11-28-2003, 10:58 PM
Dan,<br>
<br>
I think we should go for the Easter weekend, i.e. 9 April-12 April 2004. How does ARCHEON think about that?<br>
<br>
I'm not so sure about the fighting. <em>Fectio</em> doesn't fight, at least we don't fight right now. I don't know about other groups either. I've contacted UK groups that do, however. I'd like to know what the other groups think of the idea of a big fight.<br>
<br>
My main objections to Late Roman fighting shows are these:<br>
1) The main fighting technique was not not done by small groups or individuals with swords, but but large blocks with long lances. Totally different from the Gladius fighting of earlier Romans. Can we reproduce that with the felt system? Are there ways to put big felt spear heads on 7-9 ft. lances?<br>
2) Combat is indeed the big appeal of 'Norman-Saxon-Viking' era, to the public at least. But this is all show, no more than that. If you fight, it should be realistic, and we can't be. If we would be, there would be casualties, and we can't have that. So why even try?<br>
3) The fighting groups that I know of, fight with 'hard' weapons, I don't know if they would go for the felt kind. Are there spathas from felt material? Also, these groups fight man to man, only some even attempt to fight with spears from ranks (<em>Comitatus</em> do).<br>
4) If we do attempt a fighting show, there should be training. There will be a lot of groups and probably none has worked together before. Unlike the 1st c. groups, no clear rules exist as yet for Late Roman groups. Most 4-7th c. fighting shows are about pairs of fighters, unlike a real Late Roman battle.<br>
<br>
I'm not dead against fighthting, period, but I'm dead against showing the public something that does not work and does not look right. It's one of the basic rules in re-enacting in front of public, I think. If we can, we might try, but within a sound set of rules: the right weapons (or imitations), the right tactics, the right formations. No melee-like free for all stuf as the 'Norman-Saxon-Viking' era groups do.<br>
<br>
I'd like to ask all the others to react to the above.<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=vortigernstudies>Vortigern Studies</A> at: 11/29/03 12:28 am<br></i>
<br>
I think we should go for the Easter weekend, i.e. 9 April-12 April 2004. How does ARCHEON think about that?<br>
<br>
I'm not so sure about the fighting. <em>Fectio</em> doesn't fight, at least we don't fight right now. I don't know about other groups either. I've contacted UK groups that do, however. I'd like to know what the other groups think of the idea of a big fight.<br>
<br>
My main objections to Late Roman fighting shows are these:<br>
1) The main fighting technique was not not done by small groups or individuals with swords, but but large blocks with long lances. Totally different from the Gladius fighting of earlier Romans. Can we reproduce that with the felt system? Are there ways to put big felt spear heads on 7-9 ft. lances?<br>
2) Combat is indeed the big appeal of 'Norman-Saxon-Viking' era, to the public at least. But this is all show, no more than that. If you fight, it should be realistic, and we can't be. If we would be, there would be casualties, and we can't have that. So why even try?<br>
3) The fighting groups that I know of, fight with 'hard' weapons, I don't know if they would go for the felt kind. Are there spathas from felt material? Also, these groups fight man to man, only some even attempt to fight with spears from ranks (<em>Comitatus</em> do).<br>
4) If we do attempt a fighting show, there should be training. There will be a lot of groups and probably none has worked together before. Unlike the 1st c. groups, no clear rules exist as yet for Late Roman groups. Most 4-7th c. fighting shows are about pairs of fighters, unlike a real Late Roman battle.<br>
<br>
I'm not dead against fighthting, period, but I'm dead against showing the public something that does not work and does not look right. It's one of the basic rules in re-enacting in front of public, I think. If we can, we might try, but within a sound set of rules: the right weapons (or imitations), the right tactics, the right formations. No melee-like free for all stuf as the 'Norman-Saxon-Viking' era groups do.<br>
<br>
I'd like to ask all the others to react to the above.<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=vortigernstudies>Vortigern Studies</A> at: 11/29/03 12:28 am<br></i>
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
