Because the activities of the Mercenaries Medieval Combat Guild are outside the scope of most people’s everyday lives, interested parties and passers-by usually have plenty of questions. Gathered together on this page are some frequently asked questions and their answers. If you don’t see the answer to your question here, please feel free to email us.

What is this all about?

Simply stated, the Mercenaries Medieval Combat Guild is a small group of people who relax and have fun by fighting in mock-combat with medieval weaponry constructed of fiberglass and foam. We dress in medieval costume, call one another by medieval (or at least "quasi-medieval") names, cook medieval food for our feast, and learn medieval songs for our bardic entertainment. We hold tournaments, plan sieges, ambush one another in woods battles, and hold weekend-long "wars" during which we camp out and fight for the whole weekend.

Isn’t this dangerous?

The thought of dozens of people swinging around realistically-weighted mock weapons and dashing at one another pell-mell through fields and woods and over rocks can seem like a dangerous idea. However, the MMCG works to ensure the safety of its participants through a combination of safe mock-weapons construction and teaching control to its members. While MMCG events do see their share of bumps and bruises from time to time, the injuries sustained are less numerous and less serious than those one might expect to see in contact sports such as football.

Where do you get all your  . . .

             . . . costumes?

Many of us make our own costumes (or “garb” as it is known in reenactment and medieval sporting societies). Research into the clothing and dress of a particular region and time period often appeals to our members. Some of us rely on the goodwill of our more talented friends in order to clothe us in a period-appropriate manner. Many of us buy our costumes (or pieces of them) from companies that specialize in catering to groups such as us. Links to some of these companies can be found here.

             . . . armor?

As with the costuming, some of us make our own. However, because the skills and talents needed for crafting armor tend to require more extensive development, most of us buy it from craftsmen who specialize in making armor for re-creation societies.

             . . . weapons?

The MMCG is proud of the amount of work its members take in making its own weapons. This is done according to our unique design philosophy of matching weight, handling and appearance as closely as possible to the actual medieval artifacts. Our experimentation with weapon design is an ongoing process—constantly being refined.

Where do you learn how to fight?

One of the main goals of the MMCG is to accurately re-create and rediscover the use of medieval weaponry through experimentation. This means that many of us take an interest in the written works of medieval weapons-masters who recorded their knowledge for wealthy patrons. A sub-group the MMCG—the Black Falcon School of Arms—is a Western Martial Arts school which is dedicated to the study of the English sword of the 15^th century. However, many of our members train themselves with a combination of personal experience and intuition. The MMCG embraces both approaches to the rediscovery of medieval weapons arts.

Are you part of the Renaissance Fair?

This is the basic frame of reference many people have for otherwise normal folks dressing up in strange-looking costumes and swinging swords at one another. However, while many of its members enjoy going to the Renaissance Fair, the MMCG is not a part of it. Nor is it in any way affiliated with it. We are a private group which exists for the research and re-creation of medieval combat and the Middle Ages as a whole.

How do I get started? What do I need?

To get started, all you need is the will to learn and to play. E-mail us with questions, or come to one of our weekly practices. We’re always happy to get new folks started and to offer help and advice if it is requested. A good point at which to be when attending your first Mercenary Wars (our annual summer event) is to have some of your own weapons, some basic costuming, and a medieval name. All of these are topics which are covered on the website and which we will be happy to discuss in person or via e-mail.

I’m looking for information about (insert clothing article/weapon/armor/shield name here).

Our website includes articles specifically addressed to beginners or to broad medieval research that discuss clothing, weapons, armor and shields in basic terms. Feel free to check them out.

I’ve always wanted to be just like (insert historical figure or fantasy character name here). Can I do that in your group?

Yes and no. While the MMCG does not allow its members to represent specific historical, mythical or literary figures during practice or at events (i.e., Richard the Lionheart, King Arthur or Aragorn), we do encourage our members to develop their skills along lines that interest them, and to find “that feeling” you get when reading about your favorite characters. Advice on this issue can be found in our Finding the Reality in Fantasy article.

I already have a real (insert weapon name here). Can I bring it to practice?

No. Real weapons are not allowed at MMCG practices, except in special cases when we are experimenting with the handling characteristics of said weapon. However, the non-negotiable rule is that you should never bring a real weapon onto the field of mock battle. This rule does not apply to Black Falcon School of Arms classes, since we use real swords in some of our test-cutting.

I am interested in samurai/wushi/musa/ninja. Can I be one of those in your group?

The MMCG’s scope is restricted to the European Middle Ages. This already covers a huge time period (800 A.D.—1500 A.D. as defined by the MMCG) and geographical space. Our scope of practice already allows for some historically impossible combinations (i.e. 9^th century Danish axeman fighting a 15^th century Italian condottiere). We do not allow historical Oriental personae, weapons or costume for use in MMCG events because it does not contribute to our understanding of medieval weapons use (since medieval European warriors did not--with very few exceptions--encounter Far Eastern warriors).

I am interested in Romans/Spartans/Persians/Aztecs. Can I be one of those in your group?

Just as with samurai and wushi, Roman legionairres and Spartan Hoplites are outside the scope of the MMCG's practice--this time for chronological reasons. As stated before, it's already enough of a stretch for the MMCG to allow Vikings to fight early Renaissance mercenary-knights. To include Hoplites or equitae in the mix detracts from our stated goals. However, it would be an interesting and worthwhile pursuit of the MMCG's goals to study the medieval heirs of those traditions. What were the Greeks doing in the 14th century? It would be pretty interesting to find out.

I want to be a peasant. Can I use a sickle/scythe/pitchfork?

Sure. You’ll probably get killed a lot by people using weapons which were historically developed specifically for fighting rather than those which were improvised from farming implements. However, historical precedent exists for commoners going to war with whatever they had, and making an attempt to simulate those conditions within the MMCG is well within our mission statement.