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+IHELP: COMBAT
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Isengard has always been highly acclaimed for its outstanding sophistication in roleplaying combat. In Isengard it is expected that you will fill your combat with descriptive poses, which will enhance the realism of the scene, rather than simply using Elendor's coded Combat System alone. You do not have to use the Combat System if you do not want to, but if you choose to then you are expected to have a certain degree of familiarity with how to use it (See HELP COMBAT for information on how to use Elendor's Combat System).

Only Warrior Uruks and higher are allowed to use weapons (see +ihelp EQUIPMENT), however before you are given a weapon you must be Combat Approved. To learn how to be approved see +ihelp COMBAT-APPROVAL.

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+IHELP: COMBAT-APPROVAL
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Combat Approval is the process in which your Local Administrator (LA) approves you for combat registration, thus enabling you to use the MUSH combat system. There are several things you should do before you approach your LA's or +trainers for this test, however.

1) First, read the help files thoroughly, such as +Ihelp, +Vhelp and +HELP. Pay special attention to +help combat, and the other +help files connected with combat, and know this information well.

2) You should have a thematic name, as well as a written description.

3) Have an IC job or two in mind to try for.

Also, seek out other Isendrim to RP with. If we have not RPed with you yet, we may not choose to test you. It is a good idea to observe some RPed combat before-hand, so you know what we will expect from you.

There are two tests that you will have to pass to become Combat Approved. The first test is a written test that will be given to you after you have been active in the culture for 5 to 8 days. If an LA has not sent you the test within 8 days of being cultured, contact a LA and ask what you need to do to recieve the first part of the test.

Test number two is an actual (though OOC) RP with an LA to demonstrate your ability to role-play various items that will be encountered during actual combat role-play. After completing and passing these two tests, you will then be Combat Approved.

Some of the things we look for in the RPed combat test are: Do you know the commands? More importantly, do you know and understand MUSH etiquette, and how to Role Play? Your LA/+trainer will expect you to know the difference between being IC and OOC, how and when to call an Arbitrator, the combat commands, and how to pose combat poses, both attacking and defending. (Your trainer will help you refine this skill after you are approved.) What commands you use when you first enter a room to determine who is IC/Idle/etc, and how mature you are in dealing with strife, will influence whether other players will wish to Role Play with you in a combat-type scenario.

No one gives the RPed combat test the same way, so there is little point in asking what will be on your test. If the LA/+trainer testing you decides you that are not ready to pass, please do not take it personally. You can always ask to take the test again at a later time, preferably with the same LA/+trainer who tested you the first time. It can not be stressed enough that you will be expected to have RPed and be well settled in with us for at least a week before approaching your LA's for combat-approval. You are welcome to ask questions over the com channel if needed, after you have read the various help files.

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+IHELP: COMBAT-REGISTERING
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Combat-Registering How to register for combat in a specific weapon.

To register for combat after you have been approved by your LA's, simply type +OOC to go to the OOC complex, then go into the combat room. In there you will see the Combat Registration Machine. Look at it for directions on how to register, but before you do, make certain your stats are set the way you want them. Once you register, you will not be able to reset them. You may ask your LA's for suggestions on stats for your character if you need some advice. Be certain that the weapon you have chosen to register is thematic, available, and that you can get +training in it. Check ahead during your combat test to find out which weapon is best for you, and if it's available and trainable. You can train in more than one weapon, but the one you register in will be your main weapon that you train in. Once you are combat registered you may set yourself 'combat active' while in that room.

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+IHELP: COMBAT-ETIQUETTE
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Combat Etiquette: Rules you need to know before going into Combat.

These files will give a brief run down of things a player needs to do before, during, and after combat.

BEFORE COMBAT:
Before combat begins, a number of parameters of combat need to be discussed and decided upon. The method that players will use to flee, either using free flees or FLEE, and whether or not looting will be allowed, should be two of the first items discussed and agreed upon. If no method can be agreed upon, using the CS code will be the default, though really if you can't agree on something this simple, it may be best to let cooler heads negotiate combat.

Another item to be arranged is the number of combatants on each side, including NPC's, that are going to be a part of the combat. If you do not know the number, ask someone who does. If no one is around who knows DO NOT make something up. Either wait for information or play with the players present. Decide if the combat warrants the calling of an arb, because of size or importance of the battle. If appropriate, decide who will lose the battle and who will win. Again, if players cannot come to an agreement, the final decision should come from the Combat System, or the decision of the arb present.

DURING COMBAT-
During combat, what we need to know becomes more important, not only because of the increased amount of things to watch for, but because combat moves quickly; it is easy for things to get out of hand. It first should be noted that at NO time should you pose other players' (including the other sides' NPCs) actions or reactions to anything you do or anything that happens in the role-play. Also, you should not pose for any NPCs not under your command ICly, or that have been given to you to command OOCly by a LA.

Be realistic with your attack weighting; /10's should rarely be used, if ever. Please make use of the multi-culture +coms during the combat, not only to have fun talking OOCly about the battle as it goes on, but also to avoid any miscommunication during the fight.

Please do not pick out characters that are weaker using the Combat System, just for an easy kill. Elendor is about role-play, not player-killing. Be careful not to practice Elendor-Fu in your poses. Please pose combat realistically, and avoid anything too fancy for medieval combat.

One should gauge with some intelligence how long your character will survive in a battle before you need to flee. Do not be afraid of losing in combat, but do not wait until you have 5 hit points to run away and expect to survive, and consequently being upset you didn't. You should consider fleeing when you have around 40 of your hit points left. Less than that and you consider the possibility of a lucky hit to knock you unconscious, and you must be willing to accept that.

Remember, that as much as you may want, your character is not the strongest, baddest, most powerful player ever. Things do cause you fear. Please pose appropriate reactions in every situation. If you are an Uruk, and a Troll is trying to eat you, then you should pose being scared of that Troll.

Other reminders: Bows and Longbows are not machine guns, wait between shots for reaction poses. If you are wearing chain mail and are pushed off a boat, there is an extremely high chance your character will be killed. (Bring some leather for the boat trip.) If there is a doubt in the role-play, call for an arb. If there is a doubt on combat, use the coded Combat System.

AFTER COMBAT-
After combat tends to be a bit easier. You should discuss and calculate the casualties of the battle, if necessary. Also discuss any issues either side had with the combat and most importantly, say Thank you.

Using the above guidelines will keep fights from breaking out OOCly between players and cultures. Remember, in the end, it's just a game. Don't feel the need to fight till your dying breath to "Be Right" OOCly, it's not worth it.

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+IHELP: EQUIPMENT
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Armor and weapons are stored in a centralized Armory, and are given out by the local administrators of Isengard. Weapons and armor are given to every player after they have been Combat Approved. See +ihelp equipment-policy for more information. Also, feel free to talk to an LA if you do not understand something.

Equipment available in Isengard:
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Armor:
Chain Mail Reserved for the ICly important.
Ring Mail Reserved for the ICly important.
Metal Helm Sturdier, but heavier, Helm
Metal Shield Sturdier, but heavier, Shield
Studded Leather Armor Common body armor
Studded Leather Helm Common Helm
Studded Leather Shield Common Shield

Weapons:
Axe Good ol' splitter, normally used by woodcutters (Engineers)
Short Broadsword A very sturdy and favored weapon
Longbow Favored amongst scouts, but also good as secondary.
War Hammer Restricted weapon, consult an IsenAdmin before registering.
Longsword Reserved for Humans
Other Weapons Contact an IsenAdmin and talk to them before registering in any other weapon.

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+IHELP: EQUIPMENT-POLICY
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Receiveing Equipment:

Isengard differs from most other cultures in the aspect of beeing a military culture. Saruman is building an army and therefore equips it with the weapons/armor needed. This means that you do NOT need to buy any combat gear. In order to receive your gear you need to get combat approved by the Isengard Administration (consult '+ihelp combat-approval' for more info about this process), once this step is completed one of the LAs will aid you in getting your gear. REMEMBER! the gear you receive is only a loan, and you're personally responsible for it.

Standard equipment:

Uruk-Hai
Weapon: Short Broadsword or Longbow
Armor: Studded Leather
Helmet: Studded Leather
Shield: Studded Leather

When it comes to the agents, equipment is descided on a case-by-case basis.

Losing equipment:
What happens if you lose your equipment? Well, tough luck, you'll need to get new gear on your own. The Culture will provide you with one set of gear, no more. Any loss of combat equipment shall be reported to the IsenAdmin.

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