Caid--Armored Combat:Conventions - Rules of engagement

Conventions of combat - Rules of engagement

Definitions

1. In SCA martial disciplines, we say combatants are "engaged" when they are allowed to strike each other.
2. To be "engaged" with an opponent means that you and your opponent are aware of each other's presence and should expect to be struck.
3. You are not allowed to strike at an opponent if you are not engaged with them.
4. Scenario rules can define the specifics of "engagement", as long as they are clearly explained to all participants before combat begins.
5. Unless otherwise specified, the engagement rules listed below are the considered the standard.

Types of engagement

Single combat engagement

1. In tournament single combat, you are engaged with your opponent at all times.
2. If you are engaged with an opponent and you turn your back on them, your opponent is allowed to strike at you until you leave weapons range.
3. Caid additions for Individual engagement
   1. You must not "corkscrew" your opponent when they are on their knees.
      1. Corkscrewing is defined as circling your opponent to put them at a disadvantage due to being required to turn from their knees.
         1. Simply stepping to one side or the other of your opponent as part of a normal offense is not normally considered "corkscrewing", but remaining positioned for an extended time to one side is.
         2. Simply breaking the plane of your opponent's knees is not corkscrewing as long as it does not force them to turn to continue fighting.
      2. You must not intentionally position your opponent so that they face into the sun, when they are on their knees.
      3. If you have a single weapon, and you acknowledge a valid blow to an arm, a hold must be called so you can remove your shield and/or change weapon to your other hand. Single combat must not continue with one combatant being unarmed.
      4. If you are using two weapons, you are not considered disarmed when one arm is wounded. Do not call a hold, and continue fighting without the use of the wounded arm.

Group and melee engagement

1. In group and melee battles, engagement is obtained when your opponent becomes aware of you. (e.g. moving into their line of sight, 'tapping' them with your weapon, shouting, being part of a unit, or other means).
2. Unit engagement happens when two or more cohesive units of two or more opposing combatants meet in combat.
   1. Units can be of unequal size, and can engage a single person.
   2. Everyone in a unit is considered to be engaged with all combatants in the other unit(s).
3. Caid additions for Unit engagement (melees)
   1. You have disengaged from combat with an opponent if any of the following apply:
      1. You retreat out of immediate weapons' reach of your opponent, you are not pursued and you seek to engage in another combat. This does not apply if you are backing off and waiting for a wounded opponent to act out the wounding and get prepared to continue the combat.
      2. If you are one of two or more fighters within range of your opponent and you retreat out of immediate weapon reach and significantly change position with respect to your opponent. This doesn't include the normal shifting of position that goes on within range, but includes any maneuver that gives your opponent the impression that you have disengaged.
      3. If you are pursued by your opponent and your opponent is more than 3 strides from when you were last attacked.
      4. If your opponent has broken through a line and succeeds in getting more than three strides beyond the line without being struck, they are considered disengaged from that formation for the purpose of actually hitting them from behind and you can only use the "death from behind" maneuver or re-engage.
   2. Archers that have been properly engaged, and have not yielded may be struck and killed like any other combatant.

Ranged weapons engagement

1. If you are using a ranged weapon, you are considered engaged with all other combatants on the field subject to relevant minimum range requirements.
2. Missile blows can strike from any angle and regardless of your awareness of the ranged weapon combatant or siege engine.
3. If you are using a handheld weapon, you engage ranged weapons combatants as if they were any other combatant on the field.
4. If the scenario prohibits ranged weapons combatants from specifically targeting the back side of an opponent:
   1. If you deliberately turn your back to avoid missiles and a missile strikes you in the back, it is still valid.

Siege engine engagement

1. The following standards may not be altered.
   1. You must stay clear of moving parts.
   2. You must not strike or thrust siege engines/structures with handheld weapons.
   3. A siege engine that is considered destroyed must be secured/made safe.
   4. If fighting occurs within 5 feet (1.5 m) of an active siege engine (cocked or loaded), a hold must be called and the engine declared destroyed and secured/made safe.
2. When possible, approach siege engines/structures from the side.
3. You destroy a siege engine by closing to within 5 feet (1.5 m) of the engine/structure and declaring, "This weapon is destroyed."
4. In the event that a siege engine crew has been killed or captured, but the engine or structure itself has not been destroyed, the engine or structure may continue to be used by the capturing army.
5. Siege engine crews are fully armored combatants, and you should treat them as any other fighter on the field.

Death from behind

General

1. Kingdoms can choose to allow combatants to kill opponents from behind in battle scenarios by using the "death from behind" maneuver.
2. If your opponent is not engaged with you, striking them from behind is always forbidden. This standard must not be altered.
3. You must not deliberately ignore an attacker behind you, or repeatedly maneuver to keep your back to an attacker (thereby preventing an attack on you).
4. If you are not allowed to use the "death from behind" maneuver, or you cannot safely execute the maneuver, you must move to engage them as an individual or unit.
5. If a fighter is engaged with you, even though you are allowed to strike them from behind, the death from behind maneuver is preferred (if allowed).
6. Caid additions for Death from behind
   1. Death (Kill) from behind is used in all war scenarios unless specifically announced otherwise.
   2. Death from behind is not used in tournament melees, unless waived by the marshal-in-charge after taking the Eric/list field size, and safety into consideration. Use of death from behind in melee tournaments must be announced so that all combatants are aware of the rule, prior to the start of fighting.
   3. Archers are "killed from behind" in the same manner as other combatants.

Death from behind maneuver (where allowed)

1. Killing an opponent from behind can be accomplished by placing a weapon over your opponent's eye slot (or, for a two handed weapon or spear, upon their shoulder so that the point would be visible to your opponent) and stating loudly, "You are dead from behind".
2. If you are an archer:
   1. The hand you use to perform the kill must have full hand protection which also protects your fingers and thumb.
   2. You can use an arrow or bolt, but not your bow or crossbow.
3. You need to repeat this maneuver for every opponent to be killed in this manner.
4. You must take enough time that your opponent acknowledges your presence (or could have) before attacking another opponent (roughly 2-3 seconds).
5. You may not do this maneuver while running past your opponent.
6. If you are being killed from behind:
   1. You are presumed dead as soon as the process has started.
   2. You cannot spin or turn to engage the fighter.

Helpless opponents

1. You must not deliberately strike a helpless opponent.
2. Depending on the scenario or tournament rules, you may be allowed to declare a helpless opponent dead, ask them to yield, or allow them to regain the ability to continue safely.
3. If you get an unfair advantage by repeatedly becoming "helpless" (for example, by falling down or losing your weapon), the marshals will warn you, and if you do it again, they will force you to yield the fight. However, your opponent can ask the marshals to let the fight continue.
4. Caid additions for Helpless opponents
   1. In Caid, "repeatedly" is defined as three times. On the third instance of "becoming helpless", the fighter shall be considered defeated.
   2. A fighter using two weapons is not considered "helpless" when one weapon is dropped or lost, however a hold will be called, and the fighter warned. This is to ensure fairness in instances where a fighter may have an unprotected hand, verses those that may have a full gauntlet.
   3. A fighter who repeatedly (3 times) retreats to the edge of the field to obtain an unfair advantage shall, after being duly warned by the marshals on the field, be placed in the center of the list and considered legged. The onus of this is on the marshals, not on the opponent. In Caid, "repeatedly" is defined as three times.

Caid additions for Killing and capturing opponents on the ground

1. Should a fighter fall to the ground during a war and can be held at weapons point by an opponent, the fighter on the ground can either be considered killed or be asked to surrender.
2. To kill someone on the ground you must have them at weapons point and state LOUDLY “You are dead on the ground.” You must at least take enough time that your opponent acknowledges your presence (or could have) before attacking another opponent (roughly 2-3 seconds).