SCA Combat Types

are there SCA factions in the San Francisco Bay Area? where does all the gear come from? typically what are the weapons? im hearing Rattan sticks a lot, and finally where do the battles like this take place regionally? this looks like a TON of fun but i know nothing about the SCA! help me out here thanks!

Well, you're in luck because
it's not so much plastic armor that's frowned on, as it is uncovered plastic armor. If you show up in a coat of wisby plate that's made out of barrel plastic and trigger cloth, nobody should give you any grief.

I see. What Kingdom are you from? I am from East.

As a former SCA lady fighter I feel its important to realize that the sticks are not in fact wrapped in styrofoam. It's solid rattan wrapped in one, possibly two, layers of ducttape. No padding at all.

You two should be happy to get into the Cut and Thrust SCA fighting. Heavy armour regulations, dull metal blades. :D

no because it would look better, lets say u have some friends around and you go "look at this! it's a padded stick!" not quite the same effect if u had a sword, and with the sca stuff u dont use much skill you just go blerg! and hit and hit and hit

and in the end its the SCA guys who have more fun because its no holds barred. If i wanted to impress friends I wouldnt be slowly banging swords around. Beating someone with a stick is far more impressive then slowly tapping pieces of metal.

you make it sound its like movie slow motion, its only very slightly slowed down, and then you can still go full speed and pull the blows, plus things like live steel tend to be more realistic because u dont need the face bars and neck braces and such

you dont need face bars people use them for better vision because there aernt real swords to worry about. as for neck braces have you not heard of a gorget? Sounds like your just a super nerd wanting to show off to your super nerd friends.

SCA is hella fun especially when u get a great opening in your opponents guard and BAM beheaded... soo fun and its much more violent than live steel, swords usually arent styrofoamed thats usually the axes and polearms because of the rediculous power you can hit with...