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One of the most common phrases in all kingdoms is "if you can't duck it, ******** it!" Experienced water-bearers carry armor repair kits. The average kit contains a handful of self-contained leather straps of different sizes, a punch or two, and duct tape. In the last year of fighting, at least 80% of my fights have featured duct tape to make my armor safe. Once or twice I forgot to bring a belt and used tape to cinch my torso armor (otherwise it would have been possible for a hit to get inside the armor and hit bits that oughtn't be hit). Duct tape makes my gauntlets work. Duct tape has made my arms work, and my helm work, and duct tape tried valiantly to make my legs work but failed. That's ok though... now I have new legs.

As a side note, never EVER correct someone who says "duck" rather than "duct." Duct tape, before it was used for ducts, was called "duck tape." It was used for many, many purposes in the US army before being released to civilian use, and was called "duck tape" because its most common improved use was to seal ammunition containers against water--water off a duck's back; thus, duck tape.

The person may be mispronouncing it. He may be lazy. Or he may be really well-educated about his tools. It's not a great gamble though, because if he's the third it'll make you look like an idiot.

:nod:
For real--ahem--heavy fighters.

But know, my lady DragonFlame, that many a rapier fighter holds that rubber bit on with duct tape when it has come loose. In fact, I've seen olympic fencers use duct tape.

No one is without duct-tape "sin"

Hahaha. Caid.

As an Atlantian, (See "Heavy Fighter", "Thug", "Make go Crunch") all I've really known is heavy fighting. I choose not to participate in rapier combat because I don't find it to be as... I want to say skillful, as actual fencing. My father was a fencer and apparently, in proper fencing, there is a riposte for every attack. I can certainly see a high level of professionalism and respect in that sport, it sounds a lot like Chess, in that everyone gets the same pieces but has to think ahead of the opponent.

Whereas, from what I've seen from Atlantian rapier fighters, it is just as it sounds. Swishity pokity. Skinny fellas and girls in floppy hats and puffy shirts, cavaliers set somewhere around 1600, or 1650 in some places.

What burns me up, are the rapier fighters who want the same awards the heavy fighters get. The day I see a white belt on a swashbuckler, I'm selling all my armor. I don't know alot about rapier fighting, but I know heavy, and heavy requires stances, ample footwork, agility, strength, accuracy, and stamina. Occasionally, I get hit with a rattan sword in my bare skin. Fortunately, being a larger gentleman, I can shrug off a hit -directly- to the bone.

Everything rapier fighters do, we have to do in heavier gear. And you get much more momentum with the heavier weapons, so you have to maintain higher control with a polearm or two hander as opposed to a Schlager.

Im not saying rapier fighters are inferior, and there are those with whom I maintain close friendships, it is simply a matter of choice - and respect. Fencing is skirting the edges of a stray thread in the fabric of period play.

Mind you, this is coming from someone who, as an adult, is fairly new to the S.C.A.

There are a lot of light fighters in Atlantia, I just choose not to be one of them, I dislike the pretentious vibe I catch from so many of them. Me? Im scum. No awards, no titles, havent even gotten my heraldry passed yet. But thats the great thing biggrin

Scum rises to the top!

I fight heavy but I'd like to get into rapier when I have time and money.

but i dont pay attenion to fighing im a volenteer and an archer. im almost a lady YAY

exactly, I work in the Tech Crew (basically anything and everything needed to be done behind the scence at dances, performances, and any other public demontration at our highschool) And duct tape and gaph tape (not sure if that's how it's spelt, basically strong black duct tape) = heart

but I never got the SCA use! eek

I now have Monty Python and the Holly Grail