Weapons & Armour
Weapons
- All weapons must be at least 8” (20 cm) long
- All weapons must be a phys-rep of a weapon
- Some categories require you to use a set grip to fight with the weapon
- All weapons, bows, arrows, shields and armour, must be checked by a member of the weapon checking team
Daggers/Foci
- Must be between 8” and 24” Long
One-Handed weapons/Foci One-handed
- Must be between 24” and 42” Long
- Flail length is measure from bottom of handle to head full stretched
- Flails must have foam links
One-Handed Spear
- Must be over 60” and up to 84” long
- You must hold the weapon within 6” of the center of the shaft
- Must be a phys-rep of a spear
- Must have a thrust-safe tip and only be used for thrusting
Two Handed Weapon/Foci Two-Handed
- Must be over 42” and up to 60” Long
- You must hold the weapon in both Hands
Polearms
- Must be between 60” and 84” long
- You Must hold the weapon in both hands with at least 18” separating them
- Can have Thrust-safe tip
Pikes
- Must be over 84” and up to 108” long
- You must hold the weapon in both hands with at least 18” separating them
- Must be a Phys-rep of a Pike
- Must have a thrust safe tip and only be used for thrusting
- Pikes count under polearm skill
Thrown Weapons
- Must be 8” or longer
- You cannot throw shuriken, rocks, or small throwing Knives
- You can throw Javelins and Throw safe Axes
- Please be mindful of avoiding face when using throw weapons
Shields
- A shield must be gripped by a handle held in the hand
- You can push with a shield. You are not allowed to shield barge other characters, or force someone out of your way. The aim of this is to allow people with shields to control and threaten an area but to do so safely in regards to other players.
- A shield that is simply strapped to the body does not protect the wearer. All blows that strike a slung shield are considered to hit the character wearing it.
- Each Shield type have maximum dimensions for a shield are based on the shape, listed below
Shield Types (sizes)
- Buckler
- Up to 15” (40cm) in Diameter
- Round Shield
- Up to 40” (1m) Diameter
- Tower shield
- Up to 40” by 24” (1m by 60cm)
- Kite/Heater Shield
- Up to 48” by 24” (1.2m by 60cm)
Bows/Crossbows
Bows
- Must have a draw weight less than 30lb on a 28” draw
- Must hold the weapon in both hands to shoot
- You must not block with your Bow
Crossbows
- Must have a 30lb or lower draw weight
- Must hold the weapon in both hands to shoot
- You must not block with your Crossbow
- You must be over 18 to use crossbows
Under UK law, participants under 18 years of age cannot be in possession of a crossbow unless under the supervision of a person who is 21 years of age or older. In terms of our game, this means that we do not permit participants under that age to use crossbows, except when supervised under controlled conditions (Such as a setup archery range, or a teaching session).
Battlefield, encounters and any combat does not count as controlled conditions.
Bow Competency
You must take your bow and your arrows to be checked by our weapon check team. You will be asked to demonstrate that you know how to use it safely: You will be required to string and destring your bow, and asked to demonstrate a full arrow or bolt check to show you understand our safety checks
You may be asked to fire the weapon at a nearby target. The aim of these checks is to ensure that you know how to use your bow or crossbow safely at our events.
If our weapon check team are happy that you are competent with a bow or crossbow they will give you a archer card, Meaning you have completed the Bow Competency, You must carry at all times whilst using your bow
Full arrow check
Feel the foam on face of the arrow to check it is free from debris and the foam not waterlogged
Feel the soft foam to check it is still firmly attached to the arrow head and that the head is securely attacked to the shaft
Flex the shaft to ensure it is not cracked or split
Feel each flight to check none are missing or loose
Examine the nock to ensure it is not loose or split
Shooting.
The draw of a bow must be less than 30 lbs at 28” draw. Crossbows are also limited to 30lbs draw weight
You must perform an full check of every arrow or bolt each time before you nock it
You must not aim at the head, you must aim at the chest or below when shooting at your target
You must reduce the draw of your bow when firing at targets closer than 10m away, you may not fire a crossbow at targets under 3m
You must aim at the stomach or below when firing into a crowded melee or when aiming a bow at targets closer than 3m
You must be able to see the area you are aiming for if you are arcing your shot
You must not shoot through narrow openings or gaps, such as between branches, fences, or through hedges
You must never attack with a bow or crossbow or use it to parry if you bow or crossbow is hit with melee or an arrow you take one point of damage
You must have both hands free when using a bow or crossbow
You must not have another arrow in you hand while shooting
You must not put any arrows in your mouth
You must be in full control of your weapon and aware of your aim while moving around with bow drawn
Participants under 18 years of age cannot use a crossbow
Armour
Light-weight flimsy materials such as cardboard, tin foil and paper cannot be counted as armour. This includes the use of EVA Foam. You cannot use knitted wool or other fabric which is coloured to look like chain as armour either
We are conscious that Larp Combat is a contact sport so Armour may not have Spikes or sharp points. (studs on leather armor is fine)
Light Armour
- Padded cloth or thin leather armour (between 1.5mm and 3mm).
- Must be Piece of armour Leather clothing or similar does not count
Medium Armour
- Leather or armour made to appear as if constructed from leather
- Must be 3mm or Thicker
Heavy Armour
- Metal armour or armour that looks like its metal
- No Sharp edges
Fighting safely
- You must ensure your weapon has been checked by the weapon checking team at each event before you use it
- You must pull all of your blows so that they land with virtually no force
- You must avoid hitting the groin, neck or face
- You must avoid hitting the breasts or head where there is an alternative target
- You must not strike another character with the pommel or hilt of your weapon
- You must not thrust with any weapon unless it is a thrust-safe polearm
- You must not throw a weapon unless it is a throwing weapon
- You must use the specified grip for a two-handed weapon
- You must drop a flail if becomes entangled in your opponents weapon or costume
- You must not attempt to parry an arrow or bolt with a weapon
- You must not grab or trap an opponent’s weapon when they are wielding it
- You must follow the bow-safety guidelines if you use a bow or crossbow
- You must not partake in combat if you are drunk
- You must not take camping knives on quests, skirmishes or battles under any circumstance.