Personas

You know, those characters we make up for ourselves to 'play our part' at events. There are definitely those who get more into researching things than others, and that's all well and good. At the very least, though, it is good to have a general idea of a probable character (human, for starters*, from late Western Roman to 1600s Europe, (or somewhere who had contact with there)), a proper medieval name (things from sci-fi and fantasy are usually right out) and at events, 'a reasonable attempt at medieval-styled clothing' (honest, that's what it says in the rules).


So, that being said, we now provide you with some

Helpful Links

SCA.org Resources and Information for Newcomers
http://sca.org/newcomers.html


Life in the Current Middle Ages
What is the SCA?
http://sca.org/sca-intro.html

"The Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA, is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts, skills, and traditions of pre-17th-century Europe.

Members of the SCA study and take part in a variety of activities, including combat, archery, equestrian activities, costuming, cooking, metalwork, woodworking, music, dance, calligraphy, fiber arts, and much more. If it was done in the Middle Ages or Renaissance, odds are you'll find someone in the SCA interested in recreating it.

What makes the SCA different from a Humanities 101 class is the active participation in the learning process. To learn about the clothing of the period, you research it, then sew and wear it yourself. To learn about combat, you put on armor (which you may have built yourself) and learn how to defeat your opponent. To learn brewing, you make (and sample!) your own wines, meads and beers."...


Forward Into the Past (PDF) - Start here!
An introductory guide published by the Society.
Membership - What is the SCA - Getting Started - Fitting In - What to Wear and How to Behave - Making a T-tunic - Names and Personas - Kingdom & Local Officers - SCA Combat - Who is Who? - Heraldry - Guilds, Households, and Sociability - The Gentle Arts and Sciences
http://sca.org/officers/chatelain/ForwardIntothePast.pdf


CHOOSING A NAME & CREATING A PERSONA
by Modar Neznanich
http://www.modaruniversity.org/Names.htm


Medieval Names Archive - HIGHLY researched and recommended.
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/


Articles About Persona
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/miscellany_pdf/Articles_about_Persona.pdf
A collection of very good articles by Duke Cariadoc of the Bow (the guy whose fault the Pennsic War is), particularly "Little Things" and "Concerning Consistency: or Ignorance is Bliss". 
They are part of another great resource of information on many topics,
A Miscellany by Cariadoc and Elizabeth
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/miscellany_pdf/Miscellany.htm 
Often called 'Cariadoc's Miscellany.'


The SCA Without Breaking the Bank
"We've all seen the people with the huge pavilions, the beautiful Elizabethan gowns, the elaborate feast gear, and whatnot. The question that always hovers in my mind is "how much did they *pay* for that?" Let's face it, the SCA can be an expensive hobby. But it doesn't have to be. I'm an unemployed college student, so I've had to find ways of staying in the SCA that don't involve lots of money. This page is devoted to tips on how to stick with the SCA without denying yourself in other areas, like food. ("It's okay, I can eat macaroni and cheese every day for two months. This beautiful silk organza will be worth it.")"
http://www.geocities.com/yourstruly/sca.html




_{* Very early in the SCA's history, there were some names that were indeed registered with the College of Heralds in Tolkien Elvish, and have been grandfathered into legality. The Group name of the Buffalo, NY SCA branch may or may not be one, meaning 'welcoming hall.'}