about

I got the idea for this website after doing a short stint as a marshal. Doing
inspections, particularly for weapons, is difficult. Every weapon is different, and
trying to determine if a Greatsword is too whippy or a thrusting tip made of 75%
duct tape is passable can be tough. Ultimately, we want everyone to be able to
play, so we start saying things like, "That tip's a little stiff so be careful with your
thrusts." Not Good.

The trouble is that every participant builds their gear a little differently, with
different materials, and has it inspected by a different marshal. We take our
cues from those around us, and so, over time, the general consensus of what is
and is not legal starts to vary with geography. What's fine in Calontir may not be
ok in Ansteorra, and vice-versa. Even neighboring groups in the same kingdom
may judge things differently.

This same difficulty also applies to how much force a fighter uses in combat.
The force required to strike a "good" blow in one place may be considered light
elsewhere. A blow that one fighter thinks is good may be unintentionally
shrugged off by his opponent, resulting in a poor experience for at least one of
the parties involved. Think about that guy who hits too hard all the time and won't
take anything. Isn't there something we can do?

I work for a company that does laboratory research and testing on a variety of
materials, much of which is in a dynamic environment. One day while testing a
transducer it occurred to me that a few fixtures could be built for the SCA to
gather data in the field, and this data could be used to standardize some of the
things we do.

For instance, how much force is exerted by the average thrust? How much
difference is there between a light thrust and a hard thrust? How does the force
of getting hit on the top of the head compare with getting hit on the side? These
are questions that have measurable answers. We may find that the diameter of a
9' spear thrusting tip is too small to adequately absorb the force of impact, or
that additional padding is needed in the top of a helm to reduce the chance of
injury. There are a lot of improvements that can be made if we just had some
numbers to go by.

Having tools like a thrusting tip testing fixture gives a marshal a way to make a
good decision about a weapon if it is borderline. It also avoids the common, "It
passed at Pennsic" problem, and allows marshals to stand firm on their
decisions without upsetting anyone.

So now what? Start making this stuff, right? Unfortunately, the funds are not
available to me to build most of these things, and gathering a useful amount of
data from the field will take a while. So, in order to generate some funds, I'm
putting together an online store, offering a variety of combat goods; some of
which are available elsewhere, and some that are not. I'm also putting in a forum
where you can offer your suggestions on the direction this project should take.

Buy some stuff that you needed anyway, and help make the SCA a safer place
to kill people.

A little about me...

My actual SCA name is Moridin, mka Wes Nelson, and I was born and raised in the
Shire of Heraldshill in the Kindom of Calontir. Right now I'm living in Axed Root,
a canton of the Barony of Coeur D'ennui in Calontir. Also known as Ames, Iowa.

I'm an engineer for a research company affiliated with Iowa State University that
focuses on "smart materials". I have experience with design and manufacturing
of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites; as well as laboratory testing
methods for these materials.

I've been in the SCA for just over 10 years, with interests in Fighting,
Armoring, and Blacksmithing. I've spent most of my SCA time in Calontir,
although I did live in Outlands for a few months and was able to attend
a few practices there. I'm authorized in all weapon systems, and was
Knights Marshal of Heraldshill for a very short time years ago. I've never
been a kingdom or society officer of any kind, and I actually prefer fighter
practice to actual events these days. The Knights Marshal who helped me
get started was a fantastic human being, so now I try to pay it forward by
helping new people learn and build their equipment.

Hopefully this fills in some of the blanks. Ultimately, I don't think I'll
really achieve any validity until I've got you spanking Madmartigan at
an event, but maybe this will help you to help me get there.

The End.