Armored Combat:Conventions - Holds

Conventions - Holds

General

1. The call of "Hold!" is used stop the activity because of a safety issue. Safety issues might include (but are not limited to):
   • a problem with someone's weapons or protective equipment, such as weapons that break, or fail in any other way that they feel is unsafe;
   • an injury;
   • someone about to cross a boundary;
   • an unexpected hazard on or near the martial activity's field.
2. The call of "Hold!" can also be used to announce the end of a bout/combat, e.g., when victory conditions have been met.
3. Anyone can call a hold, including you, your opponent, the marshal or a spectator, if that person believes someone's safety has been or will imminently be at risk due to the martial activity.
4. When you hear "Hold!", everyone on the field should:
   • stop what you are doing, look around to ensure you are not in danger or placing others in danger; and
   • either stay in place or move to a safe location as appropriate
   • repeat the call of "Hold!"; then
   • secure your weapons safely, in a non-threatening position.
   • Follow the instructions of the marshals.
5. The marshal (or the person supervising the field) will announce when the activity can start again.
6. If a hold was caused by your equipment failing, you must correct this failure before you can return to the activity.

Holds in armored combat

1. When a hold is called:
   1. If you are a combatant, drop to one knee (if possible) where you stand.
   2. If you are a combat archer, you must unload your weapon (crossbows are allowed to remain cocked).
   3. If you have a long weapon, it should be lowered so that the marshals' staffs can be seen.
2. During a hold:
   1. You are not allowed to talk about the battle (eg. tactics).
   2. You are not allowed to change position/location, unless the marshal tells you to.
   3. If you are told to move away from a boundary or a hazard is necessary, maintain your relative position and distances to other combatants.
   4. If you are a siege engineer, you are not allowed to cock, load, move, or in any other way make your engine ready.
3. At the end of a hold:
   1. The marshal will call "All rise!" (or "Rise if you're able" or some other equivalent statement). When the combatants have resumed their guard, the marshal-in-charge will call "Lay on!" to signal the resumption of the fight.
   2. If you are a combat archer, you can nock an arrow or load your crossbow at "make ready" (or equivalent) and can fire as soon as "Lay on" is called.
4. "Hold!" will normally be called only for broken armor, lost tempers, injuries, safety concerns, outsiders wandering onto the field, fighters about to wander off it, or to enforce the rules and scenario limits.
5. In tournament combat, "Hold!" is called if a fighter becomes helpless, drops weapons, slips and falls, or fighters about to leave a boundary area.
6. In melee and battles, "Hold!" should not be called for dropped weapons, fighters who have slipped and fallen (unless they are in danger of injury), or a fighter getting close to a boundary if there are no spectators or hazards.
7. "Hold!" will be called if fighting occurs within 5 feet (1.5 m) of a siege engine that is cocked or loaded, and the engine will be declared destroyed and removed from the combat area and made safe.
8. Marshals for battles or large melees can use alternative means to signal "Hold" or "Lay on," as long as all fighters and marshals know and understand the alternative signaling system. Marshals can use whistles, air horns, or other such devices.