Getting Started in the SCA

Please read our introductory article for information on membership, attending meetings and events, and subscribing to local and kingdom newsletters.

For additional information on activities in the SCA, see the Settmour Research Links page, or visit the East Kingdom Chatelaine's page. You can also contact our Chatelaine (newcomers liaison) for more information.

• Do you live within the borders of Settmour Swamp?
• Other groups in NJ, NY, and eastern Pennsylvania
• If you live elsewhere, here's how to track down the group closest to you.

• Forward Into the Past - A guide published by the SCA
  Membership - What is the SCA - Getting Started - Fitting In - What to Wear and How to Behave - Making a T-tunic - Names and Personas - Kingdom & Local Officers - SCA Combat - Who is Who? - Heraldry - Guilds, Households, and Sociability - The Gentle Arts and Sciences

• Newcomers' Guide (from the Shire of Hartshorn-dale)
  includes a Dictionary of SCA Terms, An Event Primer, Clothing Basics, Necessities (Feast Gear, Camping Needs), and Etiquette for Feasts, Court, and SCA Titles.

• A Guiding Hand - An Ansteorran New Member's Guide
  while this Guide is somewhat specific to the kingdom of Ansteorra (Oklahoma & Texas), it has lots of good information on preparing to attend your first event, courtesy and etiquette, and the structure of SCA royalty and nobility.

• A Novices’ Guide to Events: a Survival Handbook for Attending Your First SCA Event
  lots of helpful info on preparing to attend events, including camping events. (The awards and local groups sections are specific to the kingdom of Ealdormere.)

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• Rank, Titles, and Customs in the East Kingdom
  Recognizing royalty and nobility, a guide to Eastern awards, how to behave when at Court, eating and making toasts at feasts.

• East Kingdom Awards and Honors
  Detailed descriptions of awards given in the East Kingdom

• Recommending people for Kingdom awards
  How to write letters to the royalty, recommending others for SCA awards.

• Forward Into the Past, The Known World Handbook, The Fighters' Handbook and many other publications are also available from the SCA Stock Clerk's Office.

• Settmour Swamp meetings and activities (no costumes required)
• Events in Settmour Swamp
• Visit some nearby groups to see what activities and events they have planned.
• Events throughout the East Kingdom
• Read about baronial gatherings and news by subscribing to The Mudpuppy, the baronial newsletter.

• The SCA Without Breaking the Bank
  Tips on affordable ways to put together your garb, armor, tablewear, camping gear, etc.

• All Purpose clothing pattern from the SCA's Forward Into the Past pamphlet.
• The Costume Page - lots of how-to links under the "Costume-Making Specifics " section
• Medieval (and Renaissance) European Costume Links
• Costume and fabric merchants

• Arts & Sciences links
  information on a variety of medieval and renaissance arts, crafts, sciences, games, and other pastimes.
• SCA Combat

• What is an SCA Name?
• Choosing a Society Name: Hints for Newcomers
• Medieval Names Archive

• Who Are You? The Art of Persona Development

• How do you get to be king? Who can use noble titles? How should I address people?
  See "Titles and Hats" section of Rank, Titles, and Customs in the East Kingdom

• What is an SCA Heraldic Device?
• A Guide to the Heraldic Submissions Process
• SCA Heralds website - Educational articles