Classes of participants

Classes of Participant

Previously a footnote: The term “combatant” is used in this book to refer to people who are actually fighting, whether with melee or missile weapons. The term “participant” is used to refer to everyone taking an active role in combat-related activities. Everyone on the field, combatant, auxiliary or non-combatant, is a participant. “Plumed participants” refers to both plumed combatants and plumed auxiliaries.

Heavy Combatant

1. Heavy combatants are people who engage in combat with melee weapons. They:
   1. Can be targeted by all types of weapon.
   2. Can use all types of weapon, subject to appropriate authorisation.
   3. Must be at least 18 years of age, or at least 16 years of age with parental consent and subject to the completion of an appropriate medical release.

Plumed Combatant

1. Plumed combatants are people who participate in combat-related activities but do not engage in combat with melee weapons. They:
   1. May not be targeted with melee weapons.
   2. Must wear a plume in their helmets to signify their status as plumed participants.
   3. Can use and be targeted by missile weapons.
   4. May not carry or use any melee weapon, including thrust-and-throw weapons.
   5. Must remain outside the 5m range of all plumed opponents.
   6. Must be at least 18 years of age, or at least 16 years of age with parental consent and subject to the completion of an appropriate medical release.

Plumed Auxiliary

1. Plumed Auxiliaries are people who participate in a partisan fashion in combat-related activities but who may not engage in actual combat, e.g., banner-bearers, drummers, etc. They:
   1. May not be targeted with melee weapons.
   2. Must wear a plume in their helmets to signify their status as plumed participants.
   3. Can be targeted with missile weapons.
   4. May not carry or use any weapon.
   5. Must remain outside the 5m range of all plumed opponents.
   6. Must be at least 18 years of age, or 14 years of age with parental consent and subject to the completion of an appropriate medical release.

Non-Combatants

1. Non-combatants are people, such as marshals, who provide a supporting role to combat or who are present on the field during combat without being part of the combat itself. They:
   1. May not be targeted by any weapon, but should be prepared to be inadvertently struck by missiles.
   2. Must be appropriately armoured if they remain on the field during war combat with missiles.
   3. Must be at least 18 years of age, or 16 years of age with parental consent and subject to the completion of an appropriate medical release if they remain on the field during combat.
   4. Must be at least 18 years of age to act as marshals.

Spectators

1. Anyone present in the general area where combat activities are taking place, but not on the field at the time combat is taking place, is deemed to be a spectator. This includes, but is not limited to, people such as chirurgeons and water bearers who enter the field during breaks in combat as well as fighters not currently on the field. They:
   1. Must obey the instructions of marshals.
   2. Must not enter the war field unless combat has ended and “helms off” has been called by the marshal of the field.
   3. May not enter or remain on the field while combat is taking place.

Classes of Combat

General Information

Figure 1.1: Properties of Classes of Combat

Combat Class	Many vs One Engagement	Non Combatants Need Armour	Screening Required	Killing From Behind	Grasping Hafts of Pole Weapons
Tournament Single Combat	No	No	No	Forbidden	Allowed
Tournament Melee Combat	Yes	No	No	Normally forbidden	Allowed
War Combat Without Missile Weapons	Yes	No	No	Allowed	Allowed
War Combat	Yes	Yes	No	Allowed	Allowed
War Combat with Arrows	Yes	Yes	Yes	Allowed	Allowed

Tournament Single-Combat

1. Tournament single combat shall occur between two combatants within the bounds of a list field.
2. Explicit engagement between combatants is not required in tournament single-combat bouts.
3. Missile weapons may not be used.
4. Unless specifically permitted by the terms of the tourney, helpless combatants may not be declared dead or forced to yield by their opponent – a hold is called if a combatant becomes helpless. Helpless combatants are defined in 4.4.6 on page 19.
5. Single combat archery tournaments shall be considered a class of war combat with arrows.

Tournament Melee Combat

1. Tournament melee combat is a combat that begins with two or more teams of combatants, or three or more combatants fighting as individuals.
2. Combatants, including the final pair, must be engaged before they may strike at each other.
3. Missile weapons may not be used.
4. Unless specifically permitted by the terms of the tourney, helpless combatants may not be declared dead or forced to yield by their opponent – a hold is called if a combatant becomes helpless.
5. Unless specifically forbidden by the terms of the tournament, ad-hoc teams may be formed and dissolved during the bout.
6. Unless specifically forbidden by the terms of the tourney, engagements between groups of unequal number are allowed.
7. The kill from behind” manoeuver may not be used unless explicitly notified to all combatants as part of the terms of the tournament.

War Combat

1. War combat takes place on the field of war, not within the lists of a tournament.
2. Hand-to-hand combatants must be engaged before they may strike at each other.
3. Combatants may discharge missile weapons at targets that they are not explicitly engaged with (subject to the relevant minimum range requirements).
4. The kill from behind manoeuver may be used. See 4.4.5 on page 19 for details of this manoeuver.
5. Helpless opponents may not be struck, but may be declared dead.
6. If missile weapons are used, all non-combatants who remain on the field during combat must wear armour complying with the standards set out in section 7.15 on page 37.
7. Siege engines or structures may be used in war combat in accordance with the rules set forth in the Siege Engines Handbook.

War Combat Without Missile Weapons

1. War combat takes place on the field of war, not on the list field.
2. Fighters must be engaged before they may strike at each other.
3. Missile weapons may not be used.
4. The kill from behind manoeuver may be used. See 4.4.5 on page 19 for details of this manoeuver.
5. Helpless opponents may not be struck, but may be declared dead.

War Combat With Arrows

1. All particpants who remain on the field during comb at must wear screening as described in section 7.5 on page 34.
2. War combat with arrows is war combat in which arrows or bolts equipped with “Riverhaven Blunts” are used. Combat with missile weapons, and all of the rules in subsection 1.2.4 apply.