Battlecry!
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
Camelot Summer Fight Practice (https://www.realmsnet.net/events/1858)
7:30pm-9:30pm - Camelot Barn and Field, Berlin, MA
Details
Practice consists of a mix of individual and group combat.
Water refills are available if need be, bring your own container.
Public restrooms available on site.
Loaner weapons are very limited, plan on bringing your own.
Masks are optional.
Important Notes
This site is part of a neighborhood. Please be respectful of the people who live here.
Weather
A high chance of rain this week, check in with the SMAS or Realms 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.
Loaner weapons are/are not available?
Water is not available, bring your own water.
Public restrooms are available on site.
Masks are optional?
This is outdoors and inclement weather is very likely to limit attendance.
Important Notes
None this week.
Weather
It is going to be a great day for practice, sunny and in the mid 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 have excellent weather; partly cloudy, in the mid to high 60’s.
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 low 70’s to high 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.
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, partly cloudy and in the low 60’s.
Featured Drill: Distance Training
Distance training is one of the most important, albeit boring, drills out there. Distance training focuses on teaching combatants how to intuitively gauge distance between themselves and their opponent. This drill works best with a larger group, and having a single person running the drill who isn’t fighting. This doesn’t have to be a single person if you want to rotate between rounds.
This drill requires people to pair off and doesn’t involve any actual fighting. The pairs should have mismatched weapon lengths, which I suggest using similar weapon lengths, like a 3’ and a 3’8”, a 3’8” or a 4’6” and a 5’, or a 5’ and a 6’6”. The person running the drill will start the drill and run it for a random period of time, usually between 1 and 3 minutes. The pairs will begin to move back and forth with the person with the shorter weapon leading, attempting to stay close enough where they could extend their arm and hit their opponent with their weapon, or far enough away to be out of reach of their opponent. Their opponent will react to their movement, trying to keep out of reach of their opponent, while still staying in reach with their longer weapon. After the 1-3 minutes elapses the person running the current round of the drill will call a stop or blow a whistle, where both participants in the drill will stop moving and checking their weapons, if the shorter weapon is within striking distance (without leaning or stepping forward) or outside of the longer weapons reach they win, while the longer weapon user wins if they are out of reach of their opponent while still being in range of striking them with their longer weapon.
I would suggest running this drill a few times and then changing pairs or at least changing who has the longer weapon.