(M) Master
Tassin Navetier
MASTER OF DEFENSE
MODERATOR
SCA Name Title: (M) Master
Preferred Fighting Form: Sword and Dagger
Kingdom/Baronial Current Positions: Canton of Kappellenberg Knight Marshal
Barony of Windmasters' Hill Rapier Marshal
|
Post by Tassin Navetier on Nov 3, 2020 12:22:07 GMT -5
Pretty straight forward question: What are your thoughts on the Sea Dragon as an award? Does it feel like a noteworthy accomplishment on your path? Is it something you look for on the field? Do you feel it is awarded to stingily or too freely?
|
|
|
Post by tibbie crosier on Nov 3, 2020 13:28:22 GMT -5
I received mine back in 2014. I had received a bare AoA in 2011 and had authorized in 2008. It seemed to be given out less freely and to have more significance at that time. It was not purely for prowess. I think mine was given for effort and service, rather than prowess. Back then, it was customary to receive an AoA first and then a Sea Dragon later on. Now, it seems that the Sea Dragon has replaced the bare AoA for fencers.
(Edited to add: I received a lovely scroll for my Sea Dragon, but not a medallion; it was not customary at that time to give out medallions for the Sea Dragon. I will also say that it meant quite a lot to me at the time; I had been working for years with the AoA as my only award. In the same summer, I received both my barony's martial award and the Sea Dragon, and was asked to be baronial rapier champion. As for award from Crown versus recognition from fellow fencers, I received both when I received the Shark's Tooth in 2017, because it was obviously my fellow rapier fighters who recommended me to the Crowns.)
|
|
|
Post by Ilariadegandia on Nov 3, 2020 13:34:16 GMT -5
At the time I received the sea dragon, I had no idea any awards in the sca. I couldn’t tell one from another. The words spoken to me by my king meant a lot, the scroll created by a good friend meant a lot, the award less so. The free scholar meant a lot to me because it was an outward acceptance from my chosen community. Something I had been prepared for with conversation and discussion.
|
|
Lady
Caitilín inghean Uí Ruaidhrí
ACADEMIE SCHOLAR
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
SCA Name Title: Lady
Preferred Fighting Form: Rapier and dagger/Sidesword C&T
Kingdom/Baronial Current Positions: Dun Carraig Baronial Herald
Dun Carraig Baronial Rapier Champion
Household(s): The Condottieri
|
Post by Caitilín inghean Uí Ruaidhrí on Nov 3, 2020 14:30:19 GMT -5
When I received mine last September (9/2019) I wasn't expecting to get it so early. Especially after already receiving an Opal during the same reign in May. (I'd had my AOA since 1/2018). It means something to me, but I have to admit that it took me a while to feel okay about receiving it since it did carry some weight for me. With all due respect to Their Majesties, I feel like I care more about the Free Scholar, but only because that's something that others in the community give. It's likely that the community has a better sense of where you are skill wise. The truth about AOA awards is that anyone can write anyone in for them, regardless of whether that person is brand new or not. For polling orders, at least there's the consideration that Their Majesties will likely take the order's recommendation into consideration, even though it's ultimately their decision to ignore that recommendation. Really that kind of depends on who gives the award too.
I don't think it's given out too little or too much. Sometimes it's surprising when someone gets it before someone else, but that's the nature of awards. Sometimes they are given out early, sometime at the right time, others late. I'm not exactly out of the field looking for it, but if I see someone I think should have it I will go look at their OP entry and recommend them if they don't. Which is, again, an arbitrary thing since I don't necessarily have to tools to determine the skill of someone else outside of a certain skill level.
|
|
Nicolo
ACADEMIE FREE SCHOLAR
Preferred Fighting Form: Sword and Targa
|
Post by Nicolo on Nov 3, 2020 15:00:17 GMT -5
I received mine in 2017. I authorized in 2011 (same time I started in the SCA). To be frank my prowess was mediocre at best for a long time, and my participation in rapier at events was also fairly irregular (doing other activities like siege or archery, getting sick and having to quietly bow out of tournaments). As I started to focus more and train more effectively in a way that worked for my learning style, the sea dragon was the first bit of encouragement I got. It made me feel like I was getting the hang of it, and felt recognized for the marshaling work I'd done and, in the king's words at the time, graciousness and comportment.
I echo Caitlin's feeling about how frequently it's given out. I think it's usually given out at the right time apart from occasional people that slip by.
|
|
|
Post by Dante di Pietro on Nov 3, 2020 15:11:37 GMT -5
It did feel like a noteworthy accomplishment; I was the first, and it was given to me on a day where I had defeated the King (and been hit with a croquet mallet) on the way to the finals of a 40+ person single elimination tournament. I valued it because, although I'd recently been asked to play a Free Scholar prize, it was given to me for my successes on the field.
I see it as essentially recognition that someone has moved past the novice stage in a meaningful way, a positive "keep doing what you're doing" message that affirms your efforts and recognizes your success. It is an award of Merit.
It comes from the community just as much as the Free Scholar because the Crown will almost never know to give someone the award without recommendations being sent in. I have probably sent in more than 2 dozen Sea Dragon recommendations, maybe more than 3 dozen. Am I not of the community? Does it add value that I took the time to write in a way that convinced a likely stranger of your worth?
I don't look for it on the field. I don't really pay attention to the regalia. I judge opponents by their guards and actions; the regalia is often disconnected from those qualities. I don't look for scarves or collars or belts.
I think it's given out fairly well. There's a wide range of people who have it, and its primary verb is to "distinguish" yourself, which may be done in many ways. In this, it is no different than the FS rank, which has been given to an equally wide range of people, and I would bet that the overall skill distribution of each group runs nearly identically at the time of induction.
|
|
Lord
Percy Aldridge
ACADEMIE PROVOST & WS
SPEARS!
Preferred Pronouns: he/him/his
SCA Name Title: Lord
Preferred Fighting Form: Swords
Kingdom/Baronial Current Positions: Southern Regional Deputy to the Kingdom Rapier Marshal
Household(s): Gardiner's Company
|
Post by Percy Aldridge on Nov 3, 2020 15:55:35 GMT -5
I will chime in as a token old-timer. I do not have a Sea Dragon and can never have one, being that I was already a WS when the award was created. In that, I sometimes forget that this award exists. I have been trying to get better within the last couple of years of putting recommendations out there for those that I think deserve it, but it does sometimes feel like an afterthought to me.
To add more background, some crowns don't like to give bare AoA awards, rather preferring to give a focused AoA specifically for that person's chosen activity. Other crowns have no issues with it, so you see a variance among reigns as to what's given out.
I think the award should be a signal that the individual is doing good things for Rapier in Atlantia one way or another. I know some have wanted to tie the FS Academie rank to the Sea Dragon, and I personally don't agree with that as I don't think they equate to the same level of contribution. I definitely don't look for it on the field, and likely wouldn't choose a Sea Dragon for command positions without other background knowledge. Looking at the OP list, the rate of this award seems reasonable to me.
|
|
|
Post by Master Giacomo on Nov 17, 2020 16:10:13 GMT -5
So, literally the sea dragon can be given for just about anything involving Atlantian Rapier. Saying that; in many ways the AoA level awards are many of the most important awards in our game. It basically tells the person they have found something they are good at, other people are noticing, we are happy they are here and we would like to keep it that way. What a Sea Dragon or other AoA level awards does not confer is the huge peek behind the curtain. It does not impart a complete knowledge of our game nor does it give skill. It has been remarked many times the following quote: So I am a Free Scholar from Atlantia, that is a lot like a Don in yours. You can even get the T-Shirt. Atlantia has a good Kingdom rapier program. We are diverse and we squabble, but no one wants the Atlantians in front of them. Well except maybe Ansteorra and that is because they are as sick as we are, when it comes to getting busy. So, the Sea Dragon a very cool initial rapier award. Any AoA a very cool award and thank goodness for it. Now, I play because of you guys. My friends are here, the game I enjoy is here and I love doing this game. So, when I see a Sea Dragon given, I remark, "good first step, who is with them and who is teaching them" Tassin, Jason Hescheles wrote this post. I appreciate him doing so. I know a little bit about rapier fighting and people, it gives me a chance to share. So the only way to fight well is learn to fight well. The awards will come. I waited for the MoD since 1989, I think I am doing ok. Just a little perspective.
|
|
|
Post by toirdhealbach on Nov 17, 2020 23:04:30 GMT -5
Mythical beasts that are rumored to exist somewhere in the kingdom
|
|