Fencing Draft notes:Single Combat Melee and Gunners

Was 2.5.2.5, now 3.2.5 in Melee
Was: You cannot turn your back on an opponent to gain an advantage (that is, to stop them attacking you). If you do turn your back on an opponent during an engagement, you might be attacked.
Now: You cannot turn your back on an opponent to gain an advantage (that is, to stop them attacking you). Fencers who intentionally turn their back on their opponent they are engaged with may be subject to sanctions.
Functional change: Additional restriction, aligns with other kingdoms and armoured combat rules, makes clear this potentially unsafe act is against the rules.
Reason: Aligns with other kingdoms and armoured combat rules, makes clear this potentially unsafe act is against the rules.
For notes section: January 2024 - Clarification that deliberately turning your back to gain advantage is against the rules and you may be punished for it.

Was 2.5.2.7, now 3.2.7 in Melee
Additional text: Two-handed weapons, including spears, must be held vertically while running.
Functional change: Two handed meapons must be held vertically when running.
Reason: At Rowany Festival there were several close calls where control was lost during running due to loose terrain or unexpected action from an opponent. It is significantly easier to mitigate an accidental strike with a single handed weapon, so two handed weapons must be subject to additional care.
For notes section: January 2024 - There is a potential to lose control when running, due to loose terrain or unexpected action from an opponent. It is significantly easier to mitigate an accidental strike with a single handed weapon, so you must take extra care with two handed weapons.

Was 2.5.2.8, now 3.2.8 in Melee
Was: You are allowed to use Cut and Thrust combat in a melee, as long as all the fencers are wearing Cut and Thrust equipment.
Now: You are allowed to use Cut and Thrust combat in a melee, as long as all the fencers are wearing Cut and Thrust equipment and using Cut and Thrust rules.
Functional change: None
Reason: Reinforcing that Cut and Thrust and Standard fencing may not happen in the smae combat.

3.2.9 in Melee
Insert new rule: Marshals must ensure that rubber band guns are safely discharged before calling "masks off" after a hold is called.

Was 2.5.3.4, now 3.3.3 in Gunners

Was

You are able to continue shooting at opponents until:

you are "killed" or "incapacitated" by a shot from a rubber band gun
you are "killed" by a fencer according to the rules for "killing from behind" (see section 2.6.2.1), or "killing a gunner" (see section 2.6.2.2).
you run out of ammunition (remembering that you cannot pick up used ammunition on the field).

Now

You are able to continue shooting at opponents until:

you are "killed" or "incapacitated" by a shot from a rubber band gun, or
you are "killed" by a fencer or according to the rules for "killing from behind", or
you run out of ammunition (remembering that you cannot pick up used ammunition on the field).

Functional change: None
Reason: List of options, killing gunners has been incorporated into this section now.

3.3.4 in Gunners
Insert new rules: Fencers with a standard fencing authorisation may follow the rules for gunners should they choose, if they are only armed with rubber band guns. They may not use another weapon during any scenario where they are acting as gunners.
Functional change: Allows fencers to act as gunners
Reason: Updates rules to allow fencers to act as gunners
For notes section: January 2024 - Fencers may act as gunners if they carry no other weapon than a rubber band gun.

Was 2.6.2.2 Killing a gunner in Using your weapons and defensive objects: Moved to 3.3.5 in Gunners

Was 2.6.2.2.1, now 3.3.5
Was: When gunners are taking part in combat, there are rules to allow you to "kill" a gunner without making contact. When you are in front of a gunner, you can:
Now: If you are a fencer, to "kill" a gunner , you must:; Functional change; None
Reason: Tidy up of language now that it's in a different section.

Was 2.6.2.2.3, now 3.3.7
Was: If you are behind a gunner, you can kill them by using the 'killing from behind' rules.
Now: If you are behind a gunner, you can kill them by using the "killing from behind" rules, if they are allowed in this scenario.
Functional change: None
Reason: Highlight that killing from behind has to be explicitly allowed each scenario.

3.3.8 - new rule: At the beginning of a scenario, the Marshal-in-Charge may, with the agreement of all gunners, state that gunners may be slain as normal (i.e., by being struck with a non-ranged weapon). This must be made clear to all participants.
Functional change: Gunners may be struck with their agreement.
Reason: Formalises the existing commonly used rule that gunners may be struck upon their agreement
For notes: January 2024 - Formalises a existing commonly used rule that gunners may be struck upon their agreement.

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