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Combat rules

Combat in Dragonbane is theatrical construct. The latex weapons are the weapon tools and the interaction between the combatants is a consensual improvisation between the participants involved. The rule, then, is to treat each combat, should any combat happen, as a real situation with real repercussions and act/react accordingly. If you are hit in the arm, favor that arm, scream in pain. If you are hit in the leg, stumble, fall even. Consider how you would want others to react to your blows and react accordingly yourself.

Combat, like any other part of the larp, should be fun for the participants whether their character was the victor or the defeated. To that purpose work with each other to create enjoyable combat scenes. Start at half-speed until you’ve gauged your opponent’s skills; perhaps even telegraph your blows so an opponent who is unable to keep up with you still has fun. Remember as well that each opponent you may face is also a participant who has just as much time and energy invested into a successful larp experience. This is all under the presumption that combat will ever take place. As Dragonbane is a larp that deals primarily with social violence and social resolution actual physical confrontations should be rare. Remember, each participant only has one character. Violence is a serious issue. Should you die or kill another character that is the end for you or them.

The only weapons allowed to be used in combat against each other are the latex weapons that will be provided by the Dragonbane larp. In keeping things theatrical and removing the need to think nondiegetically all weapons, regardless of size, are considered to do the same amount of damage. Possible reasons theatrically are that the dagger cut a vein while the sword only grazed your ribs. While other items may come to hand that can be used as weapons, such as mugs, burning firewood, branches, knives and the like these are not to be used in Dragonbane combat under any circumstances.

Armour will be present in the larp. It is broken down into two categories, Heavy and Light. Heavy armour is akin to Knights plate. Light armour would be everything else, including but not limited to chain, brigandine and leather. A combatant wearing heavy armour who is hit is considered to have taken no damage even if they are hit multiple times where the armour protects as long as they are able to get away quickly. Should they be unable to get away they will be considered Injured. The only time a combatant wearing heavy armour becomes Defeated or Killed is if they are beaten to the ground and injured in some place not protected by the armour. A combatant wearing light armour is able to ignore the first strike total to any body part that is protected by armour. After that they treat all hits as if they where not wearing armour.

Armour does not protect against magics, poisons or Dragons.

If you are able to block a strike with either your weapon or shield you do not count the strike.

The most important rule is to play fairly and remain in-character at all times even if you feel someone is cheating. Should you believe someone is cheating ignore it and don’t let it spoil your game. The only person who will have a bad event due to cheating is the person cheating. Nobody will “win” by cheating, and Dragonbane is about the experience, not experience points!

To sum up:

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