Grand Melee

Asbjorn Johansen · Post by **Asbjorn Johansen** » Tue Mar 19, 2002 7:01 pm

I want to finish off the Historic Combat Series with a Grand Melee on Saturday. I want it to have the feel of the chaotic display of prowess you see in the illustrations of grand meleeâ€™s in Barker and Barber (I believe the better ones are from King Reneâ€™s book of Tournaments).

Any suggestions for rules?

Asbjorn

SyrRhys · Post by **SyrRhys** » Tue Mar 19, 2002 7:36 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Asbjorn Johansen:
I want to finish off the Historic Combat Series with a Grand Melee on Saturday. I want it to have the feel of the chaotic display of prowess you see in the illustrations of grand meleeâ€™s in Barker and Barber (I believe the better ones are from King Reneâ€™s book of Tournaments).

Any suggestions for rules?

Asbjorn<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes, two:

1.) Don't ransom anyone for more than they can afford to pay,

2.) Don't eat the dead. ;-)

------------------
Hugh Knight
"Welcome to the Church of the Open Field, let us 'prey': Hunt hard, kill swiftly, waste nothing, make no apologies"

Alcyoneus · Post by **Alcyoneus** » Tue Mar 19, 2002 8:38 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by SyrRhys:
[2.) Don't eat the dead. ;-)

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I saw that movie! (Was it about laurels or pelicans?

)

Gaston de Clermont · Post by **Gaston de Clermont** » Thu Mar 21, 2002 1:08 pm

Using Renee's armour and weapon standards at Pennsic might be impractical, but why not use the rest of his rules?

Gaston

Asbjorn Johansen · Post by **Asbjorn Johansen** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 2:42 pm

Going for simplicity here:

Grand Melee

To complete the Historic Combat Series we offer a Grand Melee as our final event.

Combatants will be divided into two sides. The sides will meet in honorable combat in the center of the field. When a combatant is struck a telling blow, he shall retire to his side of the field, cry his cry of war, and return to the combat. The melee will continue for an hour or until all combatants are satisfied they have done enough.

Good, bad, indifferent?

SyrRhys · Post by **SyrRhys** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 3:25 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Clermont:
Using Renee's armour and weapon standards at Pennsic might be impractical, but why not use the rest of his rules?

Gaston<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

While this is hard for some people to believe, Rene includes almost nothing in his rules about how to conduct the fighting. His entire work is about the helm show and challenges and dancing, but the fighting is almost completely ignored, except for a few notes on what not to do, like hitting "en reverse" and hitting a man who's helm has come off.

Basically, he just says "line 'em up and let 'em go!"

------------------
Hugh Knight
"Welcome to the Church of the Open Field, let us 'prey': Hunt hard, kill swiftly, waste nothing, make no apologies"

SyrRhys · Post by **SyrRhys** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 3:27 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Asbjorn Johansen:
Going for simplicity here:
Combatants will be divided into two sides. The sides will meet in honorable combat in the center of the field. When a combatant is struck a telling blow, he shall retire to his side of the field, cry his cry of war, and return to the combat. The melee will continue for an hour or until all combatants are satisfied they have done enough.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not only is it simple, it seems to meet the exact idea of a medieval melee. As you know, acknowledging a good hit by retiring to your side and crying your war cry isn't authentic, exactly, but it's the only way we've been able to simulate the effect of a good shot in a melee.

------------------
Hugh Knight
"Welcome to the Church of the Open Field, let us 'prey': Hunt hard, kill swiftly, waste nothing, make no apologies"