Dizney Words

In a sparse, green field, two armies are caught in a vicious struggle for domination. In the violent fray, a knight and a wizard square off.

The wizard hurls a fireball at the knight, who blocks the flaming ball with his shield.

The  knight then discards his rapidly melting shield and seizes the opportunity to land a blow on the wizard with his long sword.

As the wizard falls lifeless to the earth, the knight seeks his next opponent.

However, before he can set his sights on someone new, an arrow pierces through the chaos and finds its target in the knight’s back.

The knight falls near the wizard and the battle rages on.

This may sound like a scene from a big-budget Hollywood movie, but for members of the local Amtgard group, it’s a usual Saturday afternoon at the park next to Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Rock Springs.

Amtgard is a live-action fantasy-based medieval role-playing game where participants battle one another with foam-padded, replica weapons.

According to Eric Saari, one of the founders of the local group, the activity was created by a group of role-playing game enthusiasts in 1983.

Up to that point, the only role-playing group available was the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group more focused on the historical accuracy of combat and other skills used in Europe during the middle ages.

Amtgard differs because it focuses more on fantasy than realism, allowing players to be spell casters and other archetypes from classical medieval fantasy.

Collectively, more than 10,000 people nationwide are involved with Amtgard, with geographical area divided into various empires, kingdoms and principalities.

The local group is known as the Barony of Truevale, under the Principality of the Desert Winds, in the Empire of the Iron Mountains. The Empire of the Iron Mountains encompasses most of the states within the Rocky Mountain region.

Five years ago, Saari learned of Amtgard during the short time he lived in Nevada.

When he returned to the area to begin his studies at Western Wyoming Community College, Saari brought the idea to his friends and they began to experiment with weapon building and combat.

“For the first few months, we would battle each other in the bottom hallway of Rocky 1 (a dormitory at WWCC),” Saari said.

Saari said six members of an Amtgard group in Utah gave a demonstration months later, showing the group how Amtgard was supposed to be enacted and said everything “flowered from there.”

Saari said the local group is made up of 30 members, with 15-20 showing up each Saturday for the group’s weekly meeting and sparring.

Replica Weapons, Totally Safe

Although combat is done through replica weapons, the weapons are padded and covered with cloth to ensure they don’t injure combatants.

Additionally, the rules used by the group are geared for safety. Attacks to the head and neck are strictly prohibited.

“Every weapon is safe, they will not hurt you,” Saari said to a group of people watching a recent Amtgard demonstration.

Saari describes himself as a stickler for safety, which is evident in the detailed weapon building techniques he and other members use.

During a recent meeting, a young boy who had recently gotten involved with Amtgard presented Saari with a sword he created.

The sword, created using the core of a golf club surrounded with lightweight foam from a pool noodle and wrapped with metallic tape, immediately drew constructive criticism from Saari.

The tape had creases along the body of the sword, which could cut someone. Additionally, the top of the sword wasn’t insulated by the soft foam.

If used in a thrusting attack, the sword could break through the protective tape and stab someone.

Saari suggested the use of additional foam at the tip of the sword and using clear packing tape to attach the sword to the hilt, to not only make it safer, but more durable.

“You should always make sure you can’t feel the tip through the end and that you can’t feel the core through the padding,” Saari told the youth.

Although magical spells are limited to harmless chants and soft, stress balls wrapped in colored cloth, archery also makes an appearance in Amtgard.

Safety again dominates the use of archery equipment. The arrow tips are created using large amounts of heavy foam padding.

The bows are also restricted to heavily-handicapped training bows.

Life outside the battle

Although one would think Amtgard focuses only on fantasy-based combat, there is much more for people to take part in. Saari’s wife, Karen, makes the garb a number of Amtgard members dress with every week. Members’ garb ranges from simple, colorful tunics to elaborate cloaks, belts and gloves.

Saari said some members also craft their own armor, which can bring both a strategic element to battles or give members a wearable work of art to be proud of. Armor, when used during a battle, gives a person the ability to take more hits than those who don’t wear armor.

Armor that can be created includes leather armor, chain mail and full plate armor.

The protection each piece of armor gives is weighted on which type or armor used, with metal-based armor providing more protection than leather or cloth based armor.

Members also engage in a self governing body, taking part in elections every three months.

Members elect a monarch every six months and a prime minister, who functions as the group’s secretary, every three months.

Other officers are selected by the monarch to form a cabinet of advisors.

Halfway through each monarch’s reign, the group hosts a feast. Saari describes the feast as a large party where members dress in fancy garb, eat and enjoy themselves.

After the feast, the monarch then holds court, where members of the group are given awards based on their service, honor, crafting abilities and other skills members demonstrate. Members are also given knighthood based on their skill in battle and the honor they’ve shown to others.

Saari said the main award given to members during court is the Order of the Dragonmaster, which is award for contributions to the arts and sciences.

The goal is to have fun

“We’re a very likable bunch of people,” Saari said, when describing the group.

Local Amtgard members have formed a close-knit, extended family, which Saari says is evident not only in the local group, but the members nationwide as well.

A number of events are hosted by larger groups. Saari said local members recently traveled to Salt Wars, an Amtgard event hosted in Utah by members of the Desertwinds principality.

Overall, Saari said members in other areas are open to visitors, often welcoming members from outside Amtgard groups with open arms. Saari said he likes seeing people dress in garb to participate because it shows the members’ enthusiasm for the group.

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