Harold the Herald: An Automated Heraldic Conflict Checking System by David P. Salley

1. Harold the Herald: An Automated Heraldic Conflict Checking Systemby David P. Salley

2. Problem Statement • The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a non-profit educational organization whose members study and re-create aspects of the Middle Ages. • The Society maintains a registry of its members heraldic devices (popularly referred to as “coats of arms”)

3. Problem Statement (cont’d) • The Society adds over 500 devices to its registry each year, more than England’s College of Arms registered in the last century • Prior to the late 1990’s this registration was done strictly manually. Online text checking has improved the situation, but not by much

4. Conflict Checking

5. Division – Barry Partition – Wavy FieldT1 – Vert FieldT2 – Argent 1st Point of Difference Division – Quarterly Partition – none FieldT1 – Vert FieldT2 – Argent Conflict Checking - Fields

6. Type1 – Uni. Head Not Enough Difference Type1 – Horse Head Conflict Checking – Chargelist

7. Location1 – Center Number1 – One Type1 – Uni. Head Position1 – Couped Tincture1 – Sable Not Enough Difference Location1 – Center Number1 – One Type1 – Horse Head Position1 – Couped Tincture1 - Sable Conflict Checking - Charge

8. Conflict Checking

9. Division – Barry Partition – Wavy FieldT1 – Vert FieldT2 – Argent 1st Point of Difference Division – Quarterly Partition – none FieldT1 – Vert FieldT2 – Argent Conflict Checking - Fields

10. Type1 – Uni. Head Type2 – Chief 2nd Point of Difference Type1 – Horse Head Conflict Checking - Chargelist

11. Actual Run Typescript Please enter a blazon: Per bend sable and argent, a decresent and a hound dormant counterchanged. ERROR #092 "I'm sorry, could you please reblazon the charges? First incorrect word -- decresent Please enter a blazon: Per bend sable and argent, a decrescent and a hound dormant counterchanged.

12. Actual Run Typescript Possible conflicts: Name: Morgan Kildarby Date: 9109C Blazon: Per fess argent and sable, a crescent and a wolf rampant counterchanged. Name: Bran of Silver Keep Date: 9707A Blazon: Per chevron azure and argent, two demiwolves rampant addorsed and a dog statant reguardant sable.