Anyway, so I decided to study these "foam-fighters" before I engaged with them, to make sure they weren't too far beyond me.
LOL.
No. Srlsy. LOL. Lol-rofl-facepalm-headdesk-Picard-"WTF is this Shit??!!"
Okay, so firstly, these guys pad to the extreme. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself; I mean, I completely understand the desire not to injure participants. But then again, I was randomly asked by a hallmate (who has seriously fallen in with the troupe) to test the padding on his newly-made glaive, because I had had "prior experience". Also granted, but when I asked him why he didn't take the hit himself, he told me that he didn't want to get hurt if he was wrong.
Gee. Thanks. censored for teh kiddies
So I rolled my eyes as obviously and sarcastically as I could, turned around, and obliged him. After he nudged me, he asked me if I felt the PVC. I told him he'd have to hit me harder than a gentle prod for me to feel anything. He said he had.
Oh frick.
No, you don't understand. That was regulation padding. I was saddened, deeply.
For reference, the last time I had fought with the live-steel crew, I had taken a spear to the face. The tip of the spear was in fact a mannequin doll head wrapped in inch-thick yellow foam (which has amazing give) and duct tape.
It smarted. But I lived, and nothing was broken, and my embouchure was not interfered with, and I had no swelling, so. To be struck, then, at three-quarter strength (my hallmate's claim) and to have it feel like more of a caress, and then to have him ask me "if it hurt"....
The group's leader stopped in a while later, and he proclaimed that it could use a bit more padding; he said he could feel the pipe. I thought quietly of the Princess and the Pea, but tactfully said nothing (like I do when I'm disappointed).
Yeah, that pretty much shot my interest right then.
I also took note of their ROE. (Rules of Engagement, in case you weren't familiar.) Head shots were disallowed (for obvious reason), but so was striking with the pommel/hilt, striking the hand, or using a bludgeoning weapon period.
Excuse me? What part of "combat" did they not understand? Or didn't they realize that greatswords and man-and-a-half swords and other medieval swords were mostly blunt brain-beaters to begin with? Not to mention maces and morning stars, or the fact that medieval knights wore metal armor.
The spear-turned-spade that I made was purposely constructed to allow for bludgeoning; my entire staff was fully padded, and we checked several times to make certain the weapon was usable. Plus, what are tonfa for in the first place? The war axe my friend made was not padded on the pole because there was no point in him striking with anything but the blade. Mine needed the versatility, and we discussed both of those weapons at great length.
And besides, if you can cause your opponent to break their rhythm with a quick, non-lethal blow that sets you up for a kill shot, aren't you going to take it?
