If there is disagreement or questions, encourage group discussion.
Who may call a “Hold”?
A Marshal
A Fighter
An engineer
A crew member
A spectator
All of the above
During a long or medical hold or if the command “pop your top” is given, what should an engineer do if the engine is cocked and loaded?
Discharge weapon so it doesn’t go off accidentally
Unload and uncock your weapon
Nothing, and step away from engine
Remain next to the engine to prevent accidental discharge
During a short or local hold, if the engine is cocked and loaded, what should an engineer do?
Discharge weapon so it doesn’t go off accidentally
Unload and uncock your weapon
Nothing, and step away from engine
Remain next to the engine to prevent accidental discharge
During any hold, what should an engineer never do?
Discharge weapon so it doesn’t go off accidentally
Unload and uncock your weapon
Cock and load the engine
Nothing, and step away from engine if it is unloaded and uncocked
Remain next to the engine to prevent accidental discharge
What is the SCA “Minimum Safe Distance” for “Direct
Fire”?
30 Feet or 10Yards
What is the MAXIMUM range of a COMBAT Siege Engine by SCA
Rules?
80 yards or 240 feet
What is the
Minimum range of a COMBAT Siege Engine during inspections, by SCA Rules?
40 yards or 120 feet
What is the difference between a “Siege Structure” and a
“Siege Engine”?
Structures are passive, engines fire projectiles
How might a “Siege Structure” be come a “Siege Engine”?
Mount a siege engine on a siege structure
What three mechanical aspects, must all SCA siege engines have, excluding “man powered’ engines?
A
mechanical cocking device.
A
mechanical locking trigger.
A means of rendering the engine safe while unattended
Which of these may not be used as part of a Projectile for engines in SCA Combat? (Please respond "good" or "bad" to each item)
All of these have been found on the field
Open Cell Foam (Sponge like) Good
Closed Cell Foam (Sponge with a finish) Good
Punctured Tennis Balls Good
Sliced Tennis Balls Bad
Silo-Flex or Endot Semi-Ridged Tubing Good
PVC Pipe Bad
Cord or Artificial Sinew Good
Soft, Braided Only, Steel Wire Bad
Duct and/or Filament Tape Good
Water Splash Squishy Heads Bad
Film Canisters Good
PVC reinforcement Rings Good
Re-rod Bad
Siege Engine Crews may be Non-Contact Combatants but, they are still required to wear what level of Armor in battle.
Full
minimum armor is required for all combatants on the field
Scout Gear no longer applies anywhere in the heavy list.
Who has the “LAST WORD” in ANY disagreement involving activities during a Siege Activity?
The marshal in charge
A Type “A” Siege Engine must have a Crew of at least how
many?
Three.
A Type "B" Siege Engine must have a Crew of at
least how many?
Two.
What is the difference between Direct and Indirect Fire?
"Direct
fire" is aiming at a visible target. Line of sight.
"Indirect fire" is shooting at a non-visible target in a high arc. Perhaps behind a wall.
Who can throw "Dropped Rocks?
No one. Dropped rocks may only be dropped from a siege structure.
Any machine that uses twisted Rope like material to launch its projectile is said to have what type of engine.
Gravity
Spring
Torsion
Man Powdered
None of the above
What color is Siege Ammunition and what are its effects?
Yellow, it damages structures and kills through shields and weapons
What color are “Dropped Rocks” and how big are they?
Grey or silver duct tape and they are 12” x 12” x 18”
Though under certain conditions it is allowed, generally, it is not safe to move any Siege Engine while it is what?
Loaded or cocked The only allowable condition is traversing a ballista or arbalest for aiming purposes
How does a fighter kill an engine?
Touch the frame or wheels with a hand weapon, never strike with a full blow, or touch the engine's moving parts at all.
How else is an engine destroyed?
One
large siege projectile (6-1/2'' ball)
Three
small siege projectiles (4TB, 48'' bolt)
Flaming missiles (per scenario outlines)
(per scenario outlines)
Due to its high tensile strength Steel Cable makes an excellent Bow String as well as a reliable Safety Cable for Throwing Arms for both Trebuchet and Catapult type Engines.
True or False
WHY?
Steel cable gives no indication before failure, and is deadly during failure
Before shooting you should always inspect your Engine and Ammunition except when it has been in a guarded area during your absence?
True or False
In order to help settle in the bowstring on a ballista or arbalest, the weapon should be dry fired a few times
True or False
A hand pumped compression sphere may be used as gas driver for a Catapult arm, so long as the pressure vessel is not compressed to over 70 PSI.
True or False compressed gas is not allowed
If Pine is used as the Throwing Arm of a Catapult or Trebuchet it must be reinforced with a rope glued along the full length of the arm. This rope must be wrapped with glue soaked cord for a length of 2” at 6” intervals for its entire length of the arm to prevent the arm from leaving the engine if it should break.
True or False
Any questions?
Please respond to each choice
You have combatants inside the minimum safe distance zone, but further away then five feet from any moving part of your engine. Your engine is cocked and loaded. What should you do?
Shoot them for violating your safety zone.
Secure
the throwing arm of a trebuchet or catapult with a safety chain or cable, then
unload the weapon.
Lay on top of the weapon to prevent injury to others.
If it
is a turret mounted ballista, point it in a safe direction and discharge it.
Grab your backup weapon and engage the enemy
You are manning a Turret type Engine in
Abandon the Engine and "Run for it".
Advise the Operator so he can get a shot at him quickly.
Advise the Operator and grab the weapon you have resting or hanging on the Engine and defend the Engine.
Call a "Hold"
Advise the Operator, step to your weapon, and move away from the Engine by at least 10 feet to engage the enemy.
One of your minimum crew members has left the 10 foot radius of the loaded engine to defend it. What should do you do?
Continue firing as long as you can until the enemy is within five feet of your engine.
Cease fire and be ready to make the engine safe in case he fails to kill the enemy.
You just cocked and loaded your weapon, when you notice that you are being rushed by a group of five fighters on your flank. They are30 feet away and closing. Other than that, your safety zones are clear. What do you do?
Grab your back-up weapon and defend the engine.
Curse at your crew for being slackers.
Wait for them to engage the weapon.
Fire the weapon to make it safe and yield.
Take the prospects to each type of weapon and ask the following questions. All the answers should be demonstrated by the prospects, any remainders should be pointed out by the marshal.
What parts of this engine pose a threat to combatants.
All moving parts should be pointed out.
Where are the dangerous spots for a combatant to be.
Within five feet of any moving parts. Directly in the firing path of any engine. Behind a trebuchet or catapult. Anywhere within the plane of a throwing arm. Inside of a bowstring.
What parts of this weapon should be constantly monitored for wear.
Bowstrings, particularly the servings. Winch ropes. Throwing arms, Skeins, Structural bolts and hardware, anything squeaking.
What is likely to happen with failure of this piece.
Too much to type here, but an experienced marshal will know, and the marshal should pass on this information to the prospects, so that they understand the dangers of a failure.
Have a crossbow, sword and/or shield resting or hanging
on a machine. Have arrows with target tips in the quiver along with combat
arrows. Then say:
We are on a active combat field, what conditions are
improper in this area?
All should be discovered
Demonstrate some improper habits and techniques.(On unbraced engines of course) IE: hands on an arbalest stock, the effects of loose clothing, loading a ballista from the front, slamming the arrow against the string, loading a catapult or trebuchet from behind the arm, reaching into the frame of trebs, standing with your back to an active engine, and any other stupid thing I can think of.
Is this how you kill an engine?
Not the standard recommended procedure, but extremely effective, and memorable.
Myself, I have an old beater of an engine on hand, and I take a sword and wallop it in bad areas, i.e.; prod, trigger, windlass, handles, etc so as to make an impression on fighters how bad this can be. They always say "NO". Then I tap the weapon on the frame and stand and say "This is the correct way".
Any questions?
Have various types of ammo in pass and fail conditions, and have each prospect inspect it so they know good from bad.
Observe the prospects in live or mock combat scenario. The best scenario is a smaller bridge battle.
Look for the ability to stay cool under pressure of charging troops and missile fire. Watch for dangerous situations. Watch for safety zone violations, activity during "holds", and proper "yielding" or rearming (HW) when approached.
Make sure to correct any faults that are observed