Heraldry is my main interest and hobby inside the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). It's not the first thing about the SCA that interested me, but it's certainly the primary thing that keeps me around. I find the subject endlessly fascinating, if a bit esoteric; it's not something that is terribly useful outside of its specific context, and in truth I have more of an faint academic interest than an active interest in modern day non-SCA armorial heraldry. Inside the SCA, however, heraldry is a very active thing: spanning both names and armory, very personal identifiers of individuals and groups of individuals alike. |
Heraldry
Newsletter Feature: Fantastic Armory!
Every month, as when I served as Wreath Queen of Arms, I registered on average somewhere around 150 pieces of armory. Out of those many devices and badges, there are some true gems that shine out as wonderful examples of good period design -- things that would look right at home in a period armorial. I don't think these designs get enough press, and so that's why I decided to start writing a little featureette thingy that is intended to go into kingdom newsletters whenever there's a need for a space-filler, or for use in the "extra" edition. Or heck, for publication anywhere else that's desired. Each little article has 4 or 5 pieces of armory I thought were amongst the very best registered in a given month. I have chosen to start with April 2012, which is when the new Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory (SENA for short!) took effect, the first big rulechange in heraldry since the early 1990s. One of the benefits of SENA is that simple armory is even easier to register! Kingdom Chroniclers take note: Below is a creative release form for these articles, suitable for publication practically anywhere. If you need anything more specific, just ask. The artwork included is considered fair use for heraldic purposes (which this certainly is), and so needs no separate release. If you have questions on any of this, please let me know! Likewise, I have arbitrarily formatted these as half of a page, but if a different layout would be better for you, just let me know what would work better, or if a different format of file would be better. You can reach me directly at jds@randomgang.com. |
Relatively Recent Class Handouts!
Two class handouts I've done relatively recently, that may be useful to some people. It's entirely possible I've got something muddled, confusing, or even just entirely incorrect -- if you have any questions, please let me know! Picking and Documenting Names - this class handout includes information from the Rules about how names are formed, where to look for a name, and then a section on how to write the documentation for the name. Designing Armory - this class handout includes information from the Rules about the very basics of armory design: tinctures, rule of contrast, charges, arrangements, postures. There's also an associated Google Presentation document with visual examples, along with a few sample images from period armorials. |
Conflict Checking Class Notes
This is a class outline for a Conflict-Checking 201 class I did, back in Aug 2007. Some bits may be dated or even incorrect, and if so please do let me know so I can correct and update! Also attached at the bottom (hopefully) is a Powerpoint presentation that went along with this class, with examples of the rules and a step-by-step conflict-checking exercise. Commenting on Armory – Conflict-Checking and Beyond HL Emma de Fetherstan, Bordure Herald, Aug 2007 This is only a rough outline of my class, but hopefully will be enough to jog your memory or otherwise point you in the right direction in the future. This is by no means a comprehensive overview of the art and science of conflict-checking armory, but aims to be a decent start. I. Tools needed: RfS, Glossary, OandA.
a) parts of the shield
a) field (including fieldless) – top to bottom, left to right (1) primary charges(2) secondary charges (except peripheral charges)(3) tertiary charges (except those on peripheral charges)(4) peripheral charges, and tertiary charges on them(5) overall charges
RfS VII. Compatible Armorial Content – allowable charges and elements
a) substantial V. Conflict Checking Using RfS X.
X.4.a - field changes
a) Compare first item on the list with proposed armory. VII. Precedents.
a) mullets/suns conflicts – Kouac Myklos, 02/2002 VIII: Writing Commentary.
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Armory filk gone bad
I'm Just a Submission (With apologies to Dave Frishberg) {Woof! You sure gotta climb a lotta steps to get to this Laurel office here in the SCA! But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?} I'm just a submission, Yes, I'm only a submission, And I'm sitting here while Laurel’s fishin’. Well, it's a long, long journey To the College of Arms, It's a long, long wait While I'm showing my charms, But I know I'll be registered someday... At least I hope and beg for permission, But today I'm still a submission. {Gee, submission, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage!} {Well I got *this* far. When I started, I wasn't even a *submission* - I was just an idea. Some guy back home decided he wanted a snazzy device to paint on his shield, so he called his local herald and she said, "You're right, there ought to be a device." Then she sat down and drew me out and introduced me to Asterisk, and I became a submission. And I'll remain a submission until they decide to make me a registered device.} I'm just a submission, Yes I'm only a submission, And I got this far without opposition. Well now I'm stuck in committee And I sit here and wait While a few key heralds Discuss and debate Whether they should Let me be a device... Oh how I hope and pray for recognition, But today I am still just a submission. {Listen to those heralds arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?} {Yes. I'm one of the lucky ones. Most ideas never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favorably, otherwise I may die.} {"Die?"} {Yeah: returned for conflict or a rules violation. Oooh! But it looks like I'm gonna pass Kingdom. Now I go to the College of Arms and they discuss me.} {If they decide "no", what happens?} {Then I resubmit a new device and the whole thing starts all over again.} {Oh no!} {Oh yes!} I'm just a submission, Yes I'm only a submission, And if the College says I’m in good condition, Well then I'm off to Wreath Queen o’ Arms Where I'll wait in a line With a lot of other devices For Laurel to sign. And if he signs me then I'll be registered... Oh, how I hope I survive the inquisition, But today I am just a submission. {You mean even if the whole College says you should be a law, the Laurel King of Arms can still say no?} {Yes, that's called a "return". If Laurel returns me, I have to either appeal or resubmit back at the College of Heralds, and they decide on me again, and by that time it's...} {By that time a long time has passed! It's not easy to become registered, is it?} If you listen to your herald it is! But how I hope I don’t have to use ammunition, But today I am still just a submission! {He signed you, device! Now you're registered!} {Oh yes!} |
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