Notes - Armour requirements

Responsibilities

Training and pickups require inspections - July 2021

Combat at official trainings and pickups at events are still combat that must follow these rules. There is no unofficial combat at events, there is only unscheduled combat.

Requirement to disguise, cover or remove modern corporate logos and sports gear, unless the gear is necessary for medical reasons - July 2021

We missed a past Society rules update that required logos and sport gear to be hidden.

Head

Helm construction techniques - July 2021

The method of construction must be taken into account when constructing a helm. Some construction techniques, such as doming, sinking, spinning or excessive grinding of the skull of the helm, reduce the thickness of the metal. If these construction techniques are used, the top should be made from a minimum of 2.0mm (14 gauge) steel, so that the completed product is not less than 1.6mm (16 gauge).

Underside of the chin; - September 2017

It is strongly recommended that the underside of the jaw be protected from a low-profile thrusting tip - Jon Dai of the Lane

Plumes

High contrast plumes - April 2018

Plumes should be of high contrast colours - not black or dark green or colours which otherwise blend in to the background scenery. They are a safety device to make plumed participants as visible as possible. - Jon Dai of the Lane

Increase in plume height - 2009?

Plume height was increased from 6 inches to 12 inches (30cm)

Face Guards

Mesh - December 2015

Ruling - mesh is required to protect the face, not the skull.

Mesh is required under Lochac rules to protect delicate facial features what would not survive an unintended helm penetration such as eyes and teeth.

Mesh is not required to fill the skull holes on Vendal style helmets. As with all armour, the design is to prevent traumatic and unrecoverable injury, pain however is up to the tolerance level of the individual and what level they are willing to accept. - Jarl Niall

Additional mesh types - June 2019

Materials that meet the standard for face protection during rapier combat are suitable to protect the face from arrows. - Angele de Savigny

Maille as mesh - July 2021

Maille used as mesh needs to meet the same standards as mesh, and cannot have openings greater than 5mm.

Mesh attachment - July 2021

After seeing too many people's mesh piked up off their helmets, the requirement for mesh to be secured against vertical movement as well as side to side movement was added.

Crimsafe - November 2004

"Crimsafe" has been approved for use as arrow mesh for helm face plates. (Although the gauge of the woven wire is less than previously allowed, the protection offered by this security mesh is superior to the current approved materials).

Body

Removal on prohibition on floating breast cups - July 2024

The prohibition on separate breast cups for chest protection was removed from Society armoured combat rules in October 2023. The rule was not needed for safety issues, and was originally intended to dissuade "fantasy" armour styles. The rule also created some ambiguity around other acceptable armour styles such as lamellar, scale, or small plate armour.

Zoombang - April 2022

Zoombang is now only considered equivalent padding to 6mm closed cell foam. It is no longer considered to be the the equivalent of heavy leather worn over .25 inch (6 mm) of closed-cell foam for the purposes of kidney protection.

REVOKED - Zoombang is equivalent for kidney protection - August 2014

Viscoelastic polymers (i.e. Zoombang) can be considered the equivalent of heavy leather worn over .25 inch (6 mm) of closed-cell foam. Note this does not make Zoombang equivalent to rigid material. So where our rules require rigid protection, Zoombang is not sufficient by itself.

Like all armour, it also needs to cover the required area. If the Zoombang pads do not cover the combatant's kidneys, then they cannot claim it as their sole kidney protection. This is specifically relevant for those who wear Zoombang shirts that are not designed as custom fit garments.

Kidney protection requires padding - July 2021

Following some online discussion, the Society Armored Combat Marshal clarified that all kidney protection must have padding equivalent to 6mm of closed cell foam, though Zoombang still meets this standard.

Groin

Groin armour - July 2024

The requirement for people without testicles to wear groin protection was removed from Society armoured combat rules in October 2023. Research by medical personnel has not found data to support the need for rigid groin protection for those without testicles, even for high contact sports or similar activities. The wording reflects input from the DEIA community to accommodate variations. The potential for permanent life-changing injury due to testicular trauma is why groin protection is required.

Groin armour - Oct 2018

Society rule update - The groin must be protected to a standard equivalent to that provided by an athletic cup or pubic protector, secured by straps, or worn in a supporter or fighting garment designed to hold the protection in place.

The prohibition on wearing groin protection designed for the opposite sex has been removed

The rules were updated to make things more inclusive for trans and non-binary participants. The prohibition against wearing the opposite gender's groin protection had been included due to marshals of the past requiring women to wear a male athletic cup.

Hand

Hand armour - June 2018

The required coverage has been corrected to match Society minimum requirement for hand protection to extend to 25.4mm (1 inch) above the wrist. The footnote about coverage has been removed.

Shield alone is not sufficient in Lochac - 2013

A Society rule update in 2013 indicated that a shield alone may be considered an equivalent to full hand protection only if no part of the gloved hand or wrist is within 4 inches (10.2 cm) of the edge of the shield while the shield is in use. However, Lochac has chosen not to use this rule, and still requires additional hand protection.

Transitioning from combat archery to melee combat - June 2019

Combat archers, siege engineers and those using throwing weapons who wish to be able to transition to using melee weapons during combat must be wearing the appropriate hand protection for use of their melee weapon.

Note for thrown weapons, combat archers and siege engineers - June 2019

While a half gauntlet which leaves the fingers exposed is the minimum requirement, archers, siege engineers and those using throwing weapons are encouraged to have gauntlets that cover more of their hands and fingers while still allowing for the dexterity required for managing their equipment.

Hand protection for those using throwing weapons - 2008

A Society rule update in 2008 allowed those using throwing weapons to also use the same hand protection as combat archers and siege engineers.

Side-strapped shields with shield baskets are equivalent hand protection - July 2024

Society rules were clarified in October 2023 to specify that the only shields that can be used as equivalent hand protection are side-strapped shields with shield baskets or equivalent. There was some ambiguity around centre-grip shields.

Arm

Shield alone is not sufficient in Lochac - 2013

A Society rule update in 2013 indicated that a shield alone may be considered an equivalent to elbow protection, if the elbow is 4 inches (10.2 cm) or more from the edge of the shield during typical use. However, Lochac has chosen not to use this rule, and still requires additional elbow protection.

Leg

Knee armour - August 2016

An "air gap" alone is NOT equivalent padding. An air gap, does not protect the knee if a fighter drops to their knees suddenly (either purposely or as a result of a fall)

Knees need to be padded, in a way that is 6.35mm of resilient material or equivalent (read padding). For example, commercial sports knee pads. - Jarl Niall

Shields

Pavises - 2008

A Society rule change in 2008 included construction standards for pavises. Other rules were added with regards to their use, and effect of missile weapons