The Aura Unveiled...Unveiled

In this edition of the Armory, I would like to talk about your greatest weapon. You!

Let's be honest, fighting is a work out - even with foam and PVC weapons.  At every event, I can tell who has an active job and who doesn't by the injuries and fatigue levels.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should be a marathon runner to be a successful larper -And I'm definitely not saying that I am the pinnacle of health and fitness - but being one of the people who is in pretty much every fight at every larp, let me give some advice.

1) Get off your butt!  I'm not saying you have to go running every day, but you will find that going for a mile or so walk every day will greatly improve how you feel at the game.  The fact of the matter is that when you sit at a chair all day for your job, and don't do much more than that at home too, your body starts to rot.  It’s not just that your muscles deteriorate, but your bone strength goes down too.  Walking increases your motabalism, which will not only possibly help you loose weight, but also helps your pain threshold and reduce bruising.

2) Drink Water! I see signs of dehydration at every event.  The big issue here is that people start drinking water too late.  To be properly hydrated for a physically intense weekend, you should increase your water intake for at least two weeks ahead of time.  Dehydration is on a 12-hour delay, the earlier you start your water intake the more you will retain and not just pass.  Additionally, many people who stop drinking soda and replace it with water usually loose at least 5 pounds and fast!  This is partially because of all the chemicals and such in soda, but also because water boosts your metabolism.

3) Stretch!  You would be amazed at how much better you feel every day if you stretch out a little when you wake up in the morning.  I do stretches periodically during the day.  It makes my muscles feel more relaxed and reduces tension headaches.  Also, you guessed it; stretching helps increase your motabalism!  At the actual event, stretching will help fight pulled and strained muscles.

4) Eat Healthy.  I know it seems silly, but just like you were told back in school, you are what you eat.  Eat lean proteins, lots of fruits and veggies, avoid sweets, and avoid overly processed food.  Trust me, after you stop eating fast food for about a month, you will never want it again.

Fitness is something that has been a large concern of mine lately, so I'm more than happy to chat about it any time.  Remember that our brand of larping is very physical.  Once we get out of winter, I would like to go back to hosting regular fight practices.  Anything you can do to increase your activity will make you feel better at the next event.  Obviously, if you're not focusing on how much your muscles and joints hurt, you will have more fun with the actual event.  Hope to see you all soon!

-Andy

As you all probably know, I'm a bit of a larp junky.  I spend much of my still time trolling a few larp boards reading about what is going on in the world of Larping.  One of the things I have been seeing a lot about are "IDV" Arrows.  (example)  I've not heard a lot of positive about them, only issues.  For now, I'm going to put them into the same grey area as latex weapons; You can bring them, I'll allow them to be play tested, no promice that I'm going to say yes.  Remember, as with latex weapons, "Because they are different" does not obmit it from other rules.

Especially remember the eye socket rule.  I'm pretty adamit about this one.  I've seen some people's idea of a throwing weapon not have thrusting tips on strike points and fail the eye socket rule.  I'm not going to argue it at events anymore, it doesn't pass.

I'm usually willing to play test something new/different, but be aware that I may say no.

Well, friends, its coming up fast!  In about two weeks we will be meeting again at Faire Play for another fantastic installment of Aura Unveiled!  This is sure to be an unforgettable game.  I would like to take this opportunity to remind you to check your weapons for safety, so to reduce the chances of them being failed at the game.  Here is a list of things to check.

1.  Is the blade still secure?  Even though you put the tape inside the foam to keep it attached to the pipe, it does sometimes fail.  Lightly grab the striking portion of the weapon and turn it.  If it turns, your tape is dead and you must redo it.

2. Is the tip still good?  Check the thrusting tip(s) and make sure they are still safe.  Make sure they are still squishy, not compressed, and rebound from compression.

3. Is there still a gap?  Check to make sure the gap is still present below the thrusting tip.  I've heard it a thousand times, "I capped the pipe, left a gap, and put foam in there!"  I hear ya, but if I can't find a gap there, it fails.  Sometimes the foam shifts.  You need to have that gap there still.

4. Is the tape still good?  Sometimes duct tape fails.  If the weapon gets wet, if the weapon is exposed to prolonged heat (IE left it in the back of your car...), or if the tape wasn't great quality, it is known to fail.  Sometimes it gets hard spots, sometimes it is just falling off.  Look it over and use good judgement.  Don't get upset when I say that is why your weapon is no longer safe.

5. Is the foam still safe?  If you did not store the weapon properly, or used it a lot, the foam might have gone bad.  Check for spots of inconsistency.  This can include hard spots, really soft spots, and seperation of the split in the foam.  This is the first thing I check for when checking a weapon.

 Take these cautions and your weapon should be good to go.  I know it may seem like a pain, but remember that I do this every game for the entire cast arsenal!  Do me a favor and check your weapons to make my job easier.

As always, I'm willing to answer any questions.  If not, I'll see you there!!!!

-Andy

It has been way too long since I have last posted in here, I know.  I appologize.  Somehow my summer vacation has been much busier than my working year.  Anyhow, I have not completed the video tutorial for how to make boffer weapons according to our rules.  Feel free to check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSspPJm3DKk

I have just started working on a tutorial on how to make arrows as well.  Hopefully it will not take as long to make as the last did.  I will also try to get the actual video posted on the website here.  Just haven't quite figured it out yet.

Hope everyone had as much fun as I did at the July event and I can't wait to see you all at the September event!

Proper weapon storage is usually the cause of most of the weapons we fail.  With weapon storage, there are only two major things to remember.

1) Don't lean it on the thrusting tip.

2) Don't leave it on once side, especially with something that isnt flat under it.

Follow these two simple guidlines and your weapon should stay fresh from event to event.  Here are some other pointers.

1) Avoid getting it wet.  Some times the water can ruin the duct tape or make the foam hard.

2) Avoid storing it in very dry areas.  I have seen some duct tape lose its stickieness due to it being too dry.

3) Hang your weapon.  Many of us have started attaching small leather loops off the bottom of our weapons.  This allows us to hang them upside down from J hooks.  This make it so that there are no compression points.  All you need to do is come home from the event and hang it up.

4) Don't leave your weapon in the car.  I know when you get home from an event, we usually just want to crash.  If you take the minute to pull your weapon out of the car and put it away, you may save the life of your weapon.  The heat of the inside of a car has even been used to bend PVC piping.  Imagine what it can do to the tape and foam.

5) Be careful not to lean on your staff.  I know the point of a staff is that its a walking stick that is also a weapon, but try not to put weight on the thrusting tip as your standing around.

Follow these simple guidlines, and your weapons should be good for several events.

Has anyone run into any other issues due to improper storage?

We had a great fight practice this past weekend.  I believe a good time was had by all. We got a lot of good practice in before the thunderstorm that hit late last night.  We are looking to do another gathering on the 9th of May.  The focus of this one will be to make arrows, but we will most likely do fight practice in the back yard as well.  If you are interested in joining us (in Bethlehem, PA), contact me or Missy.  I'm hoping the weather will be nicer this time.  Of course, it is the week before game, so it would be a great last minute opportunity to knock the rust out and have me look over your weapons before you get to game and find out they are not legal. 

I'm in the process of making a video showing step by step of how to make a basic weapon.  As soon as I get that done, I'm going to do another on making arrows.  For now, here is a text version.

1.  Gather materials.  You will need a piece of 3/4 inch PVC, 3/8 inch closed cell foam, Open cell foam, Duct tape

2. Cut to length.  The pipe may be no longer than 57 inches

3. Cap the pipe.  Use some duct tape to cover the ends of the pipe.  This ensures that it does not poke through the thrusting tip.

4. Cut the Closed Cell.  Cut the appropriate length of closed cell foam.  It should go 1 inch past the end of the pipe.  If the closed cell foam does not have a precut slit, you will need to do that.

5. Secure the foam.  The foam must be attached to the pipe.  The way I suggest doing this is to make a roll of duct tape the lenght of the pipe.  Once that tape is on there, attach the foam.  Put the pipe through the slit in the foam.  Do not put the pipe at the base of the foam and force it up.  Again, the foam must go 1 inch past the end of the pipe.

6. Fill the gap.  Some times there is a gap between the edges of the slit once it is put on the pipe.  Cut closed cell foam and stuff the gap.

7. Tape it up.  Duct tape should be applied along the length of the weapon.  Do not wrap it around in a circular fashion.  Avoid creases.

8.  Fill the gap. Use some closed cell foam to fill the 1 inch gap at the top of the foam.  I usually put a small piece of duct tape at the end of that to make sure it doesnt fall out.

9. Make the thrusting tip.  Cut a 2 inch section of open cell foam.  Most of us prefer to cut the corners off this.  It makes it a bit more stream lined.  Remember that it must pass the eye socket rule.

10. Attach the thrusting tip.  Use two strips of duct tape to attach the tip to the blade.  Do not squish the tip while doing this.  Start one piece of tape on on side of the blade, up and over the thrusting tip and back down the other side.  Then do the same in the other direction with the other piece of tape.  The next step is the only time you may put tape around the blade.  Use one piece of duct tape and go around the ends of the duct tape to help secure the thrusting tip.  Do this gently.  It should not compress the foam.

11. Puncture the tip.  Use a small pin and poke some holes in the thrusting tip.  Don't over do it.  This will allow air to escape and go back in.  With out this, the squishy tip isn't very squishy.

12.  Finishing touches.  Beond this, your free to make improvements.  Remember, any colored markings on the blade is usually a indicator of something.  Don't do it with out approval.  I will do a blog soon of what blade markings mean.  Remember that the cross piece may not be metal.  I recommend using PVC or closed cell foam for the cross piece.  Though I have often used black duct tape for the hand grip, I recommend hockey grip tape.  Many variations exist though. 

Questions?

Thrown weapons have come to my attention as of late.  Last game I saw some variations that I had not seen before, so here are the official rules on them.

They may not have a core!  If I catch you throwing something with a core, you will most likely have your combat certification taken away.

They must have thrusting tips on ends! The ends must be open cell foam, like thrusting tips on cored weapons.

They must pass the eye socket rule!  There has been some confusion.  Basically the eye socket rule says that if I can fit a tip in my eye, it fails.  This applies to all weapons.

Max weight for thrown weapons is 2 lbs.  Thats a lot.  If your weapon is any where close to that, do not throw it.

The traditional throwing knife is rather easy to make.  Take a short tube of closed cell foam.  Put open cell thrusting tips on both sides.  That's it. 

I've recently seen a throwing weapon with a few split peas on the inside.  Under our current rules, this is illegal.  I'm will ing to look into it with some play testing.  Please do not be upset if I tell you no because you of it.  I want to play with them more before we make it okay.

Bean bags.  I do not believe I've ever seen official rules on them.  However, our bean bags are traditionally about 2 inches square of orange fabric filled loosely with split peas.  These should not be very heavy or very compact.  Basically, if there is a complaint about a been bag, One of uss will ask to see them.  If we deam them to heavy or hard, thats the end of the question.

Questions?

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend.  I was glad to enjoy the weather on Sunday by getting outside and swinging some boffer weapons with friends.  Weather is supposed to be beautiful again this weekend, so I'm hoping to be able to get out for fight practice again.  

Today's topic is Foam.  There are two kinds of foam we used, 3/8 inch closed cell foam, and open cell foam.

The 3/8 inch closed cell foam is the pipe insulation that we use to pad the majority of our weapons.  When putting it on, remember not to "condom" it on.  This means do not simply put the foam on the top of the pipe and force it down.  The foam should be cut down the center (if a slit is not already present) and the placed around the foam.  The foam must be attached to the blade on the inside.  Most of us use rolled duct tape.  Some have used double sided duct tape, but I do not recommend this.  Also remember that the end of the pipe must be capped, again with duct tape.  There should be a gap of 1 to two inch gap, stuffed with open cell foam, between the end of the pipe and the open cell thrusting tip.  Be careful not to stretch the foam.

On the end of the pipe should be a thrusting tip, again made of open cell foam.  The best stuff I have found is Air  conditioner insulation.  It usually looks like this.  It is usually in the right sized strips.  You simply cut out a 2 inch cube.  Though it is not necessary, most of us cut the corners off to make it closer to the shape of the closed cell foam.  Remember not to compress the open cell foam when taping the thrusting tip on. 

Open cell foam can be found in other sources aside from air conditioner insulation.  (Who hasn't chopped up an old couch cushion?)  Usually this is what people use for axe, hammer and mace heads.  Please avoid using closed cell for these.  It can end up being very heavy.

Remember, we check weapons for safety at every event.  If your foam is found to be too hard, have soft spots, or not be secured to the pipe below it, we will fail it.  You then have a choice of repairing the weapon, or we will usually have a cast weapon or two you can borrow.

Questions?