KUBB

[rick401r]

Is anyone familiar with the game Kubb? I am part of a group of guys who get together every Wed. evening for some type of game and inbibing of a few brews. In the summer months we usually play some Bocce Ball. Recently one of the group came across this game. It has become our game of choice.
We have also had some other outdoor events. Such as weapons night where we gather various knives, tomahawks, archery gear, and even small caliber firearms. We set up targets over an acre or so and have at it. There's no compitition, just fun and relaxation.
During winter months we play cards, dominos, and other table games.
Everyone brings a different beer or ale and we spend the evening sampling each others offerings.

[skirtingtoday]

Not come across that - but I do know of a similar (and simpler) game in the UK called horseshoes where the idea is to throw said horseshoes at a wooden post and points are scored by hooking round it. (not seen or heard it played in a long time though)

We would NEVER be allowed to have firearms or to use any offensive weapon - it being an offense here to carry any of those items. You may have noticed that in the recent Olympics that the target shooting within the modern pentathlon was by laser targeting and the guns themselves had no projectiles. I must admit that the casual reference to carrying those weapons (for just fun and relaxation!) disturbs me.

[crfriend]

Hmm... Two weapons-related posts in under 48 hours. This is not only well off-topic but also disquieting especially given the reception the last one got.

You may have noticed that in the recent Olympics that the target shooting within the modern pentathlon was by laser targeting and the guns themselves had no projectiles.

If the determination of a successful "shot" was judged by LASER then the results will be null and void within the wider context of Olympic history as in earlier Games shooting was carried out using real guns that shot projectiles that dropped by the force of gravity and were subject to atmospheric effects, neither of which (with the exception of heavy fog) LASERs are subject to (in any appreciable amount, with a nod to Einstein). At the very least, I hope that matches so conducted have an asterisk next to the results to call out this discrepancy. Superficially this resembles what's been going on in baseball here in the US where doping has been rampant in recent years and accurate comparisons with the past are not possible.

Are we to strip archers of arrows next? The level of "Political Correctness" that we're stooping to is mind-boggling. Think about it, the original Olympics in Classical times were contests of strength and prowess that was mainly useful in battle (note the absence of ping-pong in Classical times). Even the reincarnation that we enjoy every two years (Winter and Summer Games, staggered) remain heavy on such themes (witness biathlon). I understand the sensitivities of some cultures to matters like this, but it is possible to take it too far.

I must admit that the casual reference to carrying those weapons (for just fun and relaxation!) disturbs me.

It was the mention of alcohol being involved that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up; firearms and booze just do not mix!

Shooting, for those who have never done it, is an interesting affair as, unlike archery, it's entirely unnatural and takes a remarkable level of attunement to one's body to get really good at it. I'm not slagging off on archery (having done that, too), but the ability to control the movements of one's body to enable him to punch a small hole in a target n00 meters away is an amazing thing and takes skill and talent -- and, properly done, can really help one get in tune with his own body.

[Sarongman]

Carl is right about lasers being totally different to an actual firearm. At the long range, you have to take into account the wind gusts that might (will) shift the projectile off course so the target shooter must also keep track of the range flags and get the shot off when all is, either still or, steady wind which is accounted for by windage, either dialed in or compensated by eye.
Those who have never got in to target shooting have no idea of the different and, to me, fascinating channels it leads in to, such as reloading, studying the history of the discipline--et al.

[crfriend]

[Mod hat on]

I've not had to put this drattedly scratchy thing on in ages, and it's down to the quality of the community here why I haven't had to do so. However, in this case, I would like to make it clear that if we cannot approach this in an intellectual manner and stay away from the sometimes almost religious divides betwixt "left-of-the-pond" and "right-of-the-pond" then I'll shut it down in an instant as will my team-mates here (who have carte-blanche to do so). The disparity betixt the two camps seems almost as high a barrier as that of the notion of blokes putting both legs down one tube or not.

Weaponry, in general, sgain-dubhs notwithstanding, is not an on-topic conversation here and is always a ripe target for the moderators' knife. It's also one that has the power to really upset folks.

[Mod hat off]

For the record, and in the interests of full disclosure, I live in the US and grew up here. I make my home in one of the states with the strictest weapons laws going, and I happen to agree with them for the most part -- especially when it comes to missile weapons (e.g. firearms). I also grew up with such items in the household, and I was taught at a very early age about them and to understand their use and function. Knowledge, recall, dispels mystery and fear; knowing something may not necessarily make it appealing, but it displaces the fear of the unknown or the unfamiliar.

Whether we, in "modern society", like it or not, weapons of various ilk have played a large part in what our societies have become, be this the "great American West" or the assorted convulsions that gripped Europe for centuries (and that Europe is now a peaceful place with great promise pleases me no end!), and we must recall that history cannot be reasonably be suppressed, for good or for evil. From a personal perspective, I feel it important to understand these things even if we reject them in civil society. At least if we understand them we will not fear them.

It is my sincere hope that the sentiments above may guide any further conversation on the matter, and further aid in what's considered on-topic (even for the 'Off-Topic" section) and what's "off".

[rick401r]

I just wanted to know if anyone has heard of the game Kubb, sometimes called Viking Chess.

[skirtingtoday]

Errr.... The target distance in the Modern Pentathlon is 10m. Yes, just 10 paces. The effect of gravity can be worked out depending on the speed of the projectile, which is fairly close to the speed of sound (It will drop about 6-7mm, a little over 1/4") and the target size (Still trying to find out for sure) seems to be around 75mm. The wind effect on a small 0.22 pellet also will be almost negligible. So the difference between pellet guns and lasers is quite minimal. I would say that a steady hand was the biggest variable especially after running 1000m then again after running a second 1000m. Here is some information on it and it is noted that the laser technology was only implemented in 2011.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_pentathlon.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/201 ... lon-lasers.

In the Olympics just completed, there was also clay-pigeon shooting and archery. There is no talk of dispensing with pellets/arrows for those games. Don't know where that idea comes from. There was also 50m rifle and 50m pistol shooting events as usual. No change there either, nor is there anticipated to be any in the future.

[couyalair]

No, never heard of kubb, and still have no idea what it is.

Excuse for me to mention a fit of giggles I had last week, when I learnt that Olympic world champions had to hit a target ... TEN WHOLE metres away ! WOW!

Martin

[Milfmog]

No, never heard of kubb, and still have no idea what it is.

Have a look here (I suspect playing is less complicated than explaining the rules).

Excuse for me to mention a fit of giggles I had last week, when I learnt that Olympic world champions had to hit a target ... TEN WHOLE metres away ! WOW!

So can we expect you to be taking gold (and raising the profile of skirted men) in Rio then?

Have fun,


Ian.

[kingfish]

No, never heard of kubb, and still have no idea what it is.

Excuse for me to mention a fit of giggles I had last week, when I learnt that Olympic world champions had to hit a target ... TEN WHOLE metres away ! WOW!

Martin

For the pistol competition, the "ten ring" on the target is a mere 11mm in diameter.
That means, to get a perfect score, you have to put all 60 rounds with an angular deviation from the center of no more than about +-2 minutes of angle.
Average human vision is capable of differentiating between separate points down to about 1 minute of angle.

All things being equal, I do consider the shooting sports to be less daunting of a hobby than trying to consistently hit a 4.2cm ball resting on the ground with a meter long stick.

[rick401r]

Here's a link to Wikipedia's definition of the game Kubb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubb