Archery

The definition and description of a Medieval Archer can be described as a bowman, one skilled in the use of the bow and arrow. However, there were also other types of archers during the period, the longbow man and the crossbowman. A maker of the Medieval Bow and Arrow and other archery goods was called an Artillator. Special places were assigned for the archery training called "The Butts".

"The Butts" was an area used for archery training during the Medieval times by Archers especially using the longbow weapon. The word "Butts" is derived from the Anglo French word "bouter" meaning to expel. IT is now virtually obsolete, but still lives on in English place names such as Newington Butts in South London. The areas designated for archery training during the Medieval times, "The Butts", are described as follows. Archers has to develop skill in using the Medieval longbow which took many years. The first Medieval Archer Law was passed in 1252 when all Englishmen between the ages of 16 to 60 years were ordered, by Law, to equip themselves with bow and arrows. The second archer Law of 1363 made it and obligation for Englishmen to practice their skills with the longbow every Sunday.

The Medieval Butts were usually located on the outskirts of the villages or towns on common land so that villagers were not injured during training. They were situated on a flat area of land up to 200m long. Targets were originally made of a number of circular, turf-covered target mounds with flat tops. The mounds provided a level platform for the targets and ranged between 2-8m across and 1-3m high. Archers practiced commands and motions which could be carried out automatically in battle; the cries of "Nock! Mark! Draw!" would resonate across the Medieval battlefields. The draw weight of a longbow was up to 120 pounds, and a trained archer was expected to shoot 12-15 arrows per minute. He was also expected to hit a target at minimum of 200 yards with an ordinary bow, but the range of a long bow was about 400 yards, and could pierce armor at ranges of more than 250 yards.

Preperations for Jousting and Rules

When preparing for Jousting tournaments one had to be formally planned and prepared, and the preparations are numerous. First a Cry Tournament must arise, this consisted of an announcement sent via heralds to notify nobles that a jousting tournament was to be held at a specific time and place. Then the rules of pas d'armes was published in advance of the jousting tournament. Announcements of the jousting tournaments were made from the castles, and town criers made the announcements in the towns and from the towns the word spread to the villages. The news of a jousting tournaments was always greeted with great excitements and the banners of the knights were hung from the windows where they lodged or by their supporters.

The Jousting Rules were circulated prior to a jousting tournament or pas d'armes. The jousting rules and terms included the following.
When and where the tournament would be held.
Who was sponsoring the tournament.
The specific styles of combat which were expected to be fought.
The weapons allowed.

The ceremony of observed at Jousting Tournaments consisted of a Vespers Tourney. This is a tournament held on the eve of a larger event where the younger knights and squires had an opportunity to demonstrate their prowess before the experienced knights and assembled gallery. Opening day processions where judges and contestants rode in formal procession. The ceremony used to start a tournament or pas 'darmes was called the Invocation. The second day of the ceremony included the display of the helms of knights who had fought in tournaments. The ladies inspected the helms and denounced acts of un-chivalrous behavior. The third day of the ceremony was when the Chevalier d'honneur was chosen, they performed the rule of an umpire. On the last day of the tournament the ceremony for awarding the tournament prize was conducted. The combatants met in the center of the lists, and embraced each other in the true companionship of chivalry. And then after the awards the tournament ended with a feast, music, and dancing.

The Jousting Knights represented their liege lord, or were entering the tournament in order to win the purse, or prize money. In early tournaments the losing knight would forfeit his armor and his horse, which would be claimed by the victor. Fame and Glory were also good reasons for the jousting knights to enter the tournament.

Jousting

Jousting is defined as a fight between mounted knights wearing armor and using lances. This was a favorite form of entertainment in the Middle Ages. Jousting contests took place at Medieval tournaments which provided a venue for Knights to practice various form of combat to the delight, and for the amusement of crowds of onlookers. The tournaments kept the knight in excellent condition for the role he would need to play during Medieval warfare. Skill with the weapons and supreme strength and fitness were necessary to knights of the Middle ages. Tournaments were exciting and colorful pageants which displayed different forms of combat. Jousting was one of the events shown at a tournament. Jousting was an individual event where as the Melee was a team event where teams of kings fought on horseback.

There were two types of Jousting events during the Middle Ages, the Joust a plaisance and the Pas d'armes

Joust a plaisance - A series of emlimiation jousting contests which were held over several days. An overall jousting winner would be determined.

Pas d'armes or passage of arms Jousting event - A Knight would send out a proclamation that he would take on all jousting challengers at a specific time and place.

Jousting were major events in the tournaments. or tourneys. of the Middle Ages. Medieval jousting tournaments were the training grounds for Knights of the Middle Ages, but they were also great entertainment for all of the locals. Jousting tournaments were usually held on a field in close proximity to a castle called the Lists. To be in the lists meant to be competing in the tournament. People would view the jousting and other events from the battlements of the castle or sit alongside the Jousting tournament field. A grandstand called a Berfrois, was built a full story above the level of the lists. This grandstand housed the ladies and other noble spectators. Pavilions were erected around the area of the jousting tournaments. Pavilions were the name given to the bright, round medieval tents of alternating colors which housed combatants, and surgeons of a jousting tournament. Jousting tournaments teemed with spectators and combatants including royalty, nobles, Knights, ladies, and commoners.

Tune in next week for more info on Jousting.

Medieval Entertainment

The medieval ages lasted a long period of time between in European history the 5th and 15th century, this time period being the longest and most remote period for musical history...fun fact.
What did people do in the middle ages for entertainment? Types of Medieval Entertainment varied according to status but included feasts, banquets, jousts, and tournaments. There were also entertainers that would do their best to entertain the king and all of his guests they were called Jesters or fool. The king was so privileged to have obtained these guys for his private form of entertainment.
The other form of entertainment was that of a Mummer, and they were entertainers for the village mostly, dancing at festivals and usually elaborately costumed.Then there were acrobats, jugglers, and Troubadours, and Minstrels. The Troubadours were originally a traveling musician. The early Troubadours traveled from one village to the next and many also traveled abroad. Some traveled to major cities of Europe while other troubadours traveled to the Holy Land accompanying the people who went on Crusade. The traveling of early Troubadours allowed them to spread the latest news. The themes of the songs sung by the troubadours mainly dealt with chivalry and courtly love, like romance ballads. They would also play for royalty nobles, and when they ran out of songs to sing they would tell stories of far lands and historical events.
Minstrels were servants first employed as a castle or court musician. The name "minstrel" means "little servant". These guys often created there own ballads but they were also famous for memorizing long poems based on myths and legends. The Minstrels were then replaced by Troubadours, and started to move around; and thus were known as "Wandering Minstrels". They pretty must followed in the footsteps of their fellow Troubadours.

Comm 344 Game Ideas Cont'

I've found working with the three game exercise how difficult creating a game and rules can be. First off when creating a game I feel as if we (being the game creator) automatically assume that the players of the created game already understand how the game is played.

It is interesting to see what other people have come up with using their limited resources, and not only are these resources limited they're compatibility with the other items is as far from perfect as we can get. This is what makes the creating of the game so much fun; it's the flexing of the creative muscle that we so rarely use.

This exercise is assisting in the development of ideas for what meaningful play means to me, and what kind of games I truly enjoy. It also makes me wonder how long the creators of games spend on creating games like Trouble, and Tic Tac Toe. Also, my appreciation for games has greatly increased in the few short weeks of class.