Selected Articles from
The Gull Archives

If you would like to submit an article for The Gull, please contact the Chronicler.

How to Survive a Tournament

By Catherine Kenda of Stillwater

Part I - June 1986

About Tourneys

A tournament, or tourney, is one of the two basic types of events commonly held in the SCA (the other is the revel). A tourney is primarily an occasion for fighters to test their prowess against each other through individual challenges and melees, or through the lists held to determine the winner of the event. The prize for the winner may be the Crown or a Coronet, a lesser title, or a gift such as new armor, a sword or wine.

A tournament may last for only a few hours, or for several days, but it will almost always (in the central part of the West Kingdom) be held outdoors. This article is intended to help relative newcomers to the SCA prepare for their first overnight or longer event. Since overnight tourneys are deliberately held in sites "off the beaten track" (and rather primitive by modern standards), there will also be some basic camping information presented, including standard SCA safety precautions. (Note: the road to most sites winds a lot. If you are subject to carsickness, take precautions before you set out.) Even people accustomed to camping will find that SCA tourneys are different people camp very close together, and period garb makes a difference in what you need to bring and how you plan your trip.

Basic Equipment

The first things to gather for a tourney are personal items such as clothing, toiletries and medications. Be sure to take garb that is suitable for outdoor terrain tourneys are not the place for velvets or silks. Tunics and gowns should be made of sturdy fabrics. Cotton or wool are best (blends are all right, but the more natural fiber the better) because temperatures can change from very hot to very cold during the course of a weekend. Cotton "breathes" better than synthetics, keeping you cooler. Wool (and blends) keeps you warm even when damp (which can happen if there is fog or a sudden storm.) Waterproofing the hems of long garments may help. Clothing should allow reasonably freedom of motion. Be sure to bring enough clothing an extra tunic will prove useful if your first one gets wet or too dirty. You may want something clean to sleep in. Dry socks to change into are a blessing at a damp event. Sturdy footwear is usually a good idea, since tourney sites are known for their rough terrain. You may want to wear mundane clothing for traveling and for setting up camp.

The two items of clothing most often overlooked by newcomers are also the two most important for comfort and well being at an overnight event. Cloaks and headgear are not merely parts of a costume, but are basic equipment. A cloak should be warm enough to double as a blanket if needed. Save the flimsy draperies to accent indoor costumes. Without a cloak, cool evening temperatures can make a tourney miserable. If you don't have a “real” cape or cloak yet a serviceable substitute can be made by taking an old blanket and folding one edge over a heavy cord. Stitch or pin the edge down, and you have a cloak with a cord to tie it around your shoulders.

Headgear is needed in any temperature. At a cool tourney, a hat, veil, or hood will help keep in your body heat. On warmer days, the same items keep the sun off, helping you avoid heatstroke and sunburn. Even with a hat, use a strong sunscreen. Sun screen should go into the toiletries case along with any prescribed medications, allergy tablets (hay fever is a major nuisance at events)s soap, deodorant, toothbrush, and toilet paper (restrooms at SCA events always run out of toilet paper by Sunday morning).

Eating utensils are also considered personal gear. A plate and or bowl (wood or metal are best for looks and durability), and a goblet or tankard are basic. A pewter tankard can be hung from the belt by its handle for easy access. Don't bring breakable ceramic to a tourney if you want to keep it long. A belt knife (in a sheath, of course) is the single most useful eating/cooking tool, followed closely by a spoon.

So much for personal equipment. Most of the rest of the things you will want to take to a tourney comes under the heading of camping gear. A sleeping bag or bedroll and a waterproof ground cloth to separate the sleeping bag from the bare earth are the minimum for most people. Without the ground cloth under the bag, dampness will soak into it overnight, chilling the person inside This does not lead to a good night's sleep. If the weather will be cold or damp, or if privacy is desired, more protection is needed. Period pavilions look better, but an ordinary tent provides you with walls and roof. The space immediately around the fighting area is reserved for period looking pavilions, but any tent can be set in the second row. Bring plenty of white rags to flag guy lines.

If you plan to have hot food at the event, you need to bring a safe method of cooking. This can be anything from a camp stove to a Hibachi, but it should be raised off the ground, especially if there is grass around. Don't forget the matches! They should be packed in a sealed plastic bag to keep them dry. Lighted candles should be kept in candle lanterns for safety (set a candle inside a large glass jar, so that it can't start a fire easily.) Coleman type lanterns are acceptable for setting up camp, but "no overly bright, unshielded gas or electric lantern may be used outside of closed pavilions" (West Kingdom Law, Article V, Section 8.4).

Some people bring a table for food preparation, or chairs for use during courts (these are especially useful at wet sites). Any period amusements can be included as well musical instruments & games, needlework, drawing pad. Many people find cameras handy to record ideas for future costumes or camp equipment.

Use a checklist when packing to avoid forgetting anything crucial. The sample checklist at the end of this article can jog your memory if it needs help. Add or subtract from the checklist as your circumstances dictate. There may be other items you wish to include for future events, but they will depend on your own wants or needs.

PART TWO

NOTE:

Copyright of each article belongs to the original author. Reproduction rights are not given by virtue of their appearance here.

If you wish to reprint any of these articles, in whole or in part, in any medium, you must first get permission from the the author. Please contact the Chronicler, who will forward your request to the appropriate party and respond to you.