Combat Rules in the Dawn Lands LARP
Players use their own skills to effect combat in the Dawn Lands LARP. Our goal is to keep things as simple and accessible as possible while still mixing in a healthy dose of high fantasy and classic role-playing games.
Basic Combat Rules
All combat is minimum contact.
No strikes/hits to the head, throat, or groin.
Hands and feet are not targets: Accidental strikes/hits to the feet and hands will not count for points, nor are they penalized unless they are excessive.
All strikes and abilities must be verbally called out: You must call out damage points and any accompanying effects such as piercing, lightning, etc.
No shield bashing or hitting with shields.
Shields are not allowed to be thrown.
No hand to hand strikes (i.e. no punching).
No grappling unless previously cleared by a Guard or Loremaster or in the case of specific weapons. Great care must still be taken.
The only allowed strikes/hits with weapons are made with the weapon’s strike surface that is safely padded (no hitting with sword hilts, for example).
A spell packet, thrown weapon, or projectile that ricochets only counts as a strike the first time it hits something.
Definition of a Strike
A strike is considered to be a full swing (or stab) and retraction or follow through.
Target Areas and Strike Force
Strikes are at minimum force (also called “lightest touch”), even if against an opponent in armor. Legal targets are the entire body except for the head, throat, hands, groin, and feet. If you accidentally hit someone on the hand or foot, you aren’t penalized, but it doesn't count as a hit. If you hit the head, throat, or groin, you’ll receive a warning. If, after the warning, there’s another disallowed strike, you’ll receive a penalty, the severity of which will be dependent upon the judgment of the attendant Loremaster or Guard. “Machine gunning” is not allowed.
Definition of “Machine Gunning”
Machine gunning is where you make a swing then retract your weapon just an inch or so to strike again more quickly. That does not count as an attack and may be ignored by the target or opponent.
Weapon Grappling
Hand-to-hand grappling (such as fist-fighting, wrestling, boxing, etc.) is not permitted. Weapon-to-weapon grappling is permitted only between two weapons which both have grappling permitted in the weapon descriptions. Grappling capable weapons must be approved during inspection. Grappling is not permitted with any weapon that does not specify that grappling is allowed, even if the opposing weapon does permit grappling.
Definition of Grappling:
Grappling occurs when you use your weapon, shield, or body to significantly restrict an opponent's movement.
Acceptable Grappling:
Applying light pressure with a weapon.
Hooking an opponent's weapon with your own, as long as they can still disengage, and your weapon is a grappling weapon.
Using your hand to grab the non striking surface of a pole weapon (spear, long spear, etc.).
Using your shield to pin or hook an opponent's weapon, as long as they have a clear path to disengage.
Unacceptable Grappling:
Applying targeted pressure that completely prevents an opponent from moving their weapon.
Using your weapon, body, another person, or something in the surrounding area to pin an opponent in a way that completely restricts their movement.
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