NEMAS Armour and Weapons Standards (Easter Gathering)
Here follows guidelines for those that are
not sure exactly what may be found in the period
400 AD- 1100 AD.
Helmets: Spangenhelms, conical and round
as well as those shaped to look as if they were
forged from one piece of steel. Helmets constructed
of cuir boille and reinforced with metal straps
are acceptable also. Obviously helmets should
have adequate padding and chinstraps. Nemas
is tolerant of kettle hats and some bascinets
etc that could be interpreted as early Byzantine
or Carolingian helms. Nemas also appreciates
those that worry about their faces enough to
add Sutton Hoo-esque face shields to their helmets,
as this is sensible. Morions sallets, and flat-topped
pot helms however stick out like the proverbial
and will not be tolerated. Nemas despairs at
the continued appearance of armour and weapons
that are blatantly out of place at an Early
Medieval Event.
Shields: Adargas, oval, round square,
rectangular and kite shaped shields are all
acceptable.
Pole Weapons: All pole weapons are to
be tightly affixed to their shaft, preferably
with a rivet. Great Axes should not have heads
more broad than 12inches. Spears are to be no
longer than 9 feet (2.7metres) long. The only
acceptable halberd is the seax on a pole variety.
Agricultural tools like scythes are acceptable.
The rhomphia is acceptable. All pole weapon
blade edges to be a minimum of 3mm and points
not less round than a 5-cent piece.
Swords: Swords should really be no longer
than 32 inches. If your preference is for big
swords in the dark ages, get a rhomphia. Hilts
should not really have elaborate period guards.
Seaxes, daggers, axes and short swords are all
acceptable. Swords, etc blades shall meet the
following requirements: *edges shall be rounded
to a minimum diameter of 1.5mm; *points shall
be rounded to a width of a 5 cent piece all
weapons should be blunt and in good repair.
Nemas marshals have the right to withdraw from
the field any weapons deemed by them to be hazardous.
Safety officers are to monitor their groups'
weapons for metal burrs and shattering to ensure
weapons are maintained.
Nemas requires assurances from each group's
safety officer that individual combatants are
proficient with the weapons they use. Independent
combatants will be required to demonstrate their
safety and proficiency through trial by combat
with a designated safety officer.
Nemas requires notification of any potential
danger men any group may have brought with them.
Nemas has banned the unsafe practice of using
a two handed spear in the fashion of a pool
que. (i.e., letting go of the spear with the
leading hand once the stab has been initiated).
Body Armour - Nemas supports current
Australasian Conference standards of Armour
and encourages everybody to get sewing. Minimum
body armour is quilted/padded garment with 3/4
sleeves or equivalent.
A gambeson must be padded to a minimum of 12mm
thick on the body and 6mm on the arms in its
uncompressed state and must be capable of being
compressed.
Gauntlets are compulsory and may be
constructed with later period technology. Covering
the hand with just padding or a glove is not
a gauntlet.
Helmets are compulsory.
Armour types that are acceptable include mail,
scale and lamella, cuir boillie and other rigid
leather or padded torso coverings. If its not
authentic, wear it under your kirtle.
Nemas has made the wearing of a vambrace on
the leading hand compulsory. At a minimum, this
could be a wrap of stout cloth or tapes similar
to leg tapes wrapped about the forearm. Nemas
strongly recommends hidden knee elbow, groin
and mouth protection. Rigid one-piece breast
protection is strongly recommended for female
combatants.
Peltasts/Javelineers:
Nemas encourages people to construct javelins
with light timber and warns that heavy javelins
will not be permitted in combat. The minimum
age for a peltast is 12. A peltast must wear
rigid head protection at all times. This may
be a standard helmet or made of wicker or rigid
leather with metal reinforces. The peltast doesn't
have to wear a gauntlet or other armour. It
is recommended that peltasts carry a small shield
or stick to ward enemy javelins. A peltast must
yield to a heavier opponent when he/she is in
striking range. It is permissible for heavy
infantry to carry and use javelins as missile
weapons as long as they observe the distance
for throwing rule. (Miscreants will accompany
a marshal to the blacksmiths shop to practice
filing).
Scouts:
Scouts are young re-enactors that can serve
their teams by spying out where the other teams
are, take messages to marshals and ST Johns
etc and be water bearers for their team. They
look great as standard bearers and horn blowers.
They can aid the herald's in recording deeds.
They are never targets. They are not permitted
within javelin range of a battle. All participants
are requested to ensure that these last rules
are enforced.
Marshals:
Marshals will have absolute authority on the
battlefield with the ability to halt combat
or dismiss/remove any combatant(s) from the
field. Nemas requests that each club provide
experienced marshals. The head marshal, Richard
Robinson, will devise a roster to ensure that
main field combats are supervised. Please contact
him ASAP (ph: 02 6772 1067) so this may be completed
prior to the event.
Rules of Engagement for Nemas Gathering 2008
Target Areas Are As Follows:
Shoulders, upper arms, torso, thighs. Headshots
are permitted ONLY in battles designated as
such. No shots to the neck, face, groin, armpits,
forearms, hands, knees and below. Recipients
of such blows may ignore them at their discretion.
No shots to the spine or kidneys. All blows
shall be delivered with control and pulled.
Scoring blows within the target area shall be
responded to by the recipient by dying or being
wounded.
Field Conventions:
Combatants must register as such and sign the
Nemas Waiver. Weapons will be monitored for
safety before and after each engagement. Combatants
shall not take to the field bearing a grudge.
Combatants shall not take to the field under
the influence of alcohol or mind-altering drugs.
Combatants must wear minimum armour (or more)
to engage in play. Any combatant can refuse
to fight any other person without cause or reason.
Defeated combatants are to go to ground. Combatants
acting in an unsafe manner will be removed from
combat by Nemas marshals. If you cannot abide
this or any of the above rules, do not come
as a combatant.
MARSHALS EASTER 2008
COMBATANTS MEETING - 6.00pm, Friday
All combatant clubs and independents are required
to send a representative delegate to this meeting
and register themselves or their club as combatants
at the event. Any combatants whose conduct,
whose equipment is considered faulty or inappropriate,
or has a problem arising from combatants presence
on the battle field will be taken to the registered
representative for that individual. Any failure
of the representative to discipline their charges
or comply with the wishes of the Marshal may
result in the whole club/independent being banned
from all further combat at the event. Any individuals
who disagree with the marshals interpretation
of the rules or their handling of a situation
or their ability to act in their capacity must
be taken to their representative to deal with
on their behest if it is to be considered seriously
by the marshal. Any attempt to engage the marshals
by individuals about such matters will be considered
petty and ignored.
NOTE: any club or independent that cannot attend
this meeting for any reason may contact the
head marshal or the registration desk at any
time to register themselves for combat. Representatives
who could not attend the meeting must speak
with the head marshal before they or any of
their charges take the battlefield.
A FIGHTING SCHEDULE WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON
ARRIVAL AT THE EVENT
ANY COMBAT OUTSIDE THE SCHEDULED TIMES IS DONE
AT THE RISK OF THOSE INVOLVED. ANY COMBATANTS
ENGAGED IN COMBAT OUTSIDE THESE TIMES MUST DO
SO IN DESIGNATED AREAS OR AWAY FROM ALL OTHER
ACTIVITIES - A MARSHAL OR AN EVENT ORGANISER
WILL APPROACH PEOPLE WHO CONTRAVENE THIS REQUEST.
MARSHALS NEEDED
NEMAS will provide two marshals during the scheduled
combat, one being head marshal. Due to the wide-ranging
nature of the combat and the large number of
combatants involved it would be good to have
five marshals for the scheduled combats. We
are looking for volunteers to confirm their
intentions to marshal before the event. Volunteers
need to be respected people who have a fair
bit of combat experience and most importantly
are confident handling people who are charged
up and sometimes irrational. We appeal to all
clubs to consider their contribution to the
marshalling needs of combat at the Easter gathering.
It is in everyone's interest to have as wide
a cross section of clubs represented in a marshalling
capacity as is possible to share the responsibility
of safe combat to all combatants. REPRESENTATIVE
COMBATANTS Clubs should choose this person carefully.
They need to be able to speak for the club as
regards to combat matters. They need to be able
to discipline their members and most importantly
they need to be able to keep a clear head and
work with authority figures (marshals) to solve
problems. The aim is to have safe combat that
is interrupted as little as possible and to
maximise the enjoyment of all who take the battlefield.
Any combat related enquiries are to be directed
to Richard Robinson: