Society for Creative Anachronism

[Michael]

The clang of steel on steel rents the air, accompanied by the subtle grinding of hinged metal parts. Despite the heft of their suits of armor, augmented by layers of chain mail, the combatants move relatively easily as they aim their blows.

Just steps away, a Roman centurion prepares his next move, depending on his thick, molded-leather breast piece to shield him from his opponent. In the background, giant swan-shaped paddle boats rock gently as a couple on bicycles rides by, unabashedly staring at the sight of warriors from long ago duking it out on a hot summer evening in the middle of a public park.

But curious, sometimes disbelieving stares are nothing new to the members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. In fact, it's something you have to expect whenever you dress in medieval armor for a little weeknight swordplay.

SCA members laugh off criticism. They're having fun, so go ahead and laugh. Better yet, come over and ask a few questions and learn a little about times that may no longer seem so distant.

Members of the SCA have been stereotyped as geeky Renaissance fair actors, but for them, it's a matter of a shared love of history. And for a history lover, there's nothing better than pulling lessons off the pages of books and bringing them to life.

Article (http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/timewarp/Content?oid=1143243)

Full confession here: I've been very tempted to join this group. :D

Anyone else know anything about the CSA?

[Greendruid]

Article (http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/timewarp/Content?oid=1143243)

Full confession here: I've been very tempted to join this group. :D

Anyone else know anything about the CSA?

Long-time friends of mine have been active in the CSA for the majority of their adult lives. If you're really interested, they're in Hamilton and thus in the same "kingdom" in the CSA as you. They'd be able to tell you more about it than you probably want to know. However, the single reason that I never joined it was the rules around conduct and behaviour. Michael, if you think I'm anal for a Sagittarius, these rules would drive you up the wall! Then again, if it is the cultural strictures of mediaeval society that you're interested in, this is a good group to join. The annual Pennsic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsic_War) gathering is probably worth going to if only for the atmosphere of it all. It would certainly be a fun thing to waste money on for the costume of it all. But again, the bloody rules!!! I'm not talking about the battle rules at all - it's the social rules that I bemoaned. Especially considering that the most popular interest group in the late 90s when I considered joining was this sort of mystic/belly dancer/Moorish inspired group that was just over-populating the gatherings. It's one thing to have a mysterious "seer from the East" appear at a gathering of 100 people. It's quite another when they are followed by a contingent of 20 belly dancers and 10 other mystics just like them. ;)

[Daktoria]

Two years ago, my Professor for history of economic thought (from George Mason which should imply his thought process) told me that David Friedman is a member (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_D._Friedman#Non-academic_interests).

[Daktoria]

BTW:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_action_role-playing_game

AKA, larping.

Note the foam weapons. =O

[Donkey]

BTW:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_action_role-playing_game

AKA, larping.

Note the foam weapons. =O
Stop right there. Not the same thing. What is described in the OP is reenactment, not LARPing. Larping is a completely different animal; often literally.

[Michael]

Long-time friends of mine have been active in the CSA for the majority of their adult lives. If you're really interested, they're in Hamilton and thus in the same "kingdom" in the CSA as you. They'd be able to tell you more about it than you probably want to know. However, the single reason that I never joined it was the rules around conduct and behaviour. Michael, if you think I'm anal for a Sagittarius, these rules would drive you up the wall!
You're not the first one to say this about the CSA - which is why I haven't actually joined up.

To me, CSA would be a hobby, not a religion. And hobby organizations run by [straight-edge] Nazis is not my idea of fun. ;)

[Michael]

Stop right there. Not the same thing. What is described in the OP is reenactment, not LARPing. Larping is a completely different animal; often literally.
Yes, very different in temperment, spirit, style, structure and goal.

In historical reenactment, historical accuracy and authenticity is everything. The game is essentially based on historical scholarship. Personal creativity is not acceptable.

In role-playing games, personal creativity is everything.

[Daktoria]

Larping isn't a fantasy bound experience since everything that's done has to be physically enacted, and considering that the kingdoms of SCA aren't real at all, what's the difference? SCA has combat, larping has diplomacy and social life, so....? :shrug:

[Donkey]

Larping isn't a fantasy bound experience since everything that's done has to be physically enacted, and considering that the kingdoms of SCA aren't real at all, what's the difference? SCA has combat, larping has diplomacy and social life, so....? :shrug:
Because one is historical re-enactment, and the other is just an odd physical version of table top RPG (which are a lot of fun, actually).

[Daktoria]

SCA isn't a reenactment. It just uses renaissance and medieval culture. They don't pretend to be actual historical figures or perform actual events.

[The Drunk Guy]

The fact that there is now an argument about this topic makes me want to beat you all up and take your lunch moneys.

[Daktoria]

Heh. Just because we're disputing the facts of a club doesn't mean we belong to it.