I've been kicking around this idea of hosting a heraldry webpage for Amtgard for quite some time now. (by the way, if you don't know what Amtgard is, here's a link to the main page) I've had this clip art sitting around on my hard drive for as long as I can remember, and I'm thinking that aside from my own personal uses, it would be good to spread around the wealth to others who find interest in the subject. That's the wonderful thing about Amtgard, you take from it what you want to. If your interest lies in hitting people with sticks, you can do that, if it lies in shooting people with sticks (my personal favorite) or just dressing up silly and hanging out with friends while camping, or creating wonderful medieval period clothing with a fantasy flair, or making long and seemingly pointless web pages, you can do that. Amtgard is what you make of it. There are no rules that set what you have to do. That being said, heraldry has been an interest of mine since I joined the game, and lets face it, I like to share. This webpage is the accumulation of research I've been doing while I'm supposed to be working, and should provide some historical accuracy concerning it, it is no where near complete, but will give you a working knowledge of the art form. Oh, and mostly its about clip art. Lots and lots of clip art. You need a picture of caltrops? There is at least one here.

Using this Site

I can't say that I made all these images. I mean, I don't have a life, but I don't have that lack if things to do. I've picked these images up over, oh, say 5 years or so, from really varied sources. I don't claim copy write on anything that isn't expressly designed for this site. That being said, please don't sell stuff that you make from this site, because I can't tell you who I got it from in the first place, and chances are they don't want you making a profit from it. I may of converted the images into varied file types for ease of use, but chances are, that's about it. Consider this the "don't be a dick" clause.

The Use of Heraldry in Amtgard

Historically, heraldry was used to help knights in battle tell the difference between friend and foe, especially when bedecked in full armor, including a helmet, and later, in tournaments of skill, to define who is who, much like the uniforms of sports teams of today. In Amtgard, there is no need for defining who is who due to lack of need for helmets, but the need to define oneself and one's belongings still arises.

Amtgard heraldry takes form of personal, company, house, family and governmental affiliations. Placement of any form of heraldry on banners, clothing, weapons, jewelry, belts, and any other item that you use can help in imprinting on other people the association between you and your items, and you and other people who are with your group. The use of a color scheme selection for companies and households is also along these lines. For example, in a large war scenario, imagine facing a line of fighters all wearing the same colors and badges on their tabards. It can be intimidating in the "oh crap, these guys know how to fight together" terms. Some examples of my own personal heraldry (that strange thing that looks like a mushroom cloud on drugs, but is two trees intertwined) worn on my person are on a kimono, my squire's belt which holds my, my knight's mon, and my knight's knights badge on it, my baronial coronet on my hat, my belted family's mon on a necklace, and various other things, from a cross-stitch tag on my cloak, to a beaded piece I plan on placing on a spellball bag. I also find that placing when my heraldry on items, it ensures that a. I don't give it away as easily as I do other things when I am not happy with how they turn out, and b. People won't groundscore them.

Some of the items I have my heraldry and badges on (click on thumbnail to see a full sized image):
An example of my armorial.	My baroness' coronet.	A banner	My squire's belt	Part of a Kimono with my heraldry as a mon.	My knight's badge and belted family crest

Traditional heraldry has certain rules which apply, such as no color on color, which is discussed in the tinctures section of this web site, but heraldry in amtgard doesn't have to follow such rules. Choose colors which you like, which look good together. You may also, as shown in my own heraldry, choose a non traditional charge.

According to the Amtgard Handbook on the Rules of Play, concerning Heraldry:

"Create a device or insignia to display on your flags, banners, and coat of arms. The device should be unique or at least in keeping with your persona or company. You may register the device with the guildmaster of heraldry and the prime minister."

That's not very much on how to go about creating your own. This webpage is designed to help. Some things to remember that are specific to Amtgard are the use of the Phoenix as a personal symbol. Typically, knights are given the right to wear white belts, unadorned chains, and spurs, with the knight's only classes Paladin and Anti-Paladin garb requirements being an openly displayed white or black phoenix, respectively. Kingdoms heraldry also has a tendency to use the phoenix as well, but there is no official saying that a person or a group cannot use a phoenix, though it is considered bad form. Some people also may argue that when choosing your colors and your heraldry, that certain color combinations and charges are to not be used, i.e., ones that already exist on a national or local level in company or household form, or a kingdom's charge.

When thinking about what to choose, I suggest that you consider simplicity. Transferring your heraldry into its various incarnations can make you (from personal experience) hate your chosen symbol. Pick something that is easy to recreate over and over again, in various forms. I had one frustrated belt maker on my hands when I received my squire's belt, and I think that it may not be worth it to applique my complicated symbol on things. On the other hand, however, while my design is fairly complicated, above belt maker and the maker of my coronet, while out shopping, found a leather stamp which, with a very minor modification, made it easier to recreate my design. They urged me to buy it the stamp and I agreed.

There are some simple ways to reproduce your heraldry onto your items, such as painting directly onto your clothing with fabric paint, beading, applique, and cross-stitch. You can buy a set of fabric markers of varying colors for under ten dollars and you can reproduce your heraldry on almost everything. Wonder-under and felt makes can make some pretty impressive banners and flags with no sewing, only some cutting and a hot iron.