Preparing for War of the Wings 2017

War of the Wings is a 4-5 day long camping event in the Society for Creative Anachronism, and one of the bright spots on the calendar of events for the Kingdom of Atlantia.  We talk about what makes this event so popular, and all the ways that try to get involved.

From Bardic circles, to sitting at Troll welcoming the attendants, to the Masked Ball Dance, we discuss the activities that we have planned and how to make the most out of this great event.

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Episode 15 Arts and Sciences Revisited

We look back to Pennsic 2017 and how we need to start now the preparations for next years visit to Pennsic. We talk about how we put the House Book to use this year, both to document the event, and also to give ourselves suggestions for next year. Then, we begin a discussion of the Arts and Sciences within the SCA (The Society for Creative Anachronism). As always, we look for ways to encourage it, from making it more accessible and inclusive, to offering more help at events, and welcoming all comers.

Segment one:
1:27   50 week town run.  Don't wait until July to begin preparing for Pennsic.  Spread it throughout the year

4:00  Put your Pennsic gear away packed.  Put them away ready to be used again.

7:10   What didn't I have at Pennsic that I missed?  Encampment border, banners, defining the boundaries of our camp.

9:30  Shopping will continue during the off season.  Collecting business cards, Pennsic merchants' websites, can continue shopping without pressure.

Segment 2
11:55 Fall SCA season begins

12:55  Pennsic is a preparation for the rest of the year, and the events throughout the rest of the year are preparations for Pennsic.

14:00  The House Book of the Golden Tree.  Documenting our group camping at Pennsic.  Capturing the recipes and menus we used.

17:00  We have now developed a full year of activities on the SCA calendar.  We pick the events that we like, and there's a lot to choose from.

19:52  When we attend an event, we should plan to enter something in the Arts and Sciences Competitions

Segment 3
20:50  Take full advantage of the internet and Facebook to find out what's coming up.

21:30  Some A&S competitions seem very limiting.  Organized around a restrictive theme.  And there haven't been many entries.

23:30  Competition vs Exhibition. The spirit of competition seems to be off-putting to creative people who just want to create.  What about an Arts exhibition that welcomes all entries, regardless of the construction technique.

27:00  What about A&S competitions that are divided into categories, from the most historically accurate, to modern materials and techniques.  Arts and Sciences should welcome all comers.

29:00  Have a A&S researchers consult table that helps people establish their documentation.  Suddenly you're teaching again.  Showing seamstresses and tailors how to research on the internet.  You get to choose the level at which you want to participate.

34:00  Participation at an event is the key to getting the most out of them.  Where was the Arts and Sciences table?  Why is it so hard to find? 

Episode 5 - Thorny Theoretical Persona

In this episode of A Distant Campfire, we examine the concept of the Persona and how it seems central to the SCA experience.  But as we look closer, we see that it means different things to different people, particularly when we consider Pennsic, where "normal" SCA rules don't seem to apply.

We discuss the tension between living in a kingdom within the Society for Creative Anachronism and holding true to some historical place and identity. This is one of the Thorny Theoretical Questions that make the SCA such an interesting topic of discussion.

This is a short, mini-episode in the run-up to our leaving for Pennsic.
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Episode 6 - The Ivory Tower

Christophilos Airetokos, Anne Whatley, Octavo
We discuss the SCA Winter University in the Kingdom of Atlantia, and the way it affects our participation in the Society for Creative Anachronism.  After our recent visit to the Winter University we talk about what it is that the university offers that might be different from a more conventional SCA event.  This discussion is rife with what we consider to be thorny theoretical questions, and is offered in a spirit of discovery, rather than criticism.

What is it about the University that appeals to us, and how can we harness its creative energy throughout the year?

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