."Planned backgrounds vs planned scenarios."
Wow! I wish I could take credit for coining that phrase, but the credit goes to Hank.
Developing characters is not synonymous with creating scenarios. Think of it more as planning backgrounds for your characters, because that's exactly what it is. The real people of the Civil War era didn't just pop into existence on the date being portrayed, they had a lifetime of growing up in a 'community' where they knew each other, went to school together, hunted and fished together, and in general, lived, loved, hated, worshipped, and experienced many of the same things together. All these experiences were instrumental in how they saw themselves, and how they related to other people. Granted we can't get to the point where we know everything they would have known, as it took them a lifetime in a world that no longer exists, but that doesn't mean that we should stop trying to know all we can. These backgrounds also gave people back then something to talk about while cooking, tending the garden, working livestock, sitting around the fire in the evening, etc.
It seems that following the last several EBUFU events, the military has become more and more desirous for interaction with the civilians. However, since that isn't always possible, or even desirable, the idea is that the military reenactors should turn inwards toward themselves to get their magic moments.
Military companies tended to be raised from the same localities. For example, my great grandfather's regiment was the 117th OVI; company A was recruited mainly from Pike and Ross Counties, while B was mostly Pike County, C & D were Jackson County, etc. My great grandfather's company was G out of Gallia County, and the letters I have from his father to him show how close some of the families were within his company, for example: "tell Elias and George Tipton that there folks are all well George Tiptons wife has moved to McCarrolls house and I see her every day as I am working at the meeting house close there She appears to be doing well but would like to se him tell Elias that I have not saw his wife but once since I came hom be she is still on foot yet. as to the rest of the friends all the boys so far as I no they are well also. I cannot say that we are all well for we ar some of us has a bad colde your Mother is not very well now but not so but she can go [a]round"
There is no good reason that I can come up with as to why the military can't do similar things to what the civilians have been doing for years, create their own community from within via planned backgrounds. These backgrounds, if they're about civilian life, don't even have to be event specific. Okay, sure one minute you're with a Connecticut regiment and the next with an Ohio regiment, but still there are some things about civilian life, thoughts and attitudes that just don't change. Reflections upon that pretty girl you once met at a corn shucking party, the day you found religion, think about your favorite past time as a child, your first pet, the day you came down with some disease. Perhaps, recalling how poor your family was and how you always hated Mr. Jones' son cause he always had nice clothes and a nice home, reflect on some meaningful advice that you received that has helped you get to where you are now. Your first love, your current love, etc. The list goes on and on, and yet any of those should be able to spark some memories in another participant.
"I remember when my father first took me fishing and... "
Another comrade: "I had a similar experience only..."
and then off you go. Of course fishing stories are always good cause you always have to outdo the other fisherman, and it seems as though fishermen can go on all night trying to top the other.
