any issues. So if things aren't broke, why fix them?
If that's the case, what advantages are there for a national legion in the first place? If we all get along and play well as mixed units...why switch?
This just all seems a massive exercise in redundancy. Really, we should be getting on the same page in terms of tactics for needlefelt and non-combat demos. We also need a set of drill commands that are NOT adapted from modern military ones (too many ex-soldiers in roman reenacting), and ones that avoid any modern militarisms like:
1. precautionary and executive words of command
2. calling things on the left foot when executing a movement
3. using modern measurements for paces
4. The idea that crisp drill movements relies entirely on movements made in unison.
That's my thoughts on the matter...I play well with others and everything works great as it is. I like seeing other shield patterns, tunic colours and vexillations. I take pride in my current unit identity but enjoy being part of a larger interest as well. This way I can have my cake and eat it too.
Yuri...a main event every 3-4 years would be fantastic...but N. America is just soooo huge. It's costly now to travel beyond an 8 hour trip. To the point where it is cost prohibitive. And gas prices wont' be going down anytime soon.
The main thing (adressing this to all) that I dislike about this very topic is that 90% of ALL reenactment groups in N. America comprise of say 10-15 people on paper, and 5 or so guys who come out all the time. On paper I have over a full contubernium, but to get everyone out at an event due to other commitments is very hard. Add to that an event which is a thousand miles/km away and that number will continue to shrink.
So...based on the MASSIVE logistical problem of getting all these groups together...literally makes it extremely probable that a national legion will not be anything more than a website with a few satelite groups.
Second...as Yuri mentioned standardization usually just "happens" at an event. I've yet to see any issues. So if things aren't broke, why fix them?
If that's the case, what advantages are there for a national legion in the first place? If we all get along and play well as mixed units...why switch?
This just all seems a massive exercise in redundancy. Really, we should be getting on the same page in terms of tactics for needlefelt and non-combat demos. We also need a set of drill commands that are NOT adapted from modern military ones (too many ex-soldiers in roman reenacting), and ones that avoid any modern militarisms like:
1. precautionary and executive words of command
2. calling things on the left foot when executing a movement
3. using modern measurements for paces
4. The idea that crisp drill movements relies entirely on movements made in unison.
That's my thoughts on the matter...I play well with others and everything works great as it is. I like seeing other shield patterns, tunic colours and vexillations. I take pride in my current unit identity but enjoy being part of a larger interest as well. This way I can have my cake and eat it too.
____________________________________________________________
Magnus/Matt
Du Courage Viens La Verité
Legion: TBD
Magnus/Matt
Du Courage Viens La Verité
Legion: TBD
