Welcome to the SCA!
Here are some answers to questions asked by many of our new members. It is not an official answer page of the SCA and only reflects the experience of people in this local group. Nor is this a complete list by any means. Other FAQ's can be found at the links at the bottom of the page.
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How do I join? All you have to do is come to one of our meetings or events. Someone is always on had at these to help newcomers get to know the rest of the group or answer any questions. If the times listed for these meetings are not convienient for you to attend please call the Seneschal and we'd be happy to arrange something else.
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Do you have to be member to play? How does one become a member and how much does it cost? After you decide to be a part of the SCA, we highly encourage you purchase a membership These cost about $35 USD and forms and information can be found on the SCA website.
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How often are meetings/events? The group here meets at least once a week for fight practice or to do arts & sciences. We also have a business meeting once a month. Special events (both in town and out of town) and social evenings tend to happen on a regular basis. It is possible to attend an event every weekend and have some sort of gathering every week night. People also have been known to attend only one event a year. However, most members spend about 2 nights a week doing SCA stuff. It's all up to how much time you want to devote to it.
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How can I help within the group or at events? Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the group and get to know people. For starters, you may wish to become an officer deputy. For example, if you are interested in heraldry ask that officer if there is something you can help with, such as, perhaps, drawing device. Events are also a good time to volunteer. Event co-ordinators are always looking for help at the registration gate or to serve the feast. A very good article on this very thing can be found here.
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How much does it cost to get into armour? How long does it take? The amount of money and time spent on getting into armour depends on what each new fighter wants; some are fully armoured within 3 months, others it takes a year; some may have spent under $100, others much more. Fighters for the most part build their own armour at a minimal cost. Some pieces can be bought but you must be careful to ensure what you buy meets SCA legal standards for protection. Cost and time also depend on what materials are used. Leather, plastic and metal are all good choices and we have plenty of experienced people to help.
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Do you have to fight? No, no one has to do anything they don't want to here.
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Can women fight? Yes, we have many women fighters (although none in Rhuddglyn yet) and even a few female Knights.
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How old do you have to be to fight? A person must be be 16 or older to be authorized to fight in heavy armoured combat.
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What other things do you do besides fighting? We have a saying that if it was done in the Middle Ages, we do it now. People cooks, brew, sew, do leatherwork and metalwork, create jewelery, write poetry, design heraldry, etc.
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How do you choose a name? Most people choose a name based on what they are most interested in when they join the SCA. For example, if you love learning about the Italian Renaissance, chances are you will choose a name from that time. However, it's often a good idea not to settle on a name too soon; interests change and the name you choose may not actually be acurate to that time (meaning you can't register it with the College of Heralds should you wish to). A great article on choosing a name can be found here. You may also wish to create a device or coat of arms for yourself (or not - it's not required but part of the fun). Here's an article for creating a device or contact our local Herald to learn more.
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Where do you get the costumes? For the most part, we make our own costumes. Don't be intimidated by this, there is lots of people willing to help and lots of infomation available to get you started. There are also people who sell costumes.
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Where do you get the shoes? Shoes are one of the hardest part of a costume to make or buy. Most people wear simple leather boots or shoes usually black in colour. That's usually best for newcomers who are still deciding on what culture they like best. Again there are people who make and sell medieval footwear or who can tell you how to make them.
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Where can I find patterns for costumes for a specific period? There are many good resources out there that you can use to create sca garb. Commercial patterns from the local fabric store can give you a good start but it is not very specific to any culture or time period. The Kingdom of Atlantia has a great page full of links to various arts and science resouces online - many of which are about costumes.
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How long has Rhuddglyn been in Medicine Hat? Rhuddglyn has been in Medicine since August 2002. Check out our history page.
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What titles do I use when addressing Royalty? The SCA has developed it's own language of sorts (see SCA glossary). This includes using medieval forms of address. To people who have been in the SCA for many years it becomes second nature to know when one says "Your Grace" or "Your Excellency" but do not fear, it is not neccessary to learn everything right away. This Quiz (includes the 10 expectations of Courtesy and Etiquette) will help you know what titles go with what rank.
Is you question not answered here? Try the links below:
Frequently Asked Questions At www.sca.org
Modar's SCA Newscomers Information - Some of the information is specific to the Kingdom of Calontir but it's otherwise very useful.
SCA Glossary - an explanation of all those funny words we use. There are actually many glossaries online but this is the best.
Rialto FAQ - Information on a SCA newsgroup that answers some basic SCA questions
Teen SCA FAQ - information on the SCA specifically for Teenagers
Armour Archive FAQ - All about making armour
