weapon question

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Can anyone provide the info for Oregon? Any advice on what the current outlook on latex weapons would be appreciated too.

Such as, but certainly not limited to, can I hope that my local NERO peeps will support such an endeavor or am I a lone voice in the dark?

Brett
 
Simple enough. The Oregon chapter basically died not too terribly long ago, and since no one's stepped up to re-organize and get things going, they're sort of unheard from. That's not to say that they won't be up and running again in the future...just that they're not running *now*.
 
Brett Rodgers said:
Can anyone provide the info for Oregon? Any advice on what the current outlook on latex weapons would be appreciated too.

Such as, but certainly not limited to, can I hope that my local NERO peeps will support such an endeavor or am I a lone voice in the dark?

Brett

Brett? Spoone here...

If you want to get a roll going for it, I'll back you till hell freezes over. I'm all for progress, and I think (as far as larping is concerned) that latex weapons are a good step in that direction. (Of course, I'm also a fan of teaching people at least basic combat/boffer skills in order to make them safer fighters too, but I must be a rarity in that respect)

Later...

Spoone(man)
 
If you're looking for flat weapons in general, I've been able to find some materials that make fairly flat weapons out of a single peice of foam. I've used a Graphite Golf Club for a core and Fun Noodle (You know, those big brightly colored Tubes that kids play with at pools). You can shave down and/or cut the fun noodle to make it appropriately sized, along with the fact that it cuts down on excessive anchoring since a lot of the holes in the middle are small enough that its fairly simple to anchor it appropriately. In addition, the large diameter also allows for more freedom in the shape of the blade since you don't need 3 or 4 inches in each direction of the core. The only downside is that firstly, golf clubs are a bit pricey. I've gotten the suggestion to try to find full sets at garage sales. Unlikely for the most part, but if you can find a set of 15 golf clubs for 20$, you're set for a long time. Second problem is that finding Fun Noodle in the Non-Summer season of the year is extremely difficult. You can try to find them online stores, although mostly they are difficult to find this time of the year.

Anyways, that's all I gots.
 
Golf clubs: go to your local driving range, and ask what they do with the shafts of clubs that break. Some of them just throw them away, despite having only snapped just below the head. A friend in TX gets his from ranges for free.
 
Spoone- thanks for the support! I agree with you about the training. Especially if someone is coming off boffers to latex. Fighting with latex is a different style but seems to be safer in the long run. At the least I've seen and heard of less injuries with people using latex weapons than people using boffer weapons.

Am I correct in postulating that the perception of the lack of saftey with latex weapons is the reason they aren't currently allowed in NERO? If so, does someone have the specific issues that have been raised?
If not, does someone know the reason and the reasoning behind it?

Brett
 
The main safety concern with Latex weapons is that the tip of said weapons are small enough to fit within an eye socket. There may be others, but that is the only one *I'm* aware of.

-Ryan, who is not a marshal
 
I'm actually a fond person of latex weapons since I know how to make them and can create new vacuum molds for them. There is a learning curve with them (like any other type of weapon) and the potential to hurt someone is primarilly the eyes (as Ryan said).

However, people *should* be watching head shots and they should not be thrusting without control.

I had at least two NPCs and two PCs call "garb" when I hit them in a valid spot, not because there was anything between us or they blocked it- but because I hit them lightly.

There seems to be a curve of people thinking that you need to whack someone for a valid hit. If you call garb, I'll go ahead and whack you... but there should be some educating on what a invalid hit is as opposed to what a lightly placed shot is.

I mean really- the second my swords connects with anything my wrist snaps back. I'm not putting my arm into it and I'm not trying to knock you off your feet.

I suggest that people start getting called more frequently on *whacking* people and putting force into blows. Even with a bopher, your glasses should not be knocked across the field like a baseball with an accidental face shot.

My SCA light group used to eject anyone from combat for the day for taking someone's glasses off.

Perhaps a crackdown on hard hitters would make latex weapons a little easier to give to the masses?

Just my thoughts.

~Barry

(Besides, latex weapons can look so much cooler)
 
Brett:

The greatest resistance I have seen to new weapon tech in general is that players of NERO tend to prefer the impact have as little perceived damage (ie: pain) as possible. As well, NERO Alliance is designed to provide as few possible litigious points as possible. (This may or may not be a direct result of being owned by a lawyer. Not knocking Mike in any way, but the general policies, ie required insurance and the various weapon-design specs, seem designed around the idea of "Don't sue me!!!")

On the first point, for example, when we first tested flatblades, the primary complaint was that the impact was being spread out over less area, causing more perceived pain. Despite the fact that this also provides 1-1.5" of padding between the core and the struck surface, the perception was that flat blades were "unsafe". At one point, flat blade users were encouraged to swing "against the wing", which is to say, along the plane of greatest wind resistance.

Thrusting points, within NERO, traditionally require at least 3.125 sq. inches of striking surface.

IME, latex weapons suffer from these same concerns.
 
Thanks for the info, everyone. I'm going to be travelling around for the next month and will fit this issue into my itinerary as I can. Is the next rulebook due to be finished soon or is there time to procrastinate while life happens?

Brett
 
to my knowledge, the rulebook is all but finished, aside from a few things, like an appendix and the word back from a few chapter ownders. (info gathered from NeroHQ boards, most from...Mikes his name, right?)
 
Well wouldn't you know it. As I understand it ammendments aren't really made to the rulebook after it's come out and before the next version, correct? Which means you guys may have to wait about another 3 years for latex? I sympathize for you, even if you don't understand your pain yet :D

Brett
 
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