To summarize the discussion that Ton Berry, Philippa Barnes, Travis Russell Cuddeback Coulter and I had after practice today regarding preparation for club fest, recruitment fighting at UNI, and getting ready for all that: We are going to take a little different approach from what other realms have tried in order to try to lower the barriers and encourage new fighters to pick up a sword and try this out. We are essentially going to wrap ourselves in the flag and market ourselves, visually, as a UNI club. At club fest (Aug. 23rd, be there), we are encouraging all of our people to wear UNI shirts or colors (purple and gold). There were thoughts and discussions about getting cool or clever realm specific shirts that we can all wear in order to look cohesive. This may or may not happen because there is little time and lots to do. But at the very least, bring UNI colors for yourself and others. We think that we should market and introduce ourselves as UNI Swordfighting. This removes the jargon and ties ourselves to accepted and comfortable norms. A potential new fighter sees us and thinks, Oh, UNI Swordfighting Club. So theyre an official club, and they do sword fights. Got it. Lets be honest with ourselves. UNI has proven to be a tougher campus to get established in than Iowa State or Grinnell, for example. We might have to modify our methods here. Were not leaving the NB identity behind whatsoever. Anyone who knows me knows that I have way to much pride in this realm to ever allow that to happen. This is a message and branding approach for recruitment. The official name on our Club documents is going to be UNI Swordfighting: Nan Belegorn, Belegarth MCS. And trust me, once the winter snows come and the sweet summer children flee to their dorms and it just the hardcore in the Dome all winter, by that time theyll all know about realm and the larger game and all of that. And look, even if were all wearing school colors and dressed normally, no one is going to think this is anything other than what it is: dorky swordfighting. People who try this and come to a couple practices will figure out soon enough everything else that goes into it: the garb, armor, events, rping. And if they dont like that, cool. But lets do everything we can to get a sword in their hands first and they can figure all that out from there. And it lets us break all those other things in to them more slowly. There are several things that need to happen before this all kicks off. Were going to get the official club paperwork in. We also need to repair and revamp our community arsenal. So, next TUESDAY THE 12TH. Every broken and busted sword and weapon in our possession will be brought to fighting to be dispersed out to anyone who can find some time to repair a few swords in time for recruitment fighting to begin. So, even if you dont have time to fight that day, if you have time and materials to help put a few swords together, then get your hands on some of our broken stuff and get it repaired. Many hands make light work. Crowdsourcing. Etc. Discuss, ladies and gentlemen. Lets get this rolling and if all goes well well have some 40-person fields at practices in a couple weeks.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 03:10:48 +0000