MK Marshal's Handbook - Marshaling Melees

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See Marshal's handbook

Marshalling Melees

A. General

Maintain a high level of safety and awareness as indicated above in the Tournament section. Additional considerations specific to the melee scenario include:

1. Remind the Marshals to keep good clearance from the lines during rushes, charges and other mass movements that could cause the Marshal to be accidentally struck or overrun.

2. Make sure the field of combat is clear of noncombatant staff and spectators before resuming after a Hold.

3. Check the field surface before and between melees for problems.

4. Check combatants and encourage them to check each other as they enter and during Holds for state of their equipment. They may have had something damaged in the previous engagement.

5. When missile weapons are being used, Marshals are REQUIRED to wear eye protection and ensure that spectators are reasonably outside of the effective range of these weapons.

6. Marshals should always have a Marshal's staff, tabard, and whistle for safety and effectiveness. Armor is also recommended where reasonable, especially hand and groin protection. Some sort of distinctively marked protective headgear is also recommended.

7. MICs are strongly encouraged to arrange adequate medical and water-bearing support.

B. Melee Marshalling Requirements

1. Have as many Marshals as possible. The melee is a dynamic environment covering a wide area.

2. A ratio of one Marshal to every ten combatants in smaller scenarios is a good margin. Sometimes it is not possible to achieve that ratio, but every effort should be made to have enough Marshals and constables to protect spectators and ensure the safety of the combatants.

3. All participants shall be gathered to hear the rules and the scenario limits explained to them. The event stewards and/or the marshals should answer their questions. If the scenario limits vary radically from battle to battle, this procedure should be repeated before each battle.

4. The Marshals should maintain the best clear view of the action, moving with the combatants as necessary, but remaining effectively out of weapons range. The MIC is responsible for judging whether or not there are enough Marshals and constables, and requesting additional participation.

5. One Marshal should be designated as the "Presiding Marshal", who is responsible for signaling the commencement of the melee, arbitration and its continuance after any Hold. The role of presiding Marshal can be rotated among the Marshals as necessary.

6. Marshals are expected to maintain their own tempers, remain objective and encourage calm discourse on the field.

C. Marshaling Major/Inter-Kingdom Wars

1. The general rules under which the war will be conducted, compromises between conflicting kingdoms’ standards, and the scenario limits for each planned battle shall be negotiated and agreed to in writing in advance by the authorized representatives of all belligerent groups involved. The rules and scenario limits shall be published in the appropriate newsletters. For inter-kingdom wars, notices shall be published according to SCA publication policy by the groups involved. This publication should take place at least thirty (30) days prior to the event. In addition, copies of all of the rules and agreements shall be available on-site, as a handout, for people who do not receive (or did not read) the newsletters. Armor and weapons standards shall default to the established Society minimum standards unless otherwise specified in the event rules and scenario limits.

2. Each side in a battle shall provide a reasonable number of trained and experienced marshals. If not enough marshals are available, the sides should arrange for a draft from their armies.

3. All marshals should be separately briefed prior to the meetings of all participants. (They should also attend the group briefing.) Emphasis at this briefing should be on enforcing the rules and scenario limits for each battle and on preventing accidents that could arise from hazards related to the scenario limits and to the actual terrain. There should be an understanding among the marshals regarding the rules and scenario specifics and any possible safety issues that may arise. At inter-kingdom events the differences between the attending kingdoms should be discussed and compromises and clarity in the rules and scenarios regarding those differences should be worked out.

4. Equipment inspection must take place before combat starts, with particular emphasis on any modifications that have been made in the process of making compromises between conflicting kingdom standards.

5. A supervising marshal (marshal in charge) shall be chosen for each war (and possibly for each battle, if the MIC for the war is fighting in the battles or otherwise prevented from being present).

6. The marshal-in-charge shall be responsible for the activities of the marshals in his or her charge.

7. If possible, the marshal-in-charge should not be a member of one of the groups on the field.

8. The marshal-in-charge for a particular battle may not participate in the battle as a combatant.

D. Crowd Control

Larger melees tend to draw larger crowds of spectators than single combat. Not only does available space become a safety consideration, but also the combatants themselves are less likely to remain attentive to the boundaries as they follow the flow of the tactical scenario. The location and layout of the melee area must take these factors into consideration and the buffer zone between spectator and the action has to be firmly enforced. In some situations (such as woods battles) it is not uncommon for the MIC to forbid spectators entirely from the vicinity of the fighting area.

E. Missile Weapons

1. When combat archery is present on the field all marshals, heralds, etc. on the field must wear protective shatterproof eyewear, such as safety glasses meeting the ANSI Z 87.1 standard or better.

2. A buffer zone needs to be provided between the edges of the battlefield and spectators at all times. This needs to be increased when combat archery is included. The marshal-incharge must ensure that it is a safe distance (it should not be possible to hit a spectator, either with direct fire or with a bounced arrow), taking into account the type of scenario, to minimize the chances of deflected shots traveling into the spectators. Physical barriers may eliminate the need for a buffer zone or lessen the distance needed.

3. The Marshals must also pay attention to the minimum distance of engagement (as applicable), the gleaning of (or damage to) missiles on the ground, and on occasion, need to alert combatants that they have been struck unawares by a missile.

F. Clearing the Dead

Clearing the dead is an effective way to clear the field without stopping the run of the tactical scenario. Marshals should use their best judgment as to when the time is right to attempt to gaff fallen combatants out of the melee. Leaving fallen combatants on the field presents a safety hazard in and of itself. Evaluate your situation:

1. Is it safe for me to approach? Or is the fighting still too close?

2. Is the combatant in any immediate danger or distress?

3. Will my presence adversely affect the tactical scenario?

4. If the Marshal decides it is safe to act, tap the combatant gently with the staff, announce "DEAD, OUT!” cover the combatant with the staff and indicate a safe direction to head away from the melee. If the fallen have piled up too fast creating a potentially dangerous situation, Marshals should call Hold and clear the field.

G. Holds

There are few areas where Marshals and commanders come into more frequent conflict than when to call Holds because of the effect of interrupting the developing scenario. The first consideration must always be safety. The Marshals should call for a Hold if:

1. The fighting is about to overflow the boundaries.

2. There is an injury that might require medical intervention.

3. A potentially dangerous pile-up (see above) is about to develop.

4. A critical piece of armor (like a helm) has come off a combatant that cannot be otherwise safely removed from the fighting.

NOTE: a dropped weapon is not a reason to call a Hold in a melee.

5. It is impossible to create a rule for every conceivable situation. The Marshals should, however, try to allow the fighting to continue when possible, erring only on the side of safety. During a Hold, Marshals should attempt to resolve the situation as soon as possible so that the fighting can continue.

Note: Marshals will frequently have to courteously remind combatants to go to their knees, ground great weapons, and refrain from discussions of the tactical situation during holds.

H. Rules of Engagement

All Marshals should make themselves thoroughly familiar with the melee conventions of combat as outlined in the Middle Kingdom Melee Conventions. The issues of legal engagement in the confusion of melee combat can not only lead to dangerous physical situations but can cause rapidly escalating tempers as well. Marshals must be particularly attentive to potential problems in situations where:

1. The lines have broken and units are intermixed.

2. One unit has flanked or is in the rear of another.

3. Elements of one unit are breaking through the lines of another.

4. Individuals are rejoining the fight from another part of the battlefield.

5. All participants are engaged with all missile and siege weapons regardless of the direction they are facing.

6. Marshals will frequently be called on to render judgments about engagement issues and should be constantly aware of the heightened emotions that can build during a melee. Marshals must remember to remain absolutely impartial (and diplomatic) and serve the interests of safety first, the rules of the game second, and the tactical concerns of the participants last, if at all.