Armored Steel Combat:Marshaling On The Field

Marshaling on the Field

The guidelines outlined in this section are not rigid requirements but are placed here in an attempt to help clarify and to provide examples of acceptable methods and procedures.

Preparing to Marshal Combat Activities

General

As marshal-in-charge, you are responsible for organizing the marshaling. This does not mean that you have to do it all yourself. Things that need to be done prior to all combat activities:

1. Check that the field can be safely fought upon, preferably before the site is reserved for the event. Can someone in armor, with restricted vision, cross it safely (i.e., without injury; simple tripping is an inherent hazard of combat in rough terrain)? At minimum, check at the beginning of the day to see if there are holes, soft spots, rocks, etc. If they are serious and cannot be worked around, move the fighting somewhere else.
2. Arrange for equipment inspection. (See Equipment Inspection Guidelines below.)
3. Arrange for marshals for all of the combat. That means an absolute minimum of one marshal per single combat (preferably two or three).
4. When the event is over, write up a report on the event and submit per the kingdom requirements. In the event that the kingdom has no requirements send directly to the Rebated Steel Deputy.

Safety

1. The field itself can cause safety problems. Before you begin, look over the area where the fighting will take place. Look particularly for large holes, soft spots, and rocks. (The fighters will generally accept small holes, rocks, etc. as part of the terrain.) Once the fight starts, try to keep it away from these areas. If the hazards are serious, move the fight. As the fighters come onto the field, take a quick look to see if they have their full armor.
2. Once the fight has started, watch particularly for broken armor, lost tempers, injuries, and unauthorized people/pets/objects on the field. (Outsiders, especially small children and pets, do not always realize thatthey are supposed to stay off of the field during combat.) If there is a problem, shout "Hold!", several times if necessary. (Most fighters will hear and respond to a cry of "Hold!" even when they won’t notice their own names being called.)