Cross Post: Greycloake Combat rules for upcoming event

[Drey]

So that all concerned can see how Greycloake combat works I'm going to do a cut and paste. We'll be doing the first real full battle of these experimental rules. Hopefully we'll be able to move from experiment, to common practice over the course of this year:

Rules for ages 16 - Adult
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General:
Participants in this age category are considered physically large and mature enough for combat with others in this age group. The intent is that individuals engaged form of combat present a generally historically correct look for the Dark Ages/Norman/Viking Era. Minors are expected to have parental permission to participate.

Approved Weapons:
Weapons used are to be commercially purchased LARP weapons approved for larp combat. <need to get a standard approval to use-suggest inclusion model for acceptance>

Missile Weapons:
Missile weapons are allowed, as are hand held weapons (daggers, axes, foam rocks) may also be thrown. Spears and javelins may be approved if deemed okay by REEVES. Bows need to be similar to period bows, and/or made to look like made of natrural materisls. Maximum draw weight is 30# @ 29” draw. LARP approved arrows/bolts are acceptable. <NEED TO DISCUSS and/or field test different missiles for incl arrows/bolts>

Historic costumes are required:
Basic costume is considered tunic, trousers, and belt of a generic early medieval appearance. Any type of fabric is acceptable so long as it is not patterned or camouflaged, and too modern a texture. Shoes/footgear may be period appropriate or modern as long as the modern shoes/boots are not obviously so. Laced combat boots, hiking boots, and other footgear with a modern look and treaded sole are not appropriate to use. Footgear may have a simple rubber or leather sole with heel, but the preferred footgear is historically appropriate attire and this is what is encouraged for use.

Armor:
Dark Age armor is allowed and encouraged. Chain mail brynies, padded armor, lamilar and leather are all allowed. Any other armor is with the approval of the event coordinators as long as it is deemed realistic and does not impede an individual fighter from feeling a fairly landed blow. Only real armor gives protection. Costume LARP type armor may be approved depending on the quality of appearance, but does not count for as protection for scoring purposes. Knee and elbow pads may be worn if hidden under clothing or not too obvious. Other protection may be worn but should be unobtrusive, and does not count for scoring.

The head must also be protected with some form of protection, though this will typically be open faced offering only limited protection to the face.

Head protection required:
• Viking/Norman/Dark Age metal framed helmet with or without nasal or cheek protection.
• Leather/other modern material substitutes (LARP approved) of the same also acceptable.
• Chain mail coif worn with padded cap underneath (may substitute wool or leather cap).
• Wool/leather hood with wool or leather cap underneath. (counts as no protection for scoring)

Headshots will happen. Get the best head protection you can. Markland Rec grade equipment is recommended above any other option.

Hand protection:
Light leather gloves are required. Gloves need only provide protection from minor abrasions. Heavier gloves are at the option of the wearer. Hockey gloves or other heavy combat hand protection (metal/plastic gauntlets) are not allowed.

Shields:
The following are allowed for use-
• Any shield approved for Markland recreational combat so long as the edge is covered with cloth/leather, etc… to prevent it from abrading weapons. (1/2” wood thickness)
• LARP approved shields that are suitable for a historical era look. Shields must have an early medieval period look (up to circa 1200 AD).
• Other shields approved on a one-by-one basis.

The following shields are NOT approved-
• Any shield that is built specifically for Markland or SCA heavy combat), or any shield with obvious modern materials used in its construction is not acceptable.
• Any shield using all metal construction (aluminum, steel…shield bosses excepted). Why? Two reasons- metal is not really appropriate for the era aimed to simulate, and because the narrow edges cause excessive wear on Larp weapons.
• Any shield with torn, jagged or splintered edges that might damage weapons and or likely to hurt combatants.

Use of shields in combat-
Offensive use of shields as a weapon is forbidden. Accidental/incidental contact is permitted during combat simulations (such as a shield wall or wedge formation), but striking or hooking with a shield is not allowed and can result in suspension from participation.

Combat:
Combatants engaged in fighting will only do so in the presence of REEVES to observe and judge when fighters inflict a wound/slay their opponent. REEVES are expected to take an active role in helping fighters regulate combat to avoid force escalation and prevent fighters from ignoring hits. Combatants are expected to regulate their behavior and remember that this is a game. Excessive “gamesmanship” to use rules to win is not the point of this combat system. Combat is supposed to simulate dark ages/early medieval combat in a fun and safe manner. Use of weapons in an unsafe or unrealistic manner is not allowed and REEVES with be the judge of appropriate behavior.

Individuals participating in combat must test their weapons before combat begins for the day by calibrating their weapon(s) by striking themselves on the head/face.

Scoring:
Any fairly landed blow is considered sufficient to inflict injury or death. Strength of the blow is less of a factor than the deliberateness of the hit. Depending on the location of the “wound” it may force the individual receiving the injury to loose use of a limb, restrict movement, etc…

Armor Effects on Scoring:
Armor counts to reduce the effect of a fairly landed blow from “death” to a “wound”. Any participant that is struck on an armored portion of his/her body is considered wounded at the location that he/she is struck. A second hit to any part of the body “kills” the fighter. Any hit with a missile weapon is counted. Armor is NOT proof from arrows or crossbow bolts.

Headshots:
The helmet is a legitimate target, but care should be used in striking a blow towards this region to reduce the force of strikes to this part of the body. A downward swing to the head is the safest blow to wield. Accidental or light hits to the head by other means are allowed, but discouraged. Any individual who deliberately targets the face with a forceful blow can be ejected from combat depending on the decision of a REEVE.