Weapons Check
Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:50 amHaving been a Weapons Checker at many events, there are a few things that I would like everyone to know before they get to their next Weapons Check.
Put your gear in the ?check pile? if you want it to get checked.
Putting it near the check pile doesn?t cut it and while you are at it put it in the right check pile please. Many times there are more than one check pile. Some weapons checkers might be only checking missile weapons, others might only be checking dimensions. It all depends on the event and the head weapon checker. If in doubt, ask someone.
Do not crowd the weapon checkers.
If doesn?t take a terrible amount of room for weapon checkers to do their job, but it does take some room. If you are standing in their way they are kept from doing their job until you move. They need to hit themselves with all your weapons to make sure they are safe, that means that weapons need to be swung, thrust, shot and thrown. This can be difficult to achieve properly when you are standing in the way.
Do not try to have a conversation with the weapon checkers.
They are doing a difficult job as it is and want to focus their entire attention on the job at hand. I?m sure you are a very stimulating conversationalist, but this is not the time or place. Let them do their job.
If you aren?t there when the weapons checker failed your gear, don?t be offended when they don?t remember why it failed.
The weapon checkers are checking a lot of weapons in as short a time as possible. Many times there are more than one checker. If you weren?t there when it failed they might not remember when you do show up. If you were there when it failed just ask and they will tell you why if failed. Don?t expect the weapon checker to spend time and tell you how to fix your gear to make it passable most times they don?t have the time. When they do have the time, be grateful.
If you don?t think your weapon will pass then fix it before bringing it to weapons check.
Too often when a weapon fails and the weapons checker says why they hear the words, ?I thought so?. The weapons checker time was just wasted and even more so, someone tried to bring an unsafe weapon on to the field. When someone knows that their weapon is unsafe, they should take it upon themselves and either fix it or not use it.
Don?t argue with the weapons checker.
Weapon checkers are not getting paid to do what they do, in fact they are volunteering their vacation time to do a mostly thankless job. They do this to ensure that the weapons on the field are safe. That needs to be said twice, they are making sure the weapons on the field are safe. They are not failing your weapons because they don?t like you or they don?t like the weapon they are checking, they are failing them because they will hurt someone otherwise. A weapons checker is not going to allow an unsafe weapon on the field because it is your only weapon.
Mark your weapons appropriately.
The Book of War says that a Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 weapon must be marked with Blue, Red and Green tape respectively. Most times weapons are not marked because they are obviously Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3. However, when a weapon has a stabbing tip that usually doesn?t have a stabbing tip, mark it. This can be very easily overlooked. It is not a good thing to get stabbed by a stabbing tip that would have failed if it was known about beforehand.
Don?t bring half weapons to weapons check
At weapons check, the weapons checkers are busy. Don?t waste their time by bringing up piecemeal gear. Finish your weapons completely before having it checked. If you want someone to give you feedback on your weapon, find an experienced fighter that isn?t checking weapons at that moment.
If you come late to get your weapons checked, don?t expect the weapons checker to bend over backwards to accommodate you.
If you didn?t make weapons check and want to fight with your gear and have found a weapons checker who will check your weapons for you, only have them check the minimum gear you need to fight. Don?t bring them 12 arrows along with your shield and sword when in all honesty you are not even sure if you will need the arrows. When they are compromising for you, please compromise for them. If you are primarily an archer then that is a little different. If you just arrived at the event that too is different.
Put your gear in the ?check pile? if you want it to get checked.
Putting it near the check pile doesn?t cut it and while you are at it put it in the right check pile please. Many times there are more than one check pile. Some weapons checkers might be only checking missile weapons, others might only be checking dimensions. It all depends on the event and the head weapon checker. If in doubt, ask someone.
Do not crowd the weapon checkers.
If doesn?t take a terrible amount of room for weapon checkers to do their job, but it does take some room. If you are standing in their way they are kept from doing their job until you move. They need to hit themselves with all your weapons to make sure they are safe, that means that weapons need to be swung, thrust, shot and thrown. This can be difficult to achieve properly when you are standing in the way.
Do not try to have a conversation with the weapon checkers.
They are doing a difficult job as it is and want to focus their entire attention on the job at hand. I?m sure you are a very stimulating conversationalist, but this is not the time or place. Let them do their job.
If you aren?t there when the weapons checker failed your gear, don?t be offended when they don?t remember why it failed.
The weapon checkers are checking a lot of weapons in as short a time as possible. Many times there are more than one checker. If you weren?t there when it failed they might not remember when you do show up. If you were there when it failed just ask and they will tell you why if failed. Don?t expect the weapon checker to spend time and tell you how to fix your gear to make it passable most times they don?t have the time. When they do have the time, be grateful.
If you don?t think your weapon will pass then fix it before bringing it to weapons check.
Too often when a weapon fails and the weapons checker says why they hear the words, ?I thought so?. The weapons checker time was just wasted and even more so, someone tried to bring an unsafe weapon on to the field. When someone knows that their weapon is unsafe, they should take it upon themselves and either fix it or not use it.
Don?t argue with the weapons checker.
Weapon checkers are not getting paid to do what they do, in fact they are volunteering their vacation time to do a mostly thankless job. They do this to ensure that the weapons on the field are safe. That needs to be said twice, they are making sure the weapons on the field are safe. They are not failing your weapons because they don?t like you or they don?t like the weapon they are checking, they are failing them because they will hurt someone otherwise. A weapons checker is not going to allow an unsafe weapon on the field because it is your only weapon.
Mark your weapons appropriately.
The Book of War says that a Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 weapon must be marked with Blue, Red and Green tape respectively. Most times weapons are not marked because they are obviously Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3. However, when a weapon has a stabbing tip that usually doesn?t have a stabbing tip, mark it. This can be very easily overlooked. It is not a good thing to get stabbed by a stabbing tip that would have failed if it was known about beforehand.
Don?t bring half weapons to weapons check
At weapons check, the weapons checkers are busy. Don?t waste their time by bringing up piecemeal gear. Finish your weapons completely before having it checked. If you want someone to give you feedback on your weapon, find an experienced fighter that isn?t checking weapons at that moment.
If you come late to get your weapons checked, don?t expect the weapons checker to bend over backwards to accommodate you.
If you didn?t make weapons check and want to fight with your gear and have found a weapons checker who will check your weapons for you, only have them check the minimum gear you need to fight. Don?t bring them 12 arrows along with your shield and sword when in all honesty you are not even sure if you will need the arrows. When they are compromising for you, please compromise for them. If you are primarily an archer then that is a little different. If you just arrived at the event that too is different.