Nemo's Ranger Kit

A place for pics and tutorials on making Soft Kit (clothing and accessories like buckles and cloak pins).

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Nemo of Calh
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:24 am
Location: Souderton, Pennsylvania

Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Nemo of Calh »

Hi there everybody! A friend of mine recommended me to this forum, and it is outstanding!

My name is Nemo of Calh. I participate in the LARP Dagorhir, which is centered almost entirely around fighting. I've always wanted to be a Ranger, though, so I've built up a set of gear over the years that goes beyond the norm of Dagorhir, extending into real tools, weapons and period camping equipment. I figure this is the perfect place to share my gear and have it critiqued by people who are more knowledgeable in Rangering than the Dagorhir community, as great as it is. Get ready for a wall of text!

Nemo is the main character of a book I’m working on. He is from the continent of Olor which is reminiscent of Renaissance Italy, with many city-states constantly vying for power both out in the open and behind the scenes. Nemo’s city-state, Calh, survives by selling their mercenary services to other city-states. They are the best fighters and assassins in Olor, and their elite corps, the Brown Cloaks, are the stuff of legend. Nemo is one such Brown Cloak.

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This is all of Nemo’s gear, including my camping kit. The camping gear is spread across the pouches on my baldric and belt, and my tent is on my back. Even with everything on, I can move and fight just fine, though obviously not as well as if I was wearing just garb. [The halberd is not part of my main kit any longer; it's for my armor].

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The normal way to wear the Brown Cloak (a Sagum style rectangular cloak) is over the left shoulder to leave the sword arm and quiver free. Nemo carries the bow unstrung most of the time, but throws it over his shoulder if he'll need it quickly. The halberd is a situational weapon that normally stays in Calh or wherever Nemo's current home base is and he only uses it in an open battle.

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Nemo uses a sword and dagger for melee combat. He has both weapons on him whenever he can, as do most Browncloaks. The dagger is used primarily for stealth and assassinations, as well as extreme close quarters, while the sword is for open battle and can be used equally well in one hand or two. When facing multiple opponents or an opponent with multiple weapons, Nemo can use both weapons together.

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Wearing the Brown Cloak on one’s shoulders is forbidden in the city of Calh or on diplomatic missions. In such cases, the Cloak is folded into a sash. This can also be good for extreme hot weather, but removing the Cloak should always be a last resort.

My garb itself is iimportant camping equipment. My two layers of leather with removable leather sleeves keep me warm at night (if I need to be warmer, I can pack the layers with leaves for more insulation). My Cloak is a blanket. Having these two items on me means I don't need to carry an additional sleeping bag or blanket, which saves significantly on space and weight.

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The knife and front pockets, as well as my holy symbol.

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Sword, hatchet, survival supplies pouch.

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Waterskin, dagger, money pouch. You can see the strap for securing my food bag just next to the dagger and above the pouch.

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Tent and Cloak.

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Stuff on my back with the Cloak and tent moved aside. Removable clothing pouch and medicinal supplies pouch.

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Here is everything Nemo would carry (minus any actual food). The pack consists of a baldric, a belt, a canvas food bag, and a tent. When I wear everything, it actually acts like a modern backpack to a certain extent; the belt keeps the weight of the sword and hatchet around my hips and my shoulders only need to support the quiver, food and tent. The baldric goes from my right shoulder to my left hip, then the belt goes on top of that. The tent goes on over my Cloak (also my blanket) and hangs from my left shoulder across my back. The only thing that feels heavy or unwieldy at all is the tent, and even that is not at all bad. It moves my center of gravity slightly backwards, but since it is such a nice trekking tent (thank you, Panther Primitives!), it isn't very heavy at all. I can move and fight relatively freely with everything on, though obviously not as well as if I only was wearing garb.

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This is the baldric. It houses my sword, hatchet, utility knife, weapon maintenance supplies, quiver and food bag. By itself, it's kind of heavy on my right shoulder, but with the belt most of the weight goes on my hips. The quiver is actually Ravenswood leather make, and it was nice and modular to begin with. If I don't need the quiver (say, I'm going on a hike in a public park and I don't want to be flashing weapons around), I can easily detach it. The sheath for the sword is nice and smooth, and the sidering and pouches help to keep the sword in the sheath if I'm moving around a lot. The hatchet isn't meant for especially quick use; it isn't primarily a weapon, only a tool for cutting firewood and hammering in tent stakes, tasks that can be completed at my leisure. When the belt is attached, the pouches help to keep it in its ring, and it can hang straight down over the sword. The sword is at a perfect angle that it doesn't stick out too far and bump into things, but I can easily kneel to work on starting a fire, for instance.

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The utility knife is kept across my chest and it's nice and accessible without getting in the way. Same with the pouches. They contain my sharpening supplies, extra bow string & wax and my commando saw/snare (can also be a garrote in character) [I'm going to make the saw look more period].

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The food bag is relatively small, but it's only meant for trail foods. If Nemo isn't in a city where he can buy food, he's walking to one, on the march with a supply train, or in a position to forage. The long strap loops around the quiver and the bag hangs in the triangle formed between the baldric and the belt on my back. I can fasten and unfasten it on the move, without removing the baldric. There's an additional strap on the right side of the belt to act as an additional anchor for the bag so it does not move around. As well as food, the bag contains a small pan for cooking and eating, my utensils, and my pipe and tobacco pouch.

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This is my "utility belt." Everything on it is directly attached to the belt (except for the large pouch), and is very secure. From left to right, the pouches hold survival supplies (fire starting supplies, candle, compass), a change of clothing, medicinal supplies (small modern first aid kit in an inconspicuous pouch, "poisons" [essential modern fluids that Nemo wouldn't have such as hand sanitizer, dish soap, etc.], and "surgical tools" [lockpicks]*) and my money and odds and ends pouches. The wooden disc is Nemo's holy symbol. The pouches don't get in the way much at all, and I can move just fine in them. The clothing pouch is removable so that I can use it as a pillow in camp, and also if I know I'm going to fight; as the largest pouch it would free me up the most to leave it behind. It doesn't get in the way at all though.

*Browncloaks such as Nemo are infiltrators and assassins as well as warriors and diplomats. The lockpicks and "poisons" are kept in the medicinal supplies pouch because Nemo could write them off as medical supplies as most people wouldn't recognize the nature of the items. The lockpicks are just for fun. I can barely use them and I don't plan on breaking into anything, but they're there for character.

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I had the dagger semi-custom made to match my sword, which it does very well. I made the sheath myself and it's secure but smooth. It's kept tight to the body and out of the way.

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Here is the contents of all of the pouches. From left to right, top to bottom, these are:
Money and odds-and ends pouches (mostly just for character)
Clothing pouch
Food bag with pan and pipe
Fire starting supplies, candle and compass (I'm going to paint over the Altoids labels. . .)
Sharpening oil and stone (In character, the test tubes are glass, but for practicality they're really tough plastic)
Commando saw and handles
Extra bow string and bow string wax
Hatchet
Medicinal supplies (First aid kit, "surgical tools," "poisons" [same situation as sharpening oil])
Utility knife
Dagger
Sword

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(This picture is from over a year ago, but the tent remains the same, with the addition of some wear. Picture this with a shorter, vertical pole instead of the unstable, slanted pole that's in this picture.)
The tent is a 12' x 12' waterproof oilskin tarp. I can fold it into different styles of tents. At Ragnarok XXVI (the largest Dagorhir event each year), I had it in essentially this shape, only with the front tied to a tree instead of the ground. I have a decent amount of room for gear next to me with a floor (very important!) and a decent amount of privacy. It was a little cold on the ground but I survived, for a whole week. As well as this setup, I can fold it in either of these fashions:
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Which each provide increasing amounts of room with the loss of a floor. I can also fold it into a tetrahedron that is sealed on every side and even has a door, but has no floor.

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When rolled up, all of the supplies for setting up the tent look like this. The bundle includes the tent, a guy line, a bag of wrought iron stakes and a two piece wooden tent pole.

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By folding the tent into fourths along one side, I can roll it around the other supplies with the rope sticking out. After it's rolled, I just tie the bundle closed with the attached tie down straps and then tie the ends of the rope together, braiding the extra length along one half of the loop it's formed to beef up the thickness. That way, the extra length of rope goes somewhere and it doesn't dig into my shoulder when I have it on. I got the idea from Aragorn's bedroll in Lord of the Rings, but mine's better since it's a whole tent. ;D

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This is one of my tent stakes and the pole when it is put together. Figured I might as well take the picture while I had everything unrolled on my kitchen counter (don't worry, I scrubbed the counter down after I was finished taking pictures).


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Nemo, like all Brown Cloaks, has his own armor for open conflicts. To keep mobile and protect the most vital areas, he only wears half armor most of the time (I'm going to get legs and a helm eventually, but not quite yet). Under the vest is a coat of plates; the vest is the Calhian military uniform, it's worn at all times.

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If he's going to be on the battlefield and not likely to need his survival/camping equipment, Nemo does not wear all of his belts. Instead, the sword simply gets placed though a ring on his belt (not shown) and he carries the halberd.

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So there's everything. Since the last time I've used everything, I'm thinking about making two changes. First, I think I'm going to relegate the sword to the armor kit. It may not be overly large, but I feel that a Ranger should carry as few single-purpose items as possible. I don't want to be carrying a heavy sword and a heavy hatchet, one of which can only be a weapon and the other is only used as a tool. I'm going to get a longer handle for the tomahawk, and I'm going to attach langets and a nice handle to it, as well as some nice designs to make it look personal. The bow is my primary weapon, then I can use the dagger and tomahawk together if I absolutely have to. The dagger will be moved to my left hip and the hatchet to my right; that way I can quickly draw them together with the dagger in a reverse grip.

I might also only use the tent for special occasions, especially if I switch to the tomahawk instead of the sword. With two short weapons, I'm going to have to be much more active than when using longsword. The tent, as light as it is, moves my center of gravity too far backward and makes me too bulky. The problem isn't bad, it's just not optimal. So, I might modify or replace my Cloak (as sad as that makes me; it's supposed to be sacred to Nemo). It'll still be brown and worn in the same way, but it'll probably be heavier, and I'll treat it to be waterproof. That way, I can use it as a shelter. I'm still not sure what I'll do for poles, though. Nemo could use trees easily enough, but most of the places where I end up camping don't have conveniently placed trees.

So, there it is. What do you think?

EDIT 8 May 2012: Here's my new tomahawk, that I'll probably be making my primary weapon/tool.
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Last edited by Nemo of Calh on Tue May 08, 2012 10:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
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Mirimaran
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Mirimaran »

Hail and welcome to the list!

I think you managed to cover all three sub-categories of the Kit forum lol but outstanding and well-done! Yours is a most excellent example of someone who carefully thought out their needs and character and layered accordingly. You will find as you read through the posts that you are among friends. I can't wait to see what else you come up with!

Ken/Mirimaran
"Well, what are you waiting for? I am an old man, and have no time for your falter! Come at me, if you will, for I do not sing songs of dastards!"
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by kaelln »

Hail and Well Met! That's the most exhaustive kit listing I think I've ever seen! Very nice gear, and you've obviously put a lot of thought and care into it. It's fun to see a non-Tolkien interpretation as well; it makes the familiar seem new, and forces you to look at things a new way. Well done, sir, and Welcome!
Erhilir
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Erhilir »

Welcome to the forum ! Good job they are realy sweet ! For me the best thing of you kit is your utility knife and seath. Where did you get it?
...I am Ranger, my Lord...
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E.MacKermak
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by E.MacKermak »

Nemo, welcome to the list. I have seen your kit on the Dag forums and as always it looks great. You have spent a lot of time and thought to put together the kit. Very nicely done.
Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate and though I oft have passed them by a day will come at last when I shall take the hidden paths that run west of the moon, east of the sun.
Nemo of Calh
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Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:24 am
Location: Souderton, Pennsylvania

Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Nemo of Calh »

Thanks everybody! I'm happy to be here.

The utility knife is a home made handle on a blade that I bought at that big Dagorhir gathering I mentioned. I believe it was one of a kind, so, unfortunately, I don't think you'll be able to get the same one. The sheath is directly attached to the baldric behind the pouches, all of which I made myself.
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
Erhilir
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Erhilir »

Very nice, and know I did not want exactly the same but I liked it's style it is one of a kind


Edit: BTW what is this ring in your dagger's guard?
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Kiriana
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Kiriana »

Welcome Nemo.. and I too have seen your stuff on DAG!

Very VERY nice kit. Erich and I have been trying to find a cooking pan like yours but possibly with a folding handle. hehe
“From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.”

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Peter Remling
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Peter Remling »

Outstanding intro !

Well thought out kit. Welcome to the group.
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Jonathan B.
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Jonathan B. »

Welcome to the group and great kit.
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deadextra
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by deadextra »

Quite nice kit, I'm still trying to fill in some of those blanks. I have a few points that you probably know about, but I may as well make them.

The first thing that stood out to me is that the colors are very clear cut and seem to be lasting well. The issue is that dyes didn't behave that nicely until much later, even in the American Civil War the uniforms washed out before long and it was more the grey and the grey instead of the blue and the grey.

Second, I see a lot of modern two piece rivets and grommets being used instead of stitching and eyelets. Grommets were not used in outerwear until the 20th century and real rivets aren't used on leather like that.

On the gloves in the 'in the city' picture I see lacing along the inside of the forearm, that sort of reduces their use as a bracer, protecting the arm from the string of your bow. In the same picture, the color of that feather in your hat...I'm pretty sure there's no way about that with natural dyes.

I see the edges of your leather straps weren't dyed to match the face of the piece, doing that is pretty easy and makes it look much better in my opinion.

I see a covered modern bota bag in there, a costrel would be better. That's what I was using until its replacement arrived in the mail yesterday. :D

I'm envious of how tightly your tent rolls, mine is far heavier than I intended.

That's enough for now, I need to head to work. Keep up the good work!
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Ernildir
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Ernildir »

Welcome!

Thank you for that in-depth description of your kit, Very interesting.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Nemo of Calh
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Nemo of Calh »

Thanks everybody!

Deadextra, thank you for the comments. I love getting comments like yours because it means I can improve my kit.

The colors are too vibrant, and that has been the most consistent critique I've received on the kit. My plan when I get home from college is to weather it. Put in a few battle scars, distress the leather and fabric, possibly leave the stuff in the sun for a while to dull it. I want to look like I just stepped out of a movie.

The two piece rivets were a concession I had to make for the sake of time, unfortunately. I made all of the pouches and belts for the camping gear over winter break, and I only had like a week. So, if I wanted a consistent product that was easy to produce, I had to go with something quicker than handstitching, which I had already planned. I could use the excuse that this is fantasy, not history, but I always see that as a copout. I'm still going to keep the rivets, but I'm definitely going to age them somehow so that they don't stand out as much.

The city picture is outdated. I no longer wear that hat and I've replaced the gloves. I just always forget to just put the Cloak on like a sash when I'm doing all of my other updated pics.

The dye on the edges of the straps is because of the leather I bought for them. In the interest of saving time, I bought leather of the right thickness and color that was on sale. I didn't find out that the edges of the straps would be undyed until I cut into it, and now I don't have the right color dye. . .

I'm also definitely going to replace the bota bag. Even if it wasn't modern, it leaks around the nozzle like no one's business if there's any pressure on the bag or if I lay it on its side. It's like not even sealed there.
Last edited by Nemo of Calh on Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
Erhilir
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Erhilir »

What is this ring on your daggers guard?
I have asked before but I am very curious
...I am Ranger, my Lord...
Nemo of Calh
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Re: Nemo's Ranger Kit

Post by Nemo of Calh »

The ring is part of the guard. It's there to protect the back of my hand if a blade slides down towards it. It's a later period kind of thing. I didn't like siderings for the longest time, but they've grown on me over the years and now I love the look.
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
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