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Combat at Hynafol Guide

Everything You Need To Know About Battles at Hynafol

Overview

Mock medieval style combat using foam and latex padded weapons is a major part of the Hynafol experience. Our team and members take great care with weapon specifications, rules to use and great sportsmanship all in an effort to make the combat not only fun, but as safe as possible. However, participating in the combat is akin to a contact sport and should be treated as such. You, the participant, assume all risk in your participation in any activity at Hynafol, but especially by partaking in the combat. 

All weapons are checked before use during the game and must receive either a band, sticker, or in the case of arrows & bolts a colored marking on the shaft indicating their safety.

Please make sure to read these rules and instructions in full before participating. You are responsible for knowing them and how to keep others safe. 

Any unsafe behavior, including but not limited to: intentionally injuring someone, striking unreasonably hard, targeting sensitive areas, or any kind of physical contact outside the prescribed striking is grounds for expulsion from the current and all future Hynafol events. 

This is a game and it’s intended to be fun! Make sure it stays that way.

Hynafol is not a weapons manufacturer and does not, and will not, give instructions on how to craft a suitable weapon.

Our approved vendors, found at the bottom of the page, have spent decades perfecting safe foam & latex weapons, and those vendors should be used for their known safety. 

 

Combat Overview

Overview

Combat at Hynafol is intended to extend the roleplaying experience. Each interaction between combatants, whether that is on the field of battle, the tournaments lists, or on the road against brigands is an opportunity to tell a story. Participants are encouraged to take battles seriously (your character’s life is on the line!), but to also give a great story to others. 

Principles

Safety, fun, and candor are our three guiding principles for combat at Hynafol. 

Safety: 

The most important aspect of combat at Hynafol is that all participants remain safe in all of their actions and interactions. Rules and commands from the Stewards of Hynafol are final and should be obeyed without hesitation or confrontation. 

Fun: 

Creating a fun and exciting combat sequence is more important than winning by cheating. Losing a combat scenario is also extremely fun. You should never cheat to win. Dying a glorious, meaningful death, or struggling to not die while being dragged to safety for healing, tells a better story than never counting your hits. 

Candor: 

Candor means to have unreserved, honest, or sincere expression. In combat at Hynafol we use this term to describe the process by which you follow the rules, take the hits that your character receives in combat, and follow through with the consequences of combat scenarios. In all combat situations and scenarios you should act with candor: take your hits, focus on your character, and role-play the consequences there-in. 

Combat Safety

During the mock combat at Hynafol all participants assume a level or risk and are wholly responsible for their safety. Even with standard “larp” weapons that are designed for this activity the possibility of adverse risk and injury are always possible. 

The Hynafol organization will check for basic safety of all weapons at the beginning of each event. Players are expected to discard any weapon, shield or other item that may pose a possible safety risk to themselves or any other participant. 

All participants are required to have their weapons pass a safety check at the beginning of the event, or before entering into combat at the event, of any kind. All weapons that pass the safety check will be marked with a simple band provided by the organization. 

Overall Weapon Rules
  • All weapons or shields are required to be inspected by the safety check before entering the field of battle or used in combat. Hynafol staff and volunteers reserve the right to refuse any weapon for any reason whatsoever entering into use. Any player found skirting these rules is subject to expulsion from the event and banning from all future events. 
  • Weapons that are too heavy or improperly balanced will be rejected. 
  • Any weapon that is not easily recognizable in form and in function; or from a recognized manufacture may be refused. 
  • All weapons should be wielded safely and with appropriate force. Even the safest of weapons can be made dangerous when wielded with excess force or lack of control. Participants using excess force or lack of control are subject to removal from combat activities, having their weapons confiscated, or being expelled from the event. 
  • Hynafol is not a larp weapons manufacturer, and as such, does not intend to explain nor control how weapons are made. Construction rules and tips shall not be given. It is recommended that you purchase a manufactured larp weapon from the list of manufacturers listed below. 
  • The Hynafol organization has the final say on what weapons and shields may be used; and may refuse any weapon for any reason whatsoever. 

Weapon Specifications

Core-less Weapons
  • Core-less weapons are not to be used in combat at Hynafol. They are permitted at the event as trinkets, decorations, and for purely fun purposes. They should not be used on another participant whether held or thrown. 

One Handed Weapons

Length: 14 inches to 44 inches 

Coverage: From the guard  to the tip must be covered in a protective material or covering. 

Tip: Must be padded and protected against the core when thrust. 

Padding: The core must not be felt through the weapon when squeezed or struck. 

Notes: May have one to two joints with a maximum spacing of five inches. (Flails, etc.)

Two Handed Weapons

Length: 44 inches to 72 inches

Coverage: From the guard  to the tip must be covered in a protective material or covering. 

Tip: Must be padded and protected against the core when thrust. 

Padding: The core must not be felt through the weapon when squeezed or struck. 

Halberd / Polearm

Length: 72 inches to 84 inches

Coverage: 

  • The “cutting edge” must be covered in foam that is dense enough for “slicing / cutting”. 
  • The entire length of the weapon core must be covered in protective material. 
  • Base must be padded and pliable. 
  • The entire object must be rigid and inflexible; there must be no whipping effect.
  • Any weapon longer than 72” must have a marking at least 20 inches from the base. These markings are the distance the hands must be separated when in use. 
  • The weapon must be designed as to show that is clearly a “cutting” only weapon.
  • Weapon construction must be made of a material that does not promote splintering or fracturing.
Pike / Spear

Length: 84 inches to 108 inches

Coverage: 

  • The tip of the spear/pike must be covered in foam that is dense enough for thrusting. 
  • The entire length of the weapon core must be covered in protective material. 
  • Base must be padded and pliable. 
  • The entire object must be rigid and inflexible; there must be no whipping effect.
  • The tip of the spear / pike must be at least 2 inches in diameter
  • The tip/end of the spear must be covered in enough foam padding and/or injected foam as to not feel the core when in use or inspection.
  • Any weapon longer than 72” must have a marking at least 20 inches from the base. These markings are the distance the hands must be separated when in use. 
  • The weapon must be designed as to show that is clearly a thrusting only weapon.
  • Weapon construction must be made of a material that does not promote splintering or fracturing.

Tip: Must be padded and protected against the core when thrust. 

Bow / Crossbow
  • The string must be in good condition and not show any signs of fraying or distress. 
  • The body of the bow must be in good working order, and not show any signs of cracking, fractures or distress.
  • The notches on the bow itself must not be overly worn and able to hold the string in place firmly. 
  • The draw of the bow must be less than 30lbs at 28” draw weight. 

Note: The strictest of judgment shall be placed on bows and crossbows. If there is any discrepancy they bow shall be refused.

Arrows / Bolts
    • Homemade or self constructed arrows shall be refused. 
    • Only flat tipped arrows / bolts from the following vendors shall be approved: 
      • iDV Engineering 
      • B3 Imagination Studio

    There are no exceptions. 

Shields

Each player is allowed one shield. 

The shield must have the characteristics of a medieval style shield. 

All edges must be covered in foam and/or soft padding. 

Battle Gameplay

Hitpoints
  • Your character has six areas that carry one hit point: each leg, each arm, torso, and the head. 
  • The face and genitals cannot be targeted. 
Injury & Death in Combat
  • When an area of your body has been reduced to 0 hit points it is considered inoperable. If there is a weapon in your hand it should be dropped. If a leg is reduced to 0 you should drop to a knee. 
  • When your head or torso is reduced to 0 hit points you are considered dying for 5 minutes. During this time you can be “dragged” to safety and healed. This should be role-played and all touching should be consented to prior to beginning. 
  • On the battlefield, combatants that have reached 0 HP should turn their weapon upside down, the clearly show they are now non-combatants, and walk to the the respawn area. 
  • Elsewhere in Hynafol, combatants that are reduced to 0 HP, are considered incapacitated and need to be healed or rested for at least 2 hours to regain their hit points. 
Weapon Use Instructions
  • All weapons must pass the safety inspection. This inspection is subject to the discretion of the organization on any and all weapons and shields entering the battlefield. 
  • All weapons, regardless of size, do one(1) point of damage. 
  • All combat damage comes from weapons alone. 
  • Damage and the loss of hit points comes from making contact. The force applied should be as minimal as possible.
  • Shield bashing / colliding is forbidden.
  • Grappling, grabbing of weapons, shields, or armor is strictly forbidden. 
  • Thrusting style weapons may not be aimed at your opponents head or groin. 
  • All weapons used on the battlefield must be cored weapons and greater than 14” in length. 
  • The maximum length for spears is 9 feet. 
  • All weapons greater than 3ft 6 inches are considered 2 handed weapons and must be wielded at all times with two hands. 
  • Chopping or slashing weapons may not be longer than 7ft and must be used with two hands. 
  • All weapons over 6ft in length must have a mark 20 inches from the pommel delimitating a zone where only one hand may be placed. In other words your hands must be 20 inches apart while using these weapons. 
Armor Use Instructions
  • Armor provides additional points to the player to give their hit areas additional protection. 
  • The maximum hit area points is 3.
  • Armor protects only the portion of the body that it actually, functionally covers. 
  • Armor does not stack cumulatively. 
  • Armor Points shall be attributed based on the following rules: 
    • Overlapping metal armor: +2 Points
    • Chainmail, Scalemail, Other flexible Metal and Hardened leather armor: +1 Point
    • Any other clothing or material: No Points
  • Shields are indestructible. 
Approved Weapon Vendors
  • While always subject to review, any weapon provided from the vendors below will likely pass the approval process for weapon usage at Hynafol: 

    • Epic Armoury
    • Calamacil
    • B3 Foam
    • Atelier Nemesis

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