Catalyst

Revision as of 08:23, 23 September 2011

Catalyst symbol

General Information

Catalyst is a unit composed of fighters living within the Babylon Empire. The ethos of Catalyst balances personal growth with unit cohesion and sword fighting development. Bhakdar gathered the founding members at Western Wars 7.

Catalyst Unit Charter

cat·a·lyst: a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic.

We focus on simple, proper principles to ensure long-term unit success:

1) Maintain balance between pursuing life dreams & sword-fighting

2) Contribute to local & regional sword-fighting culture through social leadership (event coordination, service, teach newbs, etc.)

3) Embody a truly local/regional unit ethos, intentionally blending a balanced, diverse, and moderate sized roster.

4) Encourage skill growth & skill diversity. Intentionally seek a mix of weapon specializations, leadership styles, and craft abilities. (battle command, weapon construction, garb, art, armor, music)

5) Actively contribute your gifts & abilities to Catalyst and Belegarth!

6) Be present at local practices, unit retreats & regional events!

7) Embrace the theme of Sacred Balance in our personal lives, in Belegarth, and in our garb and unit appearance

Motto: “Work hard, play hard, live your passion”

Catalysts focus on being agents of change and creative development in foam fighting. They share a common mission of excelling and diversifying their own skills, training future generations of leaders, and contributing their creative crafts and talents to Belegarth. Catalyst members have served as realm leaders, combat trainers, or event coordinators at regional and national levels. Membership spans across Pyke, Tir Na Nog, Babylon, and the empire's rugged territories. Long term goals currently include establishing an annual Northwest Training Day, developing land as a Western Wars and/or Chaos Wars site, and winning the Chaos Wars banner. Unfolding accomplishments include coordinating Western Wars VII and VIII, growing campus groups across Babylon, co-founding Valkyries (a house for female fighter support & training), hosting a paradigm-shifting Dirty Words rock show at CW XV, claiming awards at consecutive Chaos Wars bardic games, and winning the tank, sword/board, and champion's tournaments at CW XV.

Catalysts balance work and play throughout Belegarth and the everyday as members travel regionally & internationally for consulting work, attend college & graduate school, and act as supervisors in their professions. Catalyst includes two squires, a Headhunter, Orders of the Goblet and Owl, professional and amateur musicians, and a professional graphic designer. Catalyst aims to maintain a diverse roster of loving and invested warriors who are devoted to passionate and creative development throughout life.

Cataclusmos Trials

Cataclusmos: A mythical beast of destruction that deals clytical damage

The Cataclusmos Trials aim to provide Catalysts and prospective members with tangible goals in developing their foam fighting skill. Each trial is symbolically linked to a body part of the Cataclusmos and its corresponding natural element.

Body - Element - Format - Challenge

Tail - Earth - Circle of Death - Individual vs. unit & community attendance

The warrior fights for 20 minutes of consistent battling within a community circle at a regional event. Very short breaks are allowed for water or impairment. (generally 1-2 minutes max in the total trial while the 20 min stopwatch is paused)

The fighter is pitted against 1v1's, 1v2's and in rare case's 1v3's or more.

This is the entry trial for Catalyst prospects to join the unit. All founding members completed their tail trials 2010-2011 and video footage may be found by searching YouTube for Bhakdar's channel or "Catalyst Tail Trial." Kills and Deaths are counted for the fighter in case they wish to retake this trial for improvement of their Kill-Death Ratio. The primary goal is to train such that one can persevere through extreme intensity, mental blocks against top-tier pairs, and overcome exhaustion.

Scale - Water - Team Arena - Knock Out Style Squad Battles 2v2 - 4v4 Catalyst team vs. invited community challengers

Tests ability to work with any partner within the unit.

2-4 unit members participate against a rotating same sized team composed of a community of fighters. Each Catalyst member is encouraged to invite one person who would match or challenge their skill level and one person who they've trained or a representative of a friendly realm or unit. As fighters die on either team, their deaths are counted and members from the respective sides step in to take the place of the fallen. While the Catalyst team may only have a few fighters in their rotation, it forces them to fight more consistently, while the community group with a larger pool is able to take longer rest periods. Forming "Kill squads" consisting of top tier pairs or clusters is encouraged amongst the community team.

We WANT a challenge.

Trial duration is a death limit on the Catalyst team side. The Catalyst team must reach a specified kill count on the opposing team before running out of lives. The basic kill ratio goal set at CW XV was 2:1, taking place in a 4 vs 4 format going to 100 kills, in approx 30-45 minutes. Battles were fought until Catalyst had ~53 deaths to the opponents 107+.

If the 2:1 goal is not met by 80-100 kills total, the competing Catalysts do not complete their Scale Trial. Thus, Scales are motivated to advance and train alongside fellow unit mates who have yet to take the trial. As this is a flexible team trial, present Scales could participate on future Catalyst teams or as a challenger on the community team.

Wings - Air - Individual Field Kill Count - 100 Kills in Mass Melee Battles, Time Limited

While the time limit and field size is yet untested, the aim of the Wings trial is to challenge an individual fighter to put down lots of damage on the enemy team in melee battles consistently over a time limit, for example 100 kills in 100 minutes of field fighting. Do you think you could average a kill every minute, including breaks, dead time, battle setup, and field fight time?

Members

Included are the parts of the Cataklusmos 'body' that each member has earned through trials.

• Bhakdar - tail, scale
• Sipris - tail
• Huma - tail, scale
• Acorn - tail
• Rocca - tail, scale
• Dangus - tail
• Sampson - tail, scale
• Sare - tail, scale

Recruits & Allies

Catakins: “Yo comrade”

A Catakin is invited by Catalyst to train for some years in pursuit of becoming an active member. Catakins are encouraged to attend trials and retreats as guests, assist event coordination/realm management/game development, and evolve their fighting skills. Catakins may fight with Catalysts at regional and national events or on tournament teams. Catakins may be considered for membership after a minimum of one year. A tail trial is scheduled to signify the transition to Catalyst, as all founding members trialed year #1.

Cats: “Yo buddy”

A cat is someone who Catalysts are friendly with and welcome to fight, train, and serve alongside at local & regional gatherings. Cats may be visitors from another sport, members of an allied realm/unit, or unaffiliated. Cats might train with Catalysts to build their own unit/realm/group/title/persona and make the Northwest a more diverse and fun place to swordfight. Catalysts want to grow this kind of empowering community ethos regionally. Cat is affectionate slang for ally, buddy, or dude. Some Cats may fight with Catalysts as guests at trials, retreats, or in field battles. An invitation to fight with Catalyst is not an invitation of unit membership, while it is an intentional bonding with a neighbor.