The Household - Combat Rules

The following is a brief outline of our combat approach.

We use blunted steel weapons, in a manner as close as we ascertain to correct period use. All blows should connect, but must be fully controlled controlled and "pulled". Contact must always be made with the flat of the blade, not the edge. All blows should appear to exhibit "lethal force", be laid-on (not "tip-tap") - tippy-tappy blows will be ignored, but should still be acknowledged.

HOLD. On hearing the command "hold", all combat shall cease immediately, irrespective of who issued the command.

Illegal Areas

No blows to connect in any circumstances to these areas:

Head and neck Elbow and hand Groin Knee, shin, and foot Spine (any shot to the back needs extra care)

All thrusts must be made with a bent elbow.

All hits to the torso are counted as kills, and hits to the arms and legs as wounds. When wounded, you may defend yourself, naturally hindered by your wounds.

We try and avoid hitting hands, but it's next to impossible - gloves are essential, although not in period (except for mailed mittens if wearing a hauberk).

The Household operates an armour class hit point system:

• No armour - one hit to kill or wound
• Gambeson - two hits
• Mail, scale or lamellar - three hits
• Plate - 4 hits

Very few blows from period weaponry would have killed you outright, so if you take a kill shot you must fall over, but you may also roll around, scream, moan, attempt to crawl away etc. until you are finished off. If you are wounded in a line, pull out of the line, go back to the colour party or run away.

Other important points:

• All people on the battlefield are viable targets unless stated otherwise on the day.
• If you leave the battlefield you may not return
• Feints may be made to any part of the body
• Do not pull at limbs with any weapon
• The shield may be used offensively
• If combat gets too close to the arena ropes, break off and move to a safer area.