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*Calling a unit ''Irregular'' may be seen as an insult but it is a judgment based on the units infrastructure.  If a unit or a unit leader argues this designation it can often mean they do not see the problems that make the designation accurate.  Also it needs to be stressed that this is only one part of their over all unit description and it is one that can be changed with training.  
 
*Calling a unit ''Irregular'' may be seen as an insult but it is a judgment based on the units infrastructure.  If a unit or a unit leader argues this designation it can often mean they do not see the problems that make the designation accurate.  Also it needs to be stressed that this is only one part of their over all unit description and it is one that can be changed with training.  
  
===='''A,B or C Grades'''====
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'''A,B or C Grades'''
 
The Grade of the unit denotes the degree to which the fighters make the effort to become better individual and group fighters.   
 
The Grade of the unit denotes the degree to which the fighters make the effort to become better individual and group fighters.   
  
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'''A Grade'''
 
'''A Grade'''
An ''"A"'' Grade unit is one comprised of individuals that train frequently, even weekly, to better their individual fighting skills.  They attend and fight in tourneys, both in the lists and on the challenge fields.  This means an A Grade unit may have a large number of Knights and Squires as well as other seasoned warriors.  It may mean the unit has a large number of fighters that have years, if not decades of war-field experience.  Long periods of war-field experience can be as effective as regular tourney experience as veteran fighters shepherd newer fighters on the field during actions.
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An A Grade unit is one comprised of individuals that train frequently, even weekly, to better their individual fighting skills.  They attend and fight in tourneys, both in the lists and on the challenge fields.  This means an A Grade unit may have a large number of Knights and Squires as well as other seasoned warriors.  It may mean the unit has a large number of fighters that have years, if not decades of war-field experience.  Long periods of war-field experience can be as effective as regular tourney experience as veteran fighters shepherd newer fighters on the field during actions.
  
An '''A Grade''' unit can take heavy stress on the field being sent to deal with royal units and reserves,  To overwhelm larger less skilled units, and otherwise shock a tactical situation.   
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An '''A Grade'' unit can take heavy stress on the field being sent to deal with royal units and reserves,  To overwhelm larger less skilled units, and otherwise shock a tactical situation.   
 
Such a unit might be famous in the sense that they are well known, or filled with well known and even feared fighters. A Duke and his companion knights and squires, whatever their other  distinctions, is an example of an A Grade unit.
 
Such a unit might be famous in the sense that they are well known, or filled with well known and even feared fighters. A Duke and his companion knights and squires, whatever their other  distinctions, is an example of an A Grade unit.
  
 
'''B Grade'''
 
'''B Grade'''
A ''"B"'' Grade Unit is one with a mixture of skilled individual fighters, knights, squires and veterans, and a number of newer or less regular fighters. Many units have a number of fighters that practices very little during the year but attend a few practices before a war to “Shake out the Cobwebs.” In these cases the veteran fighters may feel they have learned everything they need to fulfill the war-field roles the unit is assigned and can usually be relied upon to be steady in battle and helpful to new fighters.
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A B Grade Unit is one with a mixture of skilled individual fighters, knights, squires and veterans, and a number of newer or less regular fighters. Many units have a number of fighters that practices very little during the year but attend a few practices before a war to “Shake out the Cobwebs.” In these cases the veteran fighters may feel they have learned everything they need to fulfill the war-field roles the unit is assigned and can usually be relied upon to be steady in battle and helpful to new fighters.
  
 
'''B Grade'' will be the most common grade of troop on the field, displaying a mixture of training, equipment and experience and will fill most actions on the field.
 
'''B Grade'' will be the most common grade of troop on the field, displaying a mixture of training, equipment and experience and will fill most actions on the field.
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'''C Grade'''
 
'''C Grade'''
A ''"C"'' Grade Unit is comprised of a few skilled regular fighters, usually the unit leadership, and is filled out with fighters who may only practice a few times a year, if at all.  The unit has little experience in field drills, little understanding of battlefield commands, and may have a stubborn desire to not listen to commands even if they understand their purpose.  It will often have a large number of new fighters, or even fighters who have been put in armor and rushed to the field with as little as one practice.   
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A "C" Grade Unit is comprised of a few skilled regular fighters, usually the unit leadership, and is filled out with fighters who may only practice a few times a year, if at all.  The unit has little experience in field drills, little understanding of battlefield commands, and may have a stubborn desire to not listen to commands even if they understand their purpose.  It will often have a large number of new fighters, or even fighters who have been put in armor and rushed to the field with as little as one practice.   
  
 
These units may not follow orders and may spread out in a manner that interferes with better trained units.  While they may be large, due to quickly armed fighters, they may be less effective in a press then a smaller unit.
 
These units may not follow orders and may spread out in a manner that interferes with better trained units.  While they may be large, due to quickly armed fighters, they may be less effective in a press then a smaller unit.
 
A C Grade unit is effective for holding positions where they are not stressed.  Flag points, uncontested bridges, crossings and sally ports.  Defending stationary features like artillery, or resurrection points. As such this means that they are effective to be seen by an enemy to be serving a role but may not be effective once battle comes to them.  
 
A C Grade unit is effective for holding positions where they are not stressed.  Flag points, uncontested bridges, crossings and sally ports.  Defending stationary features like artillery, or resurrection points. As such this means that they are effective to be seen by an enemy to be serving a role but may not be effective once battle comes to them.  
  
===='''Unit Equipment or Style:Infantry or Cavalry'''====
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Unit Equipment or Style
The ''"Style"'' describes the equipment the unit uses and its mobility in it.   
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The Style describes the equipment the unit uses and its mobility in it.   
 
The Styles are Light Infantry, Medium Infantry, Heavy Infantry & Light Cavalry, Medium Cavalry and Heavy Cavalry. While this discussion is on unit styles an individual fighter may also be described using one of these 6 styles.
 
The Styles are Light Infantry, Medium Infantry, Heavy Infantry & Light Cavalry, Medium Cavalry and Heavy Cavalry. While this discussion is on unit styles an individual fighter may also be described using one of these 6 styles.
  
====='''Infantry'''=====
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Infantry
 
Most SCA units will be styled as Infantry units due to mobility and equipment.
 
Most SCA units will be styled as Infantry units due to mobility and equipment.
  
'''''Light Infantry''''' is a unit that fights purposefully in the very minimum of legal war-field armor but is not highly mobile.   
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Light Infantry is a unit that fights purposefully in the very minimum of legal war-field armor but is not highly mobile.   
 
A historical example of Light infantry is unarmored peasant levy using a single weapon and shield or improvised farm implements.  This is your basic unruly mob of villagers with pitchforks.
 
A historical example of Light infantry is unarmored peasant levy using a single weapon and shield or improvised farm implements.  This is your basic unruly mob of villagers with pitchforks.
 
Since the SCA has strict rules for armoring this Style is unlikely on an SCA battlefield. Units that arm in a Light fashion tend to do so for the sake of mobility, such as the Tuchux.
 
Since the SCA has strict rules for armoring this Style is unlikely on an SCA battlefield. Units that arm in a Light fashion tend to do so for the sake of mobility, such as the Tuchux.
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'''''Medium Infantry''''' are units that meet the SCA armor guidelines and include other protective gear for personal defense.  Body armor, leg armor, and other gear may be of heavier then legally required.   
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Medium Infantry are units that meet the SCA armor guidelines and include other protective gear for personal defense.  Body armor, leg armor, and other gear may be of heavier then legally required.   
 
Most SCA fighters will fall into this Style.  It is a complete rig of armor that will include metal and leather as well as other materials and will effectively cover the fighter.  
 
Most SCA fighters will fall into this Style.  It is a complete rig of armor that will include metal and leather as well as other materials and will effectively cover the fighter.  
 
This is Style may or may not represent a specific period and can be called SCA Period.   
 
This is Style may or may not represent a specific period and can be called SCA Period.   
  
  
'''''Heavy Infantry''''' is a unit that has a specific goal of wearing either heavy armor or armor of a specific period. They may be trading authenticity for mobility.  
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Heavy Infantry is a unit that has a specific goal of wearing either heavy armor or armor of a specific period. They may be trading authenticity for mobility.  
 
Roman Units, or units with a lot of similar heavy equipment fall in this style.
 
Roman Units, or units with a lot of similar heavy equipment fall in this style.
  
====='''Cavalry'''=====
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Cavalry
While describing an SCA unit as cavalry may seem silly on the surface it represents the tendency of the unit to run in combat.  Most units can move quickly when needed but a cavalry unit can run far and fast when needed with a small number of members falling out of order.  Running any distance shows that the unit has a better level of fitness and aggressiveness. A unit that prides itself on moving fast in to a fight or out of one, that stresses physical fitness especially endurance, or can cover a field quickly without difficult can be considered Cavalry.
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While describing an SCA unit as cavalry may seem silly on the surface it represents the tendency of the unit to run in combat.  Most units can move quickly when needed but a cavalry unit can run far and fast when needed with a small number of members falling out of order.  Running any distance shows that the unit has a better level of fitness and aggressiveness.  
  
'''''Light Cavalry''''' units arm in the lightest armor possible and trade protection for mobility.
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Light Cavalry units arm in the lightest armor possible and trade protection for mobility.
 
Elements of Tuchux can be seen as Light Cavalry.  They purposefully wear as little equipment as legally required and run to every conflict they can.  Speed is the key.
 
Elements of Tuchux can be seen as Light Cavalry.  They purposefully wear as little equipment as legally required and run to every conflict they can.  Speed is the key.
While Light Infantry may be the fastest unit on the field, they can be less effective in a hard pressed or tight situations.  Not effective for bridge battles or castle battles.  Vulnerable to artillery and archery.
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While Light Infantry may be the fastest unit on the field, they can be less effective in a hard pressed or tight situations.  Not effective for bridge battles or castle battles.   
 
Effective in open fields, broken fields, woods battles, or battles where speed in taking a position or flag point is needed.
 
Effective in open fields, broken fields, woods battles, or battles where speed in taking a position or flag point is needed.
  
'''''Medium Cavalry''''' units are those that are reasonably armed and can to move fast and far on command. This will be the most common style for SCA units that specialize in great mobility.
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Medium Cavalry units are those that are reasonably armed and can to move fast and far on command. This will be the most common style for SCA units that show great mobility.
 
These units are excellent units for flanking, filling gaps in a fight, supporting units that take heavy losses.
 
These units are excellent units for flanking, filling gaps in a fight, supporting units that take heavy losses.
 
A Medium Cavalry unit will have a lot of fast moving, probably younger fighters, but may suffer attrition as they get tired throughout the day.
 
A Medium Cavalry unit will have a lot of fast moving, probably younger fighters, but may suffer attrition as they get tired throughout the day.
  
'''''Heavy Cavalry''''' are those units with a mixture of heavy armor, speed, and almost certainly high unit morale and esprit de corp.
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Heavy Cavalry are those units with a mixture of heavy armor, speed, and almost certainly high unit morale and esprit de corp.
 
A Heavy Infantry unit is probably one dedicated to representing a particular period.    Norman Cavalry might be described as a unit in heavy chain-mail, shield and sword, willing to run to a target.   
 
A Heavy Infantry unit is probably one dedicated to representing a particular period.    Norman Cavalry might be described as a unit in heavy chain-mail, shield and sword, willing to run to a target.   
 
Extremely few units will be of this style.  The ones that are will have heavy attrition as the day wears on but almost certainly include a strong fitness program as part of their training.
 
Extremely few units will be of this style.  The ones that are will have heavy attrition as the day wears on but almost certainly include a strong fitness program as part of their training.
  
=='''Morale'''==
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Morale
'''''Morale'''''-the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.  
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Morale-the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.  
  
 
Morale in the sense of SCA war units is an expression of the character of a unit.  Are they eager? Pessimistic?  Do they come to the field together or in ones and twos?  Do they leave the field together?  Do they march together to the field, waving banners, singing songs?  Are they proud of each others efforts and of their leaders?  Do they complain that their foes outnumber them or didn't follow rules?  
 
Morale in the sense of SCA war units is an expression of the character of a unit.  Are they eager? Pessimistic?  Do they come to the field together or in ones and twos?  Do they leave the field together?  Do they march together to the field, waving banners, singing songs?  Are they proud of each others efforts and of their leaders?  Do they complain that their foes outnumber them or didn't follow rules?  
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A unit may show elements of both good and bad morale and its the average of the various influences that gives a commander a sense of how to judge a unit as having bad or good morale.  
 
A unit may show elements of both good and bad morale and its the average of the various influences that gives a commander a sense of how to judge a unit as having bad or good morale.  
  
A unit can be said to have '''''Good Morale''''' if it does some of the following:
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A unit can be said to have Good Morale if it does some of the following:
*Is eager to get to the field.
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Is eager to get to the field. Fields regular numbers on successive days.  
*Fields regular numbers on successive days.  
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Has equipment in good order. Makes a point of getting weapons checked promptly.  
*Has equipment in good order.  
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Marches to the field together and shows esprit de corp in singing, war crys, and showing their war colors boldly.
*Makes a point of getting weapons checked promptly.  
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Leave the field together, or in small groups.
*Marches to the field together and shows esprit de corp in singing, war crys, and showing their war colors boldly.
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Includes water bearers, and support personnel.  
*Leave the field together, or in small groups.
 
*Includes water bearers, and support personnel.  
 
 
   
 
   
A unit can be said to have '''''Bad Morale''''' if it does the following:
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A unit can be said to have Bad Morale if it does the following:
*Comes to the field and leaves the field individually and without informing their unit leaders.   
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Comes to the field and leaves the field individually and without informing their unit leaders.   
*Argues among themselves on the field.  
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Argues among themselves on the field. Gets angry and vocally abusive on the field.  
*Gets angry and vocally abusive on the field.  
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Complains about actions on the fieldEnemy outnumbers them. Others ignoring rules.  Blow acknowledgment.   
*Complains about actions on the field:Enemy outnumbers them. Others ignoring rules.  Blow acknowledgment.   
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Loses fighters do to attrition.  This may be differences in fitness, training.
*Loses fighters do to attrition.  This may be differences in fitness, training.
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Does not field on successive days do to hungover fighters.
*Does not field on successive days do to hungover fighters.
 

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