spearweasel
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"See? That was nothing. But that's how it always begins. Very small."
Posts: 238
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Post by spearweasel on Apr 28, 2011 15:06:18 GMT -5
So... this friend* of mine had an idea. This friend fights in an area filled with sword and shield fighters, and he plays a samurai persona.... thus no shield for him. However, he thought he'd make a small shield for singles, just for fun.
On this shield, he would paint something religious, a sutra or some such, so that if asked why a samurai fights with a shield, he would say "oh well... that's no shield. My faith protects me" tongue in cheeky.
Is this a fun idea, bad idea, good idea, rank blasphemy of the foulest sort?
* me
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Saionji Shonagon
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One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 28, 2011 16:03:55 GMT -5
I'm not sure the concept really translates very well because not all Buddhist sects are faith-based.* Here's a thought: why not put the kanji for "honor" on your shield? ;D  *That said, the concept of Hell or hells does exist. |
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spearweasel
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"See? That was nothing. But that's how it always begins. Very small."
Posts: 238
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Post by spearweasel on Apr 28, 2011 16:08:15 GMT -5
Well, since I... <<koff>> ... my friend plays a Buddhist monk persona, he thought a religious motif might fit better. Specifically the persona is a Tendai monk gone somewhat astray.
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 28, 2011 17:26:38 GMT -5
Y'all are one of them them uppity Mt. Hiei boys, aincha?  Hey, we've got a knight who's currently got a brass crucifix nasal on his helmet and a scene of the crucifixion on his shield. Crosses are plentiful in European heraldry. "What does that say?" may be a more likely question than "Why are you fighting with a shield." (I just made a banner for my camp with my Japanese badge and the calligraphy for "Honor, harmony, knowledge." I'll let you know Monday how many times I get asked about it this weekend.) |
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Apr 28, 2011 17:52:42 GMT -5
Another thought. If you're gonna do this, you HAVE to be able to carry it off properly.
"The second time he told me a story... about how someone offered him a boat cloak on a cold night. And he said no, he didn't need it. That he was quite warm. His zeal for his king and country kept him warm. I know it sounds absurd, and were it from another man, you'd cry out "Oh, what pitiful stuff" and dismiss it as mere enthusiasm. But with Nelson... you felt your heart glow. " (Captain Aubrey relating an anecdote about Admiral Nelson in "Master and Commander."
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Post by konrad on May 2, 2011 0:39:27 GMT -5
Sure samaurai shields are good, but a pointy hat is better.
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yoshimitsu
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Live long enuf to win the fight
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Post by yoshimitsu on May 2, 2011 6:32:12 GMT -5
 omg that is funny as hell. what is that from?
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Post by konrad on May 2, 2011 18:33:34 GMT -5
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Post by Yamanouchi Eidou on May 3, 2011 18:15:36 GMT -5
that makes my history hurt
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Post by mitsuhide on Jun 1, 2011 0:41:41 GMT -5
So I have been thinking alot on this subject and with one answer has seemed to have evolved. If we were into a purely historical "game" then I would say no, no shield. The other side is we are part of a historical-esqe game then go for it. Mixing 13th century and 11th century armours is totally ok but we get grief if we use a shield? ps I use a shield love the shield wall crunch.
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Post by solveig on Jun 1, 2011 20:11:44 GMT -5
Noble Cousins! Greetings from Solveig! So I have been thinking alot on this subject and with one answer has seemed to have evolved. If we were into a purely historical "game" then I would say no, no shield. The other side is we are part of a historical-esqe game then go for it. Mixing 13th century and 11th century armours is totally ok but we get grief if we use a shield? ps I use a shield love the shield wall crunch. It does none of us any great service to willfully deviate from the historical. The Society is to a large extent what each of us makes of it. That is, it has a relatively low bar to entry. But, that low bar does not convert being ahistorical into a virtue. |
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Post by Please Delete on Jun 1, 2011 21:54:20 GMT -5
Solveig-hime,
Though I generally agree with the sentiment, I'm going to disagree with the application.
I don't think that anyone should attempt to justify using a shield with their Japanese persona. That said, sword and shield fighting is one of the core heavy weapons activities, and there is no shame in having a shield to go join the rest of your fellow fighters in the shield wall, etc.
This is the difference of what you do for your historical persona and what you do as part of a member of the SCA. You are in the Kingdom of "X" and you are adapting to the local style of combat. Just don't try to justify it as an historical thing that your persona would have encountered.
I'm still going to focus on working without a shield as much as possible, but that's because it is the game *I* want to play.
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Post by mitsuhide on Jun 1, 2011 22:12:09 GMT -5
Ii-dono I completely agree saying that my shield is Japanese would be a complete load of bull, I just am just using it to "join my friends" my fave form though is single sword. I think that is more appropriate representation of my persona, although spear is fun I am no good with it.
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Post by mitsuhide on Jun 1, 2011 22:13:06 GMT -5
I am working on losing the shield just not effective enough with the other forms just yet.
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Post by solveig on Jun 2, 2011 22:27:01 GMT -5
Ii dono!
Greetings from Solveig! As I recall, I at one time lived in a kingdom which required authorization in sword and board before you could start learning anything else. So, I very much understand the sword and board imperative.
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omg that is funny as hell. what is that from?
