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Main => The Campaign => Topic started by: Stanislaw on 2014-04-17, 06:53:46

Title: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Stanislaw on 2014-04-17, 06:53:46
From July 25th to August 10th, the 43rd annual SCA's "Pennsic War" is going to be held. A distant family member of mine has offered to get some campground space for me there if I pre-register. I'm not interested in the rattan fighting, but I am really interested in taking some of the artisan classes at the Pennsic University. Many of such classes offer skills that can help build some kits, and it just sounds like a grand old time.

Are any of you guys interested in going to this event?
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Lord Dane on 2014-04-17, 20:04:39
You can find my group in W13 if I attend. The Order is with SCA East. I can only commit vacation time IF I have it. PU does have much to offer. Check out the college of arts and sciences; college of scribes (heralds). You are missing out with fighting though. Try some of Sir Corbins homemade mead. :p Youll find him in Barony of the Bridge camp.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Nate on 2014-04-18, 22:45:51
I really need to get into Sca, Considering Pennsic is right in my home state.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Ian on 2014-04-18, 22:52:12
I really need to get into Sca, Considering Pennsic is right in my home state.

You can literally just go get a membership through the website so you can be a card carrying member in order to attend Pennsic if you wanted to.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Nate on 2014-04-18, 22:55:47
I really need to get into Sca, Considering Pennsic is right in my home state.

You can literally just go get a membership through the website so you can be a card carrying member in order to attend Pennsic if you wanted to.
I could, But I still need proper equipment.
that will go hand and hand as I get proper medieval gear.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Douglas on 2014-04-18, 23:08:56
Cooper's Lake is actually only about an hour or so from me; I've never gone to Pennsic, though. I heard it can be very confusing for a first-timer if you don't know anyone there to show you the ropes.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Aiden of Oreland on 2014-04-19, 03:15:27
Man it's a dream of mine to go, but alas, I am but a wee feller who would seek to train in the art of WMA for a year first and some more exercise to prepare my skill and body. Then I need that armor... All I can do is be patient and determined. Unless anyone wants to lend me equipment :)
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Lord Dane on 2014-04-19, 04:19:19
Hookup with your local SCA combat group some nights; Most meet once a week; Mingle & melee and SCA heavy combat gear is easy to come by and affordable at any price range
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Ian on 2014-04-19, 13:53:56
You don't  need to fight if you go to Pennsic.  There's quite literally tons of other stuff to do.  You can watch the wars, eat, see all the merchants, just immerse yourself in it. 
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Aiden of Oreland on 2014-04-19, 17:21:50
I suppose it doesn't hurt to slowly move into it, that way I know my way around by the time I can fight. I think one of you guys posted how to find out local SCA groups but I honestly forget and don't know how.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2014-04-19, 19:04:06
Would love too, heck I-80 even runs through my city, but it's 2300 miles and there is too much mishigas in my life right now to allow it. Perhaps someday.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Ian on 2014-04-19, 19:41:56
...how to find out local SCA groups but I honestly forget and don't know how.

http://www.sca.org/geography/findsca.html (http://www.sca.org/geography/findsca.html)
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Edward on 2014-04-19, 22:00:17
I heard it can be very confusing for a first-timer if you don't know anyone there to show you the ropes.

Yes and no. It helps to have a group to camp with, as you'll probably have a better overall experience than camping in the "singles" areas. But otherwise, you can look at the schedules, find things to go watch or participate in, and go shopping.

The shopping is huge, BTW. We usually spend 2 days just doing that. It's all geared towards SCAdians and re-enactors, so it's not just the typical renfaire sort of shops, though there's a lot of cross-over.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Nate on 2014-04-19, 22:23:04
I heard it can be very confusing for a first-timer if you don't know anyone there to show you the ropes.

Yes and no. It helps to have a group to camp with, as you'll probably have a better overall experience than camping in the "singles" areas. But otherwise, you can look at the schedules, find things to go watch or participate in, and go shopping.

The shopping is huge, BTW. We usually spend 2 days just doing that. It's all geared towards SCAdians and re-enactors, so it's not just the typical renfaire sort of shops, though there's a lot of cross-over.

I feel like Sca is that meet in the middle sort of medieval hobby. There is the Renfaire side of Medievalism(lol, I say that as if it were a religion) Then there is Sca, and then there is WMA, Re-enactments.
As far as larp goes, I am Highly Unfamiliar with it or the different kinds or where they fall into the mix.
Neither do I know where groups like the Order of the Marshall fall under nor how common they are.
Enlighten or correct me if I am wrong
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Aiden of Oreland on 2014-04-19, 23:09:57
...how to find out local SCA groups but I honestly forget and don't know how.

http://www.sca.org/geography/findsca.html (http://www.sca.org/geography/findsca.html)

Thank you as always Sir Ian.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Stanislaw on 2014-04-20, 04:12:16

Quote
The shopping is huge, BTW. We usually spend 2 days just doing that. It's all geared towards SCAdians and re-enactors, so it's not just the typical renfaire sort of shops, though there's a lot of cross-over.

That's awesome!
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Ian on 2014-06-13, 18:27:43
Anyone going to Pennsic this year?  I think Lord Dane is attending, yes?  I'd love to just have the opportunity to check out the artisans and merchants.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Edward on 2014-06-13, 18:46:21
Anyone going to Pennsic this year?  I think Lord Dane is attending, yes?  I'd love to just have the opportunity to check out the artisans and merchants.

We're not making it this year. I'm not sure about next year either, since we essentially postponed doing a summer vacation until next year (because of air-conditioner replacement cost)... but it's been a while. We last went in 2008, so we definitely want to get out there again.

It's an event like no other.

If you go, you might run into Christian Tobler out there. He often hangs out at the Revival Clothing booth. That's assuming they're going this year.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Lord Dane on 2014-06-14, 06:03:53
Anyone going to Pennsic this year?  I think Lord Dane is attending, yes?  I'd love to just have the opportunity to check out the artisans and merchants.

Lord Dane is trying to this year. My combat group will be attending from SCA. Not sure if I will get the time off. 2 weeks is a lot for me.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2014-06-14, 06:18:06
While my parents grew up 2 hrs from the site it seems that life says I'll never get to go at this point.  :(
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Ian on 2014-06-14, 13:39:10
It's split in to two weeks right, one is peace and one is war?  Are the merchants and artisans available during either week?  I'm assuming war week is the second week.  I'd definitely like to see things like CoTT and some of the big field battles.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Aiden of Oreland on 2014-06-14, 21:40:12
I can't wait to attend, it has been right at my state. Hopefully I will get to go next year, after I learn a thing or two about SCA and its combat.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Edward on 2014-06-15, 01:21:51
It's split in to two weeks right, one is peace and one is war?  Are the merchants and artisans available during either week?  I'm assuming war week is the second week.  I'd definitely like to see things like CoTT and some of the big field battles.

Yep, I think that's right-- War week is the second week. As I recall, the merchants/artisans tend to set up in the middle of the first week, and close down mid to late second week. So it's pretty safe that they'll be there from Thursday through the following Wednesday.

In fact, on the second Wednesday night is what they call "midnight madness", as the merchants keep the shops open late into the night, with sales, to reduce how much the need to pack up the following day. It's a huge party in the streets, with musicians, entertainers, and so on.

The archery range tends to open up for access on the Friday or Saturday in the middle of the event, and stays open during war week.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Stanislaw on 2014-06-22, 04:12:52
Welp, due to Pennsic being located pretty obnoxiously far from my house, (6+ hour drive!!!) I won't be going this year. :( Sorry!
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Lord Chagatai on 2014-06-22, 04:14:59
Ya its pretty far for me too... :(


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Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Sir Edward on 2014-06-22, 12:31:58
It's about 5.5 hours for us as well. What we've done usually, is to gather everything into one spot in advance. Then, pack the truck first thing in the morning on the day that we're going, and make the long drive starting before lunch. That we we can get there with plenty of daylight, set up the tent, then look for something to have for dinner. By doing the return trip in a similar fashion, the two travel days are quite manageable, and still have some time left over to do things on site.

If you go to the event for 5+ days total, setting aside two of the days as mostly travel isn't so bad.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2014-06-22, 16:20:15
IIRC it's a 3+ day drive from here depending on if you drive 8 or 12 hrs a day.

6+ hrs to Pennsic? Hell We had someone drive 6+ hrs to get to West Crown weekend event from here. :)

For us almost all SCA events are at least 2+ hrs away and usually 3-4. While the geographic center of the kingdom is 30 miles east, the pop center is 140 miles west. (the West is smallish, only 615 miles side-to-side).
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Aiden of Oreland on 2014-06-22, 16:41:58
Hey, I live in PA, and its still a 5 hour drive for me! I would go this summer, but I would have had to make plans months in advance. It doesn't help I don't have a car yet, so it'll have to wait for next summer. Gives me time to. Save up money for it too.
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Ian on 2014-06-22, 17:49:01
IIRC it's a 3+ day drive from here depending on if you drive 8 or 12 hrs a day.

6+ hrs to Pennsic? Hell We had someone drive 6+ hrs to get to West Crown weekend event from here. :)

For us almost all SCA events are at least 2+ hrs away and usually 3-4. While the geographic center of the kingdom is 30 miles east, the pop center is 140 miles west. (the West is smallish, only 615 miles side-to-side).

Thorsteinn, I don't think the East Coast guys understand that West Coast reality of everything being a 3+ hour drive.  A normal errand out in the West is road trip in the East. :)
Title: Re: Pennsic XLIII
Post by: Thorsteinn on 2014-06-22, 18:13:38
Thorsteinn, I don't think the East Coast guys understand that West Coast reality of everything being a 3+ hour drive.  A normal errand out in the West is road trip in the East. :)

Yeah I noticed how everything seemed really close together when I was out east for work a few years back (sorry I didn't say "Hi" back then. I wasn't yet part of the Order). I remember weirding out someone from back east by saying that Seattle was, for a week long trip, gladly only one days drive away. He said "but that's got to be close to 700 miles!?", and I replied "Yep, about 12 hrs", which for a week long trip isn't undoable.

Hell my last college class was 34 miles from my home to the next closest town. Just 45 min each way twice a week. It was not uncommon a few years ago to drive 120 miles round trip every holiday to see all my family, and I never left "the Reno Metro Area".

Which reminds me, I've got to plan my & my Fiancee's day trip to Sac. Figure it to be 4.5 hrs of driving in total.