I think two things. 1) a sense of identity. Both in small groups and as a community as a whole. In some of the more isolated areas there is an identity based on location. This is ok, and will keep people invested for a little while, but they'll lose that over time unless they figure out who they are and what part they play in the community. What I see keeps people invested over time is knowing they are needed, that they fulfill a role that no one else can fill. And while the truth is always that someone else will step up if you need to take a break etc, they will do so in a different way, etc, so the perception that "I" am unique is essential to a healthy upkeep of our community. Just being a rapier fighter means, that anyone can fill your spot if you leave. That's not an identity so much as an activity. The more people build this identity,(through persona-play, through service, through their garb, or other arts) both of themselves and with their groups, them more likely they are to stay invovlved and invested at a higher level. Right now, I don't see a lot of that happening in the rapier community, especially in downtown Caid, many folks are waiting for other people to tell them who they are, which is always a bad idea. 2) New ideas. I don't think any of us want to go back to the days of random goofy tourneys, but I would like to see more people putting forth more effort to create new and innovative ways to play this game. Whether it's tactics on the war field or fun off the field shenanigans, there's very little innovation going on outside of a few central people. The more we *all* try new and exciting things, the more likely we are to come up with a good one. Oliver's doing a great job with scenario building down in Calafia, but what else? Where are our craftsman making new and innovative toys and armor for us to play with? (I've got Todde working on what I think will be a *really* cool helmet vambrace combo for C&T, but do you know how hard it is to find an armorer in Caid?) When's the last time someone brought out a 'baton' that was more than just a pvc tube wrapped in a cover? (and how period is that, btw?) When's the last time someone tried to do something new and fresh with their style on the field? Even our garb standards have slacked. I think we've fallen into a similar trap than number 1, we are waiting for someone else to define our game for us, and we need to take control of it, individually, and make our own dreams out of it, otherwise we are just people poking at each other in funny clothes.
2) New ideas. I don't think any of us want to go back to the days of random goofy tourneys, but I would like to see more people putting forth more effort to create new and innovative ways to play this game. Whether it's tactics on the war field or fun off the field shenanigans, there's very little innovation going on outside of a few central people. The more we *all* try new and exciting things, the more likely we are to come up with a good one. Oliver's doing a great job with scenario building down in Calafia, but what else? Where are our craftsman making new and innovative toys and armor for us to play with? (I've got Todde working on what I think will be a *really* cool helmet vambrace combo for C&T, but do you know how hard it is to find an armorer in Caid?) When's the last time someone brought out a 'baton' that was more than just a pvc tube wrapped in a cover? (and how period is that, btw?) When's the last time someone tried to do something new and fresh with their style on the field? Even our garb standards have slacked. I think we've fallen into a similar trap than number 1, we are waiting for someone else to define our game for us, and we need to take control of it, individually, and make our own dreams out of it, otherwise we are just people poking at each other in funny clothes.
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point of elbow to wrist Left: 10" Right:Same
circumference of wrist Left: 6.75" Right: 6:75"
circumference of arm above & below elbow Left: 11.25"(below)/11.25"(above) Right: 12"(below)/12"(above)
Thanks :D
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