Rapier

Rapier Activities at Gulf Wars

Rapier Marshal in Charge (Rapier 1)
Maestro Orlando Giovanni
rapier@gulfwars.org 

Deputy Rapier Marshal in Charge (Rapier 2)
Maestra Sancha Galindra
rapier.deputy@gulfwars.org 

Rapier Incidents Marshal
Mistress Nicaize Maupetit

General Conventions

• Fighters are expected to behave in a courteous and chivalric manner to all participants and marshals. Failure to do so will result in removal from the field. 
• SCA Society rapier rules are the default regarding marshal issues and anything not defined in these conventions. Tournaments may be fought under different rules at the discretion of the tourney organizer. 
• Fighters are required to call thrusts and draw cuts. Blow calling is the sole responsibility of the fighter receiving the blows. Fighters may, at their discretion, call blows good outside of those required (for example push or tip cuts).
• Tournaments may choose to alter this standard.
• C&T fighters are required to call percussive blows.
• Fighters struck below the knee are permitted to knee walk, except in the Ravine or where otherwise noted.
• Fighters may run to engagement if they can do so safely. Fighters within active engagement range may run to maintain engagement ( i.e. if your opponent runs in an effort to break engagement, you may pursue ), and may throw shots while doing so.
• All fighters are responsible for their own safety and that of others, and may not run nor throw shots while running if it is unsafe to do so. 
• Running engagement is not permitted in the ravine. A double-time walk to engagement is permitted. 
• All fighters are engaged at lay on. 
• Strikes may only be delivered from inside an opponent’s front 180 (See DBF Rule Below).
• As a good rule of thumb:  if your opponent has no chance of seeing you before you throw a shot, you should reconsider throwing the shot. In some scenarios DFB may be allowed. See the DFB rules below.
• Death from Behind (DFB) is only permitted in war points that allow it as part of the scenario.
• For scenarios that permit DFB the only acceptable way of touching an opponent from outside of their front 180 is by laying your weapon on their shoulder and announcing that you have bested them. This method is in accordance with the Society rules.

Weapons and secondaries

• Spears are only permitted in war points that specifically allow spears as part of the scenario. 
• RBGs or other projectile weapons are not permitted in any war point. Any use of RBGs or other projectile weapons must be cleared by the Marshal of the Day, or the RMiC.
• Two-handed weapons are defined as any bladed weapon with a handle length 10 inches or longer, not including rapier spears.
• Two-handed weapons must be wielded with two hands at all times.
• Should a fighter wielding a two-handed weapon lose the use of a hand, they will no longer be permitted to use that weapon, but may trade it in for a single-handed weapon. 
• Two-handed weapons are not permitted in the ravine.
• Shields, canes and other defensive secondaries 
• NO DEFENSIVE SECONDARY may exceed 48” in any direction from the fighter’s hand. This includes soft and ridgid parrying devices.
• Offensive secondaries must conform to the Society Standards. This includes swords, daggers and spears.
• Shields : 2 Types of shields will be allowed on the rapier field at Gulf Wars and are described below.
• Large Shields : The total area of a large shield may not exceed 706.5 square inches, the equivalent of a 30” round. 
• Small Shields : Total area of small shield may not exceed 453 square inches, the equivalent of a 24” round. 
• For Tournaments, unless otherwise stated by the tournament format, only small shields are allowed. The tournament format may further prohibit shields.
• For Melees, during melees any shield that does not exceed the dimensions of the large shield is allowed. 
• All non-standard secondaries or weapons must be approved by the RMiC.
• Equipment shall not be purposefully discarded onto the field during melee. Marshals may collect any intentionally dropped equipment and remove them for the duration of the scenario.

Holds

• All holds are general, unless otherwise announced.
• Holds will be called whenever a fighter or spectator’s safety is in imminent danger.
• Situations which immediately resolve themselves do not constitute imminent danger. It is in the best interest of the fighters to allow situations to immediately resolve themselves (for example, allowing a fighter to pick up a dropped weapon or regain their footing). 
• During a hold fighters are asked to take a knee if possible, so that marshals can more easily identify the issue. 
• During a hold, fighters may introduce themselves or discuss safety concerns. Fighters may not discuss tactics during holds. 
• Unless otherwise ordered by the marshals, armor is not to be removed by fighters on the field during holds ( masks stay on ).
• In timed battles, holds will stop the clock. 
• Please be mindful of word choice when giving orders on the field ( for example, filling a gap instead of a hole in the line, maintaining a line instead of holding a line, etc ). Fighters that can not follow ths rule may be asked to leave the field.

Death

• Fighters in any battle may call themselves dead at any time. 
• Dead fighters are expected to remove themselves from the field as soon as they can safely do so.
• Dead fighters may not ‘die through’ the opposing line unless told to do so by a marshal or opposing fighter. In all cases, dead fighters are to make an effort not to interfere with live fighting.
• Fighters who are killed should hold their weapon(s) over their head with the points down, or otherwise make obvious their status. 
• Dead fighters may not give orders or information. 
• Dead fighters may continue to walk off the field during holds. 
• Resurrection lines must be fully crossed. Resurrection points must be touched with a hand or weapon. 

Inspections

• All armor and weapons must be inspected prior to participation in any of the battles, tournaments or any other fighting activity at Gulf Wars.
• Fighters must show proof of authorization as well as their medallion during inspection. 
• All fighters are required to have read and understood these Gulf Wars conventions prior to inspection. Copies will be available at rapier point. 
• Fighters should make an effort to be inspected by a marshal from their home kingdom. If they are unable to, they may be inspected to society standards. 
• Inspection stickers must be worn prominently on masks or helmets. Only GW inspection stickers may be used. Kingdom specific inspection stickers are not valid.
• Inspections must be performed by marshals designated by the RMiC only.
• The RMiC may choose to allow Kingdom Rapier Marshals, generals, or their chosen designee to perform inspections in camp. 
• Stickers will be issued to each inspected fighter upon successfully being inspected.
• The GW Medallion Number of the inspecting Marshal will be written on the fighter’s sticker.
• Those wishing to assist with inspections must be current members of the SCA and an authorized rapier marshal. Marshals may perform inspections only after signing in to the Marshal Log Book by presenting the Marshal of the Day with proof of membership, authorization, and site medallion. 

Marshal Concerns

• The purpose of reporting is not punitive, but an effort to better collect data and ensure the safety of all participants. 
• Removal from the field. The safety and enjoyability of each marshal activity is the primary concern of the marshalate. It is at the discretion of the marshals to remove a fighter from the field who has broken a convention. Fighters may also be removed from the field if they are considered to be engaging in unsafe or dishonorable behavior that may not be covered in these conventions. See the INCIDENTS PROCEDURES SECTION FOR MORE DETAILS.
• In some situations, the marshals may ask fighters to attend a marshal’s court for the purpose of gathering additional information and providing a moderated environment for communication.
• If you are asked to attend a marshal’s court, you are required to do so.
• KRMs or representatives may be asked to attend the marshal’s court as well.
• A marshals and Generals Synchronization meeting will be held the first sunday of war to validate the war scenarios and deconflict any concerns.
• A marshals and commanders huddle will be held 30 minutes prior to each war point to deconflict any scenarios concerns.
• Difficult to Distinguish Units: In order to reduce confusion when reporting incidents the RMiC or Marshal of the Day may assign a marshal to observe units who’s attire makes it difficult to distinguish individuals. These special marshals may be assigned to units that wear matching armor and/or equipment. This is not punitive but an effort to ensure that entire units are not punished for incidents caused by an individual.

Incident Reporting, Rules Violations and Escalation

• An Incidents Marshal will be present at every war point.
• An 
• Fighters are expected to report any adverse events ( incidents or injuries ) that occur as soon as they can reasonably do so.
• Incidents may include things like equipment failure, attitude problems, blow calling issues or excessive blows.
• An injury may include anything that results in bleeding, and/or requires a fighter to retire from the field, even briefly. This includes heat injuries.
• Fighters may report to any marshal helping to run an activity, the Marshal of the Day, or the RMiC.
• Marshals will pass such reports on to the Incidents Marshal and notify the Marshal of the Day and/or RMiC. 
• In some cases, the involved fighters may be asked to fill out a report with the Incidents Marshal at the time of the incident.
• The more information you can provide, the better:
• For equipment failure, manufacturer and age of the item
• For injuries, a brief description of the injury, events leading to the injury, and weapons used.
• For attitude or blow calling / throwing issues, names or descriptions of the fighters and marshals involved. Medallion numbers should be collected if possible.

Incident Definitions

The Rapier Marshal in Charge (RMiC) will consult with the marshal reporting the incident to determine the exact incident that occured. The RMiC is the final authority for determining what incident occured.

• Stout Not Excessive Strike: Strike witnessed by or reported to a marshal using force considered to be beyond that being necessary but not meeting the definition of Excessive.
• Excessive Strike: A strike, witnessed by or reported to a marshal, causing the head to rock backwards, substantial bruise or an injury that requires the fighter receiving the strike to leave the field. 
• Non Safety Related Rules Violations: Violation of the scenario rules that do not pertain to safety; moving in an area that is off limits, not calling valid strikes, non-chivalrous behavior etc.
• Safety Violation that Does Not Result in an Injury: Any safety rules violation witnessed by a marshal or reported to a marshal that did not result in an injury.
• Safety Violations Resulting in an Injury: A violation other than strikes (see above), witnessed by or reported to a marshal, that causes an injury on the field; running into another fighter, wrestling blades or other parts of a fighter’s gear, purposefully pushing or shoving other fighters, etc.
• Equipment Failure: Abnormal Failure of any Equipment; tip blown through, mask failures, broken blades.

Incident Escalation

The table below is only a guideline to assist the marshalate in determining what actions to take in the event of an incident or rules violation. Regardless of type or number of occurrences, the RMiC may decide to remove any fighter from the field that is considered unsafe.

The Marshal of Day and the RMiC are responsible for handling violations and incidents not covered in this table. All determinations by the RMiC are final and should be appealed to the GW MiC.