Armed Morris Men from Gripping Beast!

[Dr DeAth]

...and hankies.

I'm not sure they are hankies, more like some sort of levitation or antigravity device - look at the feet.   I think this needs reporting in the VSF thread - morris men with hankies soaked in liftwood sap 

[Arlequín]

It's an important part of my heritage to be honest... I'm border born and this stuff was done (albeit with some different steps, costumes and instruments, whatever) right back to when the ice sheets melted and people settled the area again. If I mock it's with affection for something uniquely British (which it isn't tbh, as you can find similar things in some other cultures).

I quite like the way it was treated by Terry Pratchett and the inference that there was more to it than there seemed.

Also, check out the trailer here http://www.morrismovie.com/

[Mors]

Great response Captain. I must admit for anyone from this forum to take the piss about morris men is asking for trouble. I love watching my local group, the fact that they do the dancing outside pubs helps, not sure its a surrey tradition mind you.

I didnt know they were doing some more, my mum dont let me go to frothers, I got the first set but will have to think of a reason to get the armed morris men.....not that I had a reason  for the original set apart from Doctor Who.

Mors

[Arlequín]

my mum dont let me go to frothers

Mors

   and that is how good signatures are born.... Thank you 

[joroas]

Also, check out the trailer here http://www.morrismovie.com/

Read the plot line from the trailer:

........... extreme morris dancers with a cause! 


Recently spurned by the fundamentalists, now they return with added guns and bombs. 

[Hammers]

I've danced Morris since I was 18 years old. That's almost as long as I've been wargaming. Nearly 30 years.

So be very careful before taking the piss, because - rather like wargaming, painting and modelling - whilst there is a lot about morris dancing that is risible, weird and downright nerdy, and whilst there are a lot of shit or average morris teams out there (like there are a lot of shit or average gamers, painters and modellers), if you are ever lucky enough to see the real thing done really well by expert (young) dancers, it's not funny at all. It's transcendant - like any dance form performed with skill, athleticism and passion.
Hard to believe perhaps, given the funny/weird reputation - but quite true I do assure you.

You want to hear what morris dancers think about wargamers? 

Now what was it you wanted to know?

I went back to and reread all posts, and if anyone is taking the piss, I am not catching it. I know for sure I ain't. I am intensely intrigued. Swedish folk dancing is no way as much fun, it is rather something more akin to a Nazi movement.

That aside, and while I do understand that you can excel in this art, surely some aspect of it must be about mockery of something or general tomfoolery...?

[Hammers]

I quite like the way it was treated by Terry Pratchett and the inference that there was more to it than there seemed.

Lords and Ladies. That's the first time I heard about Morris dancing. I was puzzled.

[Red Orc]

I was trying to work out which Pratchett book it was. I said the other day I didn't rate Lords and Ladies. Might have to go back and re-read it.

Putting an anthropological hat on, I'd say yes, some of it (Morris that is, rather than Pratchett...) is about tomfoolery and criticism of authority; some of it is about local (really local) pride and identity - 'we do this step not that one, because them basterds from Lower Pucklestock do that one'; some of it is about interest in old traditions; and some of it is about a social activity like any other hobby (especially drinking). Hell some of it may even be about excercise, though I've always found that overrated.

But really we all know that it's about who gets to shag the May Queen/summon Shub-Niggurath (delete as takes your fancy).

[joroas]

But really we all know that it's about who gets to shag the May Queen/summon Shub-Niggurath (delete as takes your fancy).

Bugger, have I been doing the wrong hobby all these years? 

[Hammers]

But really we all know that it's about who gets to shag the May Queen/summon Shub-Niggurath (delete as takes your fancy).

Of *course* it is. So is wargaming, in a very, very, very projected way. 

[Rob_bresnen]

they remind me of midsummer murders. May be there is a skirmish ploy idea in there somewhere....

perhaps hasslefree british bobbies vs riotous morrismen

[joroas]

they remind me of midsummer murders. May be there is a skirmish ploy idea in there somewhere....

perhaps hasslefree british bobbies vs riotous morrismen

...especially the episode set around a wargames show...................

[Red Orc]

Of *course* it is. So is wargaming, in a very, very, very projected way. 

I think everything is, in a very sublimated/alienated way. It's all about sex and death, innit?

@ Rob... are you thinking some kind of Pulp scenario? Sounds good. I fancy VBCW myself, Morris Men hitsquads assassinating locals who've gone over to the wrong side, with CoC as a sideline where they are of course harmless by day and unspeakably vile by night... but they have pretty wide scope for gaming, in a narrow sort of way, if you see what I mean. Almost any 20th century rural English scenario could use some armed Morrismen...

[Hammers]

I think everything is, in a very sublimated/alienated way. It's all about sex and death, innit?

Yeee-aaah..., but I never got laid for painting a wicked good Napoleonic Imperial Old Guard. I think that even being a member of a glee club has more sex appeal.

[Mors]

  and that is how good signatures are born.... Thank you 

Ive had the comment in my head for a couple of weeks, never thought of it as a signature but good idea , of course all using it will have to pay a royalty