Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CrabHeart 02-19-07, 06:21 PM	im thinking about exploreing the backwoods out at my brothers farm... i want to explore dnd style... i want to know where i can get a cheap sword? nothing special ... and maby an old bow... but still pretty easy to pull... what are the sleeping bags like in dnd? and im also wondering what i should pack? yea its geeky.. but what if i run into a cyote? actualy im more afraid of bobcats and mountain lions... :rolleyes: all of a sudden we see one and it gose into final fantasy battle mode... dadadadada! i jump out 16 feet HIT -6 bobcats turn Miss lol im retarded... but has anyone elese done this before?
PolasKasDorion 02-19-07, 06:32 PM	a couple of my friends and I went camping for my buddy's bachelor party. We took a couple swords and a set of bow and arrows. It was fun just goofing off... sparring... target practice. I usually get my weapons at flea markets or online. Ebay usually has some decent stuff... actually it's more like fifty/fifty. Half's decent, half's total crap. You usually get what you pay for... 40-50 bucks on a sword will usually get you a pretty cool/decent one. As far as bedrolls... I have no idea.
rudie 02-19-07, 06:33 PM	wouldnt this be like LARPING... my friends and I are planing a camping trip sometime, we will more than likely play by campfire light but it will probably end up being like what you are doing, only with more drunks.
feralor 02-19-07, 06:43 PM	When i was younger a couple freinds of mine had the great idea to buy lots of different sizes of pcp pipe and a whole lot of duck tape. The ressult was what we like to call "bafa" swords. Its cheap, affordable, and you get to make the weapon YOU want to use. Not to mention you can swing one with all your might and the only thing you will accomplish is a welt. :)
CrabHeart 02-19-07, 07:03 PM	well bobcats can rip the crap out of you... and this is on 600 acres... maby more if we get lost... im thinking about getting a short swords... something small and lite... and im also looking for a lite sleeping bag.. all of mine are big and poofy ... not something i can really carry around with me
docballen 02-19-07, 07:10 PM	When i was younger a couple freinds of mine had the great idea to buy lots of different sizes of pcp pipe and a whole lot of duck tape. The ressult was what we like to call "bafa" swords. Its cheap, affordable, and you get to make the weapon YOU want to use. Not to mention you can swing one with all your might and the only thing you will accomplish is a welt. :) My friends and I have done this too. You need to buy the black foam insulation stuff (long black tubes of foam to go on pipes) to make it a little easier to take those crit's that will come up. (I've seen someone get bloodied with a boffer weapon before.) Wrap it well with duck tape... heck, if you can find the really shiny stuff that looks cool. You might want pieces of foam to make axes with too. They are tons of fun. My husband even made a quarterstaff... of course he beat the crap out of it. But he still had fun.
Grod_The_Giant 02-19-07, 07:14 PM	for a really simple, cheap sword, for a middle school play I made cardboard sword shapes, reinforced them with some trimming, and covered the blades with tinfoil. They were pretty sturdy.
docballen 02-19-07, 07:19 PM	im thinking about exploreing the backwoods out at my brothers farm... i want to explore dnd style... i want to know where i can get a cheap sword? nothing special ... and maby an old bow... but still pretty easy to pull... what are the sleeping bags like in dnd? I'm in this group called the SCA== we reenact the Middle Ages. I don't think you'd need much more than a blanket and a pillow. (If ya want to get technical it should probably be a feather pillow and a woolen blanket.) also wondering what i should pack? Are you going to get hungry? Take some food. Are you going to need light? Take some candles-- unless there is a red flag (or the like) out in your area-- don't burn down the forest. The first thing you need to decide is, "what do I want?" Then we can help you figure out just how authentic you want to be. (I never camp primitive... no TV and no heater are already bad anough for me!!!) yea its geeky.. but what if i run into a cyote? actualy im more afraid of bobcats and mountain lions... :rolleyes: all of a sudden we see one and it gose into final fantasy battle mode... dadadadada! i jump out 16 feet HIT -6 bobcats turn Miss lol im retarded... but has anyone elese done this before?
CrabHeart 02-19-07, 07:48 PM	3 torches flint/steel lol... food ... trailmixish stuff... bread... and im talking about a "real" sword... so i can deffend myself against the wilderness.... http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9G_Rq9bRdpFfRUBl3WjzbkF;_ylu=X3oDM TA4NDgyNWN0BHNlYwNwcm9m/SIG=12ia03n3t/EXP=1172018907/**http%3A//img-nex.theonering.net/images/ttt_promo/ent_oak_big.jpg
Cincinnati 02-19-07, 08:26 PM	I don't think you should be carrying around a real sword.
CrabHeart 02-19-07, 08:59 PM	why...? its not in public... im not "larping" its deep in the woods on my brothers farm .. no one elese there but us and the wild... and if i run into a mountain lion... ide want to shoot it or stab it... and a cardboard sword isnt ganna help lol... it might **** it off a bit more..
CedricBrooks 02-19-07, 09:13 PM	A cougar or Bobcat isn't going to bother you unless you make it, a badger on the other hand....... If you ever see something like that, first rule is don't break eye contact, beyond that, there's lots of resources from books to websites that can help if you come across anything like that. A real sword would be a joke against something like that unless you just get a lucky hit. Best thing is to find out what not to do that will set of instinct, such as running and bending over and showing the back of your neck. On stuff, a good bedroll and a tent would be wise if you don't want to sleep with everything crawling on the ground.
FrostWolf 02-19-07, 09:22 PM	wouldnt this be like LARPING... No. It WOULD BE larping. Anyways, BudK.com and Eknifeworks.com ALSO: Don't go shooting at things for the fun of it. It's cruel, and a coyote is too small to bother you and nothing a good fire, air horn, or baseball bat won't stave off. Remember, any weapon, in untrained hands, is more of a danger to the user than the target.
CrabHeart 02-19-07, 09:59 PM	yea i know cyotes arent like that but sometimes they can be stubborn around here... but ive herd of alot of bobcat attacks aroun here... ripping up people legs... its uncommon... there are also blackbears here but i dont think they are in the woods where im going... if not this approach ill go more for a longer military style camping trip... but ide still like to explore the woods.. there is some pretty weird junk around.... "wizard can you identify this metal heap?" "i think its a washing mashine..." yea and a friend taught me some basic fenceing
CedricBrooks 02-19-07, 10:23 PM	if not this approach ill go more for a longer military style camping trip... but ide still like to explore the woods.. there is some pretty weird junk around.... "wizard can you identify this metal heap?" "i think its a washing mashine..." Hah! Sounds like the acre of land that my grandparents own that's out in the boonies of our little jerkweed town, used to be a lumber mill, then a landfill. I there was some stuff,(mainly glass bottles) that haven't been around since they where kids. I'm pretty sure I heard a cougar hiss at me out there. It is fun to look at some of that junk that's out in places like that. 99% of wild animal attacks either a moron or an idiot, on the part of person. Take some time and listen to some people, and you should be fine from animals. Unlike the media would like us to think(and therefore justify their pave it all mentality) there really isn't all that many attacks on people. The beat all story I heard about a bobcat had a texan that decided he was just going to climb up and punch it out of the tree, why? I guess he didn't like the look of it. I hate saying it, but I'm glad the bobcat won, and the texan lived. If your actually scare of animals, FrostWolf's suggestion of an Airhorn is right on, I don't know anything that wouldn't run from something like that. You also don't have to worry about that old saying, "Live by the sword, trip and fall on the sword, Die by the sword."
CrabHeart 02-20-07, 08:12 AM	oi... ide have it in the sheeth most of the time. im not going to run around whacking trees lol.... and if we ever do run into a bobcat i know i wont die first becouse im bringing my black friend:rolleyes: jk im not racist and if your offended by that then blame the movies..
FrostWolf 02-20-07, 10:05 AM	Hmm... Sounds like your in MY neck of the woods. I'll give you some tips. Just incase you need some advice. I come from woodsmen, and spend quite a bit of time out in the woods of Maine. First, Take a Machette, not a sword. I know you want a sword, but you'll have an easier time with the machette. It's basicly a short sword anyways and will be of more use. keep your fires small or non existant. This will help preserve your vision when your eyes become acclimated to the dark. Tie your food high up in a tree a good 50 (at the least) yards away from your camp. Food on the ground WILL draw animals, so keep your sites as clean as when you arrived. Bring extra water and DO NOT under any conditions, drink from standing pools. Still waters have more parasites than running water. If you NEED more water, get a pan full from a running source and boil the hell out of it for fifteen minutes. Bobcats won't be a problem. They are rather small and tend to be skittish, But a cougar spells troube. More so than a bear. Only two things on this earth hunt for fun, people, and CATS. Remember that. FOOD RUNS. If you see anything. A bear, a large cat, a coyote. Anything. Remember that if you run, to them, you MUST be food. And they will chase you. So Don't move, and keep your weapon in hand, and Don't make eye contact, but keep an eye on them. This goes for All animals, not just predators. The average Black Bear is around 250-300 pounds of muscle, fur, and hungry. No blade will stop one if it wants to eat you. And if you see one, even from a distance, get your buns back home. I'll just add, that I hate the idea of untrained people going into the woods. So many things can go wrong. I wish you luck and safety and a pleasent trip. And this may help you. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/
CedricBrooks 02-20-07, 10:23 AM	Just like to add cougars don't hunt for fun, and people just don't come across as food, but you'll proably never see the thing even if your three feet from it, and it's easy to trigger instinct by running, etc. Key thing is don't act like prey. Other wise I just to support Frostwolf's post. The key thing to remember it's not like city where you can just wonder around and expect to be reasonably safe, more people have tripped and broke something to die several days later because no one knew where they where then by animal attacks. Be carefull about footing, mainly on hills as the dirt may give out away from you. Man, I remember running out into the forest with a .22 rifle because I heard this awful wailing and I thought something was getting one of the cats. I was right but it was the other cat. I hit a lose patch of ground and almost went over, could have went all the way down, those hills can be real steep, I'm also glad of the way I handle a weapon, cause if I handled it diffrenatly that could have went off in who knows what direction.
VrecknidjX 02-20-07, 02:44 PM	Let's see, here's my advice. Take a cell phone, a first-aid kit (make sure, ahead of time, you know how to use the stuff in the first aid kit), water, easy-to-store food that's also easy to conceal (zip lock bags keep odors out, you don't want predators to smell your food), a flashlight with extra batteries, a couple extra pairs of socks (if you forget these, you'll know why I suggested them), toilet paper, something to deal with insect bites, and boots that go up over your ankles. Dave
Chrono Nexus 02-20-07, 02:54 PM	My friends and I have done this too. You need to buy the black foam insulation stuff (long black tubes of foam to go on pipes) to make it a little easier to take those crit's that will come up. (I've seen someone get bloodied with a boffer weapon before.) Wrap it well with duck tape... heck, if you can find the really shiny stuff that looks cool. You might want pieces of foam to make axes with too. They are tons of fun. My husband even made a quarterstaff... of course he beat the crap out of it. But he still had fun. My friends and I also do the same. We call it Dagg, short for Dagger Here. We use the insulation tubing, pcp of at least .2 inch thickness, and strips of camping mat. Camping mat is a roll that is often used as bedding for camping, and is found in the camping section of a walmart. A 2.5 ft x 6 ft piece runs about $8.50. Good luck with your camping trip :) If you pick a fight with an animal, I hope it bites you on the foot.
Stormonu 02-20-07, 03:18 PM	Don't people ever play with sticks any more? When we went poking around in the woods, we just took a couple sturdy branches with us for "weapons"/walking sticks. A hunting-type knife might be good if you're planning to stay overnight in the woods. Cell phone, flashlight, compass and map would probably be a good idea, or at least something to mark your way back from the woods (something obvious, that can even be made out at night if you get back late). Definately water, a little bit of food too. Backpack or fanny pack to carry your stuff (duh!). Basically, any good set of hiking gear would be a plus.
Boraxe 02-20-07, 03:20 PM	When i was younger a couple freinds of mine had the great idea to buy lots of different sizes of pcp pipe and a whole lot of duck tape. The ressult was what we like to call "bafa" swords. Its cheap, affordable, and you get to make the weapon YOU want to use. Not to mention you can swing one with all your might and the only thing you will accomplish is a welt. :) It's "PVC" not "PCP" (buying PCP will net you several years in jail) and they're called "boffers" not "bafa."
CrabHeart 02-20-07, 04:51 PM	yea machettes are smarter but i wanted to go more for the mideval feel.. i dunno... lets do it like this people is to bears as chicken is to people if wanted to kill me a chicken and it sliced my neck somehow.. or stabed me in the eye with a pencil.. i dont think ide mess with that chicken anymore... im in north louisianna by the way. bad part is cell phones dont work.. i go out there all the time but ive never gone too deep... ive gotten lost alot yea but i know enuf skills to find my way back... sun setting east west ect. i have a survival quiz game that i learned alot from
Cincinnati 02-20-07, 05:25 PM	How old are you? I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just asking. Are you sure you should be out in the wilderness in Louisiana with dangerous weapons?
CedricBrooks 02-20-07, 06:11 PM	Most people I know of that dealt with chickens would just kick it in the head and kill it. A sword is going to be nothing to a bear, .30-06's though the heart have been known to not even slow one down, on the other hand, a airhorn will scare it off and neither one of you get hurt, win, win. Best bet would be to talk to your brother about everything before you go.
docballen 02-20-07, 06:21 PM	Another thing I'm concerned about is... what are you gonna do when you get out there??? I usually go camping with my "church group" and there are times when I am kinda bored. Being out in the wilderness isn't like being in a video game... there can be loooooooonnnnggggg stretches of absolutely nothing to do. Staring at the campfire can only keep ya busy for a certain lenght of time. If you're going to go hunting, as in trying to attack animals for the fun of it, then make sure you have all necessary permits and any "stamps" you need for the carcass you plan on getting. If you are as afraid of animals attacking you as you seem to be from your posts, them maybe going camping in the "wilderness" isn't such a good idea for you. And it can be cold, and it can be wet. I camp in southern Indiana, and we get all kinds of weather, and that's over the span of one weekend.
Capt. Pixel 02-20-07, 07:02 PM	If this hasn't already been mentioned - TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU'RE GOING, WHEN YOU EXPECT TO LEAVE AND RETURN AND WHAT PATH YOU PLAN TO TAKE!!! File a flight plan with someone responsible before you leave and don't travel alone. Clear enough? Get a map and compass and then learn how to use them. Most larger towns have a backpacking enthusiast shop that can provide the equipment and basic training. Air - Water - Food - Shelter These are the rules, in order. Prepare for each of them and you'll survive. Water is the most problimatic. It's heavy to carry a reliable supply, but sources from the wild can contain all manner of illness-causing biota. If you have to draft wild water, the best bet is well upstream of any ponds or slow moving water and from a small waterfall. The aeration and ions within the waterfall help disinfect the water. Consider the source upstream beforehand. In lieu of a waterfall, find the fastest moving water you can. ALWAYS BOIL YOUR WATER FIRST. Food is going to be either readily available from the wild, or not. If it is, make d**m sure you now what you're eating. Again, local hiking shops usually have information about local edible, and dangerous plants. If you're planning a short trip, it's usually better to pack-in your food. Foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates are preferred over high sugar content. Don't take anything that requires refrigeration unless your hiking area high temperature is less than 40 degF. IF you're doing the overnight, you need some shelter. Anything from a large blanket to a tent qualifies. Determine what you think you'll need for the overnight sleep to keep you warm - then double that. I've bedded down in the wild on as little as a single blanket comfortably. But that was in the low desert in the summer. Normally, you want a ground cover between you and the ground (a cheap small 4x6' tarp works well), and insulating layer between you and the ground cover and one or two coverings over you to retain your body heat. Excepting high altitudes and inclement weather, that arrangement should be sufficient throughout the summer months in the continental US. ANYBODY planning even a simple day hike should carry an emergency blanket. This is a tinfoil blanket that folds up to about the size of a pack of playing cards and weighs a couple of ounces. This inexpensive item can save your life in unexpected circumstances. (Scares the hell out of mountain lions too.) Find them on the internet, your local hiking store or various -Marts sporting goods section. If you plan to use a tent, fuel stoves, or other more advanced packing gear, learn to use them at home first. Set up, take down and pack the the tent a couple of times, practice lighting the stove out on the porch in a high wind, etc. Your equipment is all useless if you don't know how to use it. Enjoy your hike and remember to pass without trace. Leave no mark behind of your passing and always pack out your trash. Leave as you wish others to find it. PS - don't forget toilet paper ;)
CrabHeart 02-20-07, 07:12 PM	were just gonig to test our primitive camping skill and go find some weird junk... just exploreing... theres some pretty cool crap around... ide only bring a sword for deffence im not going to run around shooting birds... maby these ugly heron related birds(i fergot the name) becouse they eat all of the fish and we have to keep restocking the pond... but we dont see thows anymore im 16 but im mature. trust me.. im not going to go sling around swords... like i said for the 5th time... i just want to camp with everything my dungons and dragons character would carry.. includeing the weight of a sword even thow i might not need it... waterskins. raggy mideval adventureing clothing... mideval sleeping items.. old portable oil lantern maby torchs. flint&steel im just wondering what elese that a mideval adventurer would carry besides whats in d&d this is the land we are useing http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kazokiller523/extactionnewjp.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kazokiller523/extactionnewjp.jpg this is an old pic for an airsoft mission if i go to far ill run into an urban area its a big space with lots of wildlife but its isolated and the big pipeline trails mostly lead back
Capt. Pixel 02-20-07, 07:13 PM	...And it can be cold, and it can be wet. I camp in southern Indiana, and we get all kinds of weather, and that's over the span of one weekend. Absolutely correct! Always plan for the worst conceivable conditions. Especialy the weather. The way the weather's been behaving the last couple of years, you may find yourself in a sleet storm an hour after a warm sunny afternoon. Nothing will ruin your trip faster than an unexpected rain that you weren't prepared for. I live in the Southern Arizona desert (Sonoran desert) and one thing that always catches novices unawares down here is the dramatic drop in temperature after the sun sets. The raw desert doesn't retain much heat and can radiate into a clear night sky dropping the temperature 40 degF in a couple of hours. The uninitiated walk up into the hills on a warm afternoon and forget that they will need a heavy jacket after sundown. Ironicly, most summertime rescues in our deserts result in victims suffering from hypothermia. Poor planning can kill. :eek:
Capt. Pixel 02-20-07, 07:28 PM	were just gonig to test our primitive camping skill and go find some weird junk... just exploreing... theres some pretty cool crap around... ide only bring a sword for deffence im not going to run around shooting birds... maby these ugly heron related birds(i fergot the name) becouse they eat all of the fish and we have to keep restocking the pond... but we dont see thows anymore ... im just wondering what elese that a mideval adventurer would carry besides whats in d&d First, don't kill anything unless you plan to eat it (or you think it plans to eat you!) Despite the D&D experience, your best tool would be a knife. With a knife you can craft a wide variety of tools from a pointy stick to a rock axe. You can whittle to pass the time or throw it for entertainment. It's handy for cutting food and can function as a single-tined fork. When I feel I need something heavier, I carry a machete strapped to my pack. Again, it's a multi-purpose tool that can be used as a sword or a hatchet. If you're just trying dress the part and wander in the woods, I think you'll find out pretty quickly that your average D&D character is festooned with well more junk than he/she needs and that the extras only get in the way. I've taken my young boys into the woods and DMed a game for them. They had no swords, I had no 'real' monsters, but our imaginations allowed us to build a fine little afternoon adventure chasing hobgoblins through the woods. Being in the actual woods with trees, stumps, deadfalls, leaf covered floor and the smell of pine and the occasional call of a bird really added to the atmosphere. I heartily recommend the experience to those whose families participate in D&D. :cool:
CrabHeart 02-20-07, 07:57 PM	oi i wish my family played dnd but they think its nerdy...
Dougan Axehammer 02-21-07, 01:46 AM	To begin, I'm a little curious about something: What kind of experience do you have at recreationing in the wilderness? Are you or have you ever been in an organization that encourages wilderness camping (such as Boy Scouts for example)? Can you build and start a fire without matches that is also just large enough to cook with? (Can you put it completely out?) Have you ever built a lean-to or other form of shelter? Have you ever gone backpacking and carried all your gear on your back? Barring these (and other questions I may have missed) I do have a few basic suggestions for medieval-style camping gear: A hand-axe (typically known today as a hatchet) which, in a pinch, can also double as a simple weapon A spade or small shovel Wool or sheepskin blanket (to keep yourself warm on cold nights) A wrought-iron pot or pan for cooking your fish, squirrel or whatever A small, simple dagger or knife (which can also be used with a rock to start a fire) A wooden spoon (if you're using the pot to make soups or stews) A leather (or canvas) backpack Granola bars or trail mix Canvas or hemp cloth (either as a tent or for ground cover) A 50' length of rope Wooden stakes Waterskin (if you can find one that's leather, perfect) For clothing, I recommend going to either a renaissance or medieval fair or renaissance clothing store, and get yourself a good pair of wool-lined leather boots and a wool-lined leather jacket. If you think you need something to protect against predators, a short sword would only be good as a backup; larger predators such as cougars and bears might only get more aggressive. If you you're looking for protection of that sort, invest in a larger weapon such as a longsword or battle axe. I also think that with only limited fencing skill, it might be better to get a ranged weapon, like a sling. It bears mentioning that when confronted by wildlife, the best tactic to use is intimidation; look menacing: make yourself as big as you possibly can, create a lot of loud noise (scream, yell), and fling rocks at it. DO NOT RUN!!! Predators are more likely to be afraid of you than you are of it, even while it's hunting; running from it encourages fight, scaring it encourages flight. Personally, I think that this is a really cool idea. I hope to do it myself someday. I might even take the kids when they're older.:)
CrabHeart 02-21-07, 08:48 AM	i have not been in an organization like boyscouts. i can start a fire with a flint striker but not without it or matchs. i wasnt planning to carry all of the gear on my back anyways... and some items would be split up among the group. i want to get 3-4 people to come with me oi i dont think im really going to be running into anything big enuf to carry a battle axe or a long sword for... maby the other guys can. i can shoot pretty well with a bow. even thow its always been at a target or a fake deer.
Dougan Axehammer 02-21-07, 10:47 PM	i have not been in an organization like boyscouts. i can start a fire with a flint striker but not without it or matchs. i wasnt planning to carry all of the gear on my back anyways... and some items would be split up among the group. i want to get 3-4 people to come with me oi i dont think im really going to be running into anything big enuf to carry a battle axe or a long sword for... maby the other guys can. i can shoot pretty well with a bow. even thow its always been at a target or a fake deer. Well then, think about what you (and your party) would carry if you were a character in D&D without magic, and go from there. Do some research too: how much food is truly a few days worth. Many of things in the equipment lists even have real world equivalents (e.g. hand ax = hatchet, rations = jerky or granola.) And in truth, though a short sword is not really that effective against a bear, you probably will not need something like a longsword or a battle axe. You said you were good with a bow: take that and some blunt tips, and shoot your aggressors from a distance (and then use the bow with some twine for fishing :) ) Besides, as long as you treat all wildlife with respect and caution, predators are not that threatening. I do also advise taking wilderness survival training; there are a lot of handy skills to have, and you should be prepared.
docballen 02-22-07, 03:27 AM	were just gonig to test our primitive camping skill and go find some weird junk... just exploreing... theres some pretty cool crap around... ide only bring a sword for deffence im not going to run around shooting birds... maby these ugly heron related birds(i fergot the name) becouse they eat all of the fish and we have to keep restocking the pond... but we dont see thows anymore im 16 but im mature. trust me.. im not going to go sling around swords... like i said for the 5th time... i just want to camp with everything my dungons and dragons character would carry.. includeing the weight of a sword even thow i might not need it... waterskins. raggy mideval adventureing clothing... mideval sleeping items.. old portable oil lantern maby torchs. flint&steel im just wondering what elese that a mideval adventurer would carry besides whats in d&d Okay... what kind of armor are you taking??? (Full plate can be heavy... chain mail can be heavy... ) A waterskin doesn't hold very much water, maybe 24 to 36 ounces. How much "raggy medieval clothing" do you have? (I'm serious here!) Are the 3 or 4 people you are going to take with you any more experienced in primitive camping (do you actually understand what the words "primitive camping" mean???) than you are??? I didn't want to sound like this guy's momma when I was making out my "take along list" earlier but definitely tell someone you trust where you are going when you plan on coming back, and what you plan on doing. If you're really doing the "medieval camping " thing then remember; there were no coolers back then. No Cokes or Mountain Dew. No cans. No buttons or zippers-- most males wore long "gowns" and few pants. No sneakers, no Reebox, No flashlights-- I would work on learning the flint and steel to use it well enough to light in the dark. ...do you have an Armor care/repair kit? Have you ever used a sword before? Do you know how to take care of a sword? (Did you know you have to "take care" of a sword???) ...and there is a big difference between a "battleaxe" and what you've been advised to take with you here... a hatchet is usually about a foot long from blade to bottom of handle. It is a tool you use to cut firewood or dig with (if necessary). You don't need a licence to carry a hatchet... they sell them at Wal-Mart (and other sporting goods stores.) I think it sounds like a really fun idea to go camping. I only get to do it once a year, and it's not "medieval" camping. (I have a modern tent, an air mattress, a big cooler and carry tons of sodas and water) I'm learning how to cook over the camp fire so I can have more than granola and beef jerky. (If you have a copy of The Arms And Equipment Guide it gives a list of some of the foods that were available... not terribly accurate but it helps...) Make sure it's OKAY to light fires where you are going. That's candles, torches and the campfires themselves. I don't want to read how somebody started a forest fire in Louisiana because they didn't have proper permission to light fires. (Maybe you could dig a small pit in the dirt...) Let us know how your camping trip goes, okay???
vilebyrd 02-22-07, 03:55 PM	greetings i am 30 years old and have lived in the south all my life. but i have travelled the united states extensivly. ive also been an advid hunter. but i rarly go hunting anymore. ive also been an avid primitive camper since i was at least 3 or 4 years old thanks to my grandpa. i have pictures to prove this. my friend we have all had glorious notions of trekking through the wilderness as the fellowship of the ring, stalking orcs in fareun like that famous drow, or maybe like davy crockett. i beg you dont try to fight a bear, bobcat. wild hog with any medieval weapons i dont think your local game warden or sherriff would care for that also if you get hurt doing such foolishness the press and local right wing christians conservative zelots would have a field day with d&d again. please dont mess around with a wild hog or bear. also go before spring and summer if louisiana is as bad as north carolina for snakes red bugs and ticks. you should go soon. be carefull