How to look good on the field and not break your wallet

There has been some discussion about what we can do as a realm to get better garb, look more period, and generally be more BA. Let this thread be for constructive ideas on how we can achieve these goals. Please chime in with your ideas.

1. Dagorhir garb rule of thumb: if you can tell its mundane from 10 ft. away, you need better garb.
2. Unless you have a darn good reason, don't wear excessive amounts of black. (black dye was prohibitively expensive in the middle ages, so wearing lots of black is not very historically accurate. Also, too many people on the field wear black already)
3. A well-sewn tunic goes a long way.
4. Have in mind what you want your character to look like before you buy fabric.
5. Try not to make garb from non-garb items (jeans, t-shirts, ect.) Although passable, not period.
...

Some people in Dag claim that they are Nobility/Royalty as part of their their back-story.
Some of these people use this to justify wearing black.

Tips:
Instead of buying fabric at the store, pick up linens and bedsheets on the cheap from local thrift stores.
Look at pictures of the SCA online for ideas.

Plain long underwear bottoms can look like period tights (from 10ft. away) plus, if you get them in white you can dye them any color.

Scrub pants usually rip out in the crotch when you fight in them. take a ripped pair, and stitch them to fit you more snugly, and they can look like chausses (from 10ft.)

Tunics and tabards look much better if you sew a collar and border on them instead of just hemming them, or leaving the edges frayed. You can just use craft ribbon if you want to this cheaply.

I think something that's important with garb is more period shoes, or at least shoes that aren't bright white or obvious sport shoes (brown, black, boots of some kind, etc.). Converse aren't exactly period, though there always seems to be one or two people wearing them on the field. I myself was guilty of that at my first event, so I'm trying to correct my mistake as much as anyone else's. -.-;

I do have red on my breastplate, my unit emblem, but I didn't used to!



And I've gotten a lot of respect for my garb and armor. But, it is completely possible that some of that comes from my fighting skill too, I couldn't really tell you. But I don't think all Black necessarily looks bad, it can be done right. But if anyone does something lazy, garb-wise, no matter the color, it is gonna look trashy. Sadly, a lot of the time when people are being lazy, they do wear black because it helps to hide modern seams(doesn't completely) and components better than lighter colors.

Even though I do have red, I am still pretty Black over-all.

and there is my lazy garb in that pic lol

Eldrin THE BLACK wrote:

I like this picture. You look like you have a puppy in your pocket.

I know!!!! LOL, that's Tamari, the cutest lil' puppy in the world.

For pants, baggy sweatpants can do really well, it will fold over the scrunched up elastic and stretch well for comfy fighting. A tabard is really easy to make as well and helps if you just have a plain shirt to wear under it. T-tunics are similarly easy, and imo look fine just hemmed, or if you're more of a wild persona leaving it frayed is a nice touch. The whole period thing shouldn't really matter a whole lot since this game is marketed as being based a lot on LOTR and other fantasy, but can still be a good bases for garb ideas. That's one thing I like about the boffer games is that they're not the SCA so people shouldn't be garb nazis on what is and isn't period. I think people should take a lot of the basics of what we've said here and add their own creative flair to it, it's what makes the game unique.

I don't really have any issue with people being period or non-period, but it does irritate me when people don't even try to have nice garb of any sort. T-shirts and jeans aren't exactly fun for a mild roleplay experience, and I've seen that at the last two events I've been to. -.-;

I would definitely agree about the SCA thing, though. I like that you have a choice at being either totally period to the max, or just developing your own fantasy character-- and being able to do that inexpensively, haha.

The Frythwynd province of Ravenwood passed a new law called "Peasant Law #1." This law has the following parameters;

If a person has been coming for more than 2 months (From the first or second time they came, depending when they are informed of the rule) and they do not have minimum garb, the following applies to them at Frythwynd Dagorhir practice.

1. Any person at practice without passing garb will be called "peasant."

2. Peasants may only use one dagger. They may not even pick up flight weapons such as rocks and javelins.

Note, this pertains to anyone not in garb at battle, even veterans.

Amtgard had a similar rule, though it just relgates peasants to weapons under 36" (amtgard designates between short and longswords)

And I'm also in agreement 100% with you Kairi that it's sad when people don't even make an effort if they've been coming for a while. If it's like week 4 and you really wanna keep doing this, get some garb man!

I should probably wear garb more often, haha. Unfortunately I don't have any cold weather garb, so if it gets too cold it'll be mundane clothes for me.

Constantine wrote:

I should probably wear garb more often, haha. Unfortunately I don't have any cold weather garb, so if it gets too cold it'll be mundane clothes for me.

That is usually acceptable in most places, but if you have garb that is loose, you can usually wear warm mundane clothes under it. It's still making an effort after all. For instance, in the winter time I wear thermal underwear and sweat pants under my garb pants and a long sleeve shirt and a hoodie under my armor or tunic(hoods are great).

I'm really glad you mentioned that rule, Eldrin. I think we might have to try that out and see if it inspires anyone to look less mundane.

The only garb I have right now is basically a pair of sweatpants and a green polo t-shirt with the collar cut off. there isn't much of a way to make that work for the winter, haha. Right now I don't really have the time or the motivation to advance my garb wardrobe, but I'll look into it in the future.

i wear my summer garb year round cause i'm a vamp and i can take it

Kairi Cypmann wrote:

I'm really glad you mentioned that rule, Eldrin. I think we might have to try that out and see if it inspires anyone to look less mundane.

Yeah I went to our battle Sunday and looked around at the people and got a little disgusted. Some of these people had been coming 4,5, and 6 months and no garb or not even their own weapons. So I was like, MEETING!! after practice and proposed the rule. It was unanimously voted into law for our province FTW.

Ya. I think It should be voted in to Ravenwood as a whole at Sheildmeet. Though most my guys have finally shaped up.

As to simple garb things.

Take a polo shirt. cut of the sleave hems and waist hem. Remove hte buttons and poke small holes where the buttons previously resided. Now lace shoestring through the holes on either side of the neck. nstant spud tunic.

Sweats, cut the elastic from the ankles and wash them a time or twelve ot fuzz them out alittle.

Dress pants several sizes to large for you held with a rope or belt looks pretty good.


For simple passable tunics, cut a peice of material about 4inchs wider then your shoulders, and cut a thin oval for your head, then a triangle in the neck facing the front. now cut the length to a comfortable position. Somewhere between 5inchs below the waist and your knees.

and final accesorize! it is the finishing touches on ANY garb.

Alec, if you buy a fleece long sleeve shirt and cut the neck to be more tunic like, it works really well.

I think for the rolla province right now, I'd worry more about people making and bringing their own weapons. I'd say, after 2 months, you can only borrow A single blue weapon. Anything else you want to fight with you need to make for yourself. This rule can be stretched if you show up in decent garb. (That you made, not borrowed)

i wasn to say, that i might not have the best garb, or even halway best garb, but i'm hardcore and will be in that garb to fight in no matter the conditions, i'll stay in garb RAWR