I personally hate the term "noob" but it's become such a part of our terminology along with "hold", "rhinohide" and "gimp". To some, a new member is fresh meat, a "willing" pell to be beaten on. To others, a new member is the grating, and at times annoying, person who is still trying to figure out where he fits in. And to some, a new fighter is a person with a lack of control, who swings excessively and headshots every person they fight. But they bring such boundless enthusiasm and driving willingness to learn. Ah, how quickly we forget that we were that noob once. And that's really what I'm getting at.
We all had to start somewhere. Look back on when you first started. Were you left to fend for yourself or did someone help you through the growing pains? I remember my first mentor in fighting, Sir Killian of Valdemar (no relation to the current Sir Killian). When I first started coming out, he epitomized what I thought a knight should be...hell on wheels with an undeniable presence on the field. When he commanded you, you followed without hesitation. But without him, I wonder if I would be where I am now. Time and time again, I hear stories of veterans who ended up staying in because of someone or perhaps a few people who saw their potential beneath the surface. Can you be that person?
Here are a few things you can do to keep your new members going:
1. Be mindful of the example you set. New fighters will pick up on the fighters who throw tantrums, storm off the field, blow off shots, or argue with the marshals. If a veteran gets away with it, why shouldn't they? Conversely, if the new members see veterans taking their hits, enjoying what they're doing, and being respectful to each other, they're going to see that too.
2. Take them under your wing. It's far easier to let them fend for themselves, to let them continuously be beaten down until they either step up or walk away. But oftentimes that leads to alienation and a person leaving the sport. For many of us, it's how we learned. Why should the fighters of today have it any easier? Teaching them takes work. Mentoring them takes work. However, it can be difficult to stick around when you're crushed on a regular basis and it seems like there's no one willing to help.
3. Be approachable and take the initiative to seek them out. Vets are often intimidating and sometimes outright terrifying to our new fighters. Don't make it any harder for them by making that expectation a reality.
4. Be patient. It can be difficult and frustrating especially when they keep making the same mistakes over and over. But, again, did you not go through that yourself?
5. Introduce them to opportunities outside of fighting. Do you know fighters who look at non-fighters with derision as if they are somehow less because they cannot or choose not to fight? That's a lousy attitude but it's one that can be easily propagated. Everyone contributes in their own way and fighting should NEVER be considered the only meaningful thing out there.
6. Hang out with them outside of practice. Make them feel welcome. Show them that the social interactions in Belegarth can be just as fulfilling as the fighting aspects.
7. At their first event, look out for them and introduce them to the people you know. Don't let them fend for themselves and end up doing something that may haunt them later.
8. Encourage them to make their own garb and weapons. That time and emotional investment is often the spark that keeps them interested in Belegarth.
9. Impress upon them how Belegarth MUST take a back seat to real life. If they're not doing well in school, then they need to focus on their studies. It's so easy to get caught up with hanging out with friends instead of studying or going to class, particularly in a college environment.
New members of Belegarth are the children of our community and you, the veterans and established members, have a direct effect on their growth and development. It's up to you whether you choose to embrace them with open arms or weed them out with indifference.
This is the brief account of what Bruder experienced on Khador hosting it's first event:
My guesstamation is we had about 30-40 fighters show up.About 15 of which were in my realm alone.This is the exact reason why I set up and ran the mini.So that my noobies in Rockford see what it's like firsthand what an event is like without the travel.That way they are more likely to put up with traveling for upcoming events, such as Okfest.From what I've seen while heralding most of the event, the noobies in my realm fought really hard.All but one (which I affectionly call the realm's douche) took their hits well and did not bullshit around.I even saw a couple of them sparing with vets during the breaks.This shows to me that they want to learn and get better.And for that, my respect and admiration for them grows.
This also gives me some optimism that if I were to suddenly leave the Rockford area for whatever reason, then Khador and Belegarth will stay.Some of these guys appear to be really serious about Belegarth.Hell today, a noobie within the realm just started petitioning for House Dregoth despite knowing damn well I am going to pick on him a lot for that. :p
A lot of people left right before we started the back trails/capture the flag battles.I understand that the Rhun guys have a practice at 6 but they missed out on a lot of fun.There was this little girl dressed in complete hippish looking monster garb who showed up today.She never fought before.She is about 4'9", and has to weight less then 100 pounds.Obviously I'm the exact opposite.I am the only thing standing between her and the flag.She apparently thought the best way to get around me is to not to block and spin/side step around me, but instead to dive and barrel roll inbetween my legs.The last thing I saw was this girl roll under my shield.While doing so, she bumped into both of my legs.This caused me to lose my balance.I figured I was going to fall, so I tried everything in my power not to fall on top of her.I remember my brain saying to me "Oh god, oh god!I'm going to kill her!" Someone watching this later said that I apparently screamed "Ahhhhh!"Well sometime during all this I felt both inside of my legs tapped.I somehow managed not to fall on her, and I counted myself dead.I have not decided if that was a stupid or a totally sweet move.
And I also can't help but giggle as I'm writing this.It was pretty damn funny.
Anyways, I can not wait until Okfest.I've already pre reg.I am planning on heading on down Thursday morning or earily afternoon. Unless there is a Northern Illinois camp, I am going to camp with the Hydra.
By the way...
A special shoutout to Rabbit and the Order of the Eternal Flame up in Rhinelander. They drove about four hours to come down to this event.Thanks guys! You guys are definitely near the top of my list of practices to hit up next summer.
Wolfpack is booming right now. We have had to alter plans due to supplies issues for our weapons building sessions but our noobs don't seem to mind one bit. Our practices are averaging about 35-40 fighters every Tuesday and Sunday. Last weekend we got some of them even in garb I believe thanks to Faline. This saturday and for the following 3 weeks our residentgypsy caravan, Kampina Del a Ruv, along with Faline and anyone with a sewing machine are making garb for our enourmous influx of new people. We are busy hashing out runs to the fabric store, getting an idea of what our want to wear and whether or not it is possible, and getting prepared for Octoberfest. This year is going to be great.
Opener this year is already underway. I have appointed Rhys, our student advisor, with the task of speaking with ISU administration so we can get the Horton Field House again this year. As soon as we have a date, I will be posting up the details so people have time to get off from work and prepare for the best single day winter event in Belegarth. As a side note, I am also trying to see if ISU would be willing to let us use that site as a practice area for winter fighting. With fingers crossed and a hefty donation to ISU athletics, I think we can grease the wheels on this. I have big dreams for Wolfpack both at ISU and within Belegarth. Getting there is going to be the fun part.
I usually thank a ton of people for things going on in the realm but individually I can't do that. I have to thank the Wolfpack Knights, Squires, Vets and Noobs all together because honestly were it not for our dedication to one another, we wouldn't be where we are now. This has been a group effort and I am so proud. Thank you Wolfpack for being my friends, family and working to expand our realm and our sport.
Khador is a Belegarth realm my friends and I started back in the Spring of 2005. Most of them stopped Belegarthing since then. A select few and I didn't. This summer, I started a Khador practice in Rockford. And that is the greatest Belegarth related decision I've ever made. The Freeport practices usually got around 2-5 per practice. Rockford has been gettingno fewer then 15 per practice for the past four weeks. Thanks to the Khador mini coming up next Sunday, many noobies at Rockford are going to spend this week getting their garb and weapons together. Almost all of these noobies are open minded, willing to listen, do not have an attitude, and do not rhino hide. They are ecstatic and excited about this sport. Basically, they have what it takes to make it. They are willing to work for Belegarth makes me very proud of them.
Also, I would like to thank a few people whom has been helping us. I have been getting a lot of support from Bo and Kayle from the Rhun. Stroggy, and Roanoa Kiran from Dunharrow have also stopped by before. As did Remus. (I don't think he's part of Dunharrow?) And I would also like to thank Lady Renell for yelling FIGHTERS TO THE FIELD at people, because it's apparent I'm not loud enough. You have no idea how much I appreciate you all and your support.
I am quite optimistic towards the Khador realm. With that being said, Belegarth, you have a new and growing realm on your hands. It's name is Khador. And soon enough at a event, we are going to show up in force; and pwn many bitches..... beetoch!
We had our first of probably 3 weapons building sessions last night at the Outpost. Faline, her brother Chris and Catlin opened there home to 17 new people and it was a complete success. Thank you's all around to those three for donating their place, which was one of the best organized weapons building sessions I have seen since joining Wolfpack. Everyone who showed up withthe intent of building a sword, did so. I believe one new person walked out with 4 swords that he built.
None of this would have been possible without a few of our expert foamsmiths and additional helpers. Thank you very much Fox, Davit, Keeichi, Digoza, Faline, Sorcia, Catlin, Morpheus, Carissa, Bevin, Lock, Rhys, Lupus, and Puck. Everyone did a something from cutting cores/foam to dap application instructions to maintaining tools to the appropriate people to taking money for the supplies used. I am so damn proud of this realm and its ability to come together and work on a large project such as outfitting new people with weapons. Next on the list....GARB!!!
I also want to give thank you's out to our new people. Your dedication and your work will make you excellent additions into our family in Wolfpack. I am looking forward to getting you all aquainted with our sport and growing this realm. We could not have a better group of new people willing to learn, ask questions and dive into the Belegarth World/Lifestyle.
We still need to make some shields which we are in the process I believe next Thursday hosting another building session. Everyone learned something and hopefully will continue to learn things from our veteran members, everything from weapon construction, to field combat, heralding, to weapons checking and lets not forget how to have fun :-D. If I have forgotton to mention anyone I apologise, let me know and I will make sure that you are commended for your services to this sport and especially to this realm. Thank you Wolfpack, I am so very proud of you!!
Okay, I really perfer LJ, but hey, fighting stuff can go here too.
Wolfpack started back up on the Quad at the start of the semester. I'm not sure how it has happened, our recruiting went way up. Part of it was that Lupus brought out his floor, but even that doesn't explain how we are doing so well.
Most of the time, when we start out, we'll start with 20 or so peoplewho want to try. We went way beyond that the first practice, and it is still growing. We have people showing up new to Tuesday practices. So, I consider this year a success already, and we might just need to refine our recruitment strategies, rather than come up with new ones. This is incredible. My predicition at first, was 5 people who stay the whole year, but I might revise this to 8 -10.
Now to get them garbed and weaponed. And beat in. And then introduce into Belegarth at large during Oktoberfest.
We finally got a sewing machine, so now, I just have to get sewing. I have a coat I want to sew up first, and then figure out the different layers of Turkish garb, and how to make them. Without patterns. Arguing with fabric will never be so hard.
