Materials you will need: • ¾ or ½ inch PVC pipe • 5/8 inch wall pipe insulation
• Two 2 inch or larger cubes of open cell foam
• Hacksaw, scissors, knife, marker, tape measure
• Duct tape or cloth tape • Electrical tape (optional)
This section will walk you through build- ing a long sword. These directions can be ex- trapolated to most other weapons by making minor adjustments for their type. Remember to minimize the amount of tape that you are using when possible. Often times a half-width piece will do the same job as a full-width piece.
Before cutting anything, make a quick sketch of the weapon you intend to build, in- cluding dimensions. Double check that all of your proportions will meet the requirements listed on the weapon specification chart as well as any additional rules listed in the construc- tion section. Mark your materials so that you are certain they are the correct size.
1: Use the hacksaw to cut your core to the desired length.
It should be six inches shorter than the fin- ished length of the weapon (six and a half for
spears, polearms, and two-handed swords). Tape over the open ends of pipe to remove the sharp edges and to prevent foam from packing into the tube.
Cut your pipe insulation for your blade and pommel. The blade piece should be two inches shorter then the total blade length you desire. Unless you are making a bow, you should have a pommel piece that is about three inches. If you are making a bow, you should have two ‘blade’ pieces of about equal length.
2: Take two inch-long pieces of pipe in- sulation foam (about a quarter circle each) and secure one tightly to each end of your core.
Slide the blade foam onto the core, stop- ping when you reach the foam plug you just affixed. Tape over the end so that the foam can- not slide down.
3: Cut a piece of open cell foam that is two inches square and at least two inches tall.
Trim off four edges so that you have a tall cyl- inder the same width as your blade. Secure the open cell foam to the top of your blade with a cross of tape.
Be certain that the tip is not compressed more than two inches. Once the tip is secure, encircle the region where the two pieces meet with a strip of tape.
4: Cross four strips of tape from the blade foam to the core to fasten them together.
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A ring of tape around the core and at thebase of the blade will prevent these strips from peeling up later.
5: If you are not making a weapon with a crossguard, skip this step. Cut a piece of pipe insulation four to six inches long for a crossguard. Split it in half length-wise and cut a hole a little smaller then your core in the cen- ter. Slide the piece onto your core so that the flat side is against your blade foam.
Using a cross of tape as in step 4, secure the crossguard to both the blade and to the core.
6: Take the pommel piece and slide it onto the butt end of your sword so that it is flush with the plug you placed in step 2. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for this piece.
7: If you haven’t already done so, double- check the length requirements for everything you’ve built. Measure the weapon tip to tip, along its curve if it has one; it should be ex- actly as long as you wanted.
8: If you are building a weapon with a head secure it to the ‘blade’ (now the haft) of your weapon. It is best to have a few strips that wrap completely around the head and secure directly to the haft for stability.
Once you feel the head is secure, test it out, and if it remains attached, cover the head with tape.
9: If you are going to sew a cloth cover for your weapon, skip this step. Otherwise, cover the blade lengthwise with long strips of tape. Do not spiral wrap your weapon! You may cover your crossguard and any other surfaces you have left exposed if you like.
10: Poke a few holes in the tape of the open cell foam parts of your weapon.
If the foam has been left open to the air (or is only covered by cloth) you may not need to do this step. Thrusting and waylay tips should collapse to half their height easily and spring back into shape very quickly. Heads on weap- ons like axes, blunts, and polearms should have plenty of give to them.
11: Use electrical tape, duct tape, or sport grip to cover the exposed core of your handle.
Your weapon should now be complete. Evaluate it for safety. It shouldn’t be too whippy, too stiff, or have exposed pipe. Remember that most people’s first weapon fails safety check. However, most weapons are salvageable. You should bring some extra materials along so that you can try to fix any problems that a marshal may find or in case your weapon breaks during an event. Keep in mind that weapons wear out over time and that crushing, heat (like being left in a car in the sun), and other abuse will drastically reduce the life of your weapon.
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Logistics
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Logistics
Logistics
The Alliance is a game that relies upon honesty. Your character can be the most rot- ten, cheating, scum of the planet, but you must be absolutely honest and trustworthy. We rely upon the honesty of our players to make the game run efficiently, and other players rely upon you to keep track of your skills and spells so that no one is getting an unfair advantage.
You will be given a character card when you check in. On that card will be your skills. Attached to that is a “Battle Board.”