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TdB
Free Scholar
Posts:58
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| 08/23/2006 9:18 AM |
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In the WS thread, Kieran raises a topic that's of interest to me. I didn't want to derail that thread, so I'm starting another new one here.
If the top 50% WS fighters stop fighting for whatever reason, then all we have left to measure with is the
bottom 50% that do fight. Take 12th night for instance. I noticed that the only ones fighting in that tournament
that had been a WS for longer than I have been were Prospere, who was not competing only fighting the bye
fights, and Ian Archibald Guthrie. Most of the scarves who were fighting had only been one for less than 6 months
as they were made by Uther and Angharad.
That's because after you've done it once or twice, you figure out that being champion often sucks. It's not a reward for doing well, it's a punishment for doing well. It's like the system is designed to spread the 'honor' around by making it tedious and unpleasant. If the job of rapier champion were to represent the group by displaying one's skill in tournaments to show how well represented the group is, to travel the region promoting rapier (and showing how well-represented the group is), then you'd get the good fighters who regularly sit out the championship tournies entering once more. Instead, the job of rapier champion is to be an ornament in court. Oh sure, we're told (sometimes) that the champion should represent the barony/principality/kingdom on the field, should demonstrate the prowess of the group's representative. On occasion, we're even told the champion should foster rapier combat throughout the region. But mostly we're told to "take your place in our court" and then ignored for the remainder of our term of service.
Don't get me wrong; it's not always like that. Sometimes, you get some terrific support from the representative of the group you're championing. I have only ever entered QRC twice in the 9+ years I've been a WS. When Brendan and Arianna won crown, Arianna was vocal in her support for rapier, and expressed an honest interest in the championship. QRC had more fighters that year than any year before or since. Good fighters came out of the woodwork. It was a terrific tournament. Almost every WS in the kingdom entered. Artimis beat me in the finals. Seven weeks later, Brendan and Arianna were out in Avacal (all the way to Myrgan Wood (Saskatoon)) for Investiture (the Avacal rapier championship). Arianna watched the entire tournament from the edge of the eric, clearly demonstrating her support wasn't just limited to who was QRC. When Aveloc and Laurellen stepped up, both were strong supporters of rapier, and had a late period reign. Again, there was a good turnout, and again I lost in the finals. At the time, I was champion of Avacal (I had 7 weeks left in my tenure as such, so my duties wouldn't have been split for long). Catriona was Princess at the time. She made a point of watching the tournament and supporting her champion throughout all 10 rounds.
I'm sure other champions can relate similar stories of support. But all too often, what you get for winning a championship is a backstage pass to court for a year. Now, I'm sure I'll hear a lot of "but you should consider it an honor to take your place in court" and so on. People will say "that can't be the reason the best fighters don't enter." I'm not going to speak for everyone; just for myself: The reason I don't enter championship tournaments is because the expectations and support of the court don't match up with my own expectations. If Arianna or Laurellen becomes Crown Princess at Sept Crown, I will enter QRC lists because I know they will support their champion and the rapier community as a whole. If it's someone I don't know, I won't enter, because I don't want to take the chance that I'll be serving a term as a placeholder. The same thing applies at the Baronial and Principality level for me. The relationship between a champion and the representative of the group s/he champions needs to be a two-way street. It needs to be that way for rapier, for heavy, for archery, and for the arts.
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OK, fine, I'm unapproachable. Keep your distance or I'll pez you. |
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Raoul
Has a lot to say...
Posts:269
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| 08/23/2006 5:25 PM |
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I'll bite. 
I've been Principality Rapier Champion and I've been Baronial Rapier and Armoured Champion. I've also been Baron of Myrgan Wood so I've seen this from the side of the territorial head.
Being a champion does not have to suck. Sure there is the expectation that you stand at court. That is the bare minimum. There is also the expectation to represent your endeavour (rapier, armoured, archery, etc.) on behalf of the area you are champion of. In the mighty Myrg our champions have traditionally been expected to take leadership roles on the field of battle and, while it rarely happens, they are expected to defend the honour of the baron and baroness as well as the barony.
Now out here in Avacal we tend to do things a bit differently as well. Our champions of each branch tend to be reserved to residents of the branch (some shires open it up to all comers). However, the tournaments generally encourage any entrant so that the list can become more challenging. The highest placing local becomes champion. It becomes a point of pride to be able to become champion by winning the tournament outright. It also becomes a goal as champion to go to every other branch and win their tournaments. I've enjoyed being champion each time I've done it.
Thore, it sounds to me like you would only be content to be champion for a Crown or Coronet that will pay you the attention you think you deserve. I'm not going to say anything about what you should feel honoured about. Instead I'm going to ask why you would wait for a Crown to tell you to 'represent'. Some Crowns/Coronets are more/less supportive than others. Were you waiting for someone to ask you to do what you expected of yourself?
Raoul |
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"So let us go and get killed where we are told to go. Is life worth the trouble of so many questions?" -Athos |
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TdB
Free Scholar
Posts:58
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| 08/23/2006 6:32 PM |
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Thanks for biting.
Thore, it sounds to me like you would only be content to be champion
for a Crown or Coronet that will pay you the attention you think you
deserve.
You misunderstand me. As champion, I expect to kick butt on the field
to represent the group I'm champion of, be it a barony, principality,
or kingdom. I expect to travel the environs of the group, fighting to show off the group's name and colours. It's not attention I seek. I seek a lack of a specific kind of attention. I don't want to be put on display as an ornament of the court. I don't want to stand behind the thrones, getting in the way of the retinue.
I think that the champion / group representative relationship should be similar to the fighter / inspiration relationship. As champion, you're fighting for the group. As inspiration, the group representatives show the group's support for you. But I'd be willing to settle for being told at the start of my term of service "go get 'em" and not have the expectation of having to hang around in the crowd behind the throne (is it still a throne if it's a baronial coronet sitting in it? - you get my meaning, anyway) where I serve no purpose.
I know the "take your place in our court" is intended as an honour, but truly, the champion's place in court is non-existent. We're there to represent on the field, not to get in the way.
That's all generalities. Specifically, yes I'm individually picky about who I'll be a champion for, because I do treat it as an inspiration issue. If I'm to be the Queen's rapier champion, then I have to know the Queen, at least a little. I have to know that she supports rapier in return for the service offered, rather than just goes through the motions. This limits my participation at the kingdom level, I know. Still, we all have our quirks. It's not as big a deal at the principality or baronial level, because you're the group's champion, not the princess's champion or the baroness's champion.
This was a poorly constructed argument on my part. I should have separated my individual quirk from the larger argument. As it is, they're mixed together, which makes for a muddy argument.
Basically, what I was trying to argue is that the role of the martial champions should be exclusively a combat role, with no court component except at the swearing in and the replacement. In many ways that is the case already, but the requirement to stand in court and lend one's presence to the atmosphere is something I'm uncomfortable with. Perhaps it's because I don't like the whole concept of court in the SCA. I don't like the passing out of awards, the cookie-based social structure.
Anyway, take that part out, and I'd be happy to compete for championships again.
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OK, fine, I'm unapproachable. Keep your distance or I'll pez you. |
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Raoul
Has a lot to say...
Posts:269
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| 08/23/2006 11:43 PM |
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Here's the thing. If a rapier champion only had to show up on the rapier field, then only the rapier community would see him/her. I think part of the perk of being champion is that you do get to be an ornament. Its part of that building a reputation thing. Its one thing to be known within the rapier community its another to be seen by the wider group. And trust me, it gets noticed.
Another thing is that as champion you might be able to have a positive influence on those group representatives that aren't as supportive as they could be. If they hate rapier, I'll admit the champion isn't likely going to make any difference. If they just don't know anything about it, the champion can be a resource for them and can encourage them to become more supportive. It's an opportunity to make a difference.
Raoul |
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"So let us go and get killed where we are told to go. Is life worth the trouble of so many questions?" -Athos |
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