SCA Rules of the List made easier
The SCA Rules of the List are the following nine rules
The Rules of the Lists are reprinted from Appendix B of the Corpora of the SCA.
1. Each fighter, recognizing the possibilities of physical injury to him or herself in such combat, shall assume unto himself or herself all risk and liability for harm suffered by means of such combat. No fighter shall engage in combat unless and until he or she has inspected the field of combat and satisfied himself or herself that it is suitable for combat. Other participants shall likewise recognize the risks involved in their presence on or near the field of combat, and shall assume unto themselves the liabilities thereof.
2. No person shall participate in Combat-Related Activities (including armored combat, period fencing, combat archery, scouting, and banner bearing in combat) outside of formal training sessions unless he or she shall have been properly authorized under Society and Kingdom procedures.
3. All combatants must be presented to, and be acceptable to, the Sovereign or his or her representative.
4. All combatants shall adhere to the appropriate armor and weapons standards of the Society, and to any additional standards of the Kingdom in which the event takes place. The Sovereign may waive the additional Kingdom standards.
5. The Sovereign or the Marshallate may bar any weapon or armor from use upon the field of combat. Should a warranted Marshal bar any weapon or armor, an appeal may be made to the Sovereign to allow the weapon or armor.
6. Combatants shall behave in a knightly and chivalrous manner, and shall fight according to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.
7. No one may be required to participate in Combat-Related Activities. Any combatant may, without dishonor or penalty, reject any challenge without specifying a reason. A fight in a tournament lists is not to be considered a challenge, and therefore may not be declined or rejected without forfeiting the bout.
8. Fighting with real weapons, whether fast or slow, is strictly forbidden at any Society event. This rule does not consider approved weaponry which meets the Society and Kingdom standards for traditional Society combat and/or Society period rapier combat, used in the context of mutual sport, to be real weaponry.
9. No projectile weapons shall be allowed and no weapons shall be thrown within the Lists of a tournament. The use of approved projectile weapons for melee, war, or combat archery shall conform to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.
The wizard_foots has, at my request, published his reduced version:
I think there are only 2, not 9. And they are:
RULE 1: You are an authorized, acceptable legal volunteer who plays nicely.
RULE 2: Weapons Specs. You will use only such weapons as are approved by your kingdom, and may under no circumstances either throw things or use metal weapons.
Rule 1 actually takes in 5 of the 9. A legal volunteer is not only authorized but acceptable to the Crown and Its Representatives (Marshals), but in a legal sense, you are a volunteer. Which means that (a) you cannot be compelled to fight at any time - sure, you may have to forfeit a bout, but no-one can MAKE you fight and (b) you fight at your own risk, because in law equity does not assist a volunteer. And you fight at the pleasure of the Crown, which does not approve of those who do not play nicely.
He (and I) seek comment.
The Rules of the Lists are reprinted from Appendix B of the Corpora of the SCA.
1. Each fighter, recognizing the possibilities of physical injury to him or herself in such combat, shall assume unto himself or herself all risk and liability for harm suffered by means of such combat. No fighter shall engage in combat unless and until he or she has inspected the field of combat and satisfied himself or herself that it is suitable for combat. Other participants shall likewise recognize the risks involved in their presence on or near the field of combat, and shall assume unto themselves the liabilities thereof.
2. No person shall participate in Combat-Related Activities (including armored combat, period fencing, combat archery, scouting, and banner bearing in combat) outside of formal training sessions unless he or she shall have been properly authorized under Society and Kingdom procedures.
3. All combatants must be presented to, and be acceptable to, the Sovereign or his or her representative.
4. All combatants shall adhere to the appropriate armor and weapons standards of the Society, and to any additional standards of the Kingdom in which the event takes place. The Sovereign may waive the additional Kingdom standards.
5. The Sovereign or the Marshallate may bar any weapon or armor from use upon the field of combat. Should a warranted Marshal bar any weapon or armor, an appeal may be made to the Sovereign to allow the weapon or armor.
6. Combatants shall behave in a knightly and chivalrous manner, and shall fight according to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.
7. No one may be required to participate in Combat-Related Activities. Any combatant may, without dishonor or penalty, reject any challenge without specifying a reason. A fight in a tournament lists is not to be considered a challenge, and therefore may not be declined or rejected without forfeiting the bout.
8. Fighting with real weapons, whether fast or slow, is strictly forbidden at any Society event. This rule does not consider approved weaponry which meets the Society and Kingdom standards for traditional Society combat and/or Society period rapier combat, used in the context of mutual sport, to be real weaponry.
9. No projectile weapons shall be allowed and no weapons shall be thrown within the Lists of a tournament. The use of approved projectile weapons for melee, war, or combat archery shall conform to the appropriate Society and Kingdom Conventions of Combat.
The wizard_foots has, at my request, published his reduced version:
I think there are only 2, not 9. And they are:
RULE 1: You are an authorized, acceptable legal volunteer who plays nicely.
RULE 2: Weapons Specs. You will use only such weapons as are approved by your kingdom, and may under no circumstances either throw things or use metal weapons.
Rule 1 actually takes in 5 of the 9. A legal volunteer is not only authorized but acceptable to the Crown and Its Representatives (Marshals), but in a legal sense, you are a volunteer. Which means that (a) you cannot be compelled to fight at any time - sure, you may have to forfeit a bout, but no-one can MAKE you fight and (b) you fight at your own risk, because in law equity does not assist a volunteer. And you fight at the pleasure of the Crown, which does not approve of those who do not play nicely.
He (and I) seek comment.