English rules
Lähetetty: Maanantai, 06.01.2014 22:47
Here comes the summary of the rules! Feel free to ask questions and chat about rules under this topic. (You have to register first - click "rekisteröidy" in right top corner to register, if your browser doesn't translate it automatically)
The fight
The combat rules are simple. A hit from a weapon to the limb makes the limb useless, a hit to the head or body kills. A new hit to a limb that has already taken damage leads to death. You also die, if you lose two hands or two legs.
If the blade or any damage inflicting part of the weapon touches the fighter, it counts as a hit, no matter how light the blow. Hits to clothing clearly apart from the body, obviously do not count as a hit. In unclear situations, it is considered polite to clarify for the attacker, whether the hit was successful or not.
The basic principle is that everyone focuses on counting the hits they receive rather than the ones they give - gentlemen rules apply. If someone does not seem to count their hits properly, after the scenario you can take the issue up with the fighter in question, his group leader or with the supervisors. If you are not sure if you received the hit or not, the best way is to just take it as a hit.
Contact
It is allowed to grab your opponent’s weapon, except for the blade. Body contact between the fighters is allowed, but you are not allowed to grapple, push, trip or wrestle. All locking (wrist, knee, elbow, etc.) techniques are forbidden.
You are allowed to take contact with the opponent with your shield, but shield bashing and techniques aiming to take the opponent down are forbidden. Polearms can be used to push your opponents’ shields and weapons but wrestling with a polearm is not permitted. Also hitting with the shaft of the polearm is not allowed.
If you have the chance to hit your opponent from behind or from another angle where he/she is unaware of the coming hit, make sure to do it gently. When choosing target area for such attack, avoid the back of the head and the kidneys.
Armour
Armour negates the first hit to each armoured hit location (head, torso, right leg, left leg, right hand, left hand) that is covered by armour. The armour that is hit loses its protective value, but is again usable in the next scenario, or after respawn in the same scenario.
Death
Once you are dead, raise your hand above your head and hold your weapon upside-down in your hand. This is to signal others that you have ceased fighting. As soon as possible, move away from the fight, while trying to avoid obstructing the fight. Do not walk through your own, or enemy lines. Do not talk to people who are not dead. Pretending to be dead, or hiding among the dead (if you aren’t), is strictly forbidden and may lead to removal of the offender from the event.
Hold!
If you notice a dangerous situation, shout "hold!". When someone shouts "hold!", cease all fighting and repeat the shout. Stand still until the situation is resolved and the supervisors give the signal to continue.
Do not use ‘hold’ unless necessary. For example, if you spot a broken sword you can just inform the combatant with the broken weapon. Stumbling is not dangerous unless the warrior is in risk of getting trampled. If situation is already under control and injured fighter is already being taken care of, shouting “hold” is not recommended.
Supervisors
The duty of the supervisors is to oversee the safety of the battles. They can pause the scenario if rules are being broken. They can also give remarks on participants if they misbehave. If necessary, supervisors act as referees and their instructions must be followed. Supervisors can also remove participants from scenarios if they misbehave severely, or from the whole event if the misbehaving continues.
Equipment
The weapons and armour used is medieval. The most common weapons are swords of different lengths, spears, polearms and bows. Armour types that give an extra point are maille, hardened leather, plate armour and various other steel armours, for example lamellar and scale armours. Please note that there are specific thickness or structural requirements for armour. Specifically, you should note that most leather armour pieces sold as “hardened” in online shops (e.g. mytholon.com), do not qualify as armour in War Cry. Metal armour thickness should be at least 1 mm for shaped armours, or 1,5 mm for such armours as splint mail. A rule of thumb is that if the armour is reasonably sturdy and not trying to cut too many corners, it suffices. Armour has to be safe also for other combatants, so sharp edged and gothic spikes are no-go.
You can inquire for more specific requirements in our forum (http://forum.sotahuuto.fi/viewforum.php?f=224).
We’ll also try to answer beforehand whether your armor qualifies. As a special case, a protective sports helmet is also accepted as armour, as long as it is painted in neutral colors or hidden by a hood.
Weapons are padded, built around PVC or glass fiber tubes. Instructions for building a sword can be found from http://wiki.sotahuuto.fi/index.php/Miekan_teko-ohjeet . Look at the pictures that are quite self-evident, even if captions are in Finnish.
Instruction for building spears can be found from http://wiki.sotahuuto.fi/index.php/Keih ... eko-ohjeet . Again, take a close look at the pictures, even if text is in Finnish.
Organizers will most probably be able to lend weaponry for international visitors.
If interested on specific equipment requirements (e.g. safety requirements for bows, arrows etc.) don’t hesitate to contact the organizers.
The fight
The combat rules are simple. A hit from a weapon to the limb makes the limb useless, a hit to the head or body kills. A new hit to a limb that has already taken damage leads to death. You also die, if you lose two hands or two legs.
If the blade or any damage inflicting part of the weapon touches the fighter, it counts as a hit, no matter how light the blow. Hits to clothing clearly apart from the body, obviously do not count as a hit. In unclear situations, it is considered polite to clarify for the attacker, whether the hit was successful or not.
The basic principle is that everyone focuses on counting the hits they receive rather than the ones they give - gentlemen rules apply. If someone does not seem to count their hits properly, after the scenario you can take the issue up with the fighter in question, his group leader or with the supervisors. If you are not sure if you received the hit or not, the best way is to just take it as a hit.
Contact
It is allowed to grab your opponent’s weapon, except for the blade. Body contact between the fighters is allowed, but you are not allowed to grapple, push, trip or wrestle. All locking (wrist, knee, elbow, etc.) techniques are forbidden.
You are allowed to take contact with the opponent with your shield, but shield bashing and techniques aiming to take the opponent down are forbidden. Polearms can be used to push your opponents’ shields and weapons but wrestling with a polearm is not permitted. Also hitting with the shaft of the polearm is not allowed.
If you have the chance to hit your opponent from behind or from another angle where he/she is unaware of the coming hit, make sure to do it gently. When choosing target area for such attack, avoid the back of the head and the kidneys.
Armour
Armour negates the first hit to each armoured hit location (head, torso, right leg, left leg, right hand, left hand) that is covered by armour. The armour that is hit loses its protective value, but is again usable in the next scenario, or after respawn in the same scenario.
Death
Once you are dead, raise your hand above your head and hold your weapon upside-down in your hand. This is to signal others that you have ceased fighting. As soon as possible, move away from the fight, while trying to avoid obstructing the fight. Do not walk through your own, or enemy lines. Do not talk to people who are not dead. Pretending to be dead, or hiding among the dead (if you aren’t), is strictly forbidden and may lead to removal of the offender from the event.
Hold!
If you notice a dangerous situation, shout "hold!". When someone shouts "hold!", cease all fighting and repeat the shout. Stand still until the situation is resolved and the supervisors give the signal to continue.
Do not use ‘hold’ unless necessary. For example, if you spot a broken sword you can just inform the combatant with the broken weapon. Stumbling is not dangerous unless the warrior is in risk of getting trampled. If situation is already under control and injured fighter is already being taken care of, shouting “hold” is not recommended.
Supervisors
The duty of the supervisors is to oversee the safety of the battles. They can pause the scenario if rules are being broken. They can also give remarks on participants if they misbehave. If necessary, supervisors act as referees and their instructions must be followed. Supervisors can also remove participants from scenarios if they misbehave severely, or from the whole event if the misbehaving continues.
Equipment
The weapons and armour used is medieval. The most common weapons are swords of different lengths, spears, polearms and bows. Armour types that give an extra point are maille, hardened leather, plate armour and various other steel armours, for example lamellar and scale armours. Please note that there are specific thickness or structural requirements for armour. Specifically, you should note that most leather armour pieces sold as “hardened” in online shops (e.g. mytholon.com), do not qualify as armour in War Cry. Metal armour thickness should be at least 1 mm for shaped armours, or 1,5 mm for such armours as splint mail. A rule of thumb is that if the armour is reasonably sturdy and not trying to cut too many corners, it suffices. Armour has to be safe also for other combatants, so sharp edged and gothic spikes are no-go.
You can inquire for more specific requirements in our forum (http://forum.sotahuuto.fi/viewforum.php?f=224).
We’ll also try to answer beforehand whether your armor qualifies. As a special case, a protective sports helmet is also accepted as armour, as long as it is painted in neutral colors or hidden by a hood.
Weapons are padded, built around PVC or glass fiber tubes. Instructions for building a sword can be found from http://wiki.sotahuuto.fi/index.php/Miekan_teko-ohjeet . Look at the pictures that are quite self-evident, even if captions are in Finnish.
Instruction for building spears can be found from http://wiki.sotahuuto.fi/index.php/Keih ... eko-ohjeet . Again, take a close look at the pictures, even if text is in Finnish.
Organizers will most probably be able to lend weaponry for international visitors.
If interested on specific equipment requirements (e.g. safety requirements for bows, arrows etc.) don’t hesitate to contact the organizers.