Recently, there has been much debate and actual argument over how to handle different types of combat that pop up from time to time. What sort of combat you ask? The sort of combat that can result of spontaneous battle, or as some parts of Gor has come to call it, Open Combat. But what happens when more then two people are engaged in this sort of combat? Then it becomes melee combat, perhaps the most realistic and most Gorean form of combat of all. These rules are being written on May 4th, 2002 and are available to be used by whoever wishes to make use of the rules.
Some of you may now be wondering, what is the difference between Melee Combat, and Open Combat? The reason is simple, but yet very distinct. Open Combat, has come about when the spontaneous battles erupt, however, how Open Combat is conducted is a bit confusing and has come about from a compound of concepts and idea's. Open Combat, as many know it across Gor, came about from Raid Style battles. What are Raids? Raids are fast and furious battle that can take place between one man, or ten men. But how are they judging this type of combat? They are judging this combat as though it is judged by Sparring Rules. They have a good concept, but Spar Rules, and Raid Style combat, can not be mixed together in the way it has been. What happens? To many things are traded and swapped and mixed up. What things are getting mixed up? The idea that the fighters are taught how to spar by the Spar Rules, but the current Open Combat rules are a contradiction of the current Spar Rules. The Open Combat rules are contradicting the thought process that sparring posts should be well planned, descriptive, clear, and well done. But the Open Combat is trying to rush the fighters to make their posts and react quickly. What is the problem? The problem lies in the understanding that not everyone can battle quickly. Not everyone is able to rush himself or herself to make a time limit. What happens if they don't make the time limit? Then the actions are considered as having happened, and people are dying. That is not what this should be about. What happens when the people rush and actually make the small time limits? They make mistakes that normally would not be made if they had the proper time to plan and correct mistakes. When they rush, the quality of the battle is reduced, and the enjoyment is lessened. To the true Warriors across Gor, the concept of their fighting skills is not to be the fastest, but it is to strive to be realistic, clear, and intelligent. The end result is to put together a beautiful, complex battle, and not the sloppy result that comes from rushing them to do so. Melee Combat shall remedy these things.
Melee Combat rules are not to be used for Raids, or for Sparring. If you continue reading, you will come to understand the times when these sets of rules apply. Below is a list of the various times these rules may be implemented, as well as a brief understanding of what it means to do so.
Sport Melee: Sport melee is to mean that a spontaneous battles that erupt between friends, brothers and allies. It is for fun and enjoyment, and not meant to be used to kill, maim, slaughter, or capture each other. Sport Melee can happen often, however it is not encouraged to have every one of them judged. Why? Because a Melee takes quite some time to judge and there are many things to look at when judging. Below, there shall be more detail examples of specifications and limitations that need to be acknowledged and abided.
Capture Melee: Capture Melee is the format used when the objective is to capture a target. The target can be a traveling Free Woman or Freeman in a wild area, or the target could be a Ubara of the City of Ar. As you can guess by now, Capture Melee can be used with one person trying to capture one person. Or it could be used as three or four people trying to capture one person in the wilds. Or it could be five people trying to invade a Camp/Port/City/Island/Tavern to try and battle a group of other men in order to capture/take back a target that resides/or being held in that home. Below under the judging sections, you shall see the basics and break down of how to properly perform each of these tasks.
Lethal Melee: Lethal Melee, while frowned upon in Online Gor, is still a large part of Gor and the dangerous aspect that comes with Gor should be noted, as well as respected. Lethal Melee should be used only when absolutely necessary to be true to Gor. While yes, Lethal Melee can result for one on one, spontaneous battle of this sort, but that could also be settled by a Death Spar. Lethal Melee shall most commonly be used when a group of men/women (panthers/Taluna's) wish to attack one or more targets with the hopes of killing one or more people. While a true Warrior would find this type of attack gutless and cowardice, that does not mean it did not take place in Gor. Also below, there shall be specifics that come into play when judging this sort of Melee.
Basic Rules Of Melee Combat:
1.Posts shall be alternating. There will be no speed posting or rushed posting. The only time you could post twice in a row, is if the opponent goes over the time limit allowed to reply. However, you can not post again with new attacks, the only thing you could post, is adjusting your movement, or exchanging weapons. However, it is important for the fighters to note that the timing shall only be done by Spar timing, if the melee is one on one. If The Melee is one on one, then the Fighters have 5 minutes after the post of their opponent.
If facing more then one opponent, You shall have five minutes between each of your posts. For example, if Attacker one attacks you, followed by attacks from Attackers 2 or 3, you respond to Attacker 1's first post. You then reply to the next attack directly after the attack you replied to in your previous post. After you post your reply to Attacker 1's attack, you have five(5) minutes from YOUR time stamp to reply Attacker 2's post. This makes the time limit an even playing field between multiple attackers, as well as for those who type slower then others.
Example:
Fighter 1: *Drives knee up at your groin, and thrusts my left hand forward at your nose. *
Time Limit Expires:
Fighter 1: *Pulls away and begins running away from you and toward my kaiila. *
This shall push fighters to make the time limit. Why? Because now the opponent to fighter one, will most likely have their attacks be unrealistic. Why? Because enough time has passed to allow a change in position, as would be realistic. It is up to the judge to decide whether or not Fighter one's opponents follow up attacks should have been heeded, or if they became unrealistic and null, do to an opponent's change of position or location. Also, you should make certain that the time limit has indeed expired. If you do post again your position, and the time limit has not quite expired, then during Sport Melee, it will result in one point deducted from the bank for speed posting. Or during Capture or Lethal Melee, your repositioning will simply be considered as speed posting, and not of having happened.
2. No Forced Actions. If a forced action is used, a point will be deducted during Sport Melee. In other Melee forms, if a Forced action shall be used, the fighter will be punished. How? Quite simply, if the forced action, say was a sword stroke to the throat, the opponent should indeed use it as intent, and block it accordingly. However, what if perhaps the forced action was not realisticly defended? The person issuing the forced attack, shall indeed be punished, because despite the fact it may not have been realistically defended, it will not be taken into effect, as to whether or not a fighter was captured, or killed. Why? Because it was the fighter who used the forced action's mistake, and as being such, it should be he/her that receives the potentially costly penalty for it.
3. No Back Posts. If a Back Post is issued, a fighter does have the choice to simply not acknowledge that it happened. However, that is a risk they take. Just because they think something is a back post, does not mean if it is a back post or not. The judge in charge of the Melee combat is up to that. The alternative is to provide at least a minor defense to the back post. If a Back Post occurs during Sport Melee's, then a point is deducted from the point bank of the fighter or team. Like Forced Actions, Back Posts will not be considered as potentially lethal blows, or potential capture situations. Why? Because the person who made the error of using a back post should be the one taking the penalty for it.
4. All Blows Must Be Acknowledged. You must block, deflect, or minimize the damage of every single attack or blow. In Sport Melee, if a blow is not acknowledged a point is deducted from the point bank, and it is assumed as to having landed. In Capture Melee, if a blow or attack is not acknowledged, it is assumed that it happened, IE a bola wrapping around some one's legs for a capture, or a thrust going into some one's body.
5. As noted above in rule # 1 regarding when a person can post without a response, the time limit is 5 minutes. Again, 5 minutes after opponent’s post if the Melee is one on one, or if you are being attacked by multiple fighters, you have 5 minutes between your own posts to ensure you have the ability to keep up, and keep you moving and fighting. Remember, just because time limit expires, does not mean all previous attacks have landed.
6. Each post is allowed three (3) or less actions. The three actions is allow people to keep things realistic, and very descriptive. These three actions can be any of the actions used in accordance to your sites standard combat rules, with the addition of combinations being allowed in all types of Melee. In Sport Melee, if you go over the limit, one point is deducted for each action over the limit from the point bank. In Capture or Lethal Melee, it is understandable that some people can get caught up in the heat of battle and go one or two actions over the limit occasionally. Such is fine, but if it happens more then twice during one Melee session, the actions that are over the limit, will not be considered toward possible lethal blows or capture situations.
7. Fighters can have as many weapons as they realistically have with them on their body. During the beginning of Melee situations, fighters should take the responsibility of declaring all the weapons they have before the first blows are struck. If you do not declare such, it is the Judges discretion as to whether or not it's realistic to have had the weapon. For example, you would not see a warrior with a Turian Shield, two Long Swords, A Short Sword, a Torv Axe and a spear. It's not realistic, nor appropriate. A judge can declare a weapon invalid for one of two reasons. The fighter unrealistically has too many primary weapons. Or, if the fighter draws a weapon that was not previously declared, but yet would be too big to just come out of no where. An example of such would be magically pulling a shield from their back. Or pulling a spear from their back. However, a secret dagger or hook knife is acceptable. A fighter should also note, that Melee combat does not take place in a pit. They could pick up anything they chose to use as a weapon. For example, a fighter could very easily take up a rock, or such lying around. Or just as easily take up some one else's discarded weapons. What they can pick up, is up the fighter's imagination and sense of realism as to what would actually be in the area the fighter is in. A Fighter in The Marsh would not pick up a tree branch to fight some one off with.
8. Each fighter has the responsibility of making his or her posts realistic. Realism shall play an even larger part in Melee combat then it will in some spar systems. Realism shall be a large factor in every single form of Melee Combat. If something is unrealistic in Sport Melee, then a point shall be deducted from each infraction of realism. During Capture Melee, if something is done as unrealistic, it shall not be considered. For example, an unrealistic attempt at a deathblow, or unrealistic attempt at a capture situation, will not be considered when looking for lethal and capture scenarios. Also, if unrealistic defenses are used against a lethal blow, or capture attempt, then the lethal bow would be decided as having hit, or the capture attempt being successful.
9. It is the fighter's responsibility to be clear and descriptive. If a Lethal deathblow, or capture attempt is not clear and descriptive to the judge, then it will not be considered legitimate. The same goes for if a defense of a lethal deathblow or capture attempt is not clear and descriptive enough to understand then the blow or attempt shall be seen as having occurred. If a fighter is not clear and descriptive during Sport Melee, and a point will be deducted from the point bank.
10. All forms of Melee shall come to a close upon the call of retreat, by the attackers, or the people being attacked for attempted captures, or killing, has escaped. When the attackers call a retreat, no more capture attempts or lethal blows can happen after that point from the attackers. However, once the attackers begin to retreat, the home that is fending off the attacks, can realistically attempt to capture the attackers during their retreat, as is perfectly realistic and legitimate. However, during retreats, it should be a time for the wounded attackers to escape, and the more severely wounded defenders can stand down and get medical attention. During retreats, neither side should attempt lethal blows.
11. Fighters should try their best to keep the odds reasonably close. The types of Melee specification on odds and numbers are designated below.
Judging Melee Combat:
Sport Melee: Sport Melee, is the only Melee that has any sort of a point total. Sport Melee can have two fighters, or twenty fighters on each side, or all together fighting each other. As said above, Sport Melee can happen often for practice, but takes a great deal of time to judge, so fighters should only be asked to judge if your own Ubar, Jarl or Chief/etc are willing to judge the Sport Melee. When the Judge, judges Sport Melee, each Fighter, or each team, shall have a bank of 100 total points. Every time a mistake from above is made, a point is deducted from the fighters point bank, or the teams point bank. No one can die during Sport Melee, nor can anyone be captured during Sport Melee unless previously agreed upon. Sport Melee could happen spontaneously between small groups of friends, but anything overly large for Sport Melee, should be arranged ahead of time. Sport Melee can be judged by whomever the fighters wish, so long as the judge accepts the task of judging such a big script with no real prize or goal other then practice. For Sport Melee the number of fighters can be any match up or mismatch so long as agreed upon.
Capture Melee: Capture Melee is judged based on realism. Capture Melee can take place between two people, or multiple people against one person. Or even multiple people against multiple people. People can try to capture, by using nets, ropes, bola, kaiila, sleen, etc. Not just using swords and weapons. If the capture is done in a wild area, then the head of the Capture Area, or predetermine judge(s) for such scripts, will be responsible for reviewing the scripts of the capture. If it happens in a home, the home's leader will ask two outside people to review the script, as well as review it him or herself. Once all three reach and decision, they are encouraged to debate what they have found, and then ultimately the room leader shall decide if the Capture on one of his home or one that was in his home, was successful or not. This decision will be left up to the integrity and honor of the leader. Also note, anyone can be captured. Be it a fighter, or a slave or simple Free Woman. It should also be noted, that no kills should come about from Capture Melee's.
Each home that uses this policy regarding Melee Combat should note and make known a safety zone in their home. For example, the severy could be the safe zone for most homes. Why is there a safe zone? Because not everyone is a fighter and they can escape the viciousness and be fine and secure. Attackers will not enter the safe zone, and will call retreat if their female target realistically retreats to the safe zone.
For Capture Melee, if in a wild area, any number can be used to capture a man or woman in a wild area, as it would be realistic to do so, and women and even most men, should not travel a lone. Gor is harsh, it's not a vacation and walk in a park. Capture Melee that result on a group of men attacking a home to capture a target, should allow the attacking force to have no more then two people more then the home's defenses. If the City has 5, then the attackers could have up to 7 to try and capture the target.
What determines whether a capture is successful or unsuccessful is the following
things.
1. Target has been subdued for more then two posts from him/her. If a net falls on someone does not instantly mean they are captured. They could still escape.
2. Unrealistic defense of a thrown net or bola or other capture tool.
3. Unrealistic defense to a 'knock out' blow.
4. No Acknowledgement of Capture attempt
5. Leaving the room without completing the required tasks first.
Why is stipulation # 5 there? Simple, you see, in Gor, there is no shame in trying to run or escape. It happened quite often. Not so much for the Rarius caste, but for normal men or women, it is very reasonable and legit that they simply try and escape the attacker, and not so much stay and take on the attacker. So if you are a fighter being attacked by a larger number of attackers, you should use your intelligence and use the ability to try and escape the wild area, or home that you are visiting. If you are in your own home when you are attacked to try and capture you, you should stand with honor and try to fend them off as much as possible. If you are a non-fighting woman traveling in a wild area or visiting another home, you should try and escape as best you can. If it is the woman's own home, she should try to escape and make it to the safety zone designated by her home while her fellow family defends against the attackers. The realism in people escaping the attackers, is legitimately, both in r/t and in Gor. Not every capture attempt should be successful. What does that mean? It means that you have to plan again for another capture. Not every one is perfect, you keep trying and having fun until you get the target, or until you decide to find another target, or admit defeat. And yes folks, defeat IS a part of Gor.
How do you escape? In order to escape a capture, or lethal blow, if you are a fighter, you must make three (3) consecutive posts that are defense only, and the other actions being that you are moving away to the exit and trying to escape. This does not mean you speed post the escape. It means that the attacker shall do his or her job to try and capture you, you defend against that attempted capture, and NOT return any offense, but instead begin the retreat away. After three posts of this, you may then click leave and the Melee session for you is then ended. But please note it can be judged, and the judge can rule that one or more of your defenses while retreating where not realistic. What happens? What happens is that it is seen as the capture as having happened, and the role-play will consumed as though you have been indeed captured by the attackers.
Non-Fighters can do the same thing. However, the non-fighters, being basic Free Women, or slaves, and non-fighting men, still have to make three escaping posts after replying to three attackers posts. They can role-play heading to the safety zone if they are in a home, or heading to the exit of a wild area. Why only three? Because if you will stop and look, it is not the non-fighters that have been causing the hassles over realistic and non-realistic captures. The non-fighters are not the ones that will be involved in them. So they are able to easier escape. Nine times out of ten, you will find that it's a fighter trying to capture a fighter, and not a fighter trying to capture a non-fighter.
What happens after a Capture is decided as being successful? The captured person will then be considered a captive by the home of the fighter that caught them. For 72 hours, that person can not be made a slave. During those 72 hours, the home, or hired men along with the home of the captive, is able to use the Capture Melee guidelines in order to attack the home and take back the captive. No excuses, if you capture some one using the Capture Melee guidelines, then the captive's home may use the same guidelines to get them back. Despite your home being a panther lair or the island of Tyros. Also bear in mind, if the home tries to capture the captive and it is ruled as being invalid and unsuccessful, then the 72 hours starts over again, so that they may plan and execute another attempt. After the 72-hour period, the captive can be made a slave, or auctioned off or even bartered back to their home.
Bear in mind people, Capture Melee should be to add excitement, danger, and a bit of fun to the Gorean Role-play. No kills should come about during Capture Melee as a result of that. Also know that not every single Capture Melee needs to have an official judging since Capture Melee is for fun. People on Gor should be old enough and intelligent enough to be able to decide if they were legitimately captured or not. Not every single one should be thrown into the lap of a judge to iron out. You as Fighters or Leaders should have the integrity to know when a capture has been successful and when it has not. A judging should come, only if you can not agree that it was successful or not.
Lethal Melee: Lethal Melee is to be done only when absolutely necessary. Lethal Melee is similar to Capture Melee in principle. Lethal Melee will most often be done in wild areas, but can also be done on attacks of homes. If done in wild areas, Lethal Melee, can be done by one on one instead of a death spar. Or it could be done as two fighters attacking one fighter. Or Lethal Melee could be a large group of fighters taking on another large group of fighters, ideal for in a home type environment. The key thing to note is, Lethal Melee should only happen between fighters and fighters, and not be used against non fighters, like standard Free Women or slaves.
It should also be noted, that fighters in Lethal Melee, do have the choice and ability to try and flee and escape the battle and attack, as is perfectly Gorean to do. The fighter will have to use the same system as described under Capture Melee. It will require 3 posts based on strictly defense and escaping.
When judging a Lethal Melee, the judge should look for simply lethal blows that are achieved during the Melee. Who should Judge Lethal Melee? It should be done much like the Capture Melee. The Leader of the room should supply the script to two other outside judges that are willing to go through it, and not simply fellow friends. The judges should be one from the pick of the Room Leader, but also one decided or accepted from the attackers themselves. The scripts should be given to noted worthy judges, so that the three of them can hash through the script and determine whether or not anyone has received lethal blows during the Melee. If the room leader does not wish to have any say in the ruling to avoid controversy, the room leader can indeed give the script to a noted and worthy Judge so that he may make a ruling on the Lethal Melee. If the Leader decides to hand the Lethal Combat to some one else instead of having a part of the judging, the room leader is therefor obligated to acknowledge and support the out side judges ruling.
The following can be decisions regarding deaths occurring during Lethal Melee.
1. Accepting a lethal blow intentional. A blow to the chest (heart), Neck, head, spine, kidney etc.
2. No acknowledgement of a lethal attack.
3. Too many wounds sustained during the battle
4. A wound sustained to an arm or shoulder and after 45 minutes without medical attention, then used to defend a lethal blow would be seen as not being a proper defense if the arm's weapon was not already in place to block, IE, no real quick movements to block after that amount of time.
5. Unrealistic defense to an attack would be seen as landing.
If Lethal Melee has been waged for longer then an hour within one home, and the attackers have not retreated, the highest ranking member of the home does have the right to call a stand down. The attackers will then be forced to retreat and everyone can get medical attention and reduce the risk of such large numbers of people dying in one battle. Once the stand down is accepted, nothing after that is taken into consideration when looking for Lethal Blows and deaths.
Tips & Notes:
These rules are not meant to be implied for everywhere. They should only be used and followed within places that acknowledge them and have adopted them.
These rules are not put in place to encourage massive Lethal Melee, but perhaps when it is deemed necessary these guidelines can be used to help keep it under control and in order until a honorable and solid judgement can be made.
The concepts of Sport & Capture Melee should be used with the idea of having fun, excitement and adding a bit of danger to the world of Gorean role-play.
It should also be noted, that ALL types of Melee Combat require teh fighters to make atleast 3 or so posts in the room they are entering to attack. These posts should include entering the room, declaration of most of the obvious weapons they would have, as well as moving toward the target. This will prevent any "Magic" posts coming out of no where attacking some one from behind or what not. Also note, for Lethal Combat, when you begin the Lethal Combat, you should make absolutely sure that people are aware that it is Lethal Combat so that Non-Fighters may get to the safety zones.
Make note, it is the responsibility of the Attackers, to be aware of where the Home's Safety Zone is located. The Safety Zone is for non fighters to take cover in once getting there realisticly. Each home has the right to decide where their safety zone may be.
------------------
These Guidelines have been written and produced by Cyruss The Rencer. If you would like to put them in place at your home or website, contact him via the below email address.
© 2002 Lars Faulken. All Rights Reserved