Days of Knights

[Sir Edward]

So, how are the preparations going for everyone?

I've done a really good job of ignoring it, with the "I still have a couple of months to prepare" mentality. Well, those months are down to weeks now.

I haven't built any furniture yet. I'm thinking I may try to quickly make a simple table and weapon rack.

I bought some chests earlier in the year, but I think they need some internal reinforcing. This may take some work. We'll see if I get to it in time. Otherwise I just have to be really careful with them (these are the same ones I took to VARF this spring).

I need to finish painting the Teutonic shield, and hopefully the kettle helm too (which I have to start over).

I ordered a few more accessories to flesh out my feast gear some more. Over the course of the year I got a few more garb accessories too, in the form of more period-looking pouches, the viking leathercrafts shoes, some belts, etc.

I'm OK on the tent itself, and its parts. I haven't been able to put it up to test this, but my hope is to use the walls to section it in half, and make one end of it the internal, closed-off sleeping and storage area, and the other open for display. So far I really only have my chairs, chests, and weapons/armor to show off.

I'm still not 100% certain which kits are going. I figured c.1250 for sure, but I haven't circled back on fitting the mail. I think it'll work as-is, it just could be better. c.1300 can still work with the same mail, and c.1350 can now work as well. Plus my 15th. plate could go.  Heck, I could throw it all in the truck and mix-and-match. But lugging three or four kits worth of armor could be a pain.

For camping accommodations in the tent, I have a couple of folding cots. I figure a cot and a sleeping bag is probably good enough. I'm not going to make my camping supplies part of the display, I don't have time or space to build anything better for that.

What else should we be thinking about?

And I figure we can coordinate and cooperate a bit too, especially if our tents are co-located.

[SirNathanQ]

Well I got my soft kit all done, and for my hard kit I only need gorget and gauntlets, which are on order from Clang. Have basic silverware, and most of the other stuff. Only things I don't have done are some helm modifications, my shields, and the chests aren't painted.

[Ian]

My soft kit is pretty much squared away now.  We both have pouches, a basic mess kit, belts etc...  On the hard kit, I'm down to the wire on HE shipping my bascinet.  The aventail should be in the maille from icefalcon, and I'm going to need some time to attach it, thus requiring said bascinet

As far as the tent space goes, the interior of my tent will be blatantly modern.  We plan on using all modern gear inside the tent as we don't have any period stuff. 

We're lacking in the furniture department.  We've got nothing to sit on.  I did build a chest for my armor, so I suppose it would double as a bench.  The hardware on the chest uses modern screws, but for my first woodworking project, I couldn't go 100% authentic when I barely knew what I was doing.  I plan on bringing some non-perishable snacks and a few cases of bottled water to store in my tent so we can duck in there to drink and not pass out.

I may have to try and build a more suitable piece of furniture to sit on... but I'm also noticing how expensive this is turning out to be and I'm trying to stop spending money on it, because to be quite honest, it's getting a bit ridiculous now.  I will have a front canopy fly for my tent (which I still have not had the opportunity to test out, I really need to do that this weekend), so I'd like to sit on something other than the ground!

[Sir Edward]

I'm bringing two chairs that I bought (those folding medieval bench-style chairs), so whoever's (limit=1) hanging out at my tent with me will have a place to sit with me. But they're backless chairs, so you can't really lounge out on these things.

Thankfully this will be deep enough into MDRF season that I'll have some tolerance for standing around in armor. But man, sitting at every opportunity does help you get through the day.

[SirNathanQ]

I've got 2 chests that can make for benches. I'll be probably bringing all of my armour, as I'll be going from 1330-1360.

[Ian]

I'm bringing two chairs that I bought (those folding medieval bench-style chairs), so whoever's (limit=1) hanging out at my tent with me will have a place to sit with me. But they're backless chairs, so you can't really lounge out on these things.

Thankfully this will be deep enough into MDRF season that I'll have some tolerance for standing around in armor. But man, sitting at every opportunity does help you get through the day.

Did you get the Smoke and Fire chairs?  If so I'll contact them and see if they can ship me two in the next two weeks.

[Sir Edward]

Yep, I went for their more heavy-duty model. It took them some time to get them to me, but they didn't have them in stock at the time. I think they had to wait until after Pennsic. I'd give them a shout and see if they have any on hand.

[Sir James A]

So, how are the preparations going for everyone?

What a loaded question!!

I received 5 or 6 orders from a few places, and still have to sort half of it. I have a bunch of stuff I ordered from 7 or 8 different places that I'm still waiting for delivery on. I'm getting a bit antsy on it, with time winding down quickly and minimal time to "test and validate" like my analyst brain wants to do. I also want to get as much as I can before I see the credit card bill, realize what I've done, and end up the emergency room.

I have a bunch of stuff to build that I'll be building this weekend when I get my truck back today. Lots. Of. Stuff. Didn't realize the amount of space I'd actually have in the tent until it was actually set up - I thought it might be cramped, but it's rather nice. And at least I have a squire for this weekend's projects (all DoK related). I've done all the furniture/gear by myself so far ... I'm bleeding paint and stains!

If I get it all done as planned, I should have period seating for ... 9 or 10? If we count chests as seating, another 3 or 4 extra.

What else should we be thinking about?

I'll have a separate thread on it after the weekend, since I'm making a huge effort for the entire weekend at more prep/fab/planning.

I'm also noticing how expensive this is turning out to be and I'm trying to stop spending money on it, because to be quite honest, it's getting a bit ridiculous now.

I feel like I've almost single-handedly stimulated the economy the last 2 or 3 months by stockpiling for DoK. It's crazy, but who in their right mind wants to go around in armor all day anyway??

I'm going with the logic that it's all stuff I can use, that will be re-used at VARF and other events, and if I have children soon, better get my toys while I can still play....

[Sir Edward]

Wow, you've been even more industrious than I realized. I was joking about being the order's source of encampment furniture, but seriously, it sounds like we'll be hanging out around your tent the most.

[Sir Wolf]

wow hehehehhe i wish i could go i really do. but i just don't think i can swing the costs this year. if it would have been a better business year than ya... heck had it been a better business year i would have bought a willys jeep in january hahahah

[Sir Ulrich]

I got everything cept my arming clothes and surcoat with cloak. I do have an old gambeson I could use in case worse comes to worse, but she said she could get it by October, so I am hoping she's right. Just need a burlap sack or 2 to store my stuff in. I am going as a 1200s Teutonic Knight, got a better kettle helm so I could play a sergeant as well in case I dont get my arming clothing in time. I have NO furniture or camping stuff so I'd have to share in that department. I am staying in this one person's extra tent so I should be fine just worried I wont have a place to sit.

[Sir James A]

Wow, you've been even more industrious than I realized. I was joking about being the order's source of encampment furniture, but seriously, it sounds like we'll be hanging out around your tent the most.

Oh, completely understood about the furniture. The chests are just for my stuff and the squire.

I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to fully complete (and still don't!), but when I saw how much space I actually had in the tent when we got it set up last week, I realized I can crank it up a notch or two. The squire-ly assistance for the weekend was an unexpected pleasant surprise, too.

Six of those seats will be a pair of three-person benches, to go along with the 6' dining table. I've got two individual bench/stools done, and can probably get another one or two done quickly since I've got it worked out. I plan to have the tent open for "viewing", and want it to look presentable.

[Sir Edward]

Anyone forget to pre-register? The deadline is less than a week away.

[Sir James A]

Anyone forget to pre-register? The deadline is less than a week away.

Registered and ready. Well, not ready. Current status:



Eek!

[Sir Brian]

Brethren,
   Were you that are attending DOK still planning on doing a Longsword demonstration and if so do you want to take our Sign from VARF with you?