War and Joust

Weapons Play Testing

Articles

• How to build a list field - First published in May 2003, detail instructions and photographs on building a list field guaranteed to impress.
• Shinai Maintenance - a quick overview of the pieces and parts of a shinai and how to take care of them
• Marshal's Kit - What is it and what to put in it
• Blank Combat Tourney Tree - a sample combat tree for tournament lists

Manuals

• Combat Manual - rules of combat, weapon and armor standards January 2023
• Marshal’s Manual - rules of tournament and war, supervision of combat, authorization tests
• Missile Weapons Manual - including the use of missile weapons in combat scenarios
• Missile Weapons Construction Guide - how to make arrows used in combat scenarios
• Boffer Manual updated 2006
• Siege Weapons Manual

Combat Authorization

Please see the notice at the top of the page regarding combat authorizations.
• Authorization Tests please see pages 31-37 of the Marshall's Manual

Styles of Combat

Shinai
This level is the general entry point for most combatants. The 'shinai' is a split-bamboo sword used in martial arts training. It is designed to minimize the impact for a slashing blow. No thrusting is allowed when using a shinai. This level of combat is open to all qualified combatants age 13 and over.

Rapier (aka Renaissance or Schlager) Combat
Simulating the less heavily armored combat of late in Adria's focus period, this type of combat uses steel Schlager-style blades to represent the epees and rapiers common to this time.

Cut and Thrust
Before Renaissance fencing became common, there were still combatants who relied upon speed rather than strength for their blows. Cut and thrust requires heavier armor than Shinai or Rapier, but still significantly less than armored combat.

Armored (Steel) Combat
Unique to Adria and its siblings, the use of unchoreographed steel weapons and heavy armor is what makes our organization so different. No combatant can truly be called a Champion until they have won the field in armored combat.

Tournaments

Each month, the Crowns of each chartered subdivision hold tournaments for the populace. Each tourney list is appropriate to one of the styles of combat listed above. Schlager is further divided between beginners (sergeants) and more advanced combatants, including knights.

Wars

The Adrian Empire, and many of its larger subdivisions often choose their Crowns through broad-scale competitions we call wars. It is a great attraction for the combatants to have a chance to face dozens of combatants across an open field, and to participate in complex scenarios designed to test both strategy and combat ability.

In addition to Crown wars (used to compete for the Crown), subdivisions can also host what are called "Fun Wars". Set against the backdrop of some elaborate plot line, these wars are just for fun, and the chance to participate where the stakes aren't quite so high.