YE WHO ENTER, PREPARE TO BE PUNCHED

[bufudine]

Who: You, you and YOU! Anyone who is up for some good ol' sparring/training/getting their face beaten in
Where: In the park
When: All week, starting on the 20th!
Style: Anything goes!
Status: OPEN


It's a good week in the bubble! ...Then again, every week is fairly pleasant, temperature wise, in this little city under the sea.

But!

This week is extra pleasant, because there are training dummies set up all over the field in the park, all ready and waiting to be smacked around or smashed into itty bitty bits. Oh, but if hitting dummies aren't your thing, there are also targets for the archers and marksmen who want to get some target practice set up at the north end, cordoned off so people don't accidentally wander into the line of fire. And for those who'd rather play it safe or would like start learning the art of battle, there are plenty of practice weapons in... wheelbarrows? at the corners of the field.

Well, okay, this week would actually be unpleasant if you use the park for some peace and quiet. But for everyone else wanting to get some good old fashioned sparring and training in, this week's a great time to do it!

Comments

[beauchevalier]

I learned the basics of how one is handled and since I spoke on the network, I've been brushing up the various types of pistols. However, I don't think much book learning can prepare for the real situation. So, here I am.

[bufudine]

[Serph nods. That's very true. And knowing about the various types of pistols doesn't tell you anything about how to use one safely, or maintaining one.

He holds his pistol to show it to Angelo, but has no intention of handing it over just yet.]

This is a semi-automatic pistol. One bullet is fired each time the trigger [he points it out on his gun] is pulled.

[Look, here's a demonstration for Angelo to observe, in order to give him a visual of what firing a gun looks like. Showing that he has his finger off the trigger, Serph raises his pistol and aims at one of the targets. He pauses for a moment, allowing Angelo time to observe, before he puts his finger on the trigger and fires, the gun making a loud BANG before the bullet strikes the target in the centre. There's a fair amount of recoil on Serph's gun, evident by the 'jump' after firing, and the casing of the bullet empties onto the ground.

Serph turns to Angelo, gun pointed down, and tilts his head to silently ask, "Are there any questions so far?" There's quite a lot to cover before he'll even let Angelo hold the gun.]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo observes Serph and what he does, showing great interest and observation to detail, while having a bit of an excitement upon his facial expression. Though it's not that much.]

That does have nice firing. However I'd rather use one which is a bit faster, perhaps you can show me one?

[bufudine]

[Hm? He's not quite certain what Angelo means by "a bit faster", and he tilts his head to express that.]

Faster in firing rate?

[Or...?]

[beauchevalier]

[He nods at those exact words.]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for.

[bufudine]

[Serph considers that.]

Handguns like this fire as fast as you can pull the trigger. Most can manage three shots per second, but the accuracy will be bad.

[He glances at his pistol before returning his attention to Angelo.]

A machine pistol has many drawbacks and other guns with a high firing rate are larger than this.

[He tilts his head, as if asking whether Angelo still wished to be shown those guns.]

[beauchevalier]

[He takes more notes and nods, this was a lot more complex than figuring out how to handle a bow.]

On second thought, I'd better start with something easier to fire since this is my first time using a pistol. What do you recommend for that?

[bufudine]

[Hm.]

All guns are easy to fire.

[That is part of why they were generally the weapon of choice in the Junkyard; even unskilled, one could still easily kill someone with a gun. Mmm but since Angelo seems to want a pistol... Serph strides past to take an unloaded revolver from nearby and holds up the revolver for Angelo to see.]

Revolvers are simplest to use. However, they hold few bullets. My gun can shoot 17 times before reloading, while this revolver shoots 6.

[Is this a satisfactory choice?]

[beauchevalier]

[He ponders this and oh that sounds nice, Serph. Being able to shoot that much before reloading? Yeah, going for that.]

I would like the same model as yours, Serph. Being able to shoot seventeen times before reloading sounds as if that's more my style.

[bufudine]

[Alrighty then. Putting the revolver back in its place, then. There's a few things Angelo should know first, though.]

A few things before we start. A gun should never be pointed at someone you're unwilling to kill. Even when you think it's unloaded.

[Someone panicking with a twitchy trigger finger results in bad endings. Someone joking around, thinking the gun isn't loaded, pulls the trigger and WHOOPS.]

Don't put your finger on the trigger until the gun is pointed at your target. It should be like this.

[And Serph shows Angelo how his finger is parallel to the gun's barrel, rather than curled around the trigger.]

Lastly, be aware of what's behind your target, in case you miss.

[He tilts his head. Any questions?]

[beauchevalier]

[He mentally notes everything and nods at Serph, the gap between the handling of a bow and the handling of a gun is only slightly different.]

I'm aware I should not shoot anything or know what is behind my target because of my lessons with a bow. However it seems instead of pulling a string, you use a trigger when handling a gun.

[bufudine]

[Serph isn't familiar with bows at all, only crossbows that shoot explosive arrows capable of breaking through solid concrete. But if the analogy works in Angelo's mind, he's not complaining. In fact, he nods; it's good Angelo understands that already. One last thing before he'll let Angelo take the gun.]

Occasionally a gun does not fire immediately after pulling the trigger. When that happens, keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Here, that means at the target.

[Serph points down the firing range.]

Elsewhere, that usually means towards the ground.

[He doesn't explain why the gun wouldn't fire immediately after pulling the trigger, though, instead handing over his gun for Angelo to take and examine. Be careful with it, man!]

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo does examine the gun after taking it from Serph's hands, making sure not to fire it. The weapon does feel nice and light in his hands, much better than any bow he's held. Taking steady care and aiming for one of the targets, he shoots as Serph had shown him and manages to hit the target very close to the bull's eye.]

It seems I was off the mark, may I try again?

[bufudine]

[Very good for a first try, especially given the recoil on Serph's gun. Perhaps Angelo's experience with his "bow" has helped him, in that regard?

Serph nods, but he'll also model the proper shooting stance -- without a gun -- for Angelo to observe for his second shot.]

This stance helps control the recoil -- the "jump" after the gun fires.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo performs the stance Serph showed and tries to fire again, this time hitting the bull's eye right in the middle. He also whistles at that, rather surprised at how fast he's learning to use a gun.]

This isn't as difficult as I originally thought.

[bufudine]

[That is pretty impressive. Well, impressive for someone who isn't from the Junkyard.]

Perhaps your skill with the bow has helped.

[Serph walks over the the right, which has a target that's further away. The earlier target had only been about 5 feet. This next one is placed at 15 feet. Not particularly far, but it's the next step in distance.]

Try this one.

[The thing about guns is that there's far less compensation for gravity, even over long distances.]

[beauchevalier]

[Once more Angelo takes the stance and carefully aims for the target, making certain he gets the bull's eye this time despite it being fifteen feet away. He then fires and the bullet lands right on the edge of the bull's eye.]

Not too bad, I do believe I'm getting a feel for this.

[bufudine]

[Serph watches and nods, agreeing with that assessment. It looks like he'll have to set up something more complicated for Angelo. Perhaps Tech would like something to fill his spare time with...

This time, Serph walks to the target that's 30 feet away, gesturing at it to indicate Angelo should give this one a try.]

Next time I'll have someone set up moving targets for you.

[beauchevalier]

[Angelo once again gets into position and fires as he had learned, the bullet this time landing a little bit closer to the bull's eye.]

Moving targets? That's not terrible, I'm used to them.

[bufudine]

[Oh?]

What kind of moving targets? Other people?

[That's kind of his default thought; many people in Vatheon have come from lands of strife, so to him, combat skills are most likely born out of the need to survive.]

[beauchevalier]

Monsters primarily of the flying and dancing kind. I have had humans targets though.

[No Serph, he's not joking about that. Also he trained as a templar, so he didn't have a need to survive. However he felt he wanted to train more than anything at the time.]

[bufudine]

[Dancing!? Aren't monsters supposed to be something that attacks everything around them indiscriminatedly? So then why would they be dancing...?]

Monsters can dance?

[There's a hint of bewilderment in his voice.]

[beauchevalier]

[Come to his world, you'll see even weirder monsters.]

Yes, they laugh and mock you too.

[bufudine]

[So... like... Jack Frost!? Serph can... accept that, he supposes. He turns his attention back to the gun in Angelo's hands.]

Will you be looking to own your own gun?

[Because he'll have to teach Angelo how to maintain it, but perhaps that's a lesson for next time.]

[beauchevalier]

[His head makes a nodding gesture.]

Yes, I was planning to own one.

[He'll need all the help he can get, this is still new to him.]