Amtgard

[Cox..Dennis.James@cathouse_ppp.clark.net]

From: den...@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Cox Dennis James)
Amtgard

Amtgard was first created eleven years ago by members of the Society
of Creative Anachronisms (SCA) who were not having fun paying hundereds
of
dollars for authentic garb and armor and risking their wrists and necks
in
the brutal recreation of combat in the middle ages. Also, those who
created
Amtgard felt too restrained by the Society's demand for authenticity.
Amtgard combines the physical combat of swordplay and the fantasy aspects
of
AD&D. The combat is much gentler than the wooden shields and ritan swords
of
the SCA, in place of the hard wood is camping foam attatched to PVC piping
with duck tape and/or liquid nails. Shield can be made of wood, but
must be
padded and, also unlike the SCA, shield bashing and grapling are against
the
rules. Most important however is that the head is NOT a target. Although
they happen, shots to the head are not legal shots. Safety is a major
concern of Amtgard and all who play must follow the rule in order to
maintain that safety.
Amtgard is set up around Kingdoms. Each kiingdom has duchies,
baronies and shires according to how many people play at the parks.
The
parks, usually city parks hopefully with some trees or interesting
landscape, are the duchies, baronies, and shires. Acording to our Corpora,
our rule book for political titles (positions of leadership like Duke,
or
Lord, and even Your Royal Highness for a duchie, a houshold or kingdom
are
elected by the populous) are available for those who have that spark
of
leadership. And my Goddess the politics are for sh*t.
Persona playing at kingdom events (held once every three months) and
at the parks is another interesting aspect of Amtgard. I personally
have
seen the rise and fall of several Drow households, a person who wears
three
foot stilts to help him more realistically play his Frost Giant persona,
werewolves, vampires, deamons, a cybornetic space hobbit-Goddess I could
go
on for hours.
Magic and fantasy obviously are integral parts to the game. In
combat, magic is performed verbally with ranges of 20 to 100 feet to
line of
sight. And I will tell you know, as someone who has spent a lot of time
on
the battlefield, there is nothing more frightening as someone who knows
how
to play an arche-mage like it was meant to be played.
There are several different classes that can be played, all of which
have their advantages. Credits are given for showing up at the park
once a
week officially and playing the class you want credit in. Every player
gets
one and a quarter credit per week, and two credits for major events.
There
are 12 credits per level and the maximum level is sixth.
Amtgard is centered mostly in Texas. The first park started in El
Paso, sparked the fire that spread to Dallas, Austin, Amarillo, Lubbuck,
Houston, Waco (No guns), College Station, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon
and
Germany.
I would like to see that fire consume the country. For more info
and questions answered, post at this newsgroup or if you ain't got access
to
the newsgroups, send E-mail via den...@ponder.csci.unt.edu or
den...@gab.unt.edu

Sincerely yours,
Corbin Smoke-Miester Shroom

All E-mail sent in care of Corbin Russell please.






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