Unwritten Rules

Revision as of 04:58, 25 February 2008

Unwritten "rules" of Belegarth combat.

Standard of combat

These unwritten "rules" can now be called "unofficial rules" since they have been written down somewhere accessible. These are in no way enforceable in multi-realm events, but have become the standard in many established realms and events regardless.

If you have the question "Is this an unwritten rule" your best bet is to use common sense.

Standards

• Marshals are often referred to as Heralds.

• • Heralds wear yellow tabards, sometimes edged.

• • Photographers will sometimes wear yellow tabards as well. Though they might not have the authority of Heralds, they should still be treated as such. Please do not hit them, they give us good pictures after the event is over.

• • Heralds are not shields and should in no way be hid behind or used to gain advantage over an opponent.

• Use your judgment to determine how much force to use against an opponent; i.e. go easier on smaller fighters when using red weapons and heavy offensive shieldwork. This does NOT mean "tap fighting."

• Drop to your knees immediately when a hold is called; don't move or re-equip during a hold unless told to do so by a Herald.

• • Don't call a hold to gain an advantage over fellow fighters. Likewise, heralds should avoid calling hold unnecessarily if it would change the course of battle or cause a team to gain or lose the advantage.

• • Hits after a hold are not counted. (Situational)

• Avoid fighting near weapons piles, onlookers, or unsafe locations. (Examples: parked cars, fences, narrow bridges)

• Half draw on a throw means the hand should not go behind the head.

• You can grab your own weapon anyway you want including the blade/striking surface.

Field Combat

• Shield bashing archers can be dangerous (use common sense).

• No catching arrows while in flight.

• Swing lightly while calling the weapon color/class if coming up behind unaware fighters to kill them. Also can be used with red weapons/class two weapons and if the fighter is legged without a shield. (Referred to as a Courtesy shot/hit; saying "Courtesy" before or with the hit can clarify this for the target)

• • Take courtesy shots; they are meant to be polite, and if you don't do so you will probably be hit full force next time.

• Weapon/arm above your head means you are dead and trying to get off the field. (Only clear the field if a marshal/herald tells you to unless it's an emergency.) Reference rule 3.4.2.1

• Do not attempt to look like you are dead to gain a combat advantage over the "living" players. Also called Ghosting. (Examples: Leaving the field with your weapon/arm above your head when you didn't "die", sitting on your butt and waiting for someone to draw near). If you take a wound or death and realize you made a mistake, you cannot come back to life or otherwise undo the bad call.

• If killed you can call "down", "dead", or "got it" to inform your opponent you are dead (Still lay down immediately). Reference rule 3.4.2.1

• • If killed you can raise your weapon/arm above your head to inform your opponent you are dead (Still lay down immediately). Reference rule 3.4.2.1

• • Dropping your weapon is not a valid show of death.

• • If you are dead, look dead. (Examples: An elbow to the ground while laying on your side, laying spread eagle on your belly/back) If you are alive, look alive. (Examples: Walk around, kneel, roll)

• No kicking people. Just because it is not a grapple doesn't mean you can kick someone. Shield kicking is allowed. Reference rule 3.5.4

• Purposefully hitting someone with a non-striking surface of a weapon is discouraged.

• • Don't hit or bash people with the core (inside/unpadded side) of a shield.

• A shield is a shield no matter what part it is.

• Hands and feet are always legal targets, you just take no damage if holding a weapon or shield or having foot on ground. An empty hand is considered part of the arm; a foot off the ground is considered part of the leg.

• Grappling on the field is best equated to high school wrestling. Reference rule 3.6

Gear

• Weapons that slash are not meant to double as missile weapons. (Example: a javelin/staff combo) Never throw a weapon offensively if it is not explicitly mentioned in the rules as one to be thrown (i.e. Javelins and Rocks).

• No core in the head of a flail.

• Wooden cores do not have to be 100% taped, only the exposed handle. Though for safety, it may be appropriate to do so. Reference rule 1.3.8.

• Shields should not taco (edges bend towards each other excessively when shield is bent in half).

• Axes (or any other weapon) should not taco (i.e. the striking surfaces bend toward each other excessively or touch).

• Armor protrusions (leather spikes, metal studs, etc.) must not pass through a 2.5 inch hole. Reference rule: 3.4; Appendix A.

Not recognized in all places

• A shot in motion continues if you loose an arm or are killed. Some places use if you're killed, no shot continues.

• A weapon's "Magic Switch" from the dead arm/hand to the other is discouraged. Drop the weapon and then pick it back up if you loose an arm.

• If you hit someone in the head, you are dead.

• Some places pause to make sure a fighter can continue after a head shot. Other places keep fighting. IE: Never use a head shot to make way for a kill shot.

• Missing a shield kick and kicking your opponent is death.

• Hand on a shield is the same as hand on a weapon.

• Arm on a shield is not the same as hand on a weapon.

Others

• Don't be the first one to go to sleep at an event.

• Always be nice to Troll and the event coordinators. They work hard to let you have fun and ask for little in return.

• When entering a camp site other than your own at an event, it is polite to say "Hail Camp" to alert those already there to your presence instead of simply wandering in uninvited.

• The word discouraged in the BOW is not the same as illegal for a reason, but should still be emphasized and adhered to.

Resources: Compiled from information from the Belegarth boards
"Unwritten Rules list" [1]
"Two missing archery rules" [2]
Belegarth Book of War [3]

Initial creation and formatting done. --Thorondor 21:40, 21 February 2008 (EST)