Thank you all for the welcome, and for the links and helpful info! I'll keep my eyes open for you guys in-game. 
I've been eyeballing those linkshells, but I'm not sure how to join one. I think I need to find someone (foolish enough) to invite me. Is that correct?
I may drop in the Coffer and Coffin for a bit next week as you suggested, but 9:00pm EST is normally when I go to bed, so it'll be a short cameo, haha.
Olofantur: You sound like someone who would enjoy the SCA! I have to confess I could never really get into the political kingdom games side of medieval history, but I have been teaching myself calligraphy and how to make illuminated manuscripts, although more like the kind you'd find in the Book of Kells.
As for my armored combat group, we learn many different weapons. Each semester is structured around a different weapon. The standard curriculum includes single-handed sword, two-handed sword, hand-and-a-half, dagger/buckler, quarterstaff, and florentine. Advanced curriculum run the gamut of the more historically unusual weapons: axe, mace, warhammer, pike, polearms, etc., and our independent study for knighthood involves a weapon of our choice. They do train us how to use each weapon effectively against an armored opponent, though for the sake of simplicity we assume the opponent is wearing a standard set of full plate. (Many of our combat drills end in thrusts to the gusset.)
The curriculum focuses on chivalry and knighthood, and the majority of our forms and drills are based on Hans Talhoffer's swordfighting manuscripts, so the instruction has more of a late Middle Ages English/Germanic feel. But on the whole, most of the students and instructors in our branch are more interested in the Viking and pre-Christian Celtic eras (myself included). They give us a high degree of flexibility in how we armor ourselves, so when I make my armor I'm going to try to give it a Celtic aesthetic.
Between foam safety weapons, polyurethane training weapons, live steel, and armor, it is not an inexpensive hobby, but for nerds like me who have a long-standing fascination with medieval combat, it is money well spent.
Sorry for the wall of text. I tend to ramble on subjects that inspire me.
I've been eyeballing those linkshells, but I'm not sure how to join one. I think I need to find someone (foolish enough) to invite me. Is that correct?
I may drop in the Coffer and Coffin for a bit next week as you suggested, but 9:00pm EST is normally when I go to bed, so it'll be a short cameo, haha.
Olofantur: You sound like someone who would enjoy the SCA! I have to confess I could never really get into the political kingdom games side of medieval history, but I have been teaching myself calligraphy and how to make illuminated manuscripts, although more like the kind you'd find in the Book of Kells.
As for my armored combat group, we learn many different weapons. Each semester is structured around a different weapon. The standard curriculum includes single-handed sword, two-handed sword, hand-and-a-half, dagger/buckler, quarterstaff, and florentine. Advanced curriculum run the gamut of the more historically unusual weapons: axe, mace, warhammer, pike, polearms, etc., and our independent study for knighthood involves a weapon of our choice. They do train us how to use each weapon effectively against an armored opponent, though for the sake of simplicity we assume the opponent is wearing a standard set of full plate. (Many of our combat drills end in thrusts to the gusset.)
The curriculum focuses on chivalry and knighthood, and the majority of our forms and drills are based on Hans Talhoffer's swordfighting manuscripts, so the instruction has more of a late Middle Ages English/Germanic feel. But on the whole, most of the students and instructors in our branch are more interested in the Viking and pre-Christian Celtic eras (myself included). They give us a high degree of flexibility in how we armor ourselves, so when I make my armor I'm going to try to give it a Celtic aesthetic.
Between foam safety weapons, polyurethane training weapons, live steel, and armor, it is not an inexpensive hobby, but for nerds like me who have a long-standing fascination with medieval combat, it is money well spent.
Sorry for the wall of text. I tend to ramble on subjects that inspire me.
The great way is only difficult for those who pick and choose.
