(the following is reposted from Count Raito on AA with permission - otagiri)
"How would you set up the sides?"It seems likely that upon this becoming reality, I'd contact a couple of the highly-ranked persons interested, and ask them to command each side. I'd still do the winnowing of the kits, but they'd recruit for their sides.
...
Excellency, I think that most people around here would be able to figure out how to get to
www.sengokudaimyo.com, the online bible of such things. As for myself, I'll be documenting my armour-making method sometime this fall/winter.
I'll also point out that for form of the battle is classical, not the armour requirements.
In this context, it means that battles were fought by smallish numbers of high class troops, rather than the more modern battles with its reliance on large numbers of lower grade troops (and firearms, but that's something else). Also, the emphasis was more in individual valor than group tactics, though it's pretty certain that there was group fighting, as well.
But, just as in the COTT, I'm not sure that it's a good idea to be quick and dirty for this. Quick, easy, and correct, I'm all for. As for guidelines, I'll be getting around to it when I decide whether or not to actually do it.
Off the top of my head:
Stuff that will get you rejected:
Modern footwear. It's not that hard to get some fake fur and make spats that look decently enough like kegutsu (bear skin boots). Armoured tabi would be neat, but if you don't have some sort of split-toe footwear underneath, it'll look very wrong. Waraji (straw sandals) made of rope look like ass to me, but I'd probably let them in anyway.
Kabuto (helm) lacking shikoro (neck guard). As nifty as Mykaru's war hats look, they are still awful looking, and a lower-class style of helmet anyway. Any armourer who has made any sort of barred helm can turn out a decent zunari-bachi without that much effort.
Visible full elbows and knees. Get some kote, even if they're just the early period baggy types. The Japanese didn't have full joint protection like we see it. Wear it, but cover it. Smae for knees, though some of the sorts of suneate (greaves) have practically full knees attached to them.
Shiny structural metal. I've never seen any in Japanese armours. If you can doucment it, I may change my mind. Unpainted helmets, etc. aren't to be considered good form.
Unarmoured looking armours. Do you seriously think that any samurai would step into a battle he knew was coming wearing a bathrobe? The stupid chanbara crap is utterly inappropriate on an SCA battle field. The Japanese had armour, and enough sense to use it. This ain't a Kurosawa flick (most of which were post-period anyway).
Crappy armour clothing. I don't care that it's your lucky under armour. It doesn't look right. Get some yoroi hitatare, or a shitagi. And for God's sake, wear some hakama. Yeah, I know there's a few narrow leg pieces out there, but make it look good.
Stuff allowed, even though it kinds breaks the flow.
Barred face helmets. Like Rhys was saying about the COTT, the Japanese very often went bare-faced, or even bare-headed in battle. But I'll be more pleased to see flat black painted grills than shiny ones.
Gauntlets. The SCA has rules, and the Japanese didn't follow them. I'd prefer darkened to shiny, but probably won't say much unless there's other problems with the kit.
Stuff that I'd have to think hard about:
Lousy lacing. X and track I might let slide, though I'd be holding my nose, if the rest is done well. Flourescent colors? Go elsewhere.
What'll get you in easy:
Kabuto with shikoro, decent looking, lacing, with a so-men (full face mask). Identifiable style of dou (body armour) with kusazuri (tassets) and sode (shoulders) en suite. Kote with mail and plates. Haidate in a period style (they're not cuisses, for all that they conver the thighs). Suneate done nicely. E-gawa (decorative leather). Crests. Decent looking weapons. Nice clothing. In short, a kit that hangs together well, and is identifiable for what it is.
Weapons:
Unless you're doing an ultra-early portrayal, single edged swords. Yeah, there's a couple with back edges, but if I say yes, then everyone will want one. Carry a long one and a short one. We're nobles here, and I don't think I've seen any media showing a noble without daisho, every in early times. Besides, you have to use the short one to take heads.
Spears. Right on. They probably got used in battle more than swords.
Polearms. No problems with unpadded here. It's about the only culture that used something that looked unpadded. Extra points for realistically curved naginata. Or kumade, or the weird specialty weapons.
Shields? Right out. Even the signal fan. This sort of battle doesn't depend on moving troops around.
Archery? Bring it on, but no crossbows. Yumi get you extra points.
As an example, my own current kit would pass, but not be ideal. I'd have to make sure to put the e-gawa on the helmet. My kote have no mail or plate. I have no haidate. I'd have to wear my spats. I'd have to make a decent tachi (my yoroi-toshi is acceptable).
Otagiri-dono's kit would pass.
Kobayashi-dono's would not. The blue barrel helm and welcome mats are right out.
Some of the Yama Kaminari kits would pass. Others are more dodgy.
Sato-dono would have a problem with the polished stainless so-men.
Nissan would pass, though I'd hold my nose at the menpo (the eyes are just a bunch of holes, and I've never seen that in a period example).
The preceding examples are just people that Archiver's are more likely to have seen.
forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=76716
