Adopting a Persona

  Within the structure of the SCA each member chooses a time and place to be from.  They also take a period name appropriate for their assumed place of interest.  This greatly helps create the feel of a medieval setting at our events.
  I recommend getting an idea for the scope and flavour of the SCA and different time periods before choosing a time and place of interest. Think about things like, do you like the clothes from that time and place. Do you like the armour, weapons, and culture?

  One then takes this basic time, name and builds on it as much as one wants.  Some people write elaborate persona stories while others pay little heed to it other than using a name and a rough idea of when they want to be from.

  In any case having a persona adds to the ambience and gives you a framework on which to base your garb, armour and accoutrements if you wish to. They don’t all have to match but it does look well if they do.  Many people will have a couple of personae with which they take part in, for example; a person with an early Celtic persona may also have an interest in Elizabethan life and thus may also have an Elizabethan persona that they use at times when they wish to dress and act as an Elizabethan.

  One does not, however, take the prejudices that would have gone along with a person from your persona’s time and place.  Chivalry and Courtesy take precedence over any such period quarrels.

  The Shire Herald should be able to give your more information on developing a persona and will also be able to help with choosing a name that is appropriate for your place and time.