A few high points come to mind off the top of my head:
<p>
-- Doing Period Seriously. That doesn't mean the mythical
authenticity-police thing, but rather that, IMO, Carolingia does better
than anywhere else I know at following *my* guideline for authenticity:
"Everyone should be as period as they conveniently can". It leaves a lot
of room for interpretation, which is intentional -- I don't think there
is a single one-size-fits-all standard appropriate for the SCA, and
everyone has their own priorities. But I think most people here take the
idea of period seriously, and make a genuine effort. That's a real
strength, especially in the aggregate.
<p>
-- Experimentation. While Carolingia has a lot of traditions, we don't
have nearly as many sacred cows as many places do. When someone suggests
a new idea, the response tends to be, "Sure -- go for it". That helps
prevent us becoming boring, and I think keeps things far more lively.
And I'm quite proud of the number of ideas that started in Carolingia,
which have since become commonplace in the Society.
<p>
-- Mixing Energy with Experience. The combination of the Boroughs
(providing a constant influx of new enthusiasm) with a large pool of old
hands gives us a distinctive character, a sort of creative tension that
helps us produce more cool stuff than most places can manage. Many SCA
branches are basically the same people year after year, which can lead
to a certain staleness. Carolingia is many things, but stale is rarely
one of them.
