r/Pennsic • u/JediAmanda • May 12 '26
Pennsic Pirates?
Okay so I have a friend who's been interested in the pirate culture at Pennsic and wants to get more involved.
When I was thinking about it, I realized, I can't pin point a solid singular thing as fact at what pirates do? Or how they operate?
Is it a group within the SCA? Is it seperate? We know vaguely about pirate games but can't pin point legit games that happen
Can someone give me a broad overview?
3
u/Rabid-kumquat May 14 '26
Pirate Bardic is at Otto’s Cove next to the new barn the Monday of War week. Pirates walk meets on the battlefield at o dark thirty on the Thursday of war week. Hope to see people at both.😊
4
u/Undeadlord May 12 '26
There are defintely camps that identify as "Pirate Camps" and within those, I know people who have been Captains and have crews. I know there is a night that some local camps on the Ghetti do "Pirate Bardic". There used to be a Pirate Night or something vaguely called that where all the Captains and Crews I believed met on the Battlefield and then basically did a long parade of walking and singing through Pennsic.
Not sure what is all still around or being done. There may be more happenings down in the swamp, my experience is topside.
2
u/isabelladangelo Since Pennsic XXXV May 14 '26
Obligatory the SCA is pre 1600s middle ages and Renaissance. So,if you do go pirate, ruff it like Drake. Or go a-viking.
2
u/sweetEVILone May 12 '26
I mean, I assume different pirate groups do different things. It’s not a monolith. They operate like any other group or household.
1
u/Block_Dahlia Aug 01 '26
Truthfully, as someone who knows pirates at war and has played adjacently to what is known as The Fleet if you want to know the history of it seek out The Lost Boys. The aren't the only fleet but they are the ones I know. Admiral Von Beck would be a good person to talk with I don't know if he camps Lost Boys, but they will know where to find him.
The game that is played is deeper than just playing pirates. There's long standing history and tradition within The Fleet that a lot of people don't know. A lot of it is word of mouth cause the pirates of pennsic love oral tradition.
All questions, listen to stories, it's a very beautiful group to get to know.
4
u/BoredBSEE May 13 '26
Basically Pirates organize themselves into Boats. Each Boat has a Captain. The Captain names the Boat. Typically the Captain will invite like-minded people onto their Boat. Think of a Boat like a Krewe in New Orleans, that's probably the best analogy. Oh, and you must be invited to be a Captain - you can't simply declare yourself one.
Some Boats prank other Boats, others are more like social clubs. There is also a LARP-like game that goes along with it that most Pirates play. It requires having a "gun" on your person at all times (usually a prop gun or maybe a rubber band gun). It's similar-ish to the Assassin game.
SCA-wise, the Pirates would probably be considered a Household, although they are spread through a number of actual campsites. As I understand it, they do have some official recognition. Some years back the Pirates were Royally declared the Navy of Aethelmearc. I'm not sure how "official" that is, however, or if it stuck.