Rules for the Burgmannentage in Vechta

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• Play fair
• Safety first
• Clean shots instead of uncontrolled violence, no berserk beating
• Solid reenactment instead of posing and escalation ladder.

What we mean by fair play

It is expected that all fighters taking part are of age.

• Fight sensibly.
• Whether a blow was a hit is up to the defender.
• Cuts and blows are carried out with the edge of the blade, stabs with the point.
• A hit should be felt clearly and be made with a force that is appropriate to the defenders clothing and gear.
• The defender decides if a hit was too strong.
• If you dispute, you are out.
• If you hit an oponent from behind, only hit him on the bum, not on the spine.
• If you are hit from behind on the rear end, you are out, no matter if the edge or flat of the weapon has hit you.
• If you fall, you are out, unless nobody else is near und you stand up again immediately.
• If your weapon gets entangled with the body of somebody, you have to let it go.
• A shield doesn't make a hit, but can be used actively. This should happen with prudence and care.
• Stabs are made from top to bottom and should only be used by fighters that trained them, because the risk of injury is higher.
• It is allowed to steal a weapon in the fight.
• It is allowed to disarm, if it is done safly (no flying weapon, no overextended joints).
• It is forbidden to grab a blade with your hands.
• If somebody shouts „Stop“ all fighting ends immediately. A „Stop“ is to be repeated once loud.

As we want to fight with lighter equipment during the day, there are the following differences between the wargame and the main show battle:

• If you get hit in the target area once, you are out.
• Target areas are the torso, upper legs and arms including hands.
• If you make a hit on the head or neck, you are out. A hit to the head is never the defenders fault, even if he moved his head in an unexpected way.
• Every fight has to be protected by guards that shield the public. Without this there is no fight.
• It is advised to wear a helmet.

• If you get hit in the target area twice, you are out.
• Target areas are the torso, upper legs, arms including hands and upper part of the head.
• Blows to the head are only to be made straight from above.
• It is mandatory to wear a helmet.
• It is advised to wear lower arm proctections.

Weapons will be checked by the orga and others before the fight and sometimes in between.

• Edges must have a thickness of at least 3 mm and be rounded.
• All angles must have a radius of at least 8 mm.
• All tips must have a radius of at least 10 mm.
• Stabbing points must measure at least 1 cm² (2 cm² are preferred). (Ger)
• Weapons and shields may not have sharp edges, points or things like that.

• Maximum length for spears and two-handed stabbing weapons is 3 metres.
• Maximum length for sickles, one-handed spears, and one-handed stabbing weapons is 2,1 metres.
• Maximum length for the shaft of Daneaxes, halberds and two-handed slash weapons is 1,9 m.
• Maximum length for the shaft of one-handed axes is 1 metres.
• Spears have to be straight, not curved (no curve more than 5 cm on the whole length).
• Weapons should equal their historical models regarding proportions, i.e. the length of the blade of a daneaxe shouldn't be under 15 cm.

weapons fit for blunt strokes: club
weapons fit for stabbing: one- and two-handed spears, pitchfork
weapons fit for blow, cut and stab: sword, axe, knife, danenaxe, scythe, halberd, cutting spear, falchion

some unusual examples.

The following protective gear is mandatory:

• gloves that guarantee the protection of the hand
• helmets during the battle (voluntary during the wargames).
• knee and elbow protections is recommended (according to historical find or hidden)
• under arm protection is recommended (according to historical find or hidden)

While the event is multi-period to some extent (no romans, no renaissance), the personal equipment has to be consistent. This means especially:

• limited period of time
• limited geographic area
• adequate to the portrayed social position
• culturally adequate