"The first rule of Fight Club is that you don't talk about Fight Club."  But talking about it is half the fun! This is not live action role-playing.  It's an action-packed team sport with other groups of friends fighting mock battles with safety equipment or safe mock weapons.  Battles range in size from fewer than a hundred people to thousands.  It's like football with sticks.  It's about action and teamwork.  It's fast, furious, fun, and safe! And no two battles are ever the same.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "BATTLES?!?"

• WARBANDS

• MARKLAND

• S.C.A.

EQUIPMENT
You can't fight without equipment! We have loaner gear to help get you started, but you'll have to make your own one day. In Rome, we use the best designs, most of which are demonstrated below, or provided by others who don't mind sharing their technology. We consider the definition of good sportsmanship to be assuming responsibility for your opponents' enjoyment of the sport. So enjoy!

• Roman Warbands Sword

• Roman Warbands Shield

• Roman Warbands Javelin

• Eryndor Javelin Design

BUY Weapons from GORG!

Making Lorica Segmentata

Making Warbands Weapons 

Eryndor Warbands Weapons Tutorial (Excellent site!)

SCA Resource Links
Great links! Use caution with professional armorers. These are the only trustworthy, reliable, reputable armorers we've dealt with to date:
Ice Falcon Armory
Albino Manticore
Dark Victory
SCA Shields
In the meantime, a Roman first said "Caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware). Always use a credit card!

We list more suppliers on our Resource Links page.

Helmet Strapping

LARPs Resource

There are "medievalist" organizations throughout the world that focus on providing mock medieval battles.  The medieval organizations in which Rome participates are detailed to the left.  These organizations and their events mean many different things to the many diverse people who attend throughout our area and the country. It's a chance to live out your childhood fantasies as an adult. Participants experience their fantasies on a variety of levels. They  combine fast-paced full-contact combat simulation with elements of live action role-playing. Warbands combines elements of both history and fantasy. SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and Markland are purely historically based. These groups are both a sport and a game. This wide ranging appeal is the reason for the success of medievalism.

This is not Dungeons & Dragons. We enjoy a sport, not a tabletop game. Our events are athletically challenging. Our participants learn sportsmanship in an environment that fosters healthy competition and team spirit. You don't have to be an athlete to enjoy medieval combat. It is an exciting form of exercise that improves coordination and balance. There are some "LARP" organizations that are more like stand up, live action D&D.  Rome does not participate in these. That's not a criticism, just not what we're into.

Medieval combat is a healthy outlet for aggression and frustration. Although these groups are hard-hitting and physical, there is an emphasis is on safety.  Warbands "weapons" are well padded to prevent injuries. Markland & SCA require their that participants be well-armored to prevent injuries from occurring.  Combat rules outline safe conduct for all of our members, and these rules are strictly enforced by each organizations' referees. Within the rules, combatants may slam, wrestle, and even "kill" their opponents. In our civilized age this "weekend warfare" is a gratifying relief from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life. Medieval combat is literally "martial arts." Martial for obvious reasons, art because it's invented by its participants. There are no real textbooks to learn from. We teach our own from personal experience. Romans develop variations on the effective combat techniques they are taught.

Another benefit of these sports is that they are social, and allow for interaction among a diverse group of people. Role-playing games restrict social interaction to one’s immediate friends. Computer games are even more limiting in this respect. Medieval combat participants include a vast range of people, including college professors and high school students, construction workers and accountants, computer geeks and ravers. People who might never interact in the real world come together for a shared interest.

Medievalism challenges creativity and imagination. Participants make costumes, armor, and weapons for use in the battles we attend. Medievalism inspires historical research. Our members learn knowledge of arts and crafts as they build and create accessories to help them more fully enjoy the game. Members interact improvisationally with characters they develop and portray in historic or fantasy setting.

A new fighter must bring or borrow costumes and weapons to use at their first event. Rome usually has loaner gear for new people, even loaner armor! From our veterans, we expect self-sufficiency. New members are required to sign a release form and provide proof of age. Minors over the age of sixteen may participate only with parental consent in Warbands. Markland and SCA prohibit minors from participating in combat. All participants are required to submit themselves to the "check-in" process before the event starts. During check-in, experienced society representatives will evaluate each participant and their gear. Weapons and/or armor are measured against stringent safety standards, each costume must meet the minimal requirements, then members pay their dues and register. SCA requires new members to authorize, demonstrating that they understand the rules, won't hurt anyone, or get hurt.

New fighters are often discouraged when they are confronted by skilled participants with many years of experience. Don’t be discouraged. By your third event you will begin to develop a "combat sense," and reflexes that will help you to survive. Rome provides extensive training to her citizens and auxiliaries. We work hard at being the best. 

These organizations allow Rome to build our fantasies into a shared reality. To experience battle as a Roman is to grasp at the unobtainable. Rome allows us all to realize our dreams beyond the mundane existence of everyday life.

Rome is growing. Rome is a nation with a glorious past, and a mighty destiny.  If you've dreamt of Roman grandeur all your life, don't be left out. Come join the fun!