#combat archery

Me> I have my own rules on the short bow.

P1> (who also plays a Ranger) Oh, yeah. She plays by the rule of cool, and this one is really cool.

Me> I allow you to use your short bow in melee combat. Because I have personally shot someone at 5 feet, and so I let you do the same.

Newbie> You what?

Me> If I can do it irl you can do it in game.

Newbie> An actual PERSON?

Me> Yeah.

The second round after we'd done some 3v3, I was prepared to suck even worse, but I think I learned something interesting about myself.

When I shoot, it's usually in melee. So at the demo the first time they did a shield wall and I had to try and pick them off while they stood there. I did get one of them, but as I said earlier, I was way off my game. I don't know if I was tired from sword and board or just hadn't warmed up or what, but I sucked.

The second time, though, they did the same shield wall, but one of the guys asked if I wanted him to challenge them with his halberd while I shot. I thought this was more interesting, so I said yes. My aim was SO MUCH BETTER. I head-shotted all three of them in four shots. While they were moving and engaged. Never once hit my guy.

I realized, then, that I usually shoot moving targets, not stationary ones. It's crazy how your muscle memory works on things like that. As soon as they entered combat, I was on. It's wild.

Anyway. Obligatory bruises under the cut, because I remembered VERY QUICKLY why I only fight tournament style with sword and shield and not melee. 😂 It's so not my thing.

Ooooo, this is a fun question to answer! There is a TL;DR at the end of this if you want to skip all of the exposition, but I have a bad habit of explaining things.

So, in the SCA there are Peerages that you can be elevated to. They are the highest awards that can be bestowed on someone by the Crown/Coronet of the Kingdom you reside. The thing about the Peerages is that no one APPOINTS you (at least no one who wants to remain in the Populace's good graces) - you have to be voted on and recommended by people who are already in that Peerage.

The Order of Chivalry consists of the Knights and the Masters of Arms. Members are recognized for their great skill at arms in combat, as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace.

The Order of the Laurel are recognized for their great skill in the Arts or Sciences, for their willingness to teach others, and for using their abilities to benefit their kingdom.

The Order of the Pelican are recognized for great service to their kingdom or to the Society as a whole, usually for many years and without thought of reward.

The Order of Defense are recognized for their great skill at rapier and/or cut-and-thrust combat, as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace, for their willingness to teach others, and for service to the kingdom.

Some people choose a path to a Peerage. Their intention is to, hopefully, earn their place amid whatever Order they feel drawn to. This path is achieved in different ways, but like with any social club, there are Traditions on how to do it. For those who wish to be Knighted and join the Order of the Chivalry, the first step for that is to Squire to a Knight.

You will note that I am not, in fact, a Squire: I am a Man-at-Arms. This is a title that different Knights use for different positions in their Households. There are some Knights who use the title as a "pre-Squire" position. It's an informal arrangement between a Knight and a fighter for a certain amount of time to work together and see if they're good fit before formalizing with a Squiring (or not Squiring if they decide it's not a good fit).

My Knight doesn't do this. Instead, a Man-at-Arms in his Household is a fighter is not pursuing the Order of the Chivalry, but still wishes to fight and train under his command and colors.

I love to fight - it's a LOT of fun, and I really enjoy being a part of a team and training together and knowing that my brothers have my back. I also have absolutely NO interest in being a Knight. None at all. It's just not for me. Fighting in the SCA is fun, but it's not a passion. So, I won't Squire. But I am still a member of his Household and a member of his army as a Man-at-Arms fighting both combat archery and sword and shield. He still owes me a pony, though, because Man-at-Arms is traditionally a mounted position, and I feel like that's the LEAST he can do.