PROJECTILE COMBAT RULES

as used at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria 1999

These rules have been superseded by the rules at http://www.geocities.com/legviiii/javnvg.htm.
Bacchus Marsh also had its own combat rules, which have been superseded by the rules at http://www.geocities.com/legviiii/combat.htm.

Other versions of the projectile rules:

• Current NSW rules
• Current Victorian rules
• There are no published missile rules for Dunghaven, NSW 2007
• Nagambie, VIC 2005
• Porepunkah, VIC 2003
• Bowraville, NSW 2001
• Rowsley, VIC 1999
• Sokil, VIC 1997
• Brisbane, QLD 1995 used both the NSW and NVG rules.
• Cataract, NSW 1991; Glenfield, NSW 1993

These rules cover the following areas:

• General rules
• Siege engines
• Armour specification
• Arms specification

1. General Rules.

• The general combat rules are to be followed if and when aspects of combat are not covered in this section. Where the rules for 'Projectile Combat' and general combat do overlap these projectile combat rules apply.
• Projectile Combat is defined as individual or melee combat involving the use of approved missile weapons. It may or may not be mixed with infantry combat.

2. Off Target Areas.

• There are no illegal target areas for projectiles.

3. Arrow Testing.

Every arrow must be tested before each combat in which it is intended to be used. The test method to be used is as follows:

• Grasp the blunt between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and the nock between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand then flex the shaft slightly and inspect it for any splintering or cracking.
• Rotate the shaft by 120° and repeat the process, rotate the shaft by another 120° and repeat the process again.
• If the arrow shows any signs of splintering or other damage the arrow is to be discarded, until repaired if this is possible, and is not to be carried or used in further battles.

4. Missile Re-use During Combat.

• Arrows, javelins, darts and rocks once used in a combat may not be picked up and reused in a combat unless directed otherwise.
• In combat where missile re-use during combat is allowed every missile must be checked for damage immediately it is picked up. See Arrow Testing

5. Minimum Distances.

• The minimum shooting distance for arrows and bolts is five metres.
• There is no minimum range set for javelins, darts or rocks (Note: the rocks referred to are specially prepared, see Projectile Combat Arms Specifications Section 8 - Rocks), but they must be released from the hand.
• If javelins, darts or rocks are used in hand to hand combat their use must conform to the combat rules (eg. the blow must be pulled and on a legal target area).
• The minimum firing distance for a siege engine is 10 metres.

6. Blows against Missile Combatants.

• An archer, missile hurler, slinger or any other missile combatant, shall be considered killed by infantry when they are touched by the combatant's weapon. This shall be done with an absolute minimum of force.
• A combatant carrying both a bow and a sword or other such weapon are considered as archers until they discard their bow and can therefore be killed by a simple touch of a weapon (as in Section 6.1).

7. The Effect of Missile Blows.

• A hit by a missile to the helm or the torso is an instant kill:
• A hit by a missile to any limb is considered to have rendered that limb totally useless.
• A hit by a missile from a siege engine anywhere on the body is an instant kill
• A hit by a missile on a bow renders it useless.

8. Proof Armour.

• The only item of armour which is considered proof against arrows, darts or javelins is the shield.
• A shield is proof against thrown or falling rocks, but not machine hurled missiles.

general | siege engines | armour | arms

SIEGE ENGINES IN COMBAT

1. Safety.

• The safety of combatants and spectators is of paramount importance.

2. Rules of Engagement.

• All persons in the target zone must be informed before firing commences.
• Low angle shots are to be discouraged.
• Siege Engine Crew members must be armoured appropriately for the type of combat engaged in.

2.4 Siege Engine Crew members who wish to take part in combat must be qualified to do so.

general | siege engines | armour | arms

PROJECTILE COMBAT ARMOUR SPECIFICATIONS

1. General Standards.

• The minimum armour required to participate in Projectile Combat is a helm fitted with missile proof face protection, complete neck and throat protection, body armour, gauntlets, groin protection for males, groin and breast protection for females.
• The head and neck, down to the shoulders, must be covered in such a way that it is impossible for an arrow to penetrate through to the skin.
• Combatants must cover all bare skin to avoid minor damage from missiles.
• Additional armour is strongly recommended.

2. Gloves.

• The minimum hand protection required by an archer is a pair of leather gloves.

3. Helms.

31. Visors.
    • Projectile Combat helms (other than full-face helms) must be fitted with a visor of 3.5mm woven wire mesh of 1.6mm diameter minimum or perforated plate 16 gauge thick with holes 6mm in diameter.
    • The visor must be riveted to a rigid frame constructed from steel a minimum of 3.0mm thick and 10.0mm wide.
    • The visor must extend past the temples and below the chin and be rigidly attached to the helm.
32. Neck Protection.
    • The back of the neck must be protected by an aventail or a thick leather coif or an arming cap.
    • If an aventail is used it must be securely attached to the visor so that they effectively become one piece.
    • A coif need not be laced to the helm.
33. Full-face Helms.
    • Helms which normally provide full face cover (e.g. Barrel Helms) need only have 3.5mm woven wire mesh of 1.6mm diameter minimum or perforated plate 16 gauge thick with holes 6mm in diameter attached to eye slits.
    • Other holes in the helm exceeding 3.5mm diameter should also be covered with woven wire mesh or perforated plate.
34. Perforated Plate.
    • The minimum specifications for perforated plate are: 16 gauge thickness; and the holes 6mm in diameter.
    • Other types of perforated plate must be tested and passed by the Training Officer before use.

4. Throat Protection.

• Throat protection must be worn for Projectile Combat.
• The minimum requirement is a 3mm leather collar covering the throat area from above the larynx down to the breastbone in one continuous piece and is to be lined with a minimum of 12mm thickness of padding.
• Lamellar is considered to meet the requirement for 'one continuous piece' due to its construction.
• Mail covering the throat area from above the larynx down to the breastbone with a minimum of 12mm thickness of padding underneath is also acceptable.

general | siege engines | armour | arms

PROJECTILE COMBAT ARMS SPECIFICATIONS

1. General Standards.

• Any arms proposed to be used in Projectile Combat may be first used on the proposer in a qualified test under the supervision of the Marshalls.
• If a missile develops cracks or any other symptom which is liable to cause a hazard to combatants during combat the missile must be immediately removed from the combat area or rendered un-usable.

2. Arrows.

• Wooden shafts are the only acceptable type of shaft to be used.
• The minimum arrow shaft size is 5/16 of an inch in diameter. However a shaft size of 11/32 inches in diameter is recommended.
• The maximum length for an arrow is 28 inches measured from where the string sits in the nock to the back of the rubber blunt.
• The end of the shaft which is to be fitted into the rubber blunt must have its edge rounded.
• All shafts must be taped longitudinally with fibreglass tape (Scotch 898 glass fibre tape or equivalent) from the base of the fletching to the tip of the shaft.
• All arrows should be identified with the owners personalised fletching colours and initials on the shaft.
• Each shaft must be fitted with a rubber blunt with a minimum diameter of 19mm before rounding and a minimum face of 12mm diameter after rounding. The Riverhaven and the HTM rubber blunts are recommended types of blunt to be used.

3. Bows.

• The only types of bows to be used in Projectile Combat are longbows, recurve bows and other bows of the period.
• The maximum draw weight for a bow is 30 pounds at 28 inches.
• The bow must not have any sights, limb marking or any other shooting aids.

4. Crossbows.

• The maximum draw weight allowed for a crossbow is 540 inch/pounds or less.
• The draw weight for a crossbow can be derived by the following calculation:

  A * B = C
  Where:	A = Prod poundage.
  	B = The distance the string travels from the nut to rest.
  	C = The draw weight of the crossbow.

• The crossbow is a restricted weapons in some states and will require a license from the Police or some cases Ministerial approval.

5. Crossbow Bolts.

• Wooden shafts are the only acceptable type of shaft to be used.
• The minimum bolt shaft size is 5/16 of an inch in diameter. However a shaft size of 11/32 inches in diameter is recommended.
• The shaft length of a bolt will be dependent on the size of the crossbow.
• The end of the shaft which is to be fitted into the rubber blunt must have its edge rounded.
• All shafts must be taped longitudinally with fibreglass tape (Scotch 898 glass fibre tape or equivalent) from the base of the fletching to the tip of the shaft.
• Each shaft must be fitted with a rubber blunt with a minimum diameter of 19mm before rounding and a minimum face of 12mm diameter after rounding. The Riverhaven and HTM rubber blunts are recommended types of blunt to be used.

6. Darts.

• Dart shafts must be made from wood or bamboo.
• A rubber blunt must be attached to the impacting end.

7. Javelins.

• Javelin shafts must be made from wood or bamboo.
• A rubber ferrule must be attached to the impacting end.
• Rubber ferrules used for walking sticks or crutches are recommended for use because they are designed for continuous impact and wear.
• Other types of rubber stoppers will be judged on a case by case basis.

8. Rocks.

• The rocks used in Projectile Combat are made of paper maché and have little appreciable weight.

9. Siege Engine Ammunition.

• The only types of ammunition allowed to be used in a siege engine are: - paper maché rocks.

10. Slings and Staff Slings.

• The maximum weight for a sling projectile is 75 grams.
• A sling projectile must be made of a non-rigid materials and must be able to be compressed.
• The shaft of a staff sling must be made of wood or bamboo.

general | siege engines | armour | arms