Any of you ever tried a trade from reading fantasy?

[Menion]

The Megalomaniac Mages & Magicians club still hav'nt answered my letter....

 

[Vertigo]

Ah they turned me down M, didn't have a big enough ego for them

 

[Menion]

I told them I had a pointy hat and stuff...

 

[clovis-man]

I once took a course in archery (many years ago). I did it because I already seemed to have some aptitude and wanted to "hone my skills". As soon as I got away from just doing what felt right and began to rigorously apply proper technique, I could no longer even hit the broad side of a barn.

 

[Trailblazer]

I'm still a little surprised, though I'm not talking from a personal knowldege as far as field archery goes. That said if they are running courses for beginners I would say it is extremely unusual for them not to have insurance cover for the students whilst they are on a course. My club did not run courses or do official coaching for exactly that reason as they said it would be too costly. So if they are running courses then they should be adequately covered. Sounds to me like they are using it as a way to boost their subscriptions. But as I say, I'm don't know the specifics so I may well be talking complete rubbish as far as your situation goes

Maybe they're just being cheeky about the club membership .

Ive paid anyway so im getting booked in on the next training day. It's a full day training 9am-4pm so you get some money's worth there.

I had not really looked into the types of archery much until now but field archery sounds even more interesting. Shooting at 3D animals aswell as targets in the woods and at unmarked ranges will give a more oldskool/fantasy experience.

 

[Vertigo]

I personally favoured target archery as I was particularly drawn to the mental aspects of archery - did you know that they put one of the Britsh team on tv once and measured his heart rate which was exceptionally high around 120 (poor guy had never been on tv before) but then he went up to the firing line and by the time he was at full draw his heart beat had dropped to around 35. Quite astonishing to watch it fall so fast in the space of around 1 or 2 minutes. I find that meditative aspect the most attractive part of it and so find the lack of distractions in field archery very attractive, it's almost like the target is only there to stop the arrow shooting off into the distance. I now only practice at home and on my own (I do live right out in the country ).

 

[MstrTal]

Once many years ago I read a lot of darker fantasy novels with assassin type characters in it. Due to my childhood environment I thought that such a course of action would suite me just dandy so I started a bit of research in that regard. Nothing to ostentatious mind. I bought books on throwing knives, plant based poisons, Greys Anatomy, acupuncture, purchased piano wire and the like. Fortunately I was horrid at sewing so I couldn't make little pockets for all my "tools" and ended up with bandages on all my fingers. I have since had shoulder surgery twice on my dominate shoulder so I couldn't throw a knife or hatchet to save my own life. I could never acquire any of the proper plants or lock picks as a minor and most devastating of all I learned that there was no such thing as "Spider-Silk" so I couldn't get a really light weight rope.

Thankfully I moved out of that environment into a much more err not wholesome one per say but one with more hormonally driven distractions and I outgrew that particular phase of my life. I did however spend an awful lot of time learning things no pre-teen or person should ever rightly know outside of the police, botanist, herbalist, mortician and well I guess aspiring writers professions.

 

[Trailblazer]

Well I had my training day today. Was good fun and will probably go again next week. The outdoor nature definitely adds some spice.

You go round a course in the woods shooting at paper and 3D targets in all sorts of positions and distances making each shot different. One was only about 10 meters away but it was a badger picture on the ground behind a thick clump of tree branches. The direct line of fire had a small window of space but if you were off by just a little you would likely be fowled by branches.

Then another long range target had a large tree at the half way point just shy of the target. But when you sighted down the arrow it gave the illusion of almost blocking the target causing us noobs and a few others to erroneously compensate wide.

Shooting at targets in a gym probably wouldn't have offered the same reward. Though I think most do that in the coldest winter months until the weather improves.

 

[Vladd67]

MstrTal maybe you should ask Santa for one of these just for old times sake.
- ST-23 Locksmith School in a Box with FREE Easy Picking Book and 5 Piece Lock Pick Set: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

 

[Vertigo]

Trailblazer you are quite correct in that inoors shooting is something that is generally only done in winter. In summer pretty much all archery is done outside. Apart from anything else you simply can't get the range indoors. Target archers generally shoot rounds that are split up amongst distances varying from 20m up to 100m.