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Post by Crynolyn on Dec 23, 2008 13:42:38 GMT -7
Mercwars is holding an event this Saturday the 27th of December Starting 10am at Black forest Regional Park ( North of C Springs ) They have invited Melee and Dagorhir to join in the battles Their message board; www.mercwars.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=3Schedule; www.mercwars.com/frostwars.shtml10:00 a.m.--Arrive at Black Forest Regional Park 10:30 a.m.--Frostwar Begins. All battles and games follow in order as listed below. MMCG vs. Melee (assuming enough attendance by Melee) Phase I--First Ribbon Battle Phase I--Ribbon Buddy Battle Phase II--Hilltop Defense Battle Phase II--Warlord Battle Phase III--Relay Battle Phase III--Final Battle: Raze the Frostlord 7:00 p.m.--Feast at Owen's House ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Who wants to go ? Let's carpool. Call me
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Post by cynara on Jan 7, 2009 15:14:31 GMT -7
I was distressed to read the insulting comments posted on your forum and on our own forum about the Mercenaries group after our Frost Wars event. Since I mostly took pictures during the event, I think I may be in a unique position for some slightly more objective observations. Also, I had the opportunity to hear remarks made from both groups. Melee folks, please consider the following:
Picture this scenario. One group invites another group to one of their major events of the year. The event is designed around a series of games with an objective to obtain colored ribbons. Many (but not all) of the members of the invited group choose to drop the ribbons in the snow or try to give them away rather than to play by the establish rules. (I can back this up because I heard several Melee people say "I don't want a ribbon, I just want to fight.") Does that seem like good sportsmanship to you? I feel that this was disrespectful to the organizers of the event, who put some time into developing these games.
Also, except for the first battle, the games were set up with mixed teams deliberately to minimize rivalry between the groups and to help both groups work together. Many (but not all) Melee folk expressed more of an interest in "kicking Mercenary (butt)" than in teamwork. (I heard that a few times.)
Most (but not all) Mercenaries felt that our event was ruined by these attitudes. If we attended an event of yours, I would like to think that we would come expecting to play by your rules. The issue of relative weapon weight or construction should have been addressed before the event, not complained about afterwards. Surely Melee folks were well aware about the difference in weapons, since you came last year. I don't think the issue was as much safety as it was poor communication - and perhaps the fault was as much the Mercenaries as it was Melee's - I don't really know how much was discussed ahead of time.
As for Dagorhir, I heard several Mercenaries say that they were glad that some of those folks attended and generally liked the ones they had a chance to talk to - until they read the negative remarks posted on your forum by a Dagorhir representative.
The biggest thing is how unfortunate it is that groups with a similar basic interest can't get past insulting each other and figure out how to turn those similarities and/or differences into an advantage. That should be true of every medieval-ish group in town, not just Melee and Mercenaries. Think of the war we could have if we could make arrangements to settle differences in philosophy ahead of time!
Lastly, I want to compliment Ben, the one representative of Melee that attended the feast to which you were all invited. It was very brave for him to come by himself, especially after all the grumbling from both groups. He was polite, congenial, and tried had to mingle with the rest of us. He impressed many people.
Thanks for giving this a read.
Cynara of Thornecombe Mercenaries Medieval Combat Guild
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Post by Crynolyn on Jan 8, 2009 13:58:48 GMT -7
Melee folks don't frequent this forum. But if you want to talk with me, this is a good place.
I'll be completely honest and open minded. I'd like to say thank you very much for inviting Dagorhir to your event. The park was very nice.
I have visited many different medieval organizations over the years. I'm sorry, but I have never had such a bad first impression before.
We arrived late. Melee people greeted us very warmly. I was not greeted by anyone from merwars. I took it upon myself to walk up to mercwars players on the battlefield and introduce myself.
We have never met you guys before, the guys had no idea that your weapons were made with metal cores. The guys told me on the drive home that if they had known that, they would not have wanted to attend.
I had originally planned on attending your feast. I posted on the Melee board asking what the address was, and what we should bring. I did not recieve a reply. I assumed we would find out at the park. But I did not hear any mercwars people invite us, or ask if we needed directions. Before I knew it, all the mercwars people had left the park, and it was just Melee and Dagorhir left. I assumed that was on purpose ? So we went out to eat with the Melee crew.
I hope that you will not trivialize the injuries that my friends recieved from mercwars players. Our game does not allow headshots from anything but missile weapons, and when headshots accidently happen, sinus cavities do not rupture !
Greg is 17 years old, and was visiting for Christmas from Rhode Island. This was one of his first battles. He was hit along the side of his eye. That night it was swollen and looked as though it could be a black eye. By the next day it was thankfully only bruising along his brow bone.
Bear has been fighting since 2003. He has never lost hearing from a headshot to the ear before.
Chupa has been fighting since 2002. Mercwars gave him the worst injury he's ever had from swordfighting. He had a huge piece of skin missing off his nose. When he blew his nose, air filled into his cheek, between his nose and eye. That is not right. I was very very concerned. I phoned 2 different nurses for advice. They are both swordfighters from back East, and they regularly act as medics at our events. They were both shocked that a foam weapon could deliver such an injury. When I told them it was a game called mercwars that used metal cores they both thought you guys were crazy. I assured them that we would not be playing with mercwars ever again. They both seperately advised that Chupa go to a hospital immediatly. Chupa does not have health insurance, so he refused. He said if he did have insurance, he would have gone. (A week later Chupa's scab was nearly healed. The bruising was healing well. And the pain in his cheek,where the air filled in, was manageable with Tylenol. He did have sinus fluid leaking mid-week but it had thankfully stopped.)
We had plenty of time to talk on the 2 hour drive home. Chupa's face continued to swell. The consenus was that mercwars weapons are unsafe, and mercwars weren't very friendly anyway, so we don't care to visit mercwars again.
I hope that this gives you a better understanding ? I play many different games, all over the country, and I get along great with most people. But the combination of general unfriendliness, and injury doesn't give me any reason to respect mercwars. Maybe you have some really nice friendly people, But I didn't meet them at frost wars.
Sincerely, Crynolyn
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Post by cynara on Jan 8, 2009 19:05:50 GMT -7
Crynolyn -
Thanks for reposting my message in the Melee forum. I am truly sorry that your friends received injuries, and I don't believe it is anyone's intent to trivialize those injuries.
I have also fought with other groups over the years. The weapons the mercenaries used in the very beginnning were similar to yours, a pvc core and foam covering. I received my first black eye from one of those. My second black eye came from an Amtgard weapon. SCA weapons have given me bruises even through heavy armor. I don't think that injuries are exclusive to lighter weapons. Our group has moved to a more "historical" focus over the years, and has attempted to duplicate authentic weight and feel of weapons, stressing control and form. It is a different philosophy. I think that is why Maelgrim decided that the groups were incompatible.
Again, I blame poor communication more than anything. Was the invitation given directly to Dagorhir, or through Melee? Who was your representative? I don't suppose it matters at this point, but I do wish things had been discussed ahead of time - it would have made for better feelings all around.
I'm also sorry that you did not feel welcomed at Frost Wars. From what I was hearing, some of our people must have spoken to some of the Dagorhir people, and had a good opinion of them at the war - so it sounds like there was at least some communication! Maybe because you arrived late no one realized you were a different group - I'm not really sure.
It's too bad it was such a disaster for many people. I fought in only two battles, but I had fun and didn't even realize how many things had gone wrong until after.
Cynara
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Post by Crynolyn on Jan 8, 2009 23:31:55 GMT -7
Thank you for treating my post with respect, I really appreciate it I'm surprised that you've had black eyes from foam weapons ! I've been fighting for 9 years and I've never recieved a black eye. (Knock on wood). I have had bruises on other parts of my body. And I've gotten bruises thru SCA armor, but that's to be expected. Invitation was thru the Melee board, in the Frost Wars thread. Maybe if we had met each other at frost wars, ( and you had seen Chupa's face fill with air, ) it may have been a better first impression.
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