About Pages and Man-at-Arms

Of Man-at-arms and Pages

Raven A Lightshadow

"I think being a man-at-arms is a good way to learn. Sure, maybe you don't get that much recognition as a page might, since our belts almsot look like everyone's when they first start, but it's the fact that you have a job to do. Any lower belt should respect their liege, whether they're a squire or a knight. A man-at-arms also works on getting better, and trying to do their best in the game. The same goes for a page. Essentially, we're the same thing, but our belts are much cooler."

Keluric Tryst

"I see a small and slight difference in the two belts. I think that a MaA needs to be someone that others can look towards to seek basic knowledge of Amtgard, and more specifically the combat aspects. Pages are more someone I am trying to mentor in many aspects of Amtgard. It pains me to see pages look upon at times as 'lower' than MaA in the belted line. They are the same, although one has shown a penchant towards combat above some of the other areas of Amtgard."

Jynx Mercades

"As I was a page for roughly 7 years of my Amtgard career.. This is an IMPORTANT learning step for most newer players in Amtgard. At this step? They learn combat basics, the Arts and Sciences, and even a little bit about how Amtgard runs. There are alot of questions, and, with a good mentor? I've seen MOST Pages and Men-At-Arms stand up and run the same quality event, or even Crown Qualifications as many knights I know."

Luna Starbright

"The more I walk around and travel the kingdoms of Amtgard, the more I see knights and squires just belting people to just have strength in numbers, or just claiming a person because they're 'cool' or 'they have potential' or sometimes even 'You want a belt? Here.' -squire / knight gives person a belt-. But ya know, after recently being belted as a Squire, I realized that I had the opportunity to have underlings, and with that, I wanted to set rules for myself, being what a true squire or liege should be. These are things I think most people should think about if they want to belt someone:

• 1) The person I approach or the person that approaches me, has to have known me within the game for at least six months to a year
• 2) They must have gone to one major kingdom event, to understand and see who / what all is there within "AMTGARD" (ie: the drama, the politics, the parties, etc). I would also like them to go to an outer kingdom event, but understand sometimes people don't have a way to make the trek, which is understandable.
• 3) They need to have some sort of motivation, whether that be arts and sciences, volunteering, fighting, running for office, etc. Wanting a passion to strive for being the best they can be in whatever they do.

and

• 4) Even though I'm a friend, I am a liege / mentor. If I say they need to get something done, they need to respect it. Mind you, these are more important things, such as "You ____, so and so needs help running gate, you're not doing anything at the moment, so can you help them out?" Not things like "Go get me a drink, set up my tent, then make my dinner." If the belted apprentice needs my help in learning or wants me to teach them a certain skill, I will either a) Help them to the best of my ability or b) Recommend a good name in the skill they are wishing to pursue, and if possible, go with them to learn myself.