Armoured Combat:Change Log

We will aim to keep the last 12 months of changes in the published PDF.

1. Classes of participant and combat

• Updated minimum ages for participants - war is an armoured combat activity. No person under the age of 16 can authorise for armoured combat according to Society rules.
• Updated heavy to armoured combat in its relevant contexts throughout.
• Some simplification of language

2. Combat authorisation requirements

• Updated heavy to armoured combat in its relevant contexts throughout.

2.1 General

• Updated 2.1.1 to make this more specific to armoured combat and refined definition of armoured combat
• Updated 2.1.2 to include renewals being the same process as authorising for the first time, and that the requirement to demonstrate ability means there must be a practical component to all authorisation tests. Clarified which bits you needed to be able to apply (eg know while fighting, and which bits you could look up
• Updated 2.1.5 to reword for clarity, and to include Siege Marshals being able to do Siege authorisations
• Added 2.1.6 to remind people that they need to send in their own signed form.
• 2.1.7 reminds senior marshals that they must have their card back from Lists before they can perform authorisations - they can't do it from their own paperwork, they must be a valid senior marshal in the system on the date they perform someone else's authorisation.
• 2.1.9 The Kingdom Lists Officer doesn't need to provide the Earl Marshal with a list of current authorisations as the database is accessible to the Earl Marshal.

2.2 Age restrictions

• Updated 2.2.1.b to include participants in the age restriction.
• Removed 2.2.1.c - Persons between the ages of 14 and 16 may be authorised as plumed auxiliaries. Banner bearing is part of armoured combat according to Society Rules - 14-16 as plumed auxiliaries is no longer allowed by Society rules.
• Removed 2.2.1.d - No person below the age of 14 may be authorised for any form of SCA combat-related activity. Not relevant for this rule set
• Updated rule 2.2.1.e (now c) for under 14s not being allowed to train/swing an armoured combat weapon to be specific for this rule set.

2.3 Minor authorisation

• Updated 2.3.1 to 16 years from 14 years
• Updated 2.3.1.a to make it clear that the parent/guardian needs to talk to the senior marshal doing the authorisation.
• Updated 2.3.1.b to add the Kingdom Armoured Combat Marshal
• Updated 2.3.2 to be specific to this rule book.

3. Rules of the Lists

• Changes were made at Society level to the Rules of the List in Corpora in March 2021 - for gender neutral terms, to remove the right of the Sovereign to waive additional Kingdom standards (thanks to Lochac), and to be more consistent with terminology.

4. Conventions of combat

• Updated references to the Earl Marshal to include reference to their deputy, the Kingdom Armoured Combat Marshal
• Updated throughout to make more specific to armoured combat.
• Simplified language and changed to refer to you as the audience throughout
• Updated Marshal-in-Charge of the field to responsible marshal throughout
• 4.5.6. a and b - separated the information about nocking bows etc into two sub rules.
• 4.6.4 split into three rules.

5. The use of weapons and shields

• Updated throughout to refer to you as the audience and simplify language.
• 5.1.1 - added General heading to fix rules numbering collision.
• Added 5.1.1.5 - "Archers may have a backup weapon on them, but may not draw it until their bow/crossbow has been safely disposed of (taken off the field, discarded in a low traffic area, handed to another combatant, etc). Upon drawing a backup weapon to enter combat, hands must be appropriately armoured." This had been previously removed in the 2009 rules when we didn't allow non-plumed archers.
• Added 5.1.3 - Missile and Thrown Weapons - moved use of missile weapons rules out of Missile weapons standards section as these are about use not construction.
• 5.1.3.7 - clarified that bows and non-rigid quivers need to be inspected if they are struck by anything, not just missile fire, to allow for non-plumed archers who may be struck.
• Added 5.1.3.8 - "Archers may carry and use thrown weapons without need to discard their bow/crossbow or change hand armour". This had been previously removed in the 2009 rules when we didn't allow non-plumed archers.

6. Target areas and acknowledgement of blows

• Simplified language and updated to refer to you as the audience throughout
• Updated heavy combatant to armoured combatant
• 6.3.3 and 4 - appeared to have been misformatted as sub rules, now reformatted

7. Armour requirements

• Simplified language and updated to refer to you as the audience throughout.
• Updated heavy combatant to armoured combatant throughout.
• 7.2.3 - updated to specifically include training and pick-ups in needing armour inspections.
• 7.2.6 - updated to match Society requirement (VI.A) to disguise, cover or remove modern corporate logos and sport gear unless the gear is necessary for medical reasons
• 7.4.1.3 - updated to clarify that the metal for helmets needs to be at least 1.6mm thick when completed, also see 7.4.1.4.
• 7.4.1.4 - rephrased and updated include other construction techniques that thin the metal.
• 7.5.7.g - added "Maille used for screening must not have openings greater than 5mm."
• 7.5.8 - added a requirement for mesh to be secured against sideways movement, and vertical.
• 7.9.1 - updated to clarify that all kidney protection must have padding, unless it's Zoombang, as stated by Society Armoured Combat Marshal.
• 7.9.2 - removed gendered language

8. Melee weapon standards

• Updated to refer to you as the audience throughout, and simplified language
• 8.1.13 - clarification about crossguards and tsuba after question was raised - answer from Society Armoured Combat Marshal

9. Throwing weapons standards

• Updated to refer to you as the audience.
• 9.1.1 - separated into two rules - when you can use throwing weapons, and that some throwing weapons can be held in the had and used for striking.
• Updated shall to must for clarity

10. Missile weapons standards

• Moved 10.1.9-10, 10.3.9-13, 10.4.2-3 to a new sub section in the Use of Weapons and Shields as they were about use, not construction.
• 10.1.1 - updated to refer to you as the audience
• 10.1.7 - removed requirement from Kingdom to be written on projectiles - we are unlikely to take our projectiles to other kingdoms.
• 10.3.1 - added the Kingdom Armoured Combat Marshal and the Kingdom Archery Marshal.

11. Grievances and sanctions

• 11.1 - dispute resolution procedures copied from updated Kingdom Law, links updated.
• 11.2 - addition of Kingdom Armoured Combat Marshal to the chain

12. Procdeures to change these rules

• Updated links to current Kingdom Law
• Updated to refer to Group Armoured Combat Marshal, include Kingdom Armoured Combat Marshal

13. Glossary

• Updated definition of armoured combatant
• Updated definition of Earl Marshal
• Added Kingdom Armoured Combat Marshal
• Updated rostered marshal