Week of May 1, 2022
Compiled by Tucker "Temorse" Noyes
This is a weekly bulletin for practices in the Realms. Practices are one of the most important facets to the Realms, it is a place where many people are introduced to the game, as well as a place to enjoy the company and meet new members of the community. Even if you are not a fighter, it is still a great form of exercise, as well as a way to hone your combat skills, which is an important skill for helping out at events while NPCing. A lot of what makes a great combatant in the Realms has to do with muscle memory and building a good intuition for combat, which can only happen with consistent practice, so make sure to try and stop by your local practice as often as possible
Monday
WPI Fight Practice (https://www.realmsnet.net/events/1855)
7:30pm-10:30pm - Institute Park, Worcester, MA
Details
Drinking water available on site, bring your own container.
Loaner weapons available.
No public restrooms available on site.
Masks are optional but encouraged, non-WPI attendees must bring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
If there is inclement weather, we will still run, it will just be in either Alden Hall or Riley Commons on the WPI campus. Contact EH's or look on the SMAS Discord Server for the alternate location
Important Notes
Pre-reg IS REQUIRED and can be done Via this link: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcJqBbzrctMHlo0bNXmaX1uYbryY1pQG4ZA5zJgBvpUN8IsQ/viewform)
This will be the last week of official WPI practice before Camelot takes its place on Mondays for the summer in two weeks.
Weather
A high chance of rain this week, check in with the SMAS Discord server for updates to this week's practice.
Tuesday
Western Massachusetts Fight Practice (https://www.realmsnet.net/events/1857)
6:00pm-8:00pm - West Street Playground, Ludlow, MA
Details
Practice consists of a mix of individual and group combat.
Water is not available, bring your own water.
Public restrooms are available on site.
This is outdoors and inclement weather is very likely to limit attendance.
Important Notes
Considering doing some War Maneuver practice ahead of the upcoming war event this weekend, Divine Intervention 2.
Weather
It is going to be a great day for practice, cloudy and in the low 60’s.
Wednesday
Nashua Blackwood Fight Practice (https://www.realmsnet.net/events/1857)
4:00pm-8:00pm -Greely Park (Concord St), Nashua, NH
Details
Practice consists of a mix of individual, squad, and line battles, as attendees prefer.
Loaner weapons are available.
There is no water on site, bring your own.
Public restrooms are available on site.
While a few people might be there around 4:00, 5:00 is a more likely time to get started.
We set up near the grills and tables on the West side of Concord St, just off the access road to the north of the public restrooms.
Masks are optional.
This is outdoors and inclement weather is very likely to limit attendance.
Important Notes
Considering doing some War Maneuver practice ahead of the upcoming war event this weekend, Divine Intervention 2.
Weather
This week will be overcast but warmer, in the mid 50’s, but may feel lower with some wind.
Thursday
Central CT Fight Practice (https://www.realmsnet.net/events/1860)
6:00pm-9:00pm - Rye Street Park, South Windsor, CT
Important Notes
Practice consists of a mix of individual training and if attendees are interested, team combat and combat games.
Loaner weapons available.
Water fountains are available in season, best to bring your own drinking water however.
Public restrooms available on site.
Updates
None this week.
Weather
It is going to be a perfect day for practice this week, mostly sunny and in the mid 60’s.
Stratham Hill Fight Practice (https://www.realmsnet.net/events/1859)
6:00pm-8:00pm - Stratham Hill Park, Stratham, NH
Important Notes
Practice consists of individual combat for the first half, and ditch style team combat for the second half.
Masks are optional but encouraged.
Loaner weapons are available.
Water is available on site, but bring your own container.
On-site bathroom.
Updates
None this week.
Weather
It is going to be a great day for practice this week, mostly sunny and in the mid 50’s.
Featured Drill: Ditch
This week's featured drill is a way of doing group combat called “Ditch”. Ditch is a method of constantly rebalancing teams, especially in groups with odd numbers or a large range of skills. When you have two groups divide them equally and start combat normally, but pay attention to when you die. Once the bout is complete, the first person to die on the WINNING team will swap to the one that lost. Sometimes this means that the same person will end up swapping back and forth quite a bit, sometimes it means that you may end up with a 1v10 situation. This method helps to make sure a long series of group combat stays fresh and balanced, with team comps constantly changing and tactics needing to change as well. It can be used in normal line battle, or in other forms of two team group combat like bridge battles. Once you get to 15 people or more this method does start to become a little unwieldy, making it difficult to keep track of who is on your team or who died first, so keep that in mind as your local practice grows.