(Effective August 17, 1998)
GENERAL CONVENTIONS
I. Precedence of Law
Corpora and other Governing Documents of the Society for Creative Anachronism,
Inc. (Society) set the minimum standards for combat activities within the
Kingdom of AEthelmearc (Kingdom). Society policy states that kingdoms may
institute standards which are stricter than those of the Society, but may not
reduce or waive any Society standard. Therefore, in any disagreement between
Kingdom and Society rules, the Society rules shall take precedence.
Invalidation of any item within these rules shall not affect the validity of
the remaining sections.
All marshals must obtain copies of the current Society and Kingdom policies
governing combat activities, including Corpora and The Marshals Handbook.
II. Structure
1. The Crown, Earl Marshal, and deputies to the Earl Marshal (see 3.a below),
in that order, are solely responsible for interpretation of the rules,
conventions, armor standards, and all other matters dealing with Society combat
activities within the Kingdom.
2. The earl marshal serves as a coordinator, arbitrator, and facilitator for
all combat activities within the kingdom. He writes and enforces policy dealing
with areas of interaction between the combat related activities under his
jurisdiction. The earl marshal reserves the right of review over all matters
pertaining to combat activities within the kingdom.
3. The combat related activities of the Kingdom include: Contact (e.g., combat
archery, fencing, and rattan combat), non-contact (e.g., lists office, archery,
thrown weapons, and equestrian) and other activities as shall be designated by
the Society Marshal or the Board of Directors, from time to time.
a. The senior marshal or officer of each of the above activities (i.e., marshal
of fence, minister of lists, combat archery commander, etc.) is a deputy to the
earl marshal.
b. Each deputy is responsible for establishing policy within their warranted
area, subject to item 2 (above).
c. Each deputy will maintain regular contact with the earl marshal. Written
reports will be submitted quarterly by the 1st day of March, June, September,
and December. Deputies are also responsible for forwarding to the Earl Marshal
(within 24 hours) any reports concerning injuries or disciplinary action.
d. Marshals will restrict their marshaling activities to those areas for which
they hold a warrant. Exception: any marshal should intervene if he observes breakage
of armor, boundaries, or tempers.
e. It is neither stated nor implied herein that any activity is superior to
another. Cooperation, assistance, and common sense are the rule when an event
contains multiple combat activities.
f. Chivalric Peers are considered to be warranted marshals for rattan combat
activities once they have provided proof of membership and contact information
to the earl marshal or his representative.
III. Minor Participants.
1. Definition: for the purpose of these rules a minor is defined as any person
who has not attained his/her eighteenth (18th) birthday.
2. No minor shall be allowed to participate in armored combat activities. These
activities include the following: combat, marshaling, scouting, banner bearing
and combat archery.
IV. Problem Resolution.
1. All marshals have the responsibility to maintain the standards of the
Society and the Kingdom for marshaled activities. If the marshal feels that
action is required against any individual who fails to meet standards (this includes
failure of armor inspection, excessive force, repeated non-acknowledgment of
blows, etc.), the marshal shall inform the individual of the action to be taken
and send a written report to the regional marshal (the Earl Marshal if the
marshal taking action is a regional marshal) reporting the action within 72
hours.
2. Any individual informed of an action may appeal to the Earl Marshal if they
feel that the action is inappropriate or disproportionate to the offense.
3. The Earl marshal, when asked for appeal, will respond to the individual. If
this appeal is still unacceptable to the individual, a further appeal will be
made to the Crown who, in consultation with the Earl Marshal, will set a date
for the individual to present his/her case to the Crown. If the action taken
initially involved the revocation or suspension of authorization, the
authorization will remain in suspension until the date of the hearing with the
Crown.
4. The Earl Marshal will make every attempt to facilitate a speedy process for dealing
with issues.
CONVENTIONS OF COMBAT
In general, these conventions are in addition to those already listed in the
governing policies of the society Marshal and the Marshals Handbook.
Conventions in those text will not be repeated here, however they are in effect
as Kingdom standards and shall be adhered to.
I . Calibration.
1. For purposes of calibration, all fighters are presumed to be wearing a
hauberk over padded gambeson, boiled leather arms and legs, and open face, iron
helm with nasal and chain mail drape.
a. Blows or thrusts to the face require less force than elsewhere, due to the
helm having an open face. Tip slashes to the face need not be taken due to the
nasal and drape. Thrusts to the face are good if they move the helm. Target for
a face thrust is defined as an area running from 1" above the eyebrows
down to the collar bones across the entire width of the face.
b. The entire body is legal target with the exception of the hand, up to and
including one inch above the bend of the wrist; and, the lower leg, up to and
including one inch above the knee. While the groin and throat are legal
targets, and should be taken as kills, blows to those areas are strongly
discouraged.
2. All fighters are expected to take into account the nature of the weapon
being used and the point of impact when judging the effect of blows they
receive.
a. Blows should be struck properly oriented and with sufficient force for the
weapon being used.
b. Mass weapons (axe/mace), pole weapons, greatswords, and katana which strike
on or above the hip socket or inside the shoulder socket are fatal or totally
disabling.
c. A blow which strikes with sufficient force and properly oriented shall be
considered effective regardless of what it hit prior to striking legal target.
d. A blow begun after a hold is not a legal blow and need not be accepted.
e. A blow that includes dropping the weapon at the moment of impact need not be
counted.
II. Tournament Behavior
1. All fighters, prior to combat, must have their armor and weapons inspected
by a warranted member of the Kingdom marshallate.
a. Inspection by a member of the marshallate does not void a fighters
responsibility for the condition of their own equipment. Each fighter has an
obligation to maintain compliance with Society and Kingdom armor and weapon
standards.
b. Armor failure during single combat shall result in a forfeit if the Crown or
Marshal-in-Charge determines that necessary repairs will constitute an
unnecessary or unwarranted delay.
2. All fighters shall obey the commands of the marshals on the field, or shall
be removed from the field and shall be subject to disciplinary action.
a. Disagreement with a marshal shall be resolved through the established
mechanisms outlined in these policies.
3. Each participant on the field shall maintain control over their temper at
all times.
4. Striking an opponent with excessive force is forbidden.
5. Any behavior that takes deliberate advantage of an opponents chivalry or
safety-consciousness is prohibited. A helpless or unarmed opponent may not be
struck. A fighter who repeatedly feigns helplessness (e.g., dropping their
weapon, falling over, etc.) may be warned by the marshals and then, upon the
next occurrence of such behavior, be required to yield. The marshals are
advised, though not required, to consider input from both fighters before
requiring a fighter to yield.
6. The striking surface of a weapon may not be intentionally grasped or blocked
by the hands or lower legs to impede a blow. Incidental contact does not
violate this convention, but repeated occurrences may result in disciplinary
action.
7. Weapons may not be braced against a fighters body, helm, or shield when they
are struck. Such action may result in the marshal warning the fighter and then
declaring the weapon broken at the next occurrence.
8. A shield may be used to displace, deflect, or immobilize an opponents shield
or weapon, so long as such use does not endanger the safety of the combatants.
Deliberately striking an opponent with a shield is forbidden unless the shield
is designed as a weapon and conforms to the Kingdom rules for mass weapons.
III. Additional Conventions for Melee Combat
1. Conventions and tactical limits may be modified for a particular battle if:
a. all participants are aware of, and agree to abide with, said changes;
b. the modifications do not, in the opinion of the marshal in charge, create
unsafe conditions;
2. No two-handed weapons will be swung through an arc greater than 90 degrees.
3. Armor failure during melee shall require the fighter to yield the field. The
fighter may only return if the tactical limits of the battle permit and, in the
marshal's opinion, he may do so safely. Temporary loss of a sword, resulting in
inadequate hand protection, does not constitute armor failure if, in the marshals
opinion, the fighter can safely recover his weapon.
4. A fighter who is helpless may not be struck. However, a lost weapon during a
melee is not considered to make a fighter defenseless. (Use common sense when
deciding how hard you must strike an unarmed opponent and, if possible, permit
your opponent to yield.)
5. While two units are engaged any member of either unit may strike any member
of the opposing unit.
a. During a breakthrough you may strike or be struck by passing opponents.
Other than during a breakthrough, striking from behind is prohibited.
b. If a fighter or unit breaks engagement (moves out of weapon range) for any
reason, he must reestablish recognition before striking an opponent. This means
positive eye contact PLUS some other unquestionable indication that your
presence is acknowledged. You should not be striking your opponent as he is
turning to face you, or as a means of getting his attention. If you are engaged
with a fighter and he turns away but does not move out of range then engagement
has not been broken and he may be struck.
c. Except in the case of engaged units, no more than four fighters shall attack
a single opponent. (A single fighter is never considered to be a unit.)
6. If you are killed by a teammate you are still dead.
7. Dead fighters may not give aid or assistance to their still fighting
comrades.
8. Combat Archery and projectile weapons.
a. Arrows/projectiles must hit squarely and point first to be considered good.
b. Arrows/projectiles may be fired at a target from any angle (even from
behind) and at any distance. Archers are to use restraint when firing at close
range or from behind.
c. Arrows/projectiles need not hit with the same force as a rattan weapon to be
considered good.
d. Glancing arrows/projectiles may kill if they strike another target squarely
with point first.
e. If an arrow/projectile strike is good, it kills whoever it hit (no matter
who's side they are on).
f. Firing into crowds of spectators (armed or otherwise) and outside the safety
zone is prohibited and calls for the repeal of the offender's authorization.
g. Arrows/projectiles found on the field may be reused if they pass a quick
visual inspection to check for obvious defects.
h. Arrows (but not siege engine projectiles) may be blocked by shields and
pavices. Weapons may not be intentionally used to block arrows.
i. Archers must not use their bows to block rattan.
j. All combatants shall be considered engaged and recognized by archers when
the marshal gives the lay on signal.
k. All parts of the body above the knees and above the wrists are legal targets
for archers as with rattan combat. However, catching arrows/projectiles or
batting them out of the air with ones hand will cause the loss of that hand.
l. It is strongly recommended that Archers place their bows off the field prior
to switching to other weapons forms, however bows may be sheathed, handed off,
or held out off the way in order to switch. At no time may an Archer use their
bow in order to block or throw blows at other combatants. Bows may not be left
on the field of combat.
9. Combat Throwing Weapons
a. Any authorized fighter may use combat throwing weapons (there no separate
combat throwing weapon authorization)
b. Standard armor requirements for hand protection applies (full gauntlet for
fighters, half gauntlet for archers) for throwing weapons.
c. Combat Throwing weapons must be thrown in order to kill.
d. Rules governing good hits for combat arrows apply to javelins and throwing
axes.
e. Throwing weapons may be repeatedly thrown as long as they are not
structurally damaged.
10. Combatants may switch between multiple weapons forms during combat provided
that their armor is legal for each form.
11. Catapults
a. Catapults will be restricted to a catapult zone. Only catapults and their
operators will be allowed in this zone.
b. All people within the catapult zone must wear a heavy helm and a padded
gambeson to protect against enemy catapult fire.
c. Ammunition may be gleamed from the field by armored fighters, archers or
scouts and reused.
d. Catapults may be destroyed by an opposing fighter by pointing their weapon
within 15ft and saying out loud "destroyed." Catapults may also be
destroyed if opposing catapult fire touches a catapult or any of its operators.
If a catapult is destroyed, the operator and anyone assisting in its operation
are dead and must leave the field or lay down.
e. Catapult fire kills everyone it touches, and can not be blocked by shield.
However, projectile are considered dead when they touch the ground.
12. All marshals are responsible for determining the safety of persons on the
field (including non combattants such as scouts and water bearers). Marshals
may not, except in cases where safety is an issue, forbid the use of certain
weapons forms in melee combat. Since projectile weapons are a safety issue for
spectators as well as persons involved in combat, "safety zones"
should be established around any field or area to be used for melee combat.
13. It is strongly recommended that marshals be aware of the dangers inherent
in projectile weapons and that eye protection be worn. Other armor protection
is also recommended.
ARMOR AND WEAPON STANDARDS
In general, the standards for armor and weapons in the Kingdom of AEthelmearc
will be Society standards. Additional requirements are listed here.
I. Armor
1. Please see the Society Marshal's guidelines for armor standards.
II. Weapons
No metal may be used in the striking surface of any weapon.
1. Swords
a. Swords shall be constructed of rattan and shall not be less than 1 1/4"
in total diameter (including rattan and tape) along its entire length. The use
of the material known as Sil-O-flex (astm # D-2239) may be used in the
construction of swords as an alternative to rattan. This material may be used
by encasing a 1" interior diameter piece of rattan inside of the
Sil-O-Flex (exterior diameter of 1 1/4"). No other material (eg. glue) may
be used in the construction of the sword.
b. One-handed swords shall not exceed 42" in overall length. Two-handed
swords shall not exceed 72" in total length.
c. Total weight may not exceed 4 pounds for one-handed weapons, or 6 pounds for
two-handed weapons.
d. Thrusting tips shall be no less than 2" in diameter and shall provide
progressively resistant give without allowing contact with the rigid tip of the
weapon.
e. Low profile thrusting tips are permitted for use on single handed swords
only. A low profile tip is defined as one in which the diameter of the tip is
identical to that of the sword.
ii. Butt spikes are not permitted on swords.
f. Two-handed sword grips shall not exceed 18" measured from the bottom of
the guard to the bottom of the pommel.
2. Mass weapons (maces, axes, and war hammers)
a. Total length shall not exceed 48".
b. "Clicker" maces are permitted according to the following
restrictions:
i. The head shall be constructed as above.
ii. Rattan (minimum of 1 1/4" diameter), which is split in half
longitudinally, may be placed on the striking surface so that it ends no closer
than 1" of the top and bottom of the padded area of the head. Both the top
and bottom of the rattan shall be beveled so as not to present a sharp edge.
Both rattan and padding shall be covered with tape as per previous conventions.
3. Pole Arms
a. Total length shall not exceed 72 inches for padded polearms, or 90" for
unpadded.
b. Total weight shall not exceed 1 pound per foot of length.
c. Polearms may contain blades constructed of split rattan so long as the two
pieces are securely fastened to the haft using tape. No materials may be used
which alter the properties of the rattan (eg. glue)
4. Spears
a. Total spear length shall not exceed 12 feet.
c. Spears do not have any cutting/smashing heads or butt spikes.
5. Combat Archery
a. Recurve, longbows and crossbows are permissible. Compound bows are not allowed.
b. The weight of any bow is limited to 1000 foot inches or less. Foot inches
are calculated by multiplying the poundage of the bow at full draw times the
distance (in inches) of the string at rest to the string at full draw. For
example: a 50# bow with a 28 inch arrow has a draw distance of 20 inches (50# x
20 in =3D 1000ft. in.)
c. Arrows shafts must be made out of golf tube material. The outer diameter of
the tube is at least 11/4" in diameter. They may be of any length.
d. Tips may be constructed of closed cell pipe insulation foam. Shafts must be
plugged with a pine dowel (2" in length) to prevent the foam from downing
the shaft of the arrow. The dowel may penetrate up to 1 inch into the arrow
tip. A minimum of 1 inch of foam must protrude beyond the tip of the dowel.
Arrow tips must be at least 1-1/2 inch in diameter.
e. Tennis balls may also be used as tips. All tennis ball tips must be attached
to the shaft by 1/8 inch twisted nylon/dacron cord and reinforced with nylon
filament (strapping) tape.
f. All arrow tips must be marked with contrasting tape.
g. Fletching must be made of soft, flexible material such as foam or duct tape.
The edges must be rounded.
h. Additional weight beyond what is required to construct the arrow is not
allowed. However, spray insulation foam may be applied to the inside of arrow
shaft or double tubing with a second golf tube may be used to add rigidity.
i. All arrows must be marked with the owner's SCA name and local group.
j. Arrow nocks may not exceed 3/4" in length.
6. Throwing Javelins
a. Javelins are to be constructed from one (1) inch (approx 1-1/4 outer
diameter), schedule 40 PVC tubing, with the mark SCH-40 left visible.
b. Javelins are not to exceed 4 ft in length (excluding tales) and 2 pounds in
weight.
c. Javelin striking tips must be at least 2 inch in diameter and be marked as
per thrusting tip regulation.
d. Javelin back ends must be capped or padded to a minimum OD of 1-1/2 inch
e. Javelin shaft must be spiral wrapped with fiber (strapping) tape.
f. Javelins may have tail fins or trailers to add stability.
Tail fins must be made from soft, flexible material such as foam or duck tape
while trailers must be made from 1-1/2 wide cloth not exceeding 2 ft. in
length.
g. Javelins must be marked with the owners name and home group for
identification.
7. Throwing Axes
a. Throwing axes are to be constructed out of 1 inch rubber tubing such as
garden hose and ethafoam (used in packing material for appliances, such as
computers, and as self-healing archery targets). (see TI Issue 72, p. 24 for
more details)
b. Throwing axes are to be first wrapped with filament and then wrapped again
with duck tape to hold it together. No wood, metal or rattan may be used in
constructing throwing axes.
c. The butt of the handle and ax blade must be at least 2 inch thick with the
striking surface marked with contrasting tape.
d. Throwing axes must be marked with the owners name and home group for
identification
8. Siege Engines
a. Siege Engines are to be free standing structures which may not exceed 80
pounds of thrust at its cocked position.
b. Catapult ammunition will be comprised of tennis balls (3 for a base with one
on top) taped together with a layer of strapping tape, then covered with duck
tape. Ammunition may not be composed of any other substances other than tennis
balls and tape.
6. Other weapons
a. A madu is defined as a single length of rattan no longer than 60" with
a fixed center grip and thrusting tips at each end. It is constructed as per
the rules of a sword, but contains no cutting edge.
b. A javelin is defined as a single length of rattan no more than 60" in
length with a non fixed grip, but only one thrusting tip. A javelin has no
cutting edge.
c. Thrusting tips on both madus and javelins must be at least 2" in
diameter.