Crafting Challenge 3: Improve Your Weapon Collection
Few Mandalorians only use one weapon through their entire career. In fact, many Mandos love all sorts of weapons and have an ever growing collection. This is especially true to Mandalorian Costumers! If you did the “Weathering” Challenge, here’s a chance to apply what you learned!
Crafting Challenge 3: Improve Your Weapon Collection
Novice Level: Find a plastic weapon that you can file or sand off all the copyright/words and logos and then repaint it to match your armor. Then, create a way to wear it (holster, sling, sheath). Take a picture of your new weapon and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com. If you’re unsure of a step, get a parent or adult’s assistance.
Journeyman Level: Find several plastic weapons that you can file or sand off all the copyright/words and logos (parts from 3D printed weapons are also fine). Cut them apart using tools and rearrange them to create a new type of weapon. Use additional scrap parts to fill in any holes, then paint the weapon to match your armor. Then, create a way to wear it (holster, sling, sheath). Take a picture of your new weapon and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Expert Level: This is just like the Journeyman Level challenge except, add a battery, light, and switch. This can either be attached to the trigger to represent a laser beam, a glowing “blade” (but remember, not a lightsaber! We’re Mandos not Jedi), or blinking lights on a hilt/handle, or a “hunting light” attachment, or something else that you think up! Either take the electronics from existing toys, flashlights, or work with a parent or friend to solder up a circuit of your own. Take a picture of your new weapon with the light shining and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Charity Challenge 2: Making A Difference In Service To Others
If you did the first challenge this builds on that. If you did not complete the first challenge, you’ll need to at least find one charity. The first step in making a difference in the world is to just jump in and take part in whatever small way you can. If you haven’t done the first challenge, you’ll need to at least do part of it to find a charity to help.
Charity Challenge 2: Give of yourself to a nearby charity to see how it makes you feel to help others.
Novice Level: Donate an old toy, piece of clothing, some food (canned or prepackaged), find out from your parent/guardian if there’s a way you can earn some money so that you can donate it. Also – either in armor or your regular clothes – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: This is just like the Novice Level challenge except – find at least one other friend or family member to donate alongside with you. Also – either in armor or your regular clothes – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Expert Level: This is like the Novice & Journeyman Level Challenges except talk with your friends and family members and find three or more who are willing to donate alongside with you. Also – either in armor or your regular clothes – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com
Community Challenge 2: Meet Some Local Mandalorians or Star Wars Costumers
“Aliit ori’shya taldin” – in Star Wars Universe fiction (especially the novels written by Karen Traviss) the phrase “Aliit ori’shya taldin” is used in the Mandalorian language to mean “Family is More Than Blood.” Mandos from diverse backgrounds all share a close bond. Not only do Star Wars Costumers meet at Comic-Book or Sci-Fi Conventions, but also Charity Events, store/shop events, Armor Parties, or simple dinners/get-togethers. Also in the fictional Mandalorian language we use the word “Vod” to mean a friend/battle-brother that’s close like a brother/sister, and “Vod’e” is the plural. This challenge is about meeting your vod’e.
Community Challenge 2: Meet Some Local Mandalorians or Star Wars Costumers
Novice Level: Contact your local Mandalorian Clan, or if there’s another LFL (Lucasfilm Limited) recognized costuming group that’s closer (501st Legion, Rebel Legion, The Dark Empire, R2 Astromech Builders Club, Outer Rim Brigade, etc.). With a Parent/Guardian’s permission, find out if there’s an upcoming event where you can join them just to meet more local members and hang out. Ideally this would be a non-costumed event (dinner, armor party, etc.) but if it’s easier to meet at a convention or local troop, that will work as well. For this challenge you do NOT need to be in your armor (that’s later). Take a picture of you with some of the new vod’e you’ve had a chance to meet and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: Same as a the Novice level challenge, except send pictures from 2 events.
Expert Level: Same as a the Novice level challenge, except send pictures from 3 events!
Charity Challenge 2: Information Gathering
The Mandalorian Mercs exist to not only wear cool armor, but also as a charity organization to help our communities. One of the most basic missions when it comes to charity it finding out the good work that is already being done in your hometown or community and finding out if the Star Wars costuming community can help out in any way. This also goes back to one of the most basic missions of a Mando scout tasked with doing “recon” (in other words – gathering information).
Charity Challenge 2: Information Gathering About Nearby Charities
Novice Level: Find out about one or two charity organizations in or near your hometown or community. You’ll probably also want to know if they are part of a national group (all over the country) or are mainly local (a community group? affiliated with a religious group?). Find out what they do and who they help. Send your progress about what you’ve learned to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: Find out about three or four charity organizations in or near your hometown or community. Find out if they are part of a national group (all over the country) or are mainly local (a community group? affiliated with a religious group?). Find out what they do and who they help. Find someone to talk to in these organizations. Find out if they are aware that they can get Star Wars costumed characters to show up to events (the Mandalorian Mercs, the Rebel Legion, the 501st, etc.). Send your progress about what you’ve learned to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Expert Level: Find out about four or more charity organizations in or near your hometown or community. Find out if they are part of a national group (all over the country) or are just local (a community group? affiliated with a religious group?). Find out what they do and who they help. Find out if they are aware that they can get Star Wars costumed characters to show up to events (the Mandalorian Mercs, the Rebel Legion, the 501st, etc.). Find out who in that organization is the best point of contact for additional information or to plan events. If they would like to have Star Wars costumed characters show up at their events, send what you’ve learned to your nearest Mandalorian Mercs group or Star Wars costuming group. Send your progress about what you’ve learned to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Crafting Challenge 2: Weathering
Warriors take good care of their equipment to ensure it’s always in the best possible working condition. Mandalorians, however, sometimes allow their armor to show wear and tear to intimidate enemies or show how long they’ve been “on the hunt” (for example, Boba Fett). Even metal armor that shines shows some dirt and grime from hard use (if you can find a close-up image of Jango Fett’s metal armor you can see this). As a Mandalorian Costumer, knowing how to represent weathering on your armor is a great skill to have. Whether you decide to go with light or heavy weathering, the techniques are the similar.
Crafting Challenge 2: Weathering
Novice Level: Find a scrap of plastic (Sintra or otherwise), a broken plastic toy gun (Nerf, water gun, etc.), or some other item that it’s okay to repaint. Use the internet to research “dry brushing,” “weathering,” or “aging.” Experiment with these techniques on your sample, the goal is to be able to add some basic single color wear and tear (for example: black primer, dry-brush silver on it -or- paint something silver, then spray paint another color over it, and lightly use sandpaper to cause some of the silver to show through). Take a picture, and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: This is similar to the Novice Challenge, but slightly more complicated. Search online for tutorials on using “frisket.” This is also called “liquid mask” or “masking fluid” and sometimes even terms like “weathering with toothpaste” or even crazier fluids like mustard! Additionally, you can even use table salt and hairspray to do the same effect! The basic idea is that you cover some paint with some kind of covering fluid or paste, do some more painting, then rub/wash off the covering fluid. At the minimum, have two layers (the metallic or basic under-layer, and the layer that has all the scratches caused by the frisket mask). Study two or three techniques and then take your project item and apply those techniques to it. Take a picture, and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Expert Level: Read the descriptions for the Novice and Journeyman Level challenges for ideas on how to search for tutorials on the techniques. Boba Fett’s helmet has layers of grunge, frisket, and paint. While we’re not asking for you to show off a Boba Fett helmet level of weathering, try to combine several techniques together for something with at least 4 layers of paint and maybe even ink or painted on “grime” at the top. You can also try using a layer of carbon dust (ground charcoal), dirt, sawdust, cinnamon (rusty look), or something else to give a better weathering technique for grime and wear. Remember, we’re using a throw-away piece of plastic for learning so there’s no right or wrong. Apply the techniques you’ve learn to it until you’re comfortable with the techniques. Take some in-progress pictures, and send them to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Community Challenge 1: Lines of Communication
In the field, a line of communication is not just for messages, but also supplies. Within the Star Wars costuming and charity community, it’s very important to know what events are going on, to know who’s involved, and to at least have some idea of how or where to find things out. If you’ve already been in contact with your local Mandalorian Clan, this will be a very easy Challenge and that’s a good thing!
Prerequisite: As a Mythosaur (13+) you may create a forum account, however, you still need to work with your parent(s) or guardian to make sure this is okay with them. While doing some of these challenges will certainly be easier with a forum account, it’s not a requirement. You will, however, need to work with someone who does have access. If you do not have permission to create an MMCC forum account, talk with your parent/guardian and find out when you may create one.
Community Challenge 1: Establish Initial Lines of Communication
Novice Level: Find out what chapter of the Mercs is the closest to where you live. You can use the MMCC main website (http://mandalorianmercs.org/), and click “Our Members” and “Clan Locator.” Optionally, you can contact a Regional Coordinator for the region (or Regional Ver’sol) that includes your location and ask questions via email (main website -> Who We Are -> Staff). Send what you’ve learned to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: This is like the Novice Level Challenge except in addition to reaching out to the Regional Coordinator for your region. Find out the name of the closest Alor’ad (Chapter Leader) and (with your Parent/Legal Guardian’s permission of course) reach out and introduce yourself and get a list of all the local officers. If you have MMCC Forum access, you can do this on the Regional or Clan forum (or private message). Send what you’ve learned and a copy of any emails you’ve sent/received to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Expert Level: This is like the Novice & Journeyman Level Challenges except in addition to reaching out to the Regional Coordinator for your region and the closest Alor’ad for your local chapter. Reach out to 2 or more of those officers via email. If you have MMCC Forum access, you can do this on the Regional or Clan forum (or private message). Send what you’ve learned and a copy of any emails you’ve sent/received to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Charity Challenge 1: Assist with a seasonal charity
Seasonal Charities pop up only at certain times during the calendar year. This is especially true around holidays dedicated to helping former soldiers or especially during the winter months. Since these charities only exist (or do their work) in a short time period, they usually need an extra pair of helping hands.
Charity Challenge 1: Assist with a seasonal charity
Novice Level: With the help of a parent, find a seasonal charity or some other short-term charity and find a way to help in whatever way (this may be with a donation of money, food, or items) or volunteering to help do something (soup kitchen, clean up a monument, etc.). Send a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com.
Journeyman Level: This is like the Novice Level Challenge except find one other friend and family member to volunteer or donate along with you. Send a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com.
Expert Level: This is like the Novice Level Challenge except find three or more friends and family members to volunteer or donate along with you. Send a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com.
Crafting Challenge 1: Go Over the Basic CRL
Following detailed orders is an important skill for a Mandalorian. There are times that we might get instructions from a client hiring us, or a member of the clan, or even The Mandalore may need to be able to give us detailed instructions. They need to be able to count on us being able to understand them.
Fortunately, we can use the MMCC CRLs to help us train and refine this skill. Additionally, the App Team is always working to keep MMCC Mandalorian costumes in tip-top form or clarify areas of confusion. Because of this, the CRL changes regularly and it’s a great idea to brush up on it from time to time.
Finally, when a Mythosaur turns 18, they have the honor and privilege of going through the same armor Approval process as every other adult member of the MMCC. Now is a good time to start working towards getting your armor kit as good as it can be! To do that, you should know the process for how your armor will be judged.
Prerequisite: Get on the Internet and browse to the MMCC Main Website: http://mandalorianmercs.org/. Find the CRL for Modern Armor (Click “Get Involved” -> Then Click “Costume Requirements” -> Then if “Modern” is not already highlighted, select it).
“Modern” is the era that includes Boba and Jango Fett, and the Mandos seen in Star Wars The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Rebels.
Novice Level: Read each section of the CRL and answer these 5 questions. Send your answers to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com
Armor = Armor worn on the front of the torso must include what plates (plus the chest diamond)?
Armor = What are three acceptable materials we can use to make armor for the MMCC?
Soft Parts = Does a fight suit have to be one piece?
Soft Parts = What are the items that you must have two of in any combination?
Additional Info = Can a Mandalorian wear Lightsabers? If so, under what conditions? What about trophy lightsabers?
Journeyman Level: Read each section of the CRL and answer these 10 questions. Send your answers to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com
Armor = Armor worn on the front of the torso must include what plates (plus the chest diamond)?
Armor = What are three acceptable materials we can use to make armor for the MMCC?
Soft Parts = Does a fight suit have to be one piece?
Soft Parts = What are the items that you must have two of in any combination?
Additional Info = Can a Mandalorian wear Lightsabers? If so, under what conditions? What about trophy lightsabers?
Gauntlets = How much of the arm, between the wrist and elbow, must be covered?
Armor = If you’re not doing a Mandalorian Pilot, what is the minimum lower armor (of body armor) required?
Armor = How much of the back (overall width and length) must be covered?
Weapon = If you’re using a Nerf or similar toy weapon, what are the things that must be done to it?
Additional Info = What is the rule about EVA foam?
Expert Level: Read each section of the CRL and answer these 15 questions. Send your answers to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com
Armor = Armor worn on the front of the torso must include what plates (plus the chest diamond)?
Armor = What are three acceptable materials we can use to make armor for the MMCC?
Soft Parts = Does a fight suit have to be one piece?
Soft Parts = What are the items that you must have two of in any combination?
Additional Info = Can a Mandalorian wear Lightsabers? If so, under what conditions? What about trophy lightsabers?
Gauntlets = How much of the arm, between the wrist and elbow, must be covered?
Armor = If you’re not doing a Mandalorian Pilot, what is the minimum lower armor (of body armor) required?
Armor = How much of the back (overall width and length) must be covered?
Weapon = If you’re using a Nerf or similar toy weapon, what are the things that must be done to it?
Additional Info = What is the rule about EVA foam?
Helmet = If using a custom visor design, how much of the total vertical T portion must be apparent?
Gauntlets = What is the rule that covers unmodified-Leather bracers?
Additional Info = What are 3 acceptable armor attachment methods?
Armor = What is the maximum spacing between collar/chest/gut plates? What is the maximum spacing between the diamond and chest plates?
Armor = Where can the top edge of the shoulder armor plate line up?
Charity Challenge 4: Assist With A Seasonal Charity
Seasonal Charities pop up only at certain times during the calendar year. This is especially true around holidays dedicated to helping former soldiers or even in the winter months. Since these charities only exist (or do their work) in a short time period, they usually need an extra pair of helping hands.
Charity Challenge 4: Assist With A Seasonal Charity
Novice Level: With the help of a parent, find a seasonal charity or some other short-term charity and find a way to help in whatever way (this may be with a donation of money, food, or items) or volunteering to help do something (soup kitchen, clean up a monument, etc.). Send a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com.
Journeyman Level: This is like the Novice Level Challenge except find one other friend and family member to volunteer or donate along with you. Send a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com.
Expert Level: This is like the Novice & Journeyman Level Challenges except find three or more friends and family members to volunteer or donate along with you. Send a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorps.com.
Community Challenge 4: Learn about Challenge Coins
Star Wars Costumers have borrowed/incorporated a military tradition into their community – the tradition of the Challenge Coin and/or the Coin Check. Many of us carry a coin with us all the time, every day. It’s a small token that’s a way to remember who we are, what we do, and even why we do it.
Community Challenge 4: Learn about Challenge Coins
Novice Level: Read up on Challenge Coins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_coin – Contact your local or nearest clan and request a picture of your local clan/region’s challenge coin. Send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: Read up on Challenge Coins (see Novice Level for a link to Wikipedia). Contact your local or nearest clan (or Star Wars Costuming Group if they’re more convenient) and find out if they have any leftover challenge coins you can purchase or if they’re planning an upcoming sale. With your parent/guardians permission – see if you can work/do chores to earn enough money to buy one of your own. If you’re given a challenge coin as a gift, great, but don’t assume this will be the case! Take a picture of you holding your own Challenge coin and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Expert Level: See Journeyman Level challenge. The Expert level will be to take a picture of you with your challenge coin alongside fellow Mandos or Star Wars costumers at an event. Take a picture of all of you with your coins and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Crafting Challenge 4: Improving Your Armor
A Mandalorian and the Armor are legendary. The warrior is identified by the armor, and the armor identifies the warrior. Mandos tinker with, repaint, and modify their armor all the time. It’s a hobby and thing they’ll do all their life. Mandalorian Costumers share this trait. If you did the “Weathering” and “Learn the CRL” Challenges, here’s a chance to apply what you learned!
Crafting Challenge 4: Find one part of your armor you don’t like as much as the rest. Figure out a way to improve your armor.
Novice Level: With the help of a Parent, use your existing armor piece and modify it in some way to make it better. This may involve attaching new parts or changing the shape. If you damage the paint, be sure you fix it or make it look like weathering. Send a picture of what you modified to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: With the help of a Parent, craft an entirely new replacement armor piece to replace the item you didn’t like as much as the rest. Paint and weather it to match the rest of your armor kit. Send a picture of what you made to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com
Expert Level: Same as the Journeyman Level challenge, except for two or more items. If the item is normally a pair (gauntlets, shoulder bells, knees, etc.) then the matching part counts as a second item. Find a way to add a greebly (some kind of attached part that looks like something from the Star Wars universe) to one or two of the parts. For example, add knee darts to a new pair of knees (like Boba or Jango Fett’s armor) or build new gauntlet tops with buttons, weapons, rockets. etc. or even add glowing lights. Paint and weather it to match the rest of your armor kit. Send a picture of what you made to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Community Challenge 3: Troop with Your Vod’e
“Oya!” – Oya! In the Star Wars Universe fiction, this is the Mandalorian Cheer. Oya means “Let’s Hunt” but it’s used for more than that. After the first two Community challenges, you’re ready to get to work!
Community Challenge 3: Troop with Your Vod’e
Novice Level: See the details of Community Challenge 2. This challenge is very similar, except this time, the types of events should be Troops (events where you show up in your armor and fully participate alongside your fellow Star Wars Costumers). Make sure you have your Parent/Guardian’s permission of course! Find out from your local leadership (that you contacted in Community Challenge 1) about upcoming events where you can participate. Take a picture of you in armor with helmet on at the event and send it to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: Same as the Novice Level challenge except do 2 Troops.
Expert Level: Same as the Novice Level challenge except do 3 Troops!
* If the events you did for Community Challenge 2 were in armor, these are additional! You can’t get double-credit for one event (so if you wanted Expert for both Community Challenge 2 and 3, you’d need six total events in armor).
Charity Challenge 3: Find Another Group/Charity To Help
This challenge builds on all the work you’ve done with the previous 2 charity challenges. Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the habit of just helping one group or one charity more than another. However, there’s always more to be done and more people, places, animals, or ways to help. If you haven’t had a chance to do the prior 2 charity challenges, no problem, you can jump right in here and get started.
Charity Challenge 3: Find another group/charity to help.
Novice Level: This is the same as the Novice Level Charity Challenge #2, however, pick a different organization/charity and donate in a different way (so if you donated money, donate something else this time, or if last time you donated food, find a way to donate old clothes, etc.). Also – either in armor or your regular clothes – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Journeyman Level: Help two new and different organizations! Also – either in armor or your regular clothes – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
Expert Level: Help three new and different organizations! Also – either in armor or your regular clothes – send a picture of you donating (either in front of the donation box/station or handing off the goods to a volunteer with the organization). Send your picture and a progress summary about which group you assisted to mythosaur@verdikacorp.com.
