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Author Topic: Character or project ?
Per Braz
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Member # 884

posted 09-26-2005 12:31 PM     Profile for Per Braz   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Hi everybody,
I just wanted to know how you conceive the equipment you recreate in your group. Do you create a character and try to get all his equipment, or do you look for the items you like and try to find a way to justify your use of them ?
In 1186-583, we are several people thinking about creating a new character each time we focus on a particular equipement, calling him a project. For instance, I have for now three projects going on : one (Per Braz), as a servant in the Tripoli Hostel, another one, as a donkeykeeper in the Hospitallers (not yet published in the website) and a last one, as a servant of Zahr ad-Daula, a Seljuk ghulam/mamluk (not yet published in the website). So I can wear muslim clothes if I want, as I have a full suit (in development) or as a warrior monk and still be historically coherent. Like this, we can use whatever piece of equipment we would like to have, as long it is part of a correct character for the period and place (end of XIIth century Holy Land in my case). I hope I am clear.
This type of conceiving the equipment not as just "mine" but as the one of a specific and coherent character from several I have recreated doesn't seem to be widespread in France. So I wanted to know if there is other people doing the same abroad, just to share experiences.
Yann aka Per Braz

[ 09-26-2005: Message edited by: Per Braz ]


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chef de chambre
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posted 09-26-2005 08:35 PM     Profile for chef de chambre   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Hi Per,

I have created a construct for historic interpretation (loosely call it a character if you will, it is an amalgam of several English officers in Burgundian service - It is a tool to educate, not an alternate identity), and I then have tried to get the equipment I would most likely have. I have tried to dillegently limit myself to this approach, it being very difficult to portray a man of arms a cheval as it is, without diverging into other things.

Now, as a reenactor I am often tempted to get material objects that I don't need for my portrayal - a habit I have had to keep on a sharp curb, needing to fund a suitable wardrobe, as well as a complete harness of appropriate quality, nevermind needing to eventually come up with a saddle or two, and all the appropriate tack. THe few manifestations of the habit have given me some basic equipment to outfit or arm a few others with some basic clothing, harness, and appropriate weapons.

If I had limitless time and funds, I would unfortunately follow my inclinations, and have a miniature version of the Schloss Churburg armoury, several rooms of Flemish furniture and daily material objects, and a wardrobe in full for myself and a number of retainers.

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Bob R.


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chef de chambre
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posted 09-26-2005 08:35 PM     Profile for chef de chambre   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I guess you could say "my project is my 'character', To simplify things a bit.

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Bob R.


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John McFarlin
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posted 09-27-2005 12:51 AM     Profile for John McFarlin     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I am in the middle of collecting the items that a 14th century english esquire (with hopes of advancement) might well have had. I tend to think of it in terms of function.

I am focused on one portrayal, the english esquire (man at arms), though I have picked up a few items that I could hand out to new members of the group I belong to, to outfit them in other portrayals.

I do not try and make items outside what is feasible fit the portrayal. I stick to what is appropriate. In fact, I have developed my desires such that I tend to LIKE the appropriate items more than anything outside what the portrayal would likely have had.

John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire (English in France 1370-1400)
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus


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Per Braz
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posted 09-27-2005 02:24 AM     Profile for Per Braz   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
In fact, we use names for projects just to show that we don't mix the items and to make sure that people understand they are distinct from each other. When I speak about Zahr, everybody knows exactly which set it includes. There is not roleplaying at all.
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Gobae
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posted 09-27-2005 10:12 AM     Profile for Gobae   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I chose something that I do in modern life (blacksmithing) and simply retrofitted it for the time period I'm portraying.

So, I guess you could say I chose a portrayal THEN gathered/made the accutrements.

It also occured to me that, having seen so many "odd-ball" justifications for OoP items that I was determined not to go down that route.

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Gobae - The Blacksmith
Historic Strides Blog
Ancient Celtic Clans


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Russ Mitchell
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posted 10-03-2005 10:53 AM     Profile for Russ Mitchell   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Our group does a lot of lectures: since I'm an odd duck (even most medievalists have barely heard of the folks I work on), there's not much call for me to interact with the public when I'm not in Hungary, so I tend to be very project/research-oriented.

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Dulce bellum inexpertis. -- Desiderius Erasmus


Registered: Mar 2001  |  IP: Logged

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