Last couple weekends I've spent many hours at the Derbyshire Ren Faire, having fun and dressing in medieval character.

A renaissance faire is basically a fair with a medieval theme, with many vendors and performers dressed in era attire, as well as many guests dressing up too. Its generally a lot of fun and I love going to them, 5 year I went to one, I think.

Anyways, the first week I went as a vampire hunter. A bit on the fantasy side, sure, but it fits in with the general theme. The second week I wore my armour I acquired the week before and came armed with a flail, a crossbow, and later that day, an axe.

I got some pictures, though not many of them were very good and my mom only took pictures of me when I wasn't prepared, and at that there weren't many pics of me.

I'll put up some pics.

[br][img width=800 height=600]../../files/public/1214881273_164_FT0_ren_faire_1_.jpg[/img][br]

This was the second week. I'm the guy in the middle in my armour, Sgt. Smash is on the left and my dad is on the right. I think I was actually pointing out where my brother was at the moment the picture was took.

[br][img width=800 height=600]../../files/public/1214881557_164_FT0_ren_faire_3_.jpg[/img][br]

This is us at the entrance on the first week, the guy behind me in the red is my bro, and the girl on the left of my dad and the guy on the right of Sgt. Smash worked there.

[br][img width=711 height=720]../../files/public/1214881801_164_FT0_ren_faire_4.jpg[/img]

There's us entering the fair grounds...

Hit the wrong button so the pics will be broke into two posts...

[br][img width=800 height=600]../../files/public/1214882318_164_FT61558_ren_faire_2_.jpg[/img][br]

Me and the guy that made my leather armour, working on my greaves.

[br][img width=800 height=600]../../files/public/1214882655_164_FT61558_ren_faire_5_.jpg[/img][br]
[br][img width=800 height=1067]../../files/public/1214883021_164_FT61558_ren_faire_6_.jpg[/img][br]
[br][img width=800 height=600]../../files/public/1214883201_164_FT61558_ren_faire_7_.jpg[/img][br]

Several characters of Derbyshire.

[br][img width=800 height=600]../../files/public/1214883445_164_FT61558_ren_faire_9_.jpg[/img][br]

Full contact armoured combat. This is the stuff I want to do. No holding back, just flat out combat with actual swords, blunted of course, and true armour. People do get hurt. I plan to make my own armour, with the offered help of the black smith who made my cuirass, and get myself in on that combat.

You should wear your kevlar vest and bring a .22 to the sword fight.

Old versus new!

If you will manage to fight in the arena one day, record a video. Will be fun to watch.
Dont forget about Fatality, make it gory.

I wonder If I could get in there with my shovel armor.

awesome stuff, you should bring a tank in with you, it would be funny watching people hit a tank with a sword

My fav med-evil weapon would be the axe, the weight of a hammer and the sharpness of a sword, lethel stuff

Looks like fun

All I know, is I've seen the armour and swords in the Tower of London, and the guys back then who handled it, must have been very very fit and strong...and to fight in that stuff...I just simply would not argue with one of them...they would put us to shame...

I'd take the traditional english bill (provided everyone else had one), otherwise I'd have me a 4-spike warhammer.

Wizards and pirates, RUN!

Were there turkey legs?

Renaissance fairs always seem to have turkey legs. They don't make any sense, but I'm not complaining.

I also had some fried crocodile at one fair in Houston. Chewy.

Sweet outfit you've got.

Love renfaires. I'll be going to the big one in colorado in a couple weeks after I get back from fencing nationals in san jose.

Thanks Carsomyr.

Yep, there was turkey legs. Never really ate at a ren faire though, too pricey. But the sight of some guy carrying around a large chunk of meat, gnawing away at it while walking around does conjure up some sort of medieval imagery though, at least to me.

And yes, Beta_kragoth, I just happen to have a tank laying around that I can bring to a ren faire...

Though I do agree with you, an axe has to be about my favourite melee weapon as well, though hammers and clubs rank up there too, they feel about the same in combat. A long sword is another weapon of choice for me too. Not as durable or functional as an axe outside of combat, but are excellent when it comes to defense.

As for the armour, this stuff is fitted to the user over a period of a year. And how do they find out if it fits well? They hit you all over with hammers and make adjustments until it stops hurting.

The stuff weighs about 50 pounds in total, and it has to be truly durable and effective as armour if you want to use it in the arena. It tires you out quick, and thats just moving about in it. Combine this with swinging a 10+ pound weapon, and you really need to build up a lot of strength and endurance to fight for any considerable length of time.

Fortunately, my wearing body armour and carrying around an additional 20 pounds (all of it resting on my shoulders) will be paying off.

I'd prefer a bladed mace,wouldn't have the cleaving power of a sword,axe or even a polearm but It certainly could bash you into lala land.A great balance between a sledge and a sword.

I think I'd rather have an axe or a morning star to a bladed mace. They're cool and all, but I just like the simpleness of a large weight with some spikes. Very low mantainence.

Crossbow is the best.

Melee wise, Axe will cleave through limbs easy, but dang, defense isn't great. So I'll go with a Sword.

Never been to a Ren fair, since there is never one in Montana.

If I did it, solid steel axe. Heavy, but better defense than a normal axe, and it would definately have a handguard. CHOP! A big mace or sword is nice, too.

Question, Treadhead: You ever swing an axe around for more than 10 minutes at a time?

You don't want a solid steel axe... Or a handgaurd for that matter.

Not for an axe. The most you would want to do is maybe put some steel plates on the handle for reinforcement, but just go with oak or harder wood. It holds up surprisingly well, and if the handle does mange to break? Replace it.

Crossbows are pretty sweet. I'm looking for my own to buy right now. I tried shooting a long bow in my armour... didn't work. A crossbow, on the other hand, I ca shoot, though only with one hand. Pretty damn accurately too.

An arquebus is better than a crossbow. You can load it at about the same speed (if its a big and powerful bow), and there is nothing that can stop it at the range you use it at i.e. when you can see the whites of their eyes (preferably closer)

Nope, never. Just in concept. And apparently my concept sucks

Yes, but 'tis still a bow. Won't work in platemail. A crossbow, while slow to shoot, is simple and has nasty power. I'll look into the arquebus, though, and see what I can dig up.

Edit: Oh, it's a musket-eque weapon. Well, hands down, yeah, it goes to the gun.

@Captain Xavious..... where was that Renaissance Faire?

In Muskegon, Michigan, the Derbyshire Faire.

Musket-esque weapon? Sounds like it'd be hard to reload in full armour...

How about titanium? That's light and durable.

Anyway, it turns out one of my friends from high school just came back from this same Renaissance Fair. Said friend complained of sunburn. Were there a lot of people?

Titanium costs lotsa money...

But your friend was there? Thats pretty sweet. He dress up? I might've seen him.

There wasn't a lot of people there before noon, but then it kinda picked up later. the second week had more. It wasn't a whole lot, but there was quite a few.